This week, Blaine starts with an entire bundle of television. First, he lets listeners know how to leave the podcast a voice message (1:30) as well as how to sign up for The Alabama Take's newsletter (2:16). Then it's the new series from Netflix 'Baby Reindeer,' which is gaining some traction; this segment does not contain spoilers for the show (2:46). After that, Blaine returns to the Apple TV+ show 'Sugar' to discuss a few things from the fourth episode, all without spoilers (5:28). Hulu's new series 'Under the Bridge' has his attention. He recaps some of his broad thoughts on it without spoiling any of it (6:27). From there, Donovan and Adam join the show, and Donovan gives his recommendation on the new HBO series 'The Sympathizer' in the spoiler-free section (9:36). It's full spoilers from that point as all three are eager to talk about the penultimate episode of 'Shōgun,' "Crimson Sky" (15:18). Then it's more in-depth with the first episode of 'The Sympathizer' as Blaine and Donvoan talk about its blend of comedy and gravitas and if that's sustainable (35:15). Find a lot more at TheAlabamaTake.com as well as the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take.

This week, Blaine begins with The Alabama Take and its newest endeavor: a newsletter, plus some more news (1:40)! Blaine then talks about headlines in pop culture that contain spoilers for TV shows and movies -- and he calls out names (3:30). Donovan joins the podcast, and they briefly discuss what they may think of the new Apple TV+ series 'Franklin' since they have yet to see it (8:30). They discuss a few spoiler-free things related to Shōgun (12:16) before getting into the specifics and spoilers of the eighth episode, titled "The Abyss of Life," with boils with intensity (13:45). Blaine also reviews the latest episode of 'Sugar' and its developing mystery which may be too easy to have determined (33:28). For the newsletter, head to https://www.thealabamatake.com/newsletter to sign up!Also, visit www.thealabamatake.com and leave any voice message for any podcast! Join in!

In this week's TV and streaming coverage on Taking It Down, the hosts discuss the TV series Shōgun and the two-episode premier of the Apple TV+ show Sugar. To begin, Blaine has brief thoughts without any spoilers for 3 Body Problem from Netflix (2:07) and Manhunt (3:09) before he brings in Adam and Donovan to give them advice on transcripts with podcasts (4:07). From there, the hosts talk about both Shōgun (5:02) and Sugar (6:51) with no spoilers as they determine if they would recommend each. From there, it's a deep discussion on the seventh episode of Shōgun titled "A Stick of Time" (8:52). On the back half of the episode, Blaine reveals the specifics of why Sugar delivers a knock-out punch with two episodes (31:22).

Host Blaine flies solo this week to discuss what in the world is up with Mary Poppins (3:54) before he talks broadly about Shōgun with no spoilers (6:03) and then dissects the sixth episode of Shōgun titled "Ladies of the Willow World" (7:19). This week's episode features an ad from our friends at the podcast Polyphonic Press, a show for music fans of all stripes where each week the hosts review a classic album from a list of over one-thousand releases from all genres of music. The twist? They have no idea what album will spin! Join them on Tuesdays for a new classic album and listen along to rediscover (or discover) the best in music.

This week on Taking It Down, Blaine begins with a quick, non-spoiler thought on Netflix's The Gentlemen (2:59). From there, he discusses without spoiling Manhunt from Apple TV+ (3:16) and 3 Body Problem on Netflix with no spoilers (5:47). After a hello from Adam, the two give some non-spoiler thoughts on Shōgun overall (8:39) before discussing TV's odd schedule (9:44). From there, they discuss Shōgun's fifth episode "Broken To The Fist," which has spoilers from that point forward (11:24). This week's episode features an ad from our friends at the podcast Polyphonic Press, a show for music fans of all stripes where each week the hosts review a classic album from a list of over one-thousand releases from all genres of music. The twist? They have no idea what album will spin! Join them on Tuesdays for a new classic album and listen along to rediscover (or discover) the best in music.Find and talk to Taking It Down on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.As always, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take features all episodes of this podcast and the rest of the family of podcasts.

