Today's Episode

Netflix’s new Polish miniseries The Doll, adapted from Bolesław Prus’s 19th-century novel, has all the features of a traditional period drama: pretentious wealth, class inequality, risky investments, war, and women being pressured into marriage. Beneath the fancy costumes and horse-drawn carriages, however, lies a surprisingly violent and chaotic climax that deserves some discussion.
On the podcast, we break down the premiere, including Izabela Łęcka’s fight for independence, Stanisław Wokulski’s obsessive pursuit of her affection, and a father who may have gambled away the family fortune on a disastrous investment. We also get into the novel’s history, comparisons to The Gilded Age, Downton Abbey, The Knick, and more, and whether the cliffhanger is enough to make this pilot stand out as one of the best of the year.
Tune in to hear our thoughts and rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Inspired by the graphic novel Berlinoir, Hulu’s new German vampire thriller City of Blood takes place in a dystopian Berlin where the wealthy live beneath a climate-controlled dome. Estranged sisters Bea and Phoebe reunite after 15 years, only for Bea to discover that her sister is involved in an illegal blood trade.
On the podcast, we break down the first episode. We discuss the show’s best qualities from its world-building, politics, grounded supernatural aspects, and family drama. We also nitpick some character decisions and connect our comparisons.
Tune in to hear our thoughts and rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Released early on YouTube, Adult Swim’s latest series, The Terrors of Jordan Mendoza, is a live-action horror alt-comedy hosted by Steve Buscemi. It stars the titular Jordan Mendoza as he flips through sketches ranging from weird to completely deranged.
On the podcast, we break down the 11-minute premiere, “Had This Crazy Dream.” We discuss Mendoza’s internet-driven comedy career, the show's production and composers, and how it fits into Adult Swim’s long history of weird live-action programming. We also draw comparisons to I Think You Should Leave, Fantasmas, and Los Espookys, and play a few rounds of Adult Swim trivia. Tune in to hear our thoughts and final rating! Welcome to Today’s Episode!

For our 73rd review of the year, we’re checking out Apple’s latest drama, Last Seen, starring Patrick Brammall as a former detective still haunted by the disappearance of his daughter Mags.
On the podcast, we break down the first two episodes, “Last Seen” and “The Call,” discuss the grief, mystery, small-town secrets, and the insane amount of leeway Ian seems to get from the supportive community. We also compare the series to other missing-child thrillers, question whether the slow burn adds depth or just pads the runtime, and give our predictions concerning the ending cliffhanger. 
Tune in to hear our thoughts and rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and apparently it was also time for another adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities.
MGM+ and BBC One’s new four-part miniseries stars Kit Harington, Mirren Mack, and François Civil in a heavily reworked version of Charles Dickens’ 1859 novel. The premiere, “Recalled to Life,” throws Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton together almost immediately as news of Lucie’s supposedly dead father, a treason trial, and the beginnings of a love triangle collide.
On the podcast, we break down the first episode, compare Daniel West’s version with Dickens’ original story, and discuss some of its biggest changes, including Lucie's age-up, her dead proxy-father, and grave robbing. We also get into  the trial, the historical setting, other period-drama comparisons, and whether this show has impressed the critics.
Tune in to hear our thoughts and rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!