Still Watching: True Detective, Season 4

Richard, Chris, and Hillary bid farewell to the podcast by remembering some of their favorite series finales ever—and promise to never stop believin'.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary are handing out awards this week and designating which programs deserve to be named the best drama, comedy, and reality series in television history.

The Girls star Allison Williams joins Chris, Richard, and Hillary to talk about the beloved show's polarizing run, its surprising afterlife, and what Marnie might be up to in 2024: "I think she's still looking." Plus, our listeners reveal their favorite episodes of Girls.

Chris, Hillary, and Richard make the case for revisiting Lena Dunham's Girls and debate which of three standouts is the show's best episode ever.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into the second season of Netflix's twisty drama, starring Keri Russell as an ambassador caught in a political storm. Plus, showrunner Debora Cahn illuminates the season's explosive ending, and gives just a few hints about what to expect from the show's already-in-the-works third season.

Chris, Richard, and Hillary dig into the overlap between the election and entertainment as they dig into two long-running comedies with a political bent. Plus, Daily Show host Desi Lydic stops by to discuss finding humor in a nail-bitingly close race and the endless absurdity of a Donald Trump rally.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary go up, up, and away with HBO's newest comedy, which details the dysfunction behind the scenes of a Marvel-esque would-be blockbuster. Plus, showrunner John Brown and executive producer Armando Iannucci stop by to chat about satirizing comic-book movies from a place of affection.

Vanity Fair's TV reporter Joy Press returns to chat with host Chris Murphy about season three of HBO's breakout hit. Plus, Industry stars Harry Lawtey and Marisa Abela discuss their love triangle with Kit Harington. 

Survivor superfan Richard schools Chris and Hillary on the long-running reality competition's "new era" before the trio discusses its latest season. Plus, Emmy-winning emcee Jeff Probst stops by to talk 24 years of Survivor, how podcaster Jon Lovett wound up getting the boot so early, and his personal gameplay advice.Share your thoughts on Still Watching. As a token of our appreciation, you will be eligible to enter a prize drawing up to $1,000 after you complete the survey.https://selfserve.decipherinc.com/survey/selfserve/222b/76152?pin=1&uBRANDLINK=5&uCHANNELLINK=2

Chris, Richard, and Hillary discuss the premiere of FX's latest American Story series, which this time is focused on the tragic life of troubled New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez. Plus, star Josh Rivera drops by to chat about getting into NFL shape and how making the show changed his feelings about football.Share your thoughts on Still Watching. As a token of our appreciation, you will be eligible to enter a prize drawing up to $1,000 after you complete the survey.https://selfserve.decipherinc.com/survey/selfserve/222b/76152?pin=1&uBRANDLINK=5&uCHANNELLINK=2

Chris, Hillary, and returning special guest Savannah Walsh dig into Hulu's juicy reality show about bickering Mormon influencers. Plus, executive producer Jeff Jenkins stops by to explain why Taylor and Dakota are the Kourtney and Scott of Mormon Wives, and what a second season of the show might look like. Share your thoughts on Still Watching. As a token of our appreciation, you will be eligible to enter a prize drawing up to $1,000 after you complete the survey.https://selfserve.decipherinc.com/survey/selfserve/222b/76152?pin=1&uBRANDLINK=5&uCHANNELLINK=2

Former Simpsons showrunner Bill Oakley joins to tell Chris, Richard, and Hillary all about working on the show during its golden age, how he came up with the endlessly memed "Steamed Hams" sketch, and why the show did a throwaway joke about Donald Trump being elected president.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down two more all-time classic episodes of The Simpsons—did somebody say "monorail?"—then put their heads together to determine which favorite deserves to be no. 1 on Comic Book Guy's best-ever list. 

Grab a doughnut and a can of Duff: We're doing a special miniseries looking back at The Simpsons, the hugely influential comedy that premiered 35 years ago this fall. This week, we'll talk about three of our favorite episodes of all time; next week, we'll talk about two more, before crowning one half-hour the best of all. Woohoo!

Richard, Chris, and Hillary chat about Netflix's frothy hit series (and test out their high school French), while Lily Collins stops by to talk about Emily's evolution, and where she'd love to see her character travel next.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary unpack the finale and wonder where its cliffhanger ending may lead. Plus, we reveal which host won our season-long competition to predict who would die next on the series.