The TV and streaming from The Alabama Take family of podcasts returns! This week, Taking It Down begins with a new introduction from host Blaine (0:00), which also includes a few non-spoiler thoughts about the Netflix series The Gentlemen starring Theo James and created by Guy Ritchie (4:20). The co-hosts then join the discussion: can they recommend the new series Shōgun on FX/Hulu (7:55)? After the suggestions for listeners, it's a deep dive into spoilers of the show that account for why Shōgun is as good as it is (12:37). Welcome back!This week's episode features an ad from our friends at the podcast Polyphonic Press, a show for music fans of all stripes where each week the hosts review a classic album from a list of over one-thousand releases from all genres of music. The twist? They have no idea what album will spin! Join them on Tuesdays for a new classic album and listen along to rediscover (or discover) the best in music.Find and talk to Taking It Down on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.As always, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take features all episodes of this podcast and the rest of the family of podcasts.

In this episode, Blaine and Donovan discuss the recent change in the video schedule for Taking It Down On Video (1:22) before they then delve into the setting of Alaska in True Detective: Night Country to answer the question: is it attempting too much (3:06)? To end, the two discuss various topics, including Apple TV+ originals, and other TV shows that could play a role for the podcast going forward (28:30), such as Manhunt, Constellation, Sugar, The Big Door Prize, Dark Matter, and The Lady in the Lake. Look at TV from a different angle: Taking It Down is the The Alabama Take's TV and streaming podcast from irrelevant Southern thinkers. Audio podcast is out every Tuesday morning and can be streamed above or with the links at the bottom of the page. The video component of the podcast airs on Wednesday evenings at 5:00 p.m. CST. Takeaways The change in the video schedule for Taking It Down on Video has been made to align better with the coverage of the challenge and to provide a separate entity for challenge discussion.The setting of Alaska in True Detective allows for an exploration of mental illness in a dark environment.The supernatural element in the show could benefit from a more subtle approach, with hints and glimpses rather than jump scares.The engaging endings of the episodes create anticipation for the next one and keep viewers hooked.The characters' mental states, such as Navarro's bleeding ears, add to the mystery and intrigue of the show.The unresolved storylines and the introduction of new characters, like Otis Heiss, leave viewers wanting more.Other TV shows, such as those on Apple TV, offer potential for exciting and compelling storytelling. The search for John Wilkes Booth after he kills Lincoln is a fascinating historical drama.Apple TV+ has a variety of original shows, including Constellation, Sugar, The Big Door Prize, Dark Matter, and The Lady in the Lake.Ash Wednesday is a significant day for Elvis Perkins fans. The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going.

To begin, it's a quick question on the Expats on Amazon Prime (1:27), before shifting into Masters of the Air on Apple TV+ to land on how it holds up thus far against its predecessors from HBO (4:02). The hosts ask Donovan why he watches Bluey (20:38) before Donovan and Blaine break down "Part Three" of True Detective: Night Country to uncover just how good it is at its halfway point and to question if it leans to heavily into one particular aspect the first season may have avoided (24:07). At 5:00 p.m. CST on Tuesdays, you can watch the the weekly YouTube video segment, which has the group discussing how bad this season is of The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion as well as the dominating performance of the elimination winner. Takeaways The TV show Masters of the Air has received mixed reviews, with some praising its portrayal of World War II and others finding it lacking compared to previous war-themed series.The animated children's show Bluey has garnered a following among both kids and adults, with its relatable characters and heartwarming stories.The hosts express their opinions on various TV shows and highlight the importance of personal preferences when it comes to entertainment.The discussion of True Detective: Night Country "Part 3: provides insights and analysis of the episode, showcasing the hosts' engagement with the series.The show could potentially continue as an anthology series, exploring different themes and characters in each season.The portrayal of women in the series is complex and highlights their strength and resilience.Flashbacks provide insight into characters' pasts and relationships.Living in darkness for extended periods can have a significant impact on mental health.Unresolved threads, such as the trailer and effigy, leave room for further exploration in future episodes.The destruction of nature by human activities may be connected to the emergence of ancient horror. The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going. Find the other podcasts in The Alabama Take network in any podcast app. Not only that, but all podcasts now appear in the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take. For Taking It Down, that includes both the audio version of the episode and the bonus footage from that week.

