The Watch — The Best TV Week of the Year, ‘Task’ Episode 3, and ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Trailer Underwhelms
Episode Date: September 22, 2025 | Hosts: Chris Ryan & Andy Greenwald

Episode Overview

This episode explores what the hosts call the "best TV week of the year," featuring a packed release calendar including standout series premieres and returns. Chris and Andy review standout moments from the third episode of HBO's Task, weigh in on the underwhelming Mandalorian and Grogu trailer, and reflect on the ever-shifting Hollywood landscape, with tangents on Heat 2 rumors and the emotional labor of being Philadelphia sports fans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eagles Win & the Emotional Cost of Fandom (01:26–06:23)

• The episode opens with Chris and Andy discussing the emotional highs and lows of Philadelphia Eagles fandom and the performative ritual of "acting normal" during tense games.
  • Andy recounts his reaction to a dramatic Eagles win:

    “A sound emerged from my body that has never before emerged from my body. …Kind of like a Greek mythological creature that's part lion, part eagle. It was not cool.” (03:43)

  • Chris talks about the superstitions of sports watching and never leaving the "lucky" couch spot.

2. The Best TV Week of the Year (06:23–13:16)

• Both hosts highlight the exceptional TV lineup this week:
  • Task
  • Alien Earth finale
  • The Lowdown debut (Sterlin Harjo & Ethan Hawke)
  • English Teacher Season 2
  • Slow Horses Season 5
  • House of Guinness
  • Chris raves about The Morning Show's new season.

    “The fucking morning show is really good this season. And the second episode is awesome.” (08:15)

The Lowdown Anticipation

• Andy, having previewed The Lowdown and English Teacher, lauds Harjo’s PI series starring Ethan Hawke.

  “He has done this. Hang the banner. Mission accomplished...He gathered up a Hall of Fame that-guy cast.” (09:20)

  • The show is compared to Altman’s The Long Goodbye and praised for turning the personal into the universal.
  • Chris calls Ethan Hawke’s lead turn “one of my favorite Hawke performances in recent memory,” blending idealist and “everyday guy” traits.

    “But this has some qualities where it’s both the wild-eyed, idealist, romantic dreamer side of Ethan Hawke, but also the incredibly approachable everyday guy...” (11:04)

3. Underwhelming Mandalorian and Grogu Trailer (13:23–22:06)

• Chris teases Andy about his silence after the trailer’s release.
• Andy is underwhelmed, critiquing its TV-movie aesthetic:

  “This looks like a fun sizzle reel for a new season of television…There was absolutely nothing… that made it seem cinematic.” (14:52)

  • Chris notes the unusual Monday release timing and wonders about Disney’s intentions.
  • They riff on “Demon Slayer” box office phenomena and debate the perils of Baby Yoda overload:

    “Is this an Urkel situation? …Which, to be clear, would mean it would become very successful, but I wouldn’t like it.” — Andy (21:03)

4. Hollywood Chatter: Heat 2, Scorsese’s Next Move & Movie Production Roulette (22:11–30:27)

• Discussion of reports that Leonardo DiCaprio may star in Michael Mann’s Heat 2 adaptation:
  • They caution listeners about Hollywood reporting—movies often fall apart or change with little warning.
  • Speculation about cast (Adam Driver, Austin Butler), and “this is my Heat 2” as metaphor for personal passions.
  • Andy’s industry wisdom:

    “Movies are absolute chaos and no movies are happening until the second they hit roll.” (29:20)

  • Both hosts agree there is still space for aging legends:

    “This absolutely is a country for old men.” — Andy (30:13)

5. Deep Dive: Task Episode 3 — "Nobody's Stronger Than Forgiveness" (31:41–56:10)

Strong Direction & Standout Scenes

• Praises for director Sally Richardson Whitfield’s immersive, stylish episode.
• Chris singles out the interrogation scene with Tuso Mbedu as detective Aaliyah:

  “Her performance was really powerful…her anecdote, her monologue about her own experience with domestic violence…” (32:26)

Bar Scene: Philly Characterization & Performances

• The Lizzie & Grasso scene at the State Trooper bar is cited as a season highlight:

  “Allison Oliver is to drunk Philly girl acting what Daniel Day Lewis is to Abraham Lincoln.” — Chris (33:25)

  • Andy’s response: “I think she is to Philly drunk girl acting what Daniel Day Lewis is to acting.” (33:34)
  • The use of “Mother Love Bone” in the bar as a perfect character beat.

Inglesby’s Writing: Small-Town, Blue-Collar Texture

• Andy analyzes Brad Inglesby’s mastery of self-revelatory monologues, especially in supporting characters:

  “He is God tier at this, at writing these monologues and casting them so they actually feel lived in…” (37:13)

Show Structure & Thematic Depth

• Discussion on the series’ “scaffolding,” and how Task avoids standard murder-mystery red herrings through rich character focus and careful plotting.
  • Anticipation over the “rat” on the task force. Theories include Grasso as the primary suspect due to his over-eagerness and likability:

    “I would say that Grasso would be the betting favorite [to be the mole].” — Andy (50:21)

  • Praise for how the show moves at a "relatively healthy clip” and develops supporting characters.

Religious & Philosophical Subtext

• Chris reads an email about a reference to Richard Rohr’s "second half of life" framework embedded in Brandis’s character (42:40), suggesting the show is aiming for spiritual as well as dramatic resonance:

  “‘The first task is to build a strong container or identity. The second is to find the contents that the container was meant to hold.’…What are we really doing when we are doing what we are doing?” (43:15)

Visuals & Setting

• Andy highlights the show’s use of Pennsylvania scenery to contrast idyllic exteriors with internal turmoil:

  “It looks like Mayberry…it’s a vision of America…But what is the content of this beautiful green vessel these days? It’s fentanyl and rage and impotence and sadness.” (47:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Eagles Fandom
  “A sound emerged from my body that has never before emerged from my body. Kind of like one of those Greek mythological creatures that's like part lion, part eagle.” — Andy (03:43)

• On The Lowdown
  “He has done this. Hang the banner.” — Andy (09:48)

• On the Mandalorian and Grogu trailer
  “There was absolutely nothing in this that made it seem cinematic.” — Andy (14:52)

• On Ethan Hawke’s performance in The Lowdown
  “This has some qualities where he’s both the wild-eyed, idealist, romantic dreamer side … but also the incredibly approachable everyday guy.” — Chris (11:04)

• On the Philly bar scene in Task
  “Allison Oliver is to drunk Philly girl acting what Daniel Day Lewis is to Abraham Lincoln.” — Chris (33:25)

• On Richard Rohr’s philosophical impact
  “The first task is to build a strong container or identity. The second is to find the contents that the container was meant to hold.” — Richard Rohr, via Chris (43:15)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:26–06:23 – Eagles win, fandom woes and rituals
• 06:23–13:16 – TV week breakdown: Task, The Lowdown, English Teacher, more
• 13:23–22:06 – Mandalorian and Grogu trailer reactions
• 22:11–30:27 – Heat 2 rumors, Hollywood movie development talk
• 31:41–56:10 – Task Episode 3 deep dive: highlights, writing, performances, themes

Final Thoughts & What’s Next

• The episode closes with excitement for Thursday’s feature on The Lowdown and the Alien Earth finale, plus continued discussion on Task as it deepens its thematic and narrative complexity.

This week on The Watch: celebration of TV’s golden weeks, a critique of Disney’s cinematic ambitions, and an enthusiastic, reverent breakdown of character-driven drama at the heart of HBO’s Task.