Does Rhaenyra finally have an edge? Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down season two's penultimate episode and chat with director Loni Peristere about staging that intense trip to the dragon pit and what's really going on with Alicent when she takes her trip to the woods.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss Westeros's newest dragonrider, Rhaenyra's strategic win (and surprising new love interest), and wonder why a queen in King's Landing would ever leave her house. Plus, Ewan Mitchell drops by to chat about Aemond's outer villainy and inner turmoil.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down a quieter hour that sets up the rest of the season (and includes some very icky ghost sex). Plus, Tom Glynn-Carney stops by to talk about why Aegon is more of a tragic figure than a villain, and why shooting his big dragon fight was like living a little boy's dream.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down season two's most devastating loss yet, while Eve Best stops by to discuss Rhaenys's journey and how difficult it is to really ride a dragon.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down Rhaenera and Alicent's surprise tete-a-tete, Aemond and Aegon's sibling rivalry, and Daemon's possibly doomed acquisition of a haunted castle. Plus, Sir Simon Russell Beale drops by to break down whose side Ser Simon Strong is really on, and the danger of playing an apparently good person in George R. R. Martin's world.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down the fallout from last week's horrific tragedy, and place their bets for who might die next. Plus, episode director Clare Kilner joins to discuss how Princess Diana's funeral inspired Alicent and Helaena's procession through King's Landing and what's really driving King Aegon.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary fly back into Westeros for another season of HBO's big-budget Game of Thrones prequel. Plus, cast member Phia Saban, who plays Queen Helaena, drops by to talk about her witchy character and how she made a particularly heartbreaking choice this episode.

The first season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series was a mixed bag—compelling performances stymied by rushed storytelling. Will it find its groove this year? Richard, Chris, and Hillary will find out as they dig into season two on the next season of Still Watching.

Chris, Hillary, and Savannah break down the season's juicy conclusion, while Luke Newton stops by to break down Colin and Penelope's steamy mirror scene and his Bridgerton future.

As we eagerly await the return of Bridgerton, Chris, Richard, and Hillary look back at their favorite duos from Shonda Rhimes series past and present—from Olivia and Fitz to Meredith and... Cristina?

Chris and Savannah sit down with Nicola Coughlan to learn all of Lady Whistledown's secrets and play a very special Bravo-themed game.

Chris, Hillary, and guest host Savannah Walsh unpack the first four episodes of Bridgerton season three, from its rom-com feel to a certain very steamy ride. Plus, Claudia Jesse joins to chat about Eloise's journey, and what might be in store the rest of the season.

Chris, Hillary, and guest host Savannah Walsh are diving into the third season of Netflix's steamy Regency romance. But first, we discuss how the show took TV by storm, and what we're hoping to see in its long-awaited return to streaming.

Now that several classic Bravo series are newly streaming on Peacock, Richard, Chris, and Hillary look back at the network's transformation from fine-art showcase to reality TV mecca. Plus, the hosts break down the vintage Bravo scenes they're still thinking about (and discuss listeners' favorites, too).

On this week's episode, Chris, Hillary, and Richard discuss the first three episodes of the new HBO mini-series The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Later in the episode, series star Hoa Xuande stops by to talk about what makes the show so special and how it feels to be in his first lead role. 

Richard, Chris, and Hillary didn't get a chance to analyze the sumptuous latest edition of FX's Feud episode by episode—so we're covering the whole series now, complete with an in-depth interview with showrunner and writer Jon Robin Baitz.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary unwrap the final four episodes of Ripley, while Andrew Scott joins to explain how at his core, Tom Ripley is just "somebody who hasn't been given access to the beautiful things in life."

Andrew Scott makes for a captivating killer in the first four episodes of Netflix's Ripley, streaming now. Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into the sumptuously shot series, while Dakota Fanning stops by to talk about her new spin on Marge Sherwood and the simply ghastly experience of filming for months in gorgeous Italy.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down The Regime's final episode, and reveal which of them correctly guessed who would be leading Genovia by the end of the series. Later, VF correspondent Miriam Elder drops by to reveal what The Regime got right about despots, and what it didn't.

Terrible Christmas tidings hit Kate Winslet's autocracy in the penultimate episode of The Regime. Richard, Chris, and Hillary sift through the ashes, while Andrea Riseborough stops by to break down Agnes's tragic arc.