Look at TV from a different angle: Taking It Down is the The Alabama Take's TV and streaming podcast from irrelevant Southern thinkers. Audio podcast is out every Tuesday morning and can be streamed above or with the links at the bottom of the page. The video component of the podcast airs on Tuesday evenings at 5:00 p.m. CST. For this week, it takes a full episode to dig into the mysteries of "Part Two" of the captivating True Detective: North Country. After a brief discussion on some co-hosts' whereabouts and a quick story about Bob Dylan (2:33), Donovan and Blaine begin to unravel the second episode of the HBO series (3:23).

This week! Big finishes and strong beginnings. WTF happened at the end of The Curse (1:58)? And some questions as well as praises for the end of Fargo (26:16). Lastly, True Detective: Night Country was as strong as ever for a first episode and we explain why (39:33). Taking It Down is the The Alabama Take's TV and streaming podcast for listeners who have time for the TV, but not time for much else. From us, you'll get the mundane and absurd, the complex and the simple, the easy and the hard all with zero Hollywood b.s. For extra footage, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has even more from Taking It Down.  The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going. Find the other podcasts in The Alabama Take network in any podcast app or here on the site. Not only that, but all podcasts now appear in the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take. For Taking It Down, that includes both the audio version of the episode and the bonus footage from that week.

For the episode this week, the entire crew gathers to determine just what to make of the Amazon Prime film Saltburn (1:46) and Donovan and Blaine break down the direction of the two most recent episodes of Fargo, "Linda" and "Blanket" (22:20). For extra footage, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has even more from Taking It Down. This week, the extra YouTube video has the crew returning to their weekly coverage of The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion and some focused griping as well as thoughts on how the show could improve. Summary This week, the first segment is all about Saltburn from Amazon Prime. It covers various themes, comparisons to other films, opinions on the movie, debate on the controversial scenes, unscripted moments, nostalgic music, age and experience, critiques of it, class argument, implications, analysis of a scene, domino effect in the movie, and the performance of the actors. The second segment has a deep dive into "Blankets," the recent episode of Fargo. Takeaways The controversial scenes in the movie sparked a debate among the participants.The movie was compared to other films, with a focus on the cast and performances.Opinions on the movie varied, with some participants enjoying it despite the controversial scenes.The class argument in the movie was discussed, with differing views on its effectiveness.The movie had moments of unscripted improvisation, which added to the overall experience.The plot and believability of certain aspects of the movie were critiqued.The performance of the actors, particularly Jacob Elordi, was praised.Different interpretations of the movie's themes and messages were explored.The use of nostalgic music and its impact on the viewing experience was discussed.The conversation concluded with mixed feelings about the movie and its overall quality.The two recent episodes of Fargo.

