Podcast Summary: The Watch (The Ringer)

Episode: ‘Slow Horses’ S5 Finale, ‘Down Cemetery Road’ Premiere, and ‘The Lowdown’ E7

Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald

Overview

In this episode, Chris and Andy dig into three major TV events: the Season 5 finale of Slow Horses, the series premiere of Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV's latest British mystery based on Mick Herron's work), and the penultimate episode of The Lowdown. They also open the show with their signature friendly banter, swapping London living anecdotes and discussing the recent Taylor Sheridan/Paramount deal. The episode alternates between critique, praise, speculation, and the hosts’ unique blend of humor.

Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Cross-Atlantic Banter and London Living

• Opening Banter (00:00–08:12)
  • Chris and Andy swap stories about snacks, cigarettes, and the differences in American enthusiasm vs. British reserve.
  • Discussion of feeling “too much like a loud American” in the UK, and challenges adapting to British retail and social etiquette.
  • Andy shares a “British politeness on the Tube” anecdote (07:00).
  • The pair tee up the British theme of the episode as their coverage will focus on major UK-set shows.

2. Taylor Sheridan/Paramount+ Deal Commentary

• Sheridan’s Billion Dollar Deal (08:36–18:20)
  • Chris and Andy analyze latest reporting about Taylor Sheridan’s massive new deal with Universal (reportedly worth $1 billion for 20 shows).
  • Chris notes: “My favorite detail by far to come out of all of this is that Sheridan’s deal with Universal is reportedly worth $1 billion.” (09:47)
  • They riff on potential Taylor Sheridan show ideas, spinning off the “Dutton family by the year” format:

    “If you told me right now that one of his projects that had a blinking green light as they say was just called 89 and it’s Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty sitting on a porch, I’d believe that.” – Andy (11:21)

  • Commentary on the challenges & strategies facing streamers:

    “Offering Taylor Sheridan a billion dollars...for product that will not arrive for another three, four years is a remarkable show of commitment to the Peacock streaming service.” – Andy (14:56)

  • Speculation about the future of the Yellowstone universe and the IP’s ownership.

3. Slow Horses Season 5 Finale (Main Segment)

• S5 Finale Breakdown (18:22–30:19)
  • Overall consensus: S5 was enjoyable, if not transformative.
  • Andy: “It has kept me at arm’s length for this entire season...but the last frame of the season, I thought, was clever and hinted at both a past and a potential future.” (18:47)
  • Spoiler: The reveal of Jackson Lamb’s burned feet pays off a key monologue and hints at Lamb’s true backstory.

    “Usually you have to pay more to get celebrity feet like that. What a relief, what a release.” – Andy (19:27)

  • Chris remarks on the benefits and drawbacks of binging versus weekly viewing:

    "I watched this pretty much as a binge on the screeners...my experience was much more like a three/four hour thriller...than a week-to-week TV experience." (21:42)

  • Both hosts agree the show is running low on dynamic secondary relationships (Shirley, Roddy) and they hope for deeper character arcs as the cast evolves.
  • Andy critiques the believability of British politics and security as depicted in the finale, finding the small-scale portrayal of a terror aftermath jarringly implausible for London.
  • Preview of S6: Based on two Herron novels (Joe Country and Slough House), with Kyle Soller joining the cast.

Notable Quotes

• “The show needed that, honestly...it can’t all be one-liners and Jaffa Cakes.” – Andy on the need for deeper emotional backstory (20:12)

4. Down Cemetery Road: Premiere Review

• New Apple TV+ Mystery (30:19–41:18)
  • Adapted from Mick Herron's Zoe Boehm series, written by Morwenna Banks, directed by Natalie Bailey.
  • Stars Emma Thompson (as Zoe), Ruth Wilson (as Sarah), and Adam Godley.
  • Chris: “This was expertly done and entertainingly written with just enough of the Mick Herron, also by way of Iannucci, spiky dialogue that elevated it beyond just a pulpy page turner.” (33:39)
  • Andy praises the show's professionalism, tight plotting, and the emotional core missing from Slow Horses:

    “What this show has is the wit and verve and professionalism of Slow Horses...but it does have a really strong heartbeat of emotion and humanity.” (35:36)

  • The hosts identify two parallel shows within: a quirky Oxford mystery and a “Thick of It”-style Ministry of Defence subplot (with standout performances from Darren Boyd and Adeel Akhtar).
  • Applaud the series' refusal to rely on flashbacks for character backstory. Instead, character motivations come through memorable, understated lines.
  • Shoutout to Adam Godley in a supporting role; both hosts would watch a private investigator spinoff starring him.