The show finally introduces Grant's Ed Keplinger, a liberal ex-chancellor whose democratic leanings may be less progressive than they seem. Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down his introduction to The Regime and chat with Grant about reuniting with Kate Winslet and what Keplinger really believes.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dissect Elena's latest heal-turn, and what it means for Zuback's future. Plus, Guillaume Gallienne joins to discuss playing first husband Nicky: "He's a bit of a masochist. He likes to be her rug."

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into how Zuback's quick ascent has affected Genovia. Plus, Matthias Schoenaerts stops by to chat about playing the Butcher of Site 5 and rubbing mustard on Kate Winslet.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dive into The Regime, a satirical dramedy from the mind of Succession alum Will Tracey. Plus, star Kate Winslet joins to break down the similarities between her and autocratic chancellor Elena.

"Kate Winslet returns to HBO but this time tries her hand at comedy with The Regime. Chris, Hillary and Richard discuss what they're looking forward to in this six part limited series."

Night Country's showrunner breaks down season four's most surprising Easter eggs, the backstories we didn't get to see, and what it's like to tangle online with passionate True Detective fans.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss how Night Country reveals both what happened to the scientists and who really killed Annie K. Plus, Jodie Foster joins to dig into how the ending reinforces all of the show's themes, filming her big underwater scene, and why time, truly, is a flat circle.

As episode five premieres early on Max to avoid the Super Bowl, Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down Night Country's biggest twist yet, while John Hawkes stops by to talk about writing Hank's unbelievably bleak song and staging a very tense standoff.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss Ennis's incredibly depressing holiday, complete with death, breakdowns, and a heart-wrenching romantic diss. Plus, Kali Reis joins to talk all things Evangeline Navarro, and how this episode's major tragedy will drive her going forward

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into the reason behind Danvers and Navarro's rift, Hank's hillibillies, and a theory that climate change could be responsible for the Tsalal deaths. Plus, Isabella LaBlanc joins to talk about bringing Leah Danvers to life.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary talk cliffhangers, Raymond Clark and Annie K's mysterious relationship, and season four's surprising connection to True Detective season one. Plus, Christopher Eccleston joins to chat about letting everything hang out in his sex scene with Jodie Foster.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary head north to break down our introduction to Jodie Foster's Liz Danvers, the dual mysteries driving this season, and that mind-boggling final image. Plus, Finn Bennett joins to discuss playing naive young cop Peter Prior and how True Detective gave him Covid (twice!).

Can a new showrunner and Jodie Foster reinvigorate one of prestige TV's most beloved franchises? Richard, Chris, and Hillary are about to find out with an all-new season of Still Watching dedicated to True Detective season four.

In the highest-grossing movie of 2023, Barbie, a literal doll, leaves the comforts of Barbieland and ventures into real-world Los Angeles, where she discovers the myriad difficulties of modern womanhood. This arc from cosseted naïveté to feminist awakening is a narrative throughline that connects some of the biggest cultural products of the year. In this episode of Critics at Large, the staff writers Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss how 2023 became “the year of the doll,” tracing the trope from “Barbie” to Yorgos Lanthimos's film “Poor Things,” whose protagonist finds self-determination through sexual agency, and beyond. In Sofia Coppola's “Priscilla,” a teen-age Priscilla Beaulieu lives under the thumb of Elvis at Graceland before finally breaking free, while in Emma Cline's novel “The Guest,” the doll figure must fend for herself after the trappings of luxury fall away, revealing the precarity of her circumstances. The hosts explore how ideas about whiteness, beauty, and women's bodily autonomy inform these works, and how the shock of political backsliding might explain why these stories struck a chord with audiences. “Most of us believed that the work of Roe v. Wade was done,” Cunningham says. “If that is a message that we could all grasp—that a step forward is not a permanent thing—I think that would be a positive thing.”Read, watch, and listen with the critics:“Barbie” (2023) “M3GAN” (2023) “Poor Things” (2023) “Priscilla” (2023) “The Guest,” by Emma Cline “The House of Mirth,” by Edith WhartonNew episodes drop every Thursday. Follow Critics at Large wherever you get your podcasts. 

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down the series finale of The Crown, while producer Suzanne Mackie goes deep on the scene that united Imelda Staunton, Olivia Colman, and Claire Foy for the first time.