This week, staffer and movie buff Ty Edmondson is back on the podcast to talk about his favorite things of the year that was as well as give a glimpse into what could be worth our time in 2024. Blaine and Ty discuss their favorite movies (1:25), including Past Lives and Beau Is Afraid. They also talk about the Wes Anderson collection on Netflix (10:25) and Ridley Scott's Napoleon (11:38). The conversation then shifts to books and TV shows, with recommendations such as The Creative Act by Rick Rubin and Miss Jane by Brad Watson (13:08). They also discuss their favorite concerts and music, including the artist underscores and the album Scaring the Hoes by JPEGMafia and Danny Brown (20:38). The conversation covers various topics including music, social media, upcoming movies and TV shows, and a mention of the Mean Girls reboot (40:30). The hosts discuss their favorite artists and albums, their transition to using alternative social media platforms, and their anticipation for new releases coming in 2024 (46:08). Summary In this conversation, Blaine and Ty Edmondson discuss their favorite movies, including 'Past Lives' and 'Bo Is Afraid.' They also talk about the Wes Anderson collection on Netflix and Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon.' The conversation then shifts to books and TV shows, with recommendations such as 'The Creative Act' by Rick Rubin and 'Miss Jane' by Brad Watson. They also discuss their favorite concerts and music, including the artist underscores and the album 'Scaring the Hose' by JPEG mafia and Danny Brown. The conversation covers various topics including music, social media, upcoming movies and TV shows, and a mention of the Mean Girls reboot. The hosts discuss their favorite artists and albums, their transition to using alternative social media platforms, their anticipation for new releases in the entertainment industry, and their thoughts on the Mean Girls reboot. Overall, the conversation provides insights into their personal interests and opinions on popular culture. Takeaways The hosts share their favorite artists and albums in the music genre. They discuss their transition to using alternative social media platforms. They express their excitement for upcoming movies and TV shows. They mention the Mean Girls reboot and discuss the cultural significance of the original movie. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Recap 01:25 - Favorite Movies 06:03 - Barbie and Oppenheimer 10:25 - Wes Anderson Collection 11:38 - Ridley Scott's Napoleon 13:08 - Books and TV Shows 20:38 - Concerts and Music 36:50 - Discussion about music and artists 40:30 - Transition to talking about social media 41:57 - Speculation about the future of Twitter 46:08 - Anticipation for upcoming movies and TV shows 52:19 - Mention of Mean Girls reboot 54:59 - Closing remarks and goodbye to Twitter The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going. Find the other podcasts in The Alabama Take network in any podcast app. Not only that, but all podcasts now appear in the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take. For Taking It Down, that includes both the audio version of the episode and the...

The sole focus of the audio this week is the new Netflix film Leave the World Behind. One of the crew loved it, one hated it, and another believes he comes to like it. Summary The conversation revolves around the movie 'Leave the World Behind' on Netflix. The hosts discuss various aspects of the film, including the similarity between actors, the dizzying camera work, cinematography preferences, expectations from the director, and a comparison with the TV show 'Mr. Robot'. They conclude with closing remarks and announcements for future episodes. Main Points The similarity between actors can be distracting for viewers. Dizzying camera work can be a polarizing aspect the movie. Knowing the director's style and expectations can influence one's perception of a film. Comparisons with other works can provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of Leave the World Behind. Episode 182 Chapters 3:23 - The cinematography of Leave the World Behind 6:41 - The plot of the film with no spoilers 7:54 - Spoilers begin for Leave the World Behind 8:47 - Why the editing does work more than the camera work 16:54 - The final scene of the movie 27:44 - Next week on the podcast and beyond The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going. Find the other podcasts in The Alabama Take network in any podcast app or on the site.

For this week's episode, the crew start with some quick Substack shoutouts that are worthy of your time (1:24) before looking back on Loki without any spoilers now that the second season has ended (3:06). After that, it's a debate on if The Curse from Nathan Fielder and Showtime is funny or any good at all (5:33). The final segment after the break has Donovan and Blaine breaking down the specifics of the third episode of this fifth season of Fargo on FX and Hulu (22:01). If you're a fan of video podcasts, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has extra footage different from the audio episode.  The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going. Find the other podcasts in The Alabama Take network in any podcast app. Not only that, but all podcasts now appear in the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take.

