April 2019 – The Toy Department

The Toy Department – Episode 164

In Episode 164, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky obnoxiously reference their off-pod golf debate before getting back to business with:

The second episode of the final season of HBO’s Game of Thrones (1:50) and why Madden preferred the style of this week’s set-up to the premiere episode, plus an extended breakdown of who is likely to die this weekend…
Netflix’s animated anthology Love, Death & Robots (37:15) and how its short run time and ultra-realistic animation make for an interesting watch…
Amazon’s show Hanna (40:50) — based on the Saoirsie Ronan/Eric Bana movie of the same name — and what could make it stand out from the average action series or movie…
The Gad Elmaleh-starring Netflix series Huge in France (46:55) and whether its charm is enough to carry it without a lot of huge laughs…
The ongoing drama of the NBA Playoffs (50:50) with special focus on the greatness of Damian Lillard…
Homework for next week (1:06:15), including: Derek getting his act together and watching The New Negroes on BET/Comedy Central, another episode of Game of Thrones and EVEN MORE NBA playoff action…

In Episode 163, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky go through the nitty gritty of Kolsky’s new job as an in-home nurse before navigating through:

The return of Game of Thrones (8:50) and why one of our hosts liked the long-awaited season premiere more than the other…
The apparent binge sensation Schitt’s Creek (19:35) and whether it’s worthy of the recommendations the guys had been given…
Netflix’s Our Planet (23:50) and the joy of watching wildlife shot from incredible angles in brilliant high definition…
The debut full-length from young pop prospect Billie Eilish (35:20) and how she continues to show the makings of a star…
The start of the NBA Playoffs (423:05), with special focus on the Warriors’ massive collapse in Game 2 against the Clippers…
Homework for next week (54:45), including: more NBA Playoffs, the new Netflix show Huge in France, The New Negroes with Baron Vaugh and Open Mike Eagle on BET/Comedy Central, the Netflix anthology Love, Death and Robots, and Hanna on Amazon Prime…

In Episode 162, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky talk about Madden’s rough day and Minneapolis’s impending blizzard before making their way through:

The series finalé of FX’s You’re the Worst (3:35) and how it will go down as a personal favorite for one host and a great peak tv comedy for the other…
The premiere of Season 3 of IFC’s Brockmire (16:25) and its incredible hit rate of hilarity…
HBO’s documentary The Inventor (25:25) and the way it tells the bizarre story of Elizabeth Holmes…
The return of BBC America’s Killing Eve (34:55) and how excited both guys are to return to the world that Season 1 established…
Showtime’s The Chi (40:10) establishing itself as a well-executed premium drama as it begins its second season…
The first episode of FX’s Fosse/Verdon (48:35) and whether there’s more here than enthralling acting performances…
Some thoughts on the NBA MVP debate (54:35) between Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden and a quick preview of the playoffs (which begin this weekend)…
Homework for next week (1:14:45), including: GAME OF THRONES IS BACK!!! plus Billie Eilish’s new album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and watching Schitt’s Creek and Our Planet on Netflix…

In Episode 161, Derek Madden and Matt Kolsky literally make small talk about weather before getting serious on:

Derek’s viewing of Jordan Peele’s Us (3:25) and whether Kolsky is being a big ol’ wimp about seeing it…
The TV premiere of What We Do in the Shadows (17:05) on FX, and how it compares to the film it is based on…
The start of the seventh season of Veep on HBO (21:00) and how the show has changed over time…
The return of HBO’s Barry (26:25) in a somewhat pilot-y fashion, resetting the world we got to know in Season 1…
The end of Miracle Workers on TBS (29:05) and how it made an enjoyable little treat…
The end of Season 1 of Black Monday (33:55) and whether there’s enough on the bone to bring an effective satire back for a second season…
The end of HBO’s documentary series The Case Against Adnan Syed (38:50) and the ongoing injustices of the story we first heard through Serial…
Homework for next week (54:40), including: the return of several show favorites on TV — Killing Eve, Brockmire and The Chi — plus the series finale of You’re The Worst, the series premiere of Fosse/Verdon and a few movies for the back burner: The Inventor and Native Son (both on HBO) and The Highwaymen on Netflix…