Notable Quotes

• “It was good for the things it wasn’t doing. I appreciated the things it didn’t do.” – Chris (38:16)
• “If there was ever...the adventures of a mild-mannered jazz-loving openly Jewish private investigator in Oxford...I’d watch that show.” – Andy, joking about Adam Godley’s character (41:06)

5. The Lowdown, Episode 7: “Tulsa Turnaround”

• Penultimate Episode Discussion (43:07–52:24)
  • The episode, written by Walter Mosley, focuses on pushing characters into proximity for the finale rather than delivering a fireworks-heavy “knockout punch.”
  • Chris: “As penultimate episodes go, this was not exactly like The Wire third season one...this was almost like the finale one A.” (43:07)
  • Andy admires the show’s “beautiful mess” quality and its commitment to emotion and social commentary over pure plot mechanics:

    “There are two wolves inside of me...one of them loves the precision of Down Cemetery Road...the other loves a beautiful mess.” (45:22) “There were moments of real beauty...frankly, one of the most affecting father-daughter scenes of recent memory.” (46:34)

  • Both single out Ethan Hawke and Ryan Kira Armstrong’s scene: “He’s absent because he wants to be the kind of person worthy of his daughter’s admiration. And she just shakes her head and says, ‘I’ve always admired you,’ and walks away." (46:52)
  • Note production quirks: Shorter runtime and heavy post-production suggest the episode was reworked in editing.
  • Chris highlights the show's small, evocative Tulsa details, from set design to local color, underscoring its authenticity.
  • Both hosts express hope for a renewal, wanting more than just one season.

Notable Quotes

• “I’d love to be four seasons into The Lowdown and be like, ‘That Lee keeps stepping in it,’ you know?” – Chris (51:18)

6. Closing & Future Teasers

• The hosts anticipate both being in London together next week, potentially adjusting episode release dates.
• Tease next week’s review of Vince Gilligan’s new Apple show (Pluribus) and an upcoming interview with Gilligan.
• Banter about Apple dominating the weekly streaming release schedule.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–08:12: British/American humor, living in the UK, snacks, and banter.
• 08:12–18:20: Taylor Sheridan/Paramount+ deal analysis.
• 18:22–30:19: Slow Horses S5 finale deep dive.
• 30:19–41:18: Down Cemetery Road episodes 1–2 review.
• 41:18–43:07: Brit TV as comfort programming, Emma Thompson career talk.
• 43:07–52:24: The Lowdown S1E7 review, penultimate episode critique.
• 52:24–53:25: Closing remarks, previews, and future episode plans.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “You have to pay more to get celebrity feet like that.” – Andy, joking about Slow Horses’ finale reveal (19:27)
• “It was good for the things it wasn’t doing.” – Chris on the restraint of Down Cemetery Road (38:16)
• “He wants to be the kind of person worthy of his daughter’s admiration. And she just shakes her head and says, ‘I’ve always admired you,’ and walks away.” – Andy paraphrasing The Lowdown’s best scene (46:52)
• “There are two wolves inside me...the other loves a beautiful mess.” – Andy (45:22)

Overall Tone

As always, Chris and Andy weave together smart criticism and genuine admiration for their topics, mixing playful sarcasm, personal anecdotes, and deep knowledge of TV craft. The episode is conversational but incisive, especially in breaking down what works—and what doesn’t—in British TV mysteries and the uniquely American TV business news swirling around Taylor Sheridan.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a lively, insightful journey through the latest in prestige television (especially the British crime/mystery genre) with enough context, humor, and explanation to keep newcomers engaged (and up to speed).