This week, we get right to the point: is Napoleon a good movie? It sure could've been with some of these fixes (2:03). After the break, we discuss how Fargo returns, checks some boxes, but gets back to form (21:18). If you're a fan of video podcasts, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has extra footage different from the audio episode, found below, but we need a name. Chime in! Win prizes! The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going. Find the other podcasts in The Alabama Take network in any podcast app. Not only that, but all podcasts now appear in the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take.

In this week's audio version of the podcast, the entire crew is here to first dive into the current season of MTV's The Challenge: we'll unpack why it has a different vibe and who annoys us most (1:20). After a break, Donovan talks himself into possibly loving the new David Fincher movie on Netflix The Killer (14:05) before we spoil the movie (23:04). If you're a fan of video podcasts, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has extra footage different from the audio episode, found below, with takes on the new trailer for the upcoming film Napoleon as well as leftover thoughts on The Beatles and the bad reviews of The Marvels.

With only Adam and Blaine this week, the guys veer way out of the podcast's usual lane of TV to talk about The Beatles. Prompted by the new single "Now and Then," they talk discuss production, albums, and songs. The episode begins with the podcast's roots (1:20) before explaining why this week isn't a TV episode (2:23). There's a dash of football discussion (4:29) before the two hosts talk about The Beatles: the new single, previous work without John Lennon, favorite albums, favorite songs, and the man who played hundreds of copies of The White Album (5:44). The episode wraps with a mushroom-specific "Strawberry Fields Forever" tale (30:27) before Adam assigns some Beatles homework everyone will love (31:49). If you're a fan of video podcasts, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has extra footage different from the audio episode, found below, with takes on Daylight Saving Time, seasons, and author Caleb Johnson's recent fiction "The Camper."

This week for the audio episode of the podcast, Donovan and Blaine discuss some new options with the audio and video versions of Taking It Down (1:45) before moving into the sad news of Matthew Perry's death (3:20). Then it's a wrap on the final four episodes of the Netflix series The Fall Of The House Of Usher (7:54). Was it worth it? Does it answer all of its questions? If you're a fan of video podcasts, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has extra footage from the audio episode, found below, with some thoughts on the Tuscaloosa Chukker reunion and what to make of the new season of The Challenge, its thirty-ninth installment of the series. The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going. Find the other podcasts in The Alabama Take network in any podcast app. Not only that, but all podcasts now appear in the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take. For Taking It Down, a bonus footage version is on YouTube.

This week for the audio episode of the podcast, the four hosts have brief announcements on where they'll be this week if you want to come and see them (2:13) before getting into some thoughts on social media sites (5:37). From there, it's the problems of the still enjoyable Loki series on Disney+ (7:19). After a short break, there's a break down of episodes three and four of The Fall Of The House Of Usher, and one host ain't buying it (23:02). To wrap, there's a short talk on Tuscaloosa music, particularly a show in the coming days (49:16). If you're a fan of video podcasts, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has an extended version the episode with discussions about Alabama author Caleb R. Johnson, the new Rolling Stones' album, and the finale of The Challenge: USA on CBS.  The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going. Find the other podcasts in The Alabama Take network in any podcast app or in the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take.

All four co-hosts this week are pretty interested in the new trailer of True Detective: Night Country, which is set in Alaska and stars Jodie Foster, and each of the hosts determines what's the impact the show could have (2:08). After that, the group pick up where they left off last week and analyze the final three short films from Wes Anderson on Netflix: The Rat Catcher, Poison, and The Swan (7:04). The final segment covers the first two episodes of the Netflix horror show The Fall of the House of Usher where the group differs on its level of entertainment (21:47). If you're a fan of video podcasts, the YouTube channel for The Alabama Take has an extended version the episode with discussions about Loki's second episode with no spoilers and The Challenge: USA with spoilers.  The Alabama Take brings you an entire family of podcasts and writings -- all with no ads! But we still have some bills to pay. If there's nothing in the shop to interest you, feel free to make a donation: venture to Buy Me A Coffee or visit our Venmo and PayPal to help to keep the site, the writings, and podcasts going.