Craig Elsten and Chris Reed review and compare a couple of summer mystery series: "Untamed" from Netflix, and "Smoke" on AppleTV+. The guys do non-spoiler reviews and recommendations before doing brief spoiler sections for both shows. They wrap up with "What We're Watching" with some more recommendations and a setup for episode #250

TIME CODES

:30  Intro
5:30 Untamed non-spoiler review
26:00 Untamed mini-spoiler section
40:00 Smoke non-spoiler review
49:00  Smoke mini-spoiler section (only spoiling through three episodes)
57:30 What We’re Watching, next episode preview

SHOW NOTES

:30--intro
2:00--housekeeping/listener e-mail
5:00--the decades-long history of The Eternaut in Argentina
10:00--The Eternaut NON-SPOILER review begins
18:00--the excellent Ricardo Darín in the lead role
26:45--SPOILER review

SHOW NOTES/TIME CODES

• :30--Intro
• 3:00--listener e-mails ([email protected])
• 9:20--Murderbot Season Finale talk (spoilers)
• 14:30--Poker Face Season 2 final overview
• 17:00--favorite episodes and guest stars
• 23:30--do we like putting Charlie back on the road?
• 27:30--welcome Raphie Cantor
• 29:00--getting involved with Poker Face, working with Rian Johnson
• 43:00--how does the writers room match senses of humor and style?
• 50:00--creating the Alex/Iguana arc
• 58:30--getting promoted to staff writer, creating the concepts for episode 10
• 1:04:15--Guest star interactions on set
• 1:08:00--What We're Watching

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed are back with one of the longer episodes in show history, because they've got a LOT to say about Squid Game Season 3! 

SHOW NOTES

Welcome/housekeeping/email/5-star reviews

SQUID GAME 3

• Why is Squid Game the most popular IP in Netflix history? (8:30)
• From original to franchise to game/video game, Squid Game loses its meaning as a thing of horror
• What did we like about Squid Game 2/3?
• Was the final season (split in two) too long of a slog? (29:00)
• Specific show critiques of Season 3 (42:00)
• Setting up a US spin-off of Squid Game, do we need this? (56:30)

DUSTER CANCELED AFTER ONE SEASON (1:07:30)

• Finale thoughts
• Canceled by HBO Max…(it might have been for the best)

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

• A recommendation of Netflix's Argentinian sci-fi show The Eternaut (1:19:00)

Craig and Chris turn the stove all the way up for a complete Season 4 review of The Bear on FX! First, the guys do a non-spoiler look at the season and the series as a whole, including the news of a fifth season on order. Then (32:30), a spoiler-filled look at the fourth season, standout episodes and performances, whether or not we buy the conclusion as presented, and what the show could still do with a fifth season. 

Write the show! Our email address is [email protected]

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed get together for a full review of Netflix's breakout detective hit, Dept Q. The guys begin with a fulsome no-spoilers review and recommendation segment, then get into the meat of the story with full spoilers (31:45). Later (56:15). they look back at Season Three of The Bear and early impressions of what's coming in Season Four, ahead of next week's full season review. 

You can email the podcast with your thoughts: [email protected]

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed start the show with listener email, then get into a review of the AppleTV+ platform and the kinds of shows found on the app. Then, they offer reviews of two of the current AppleTV shows, Murderbot and Stick. Lastly, the boys offer a sincere recommendation of a sports show they think is much better than Stick, "Shorsey" on Hulu.

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed talk about the changing state of streaming television, and how "thing of the week" shows are regaining their niche in the contentverse. Two current examples are both in play, "Poker Face" on Peacock, and "Duster" on Max. Hear reviews of both series without spoilers!

Send the show an email: [email protected]

We're back, baby! Crossing Streams has returned as your weekly home for streaming TV talk! Join co-hosts Craig Elsten and Chris Reed, they begin the show by explaining why the podcast has been gone for almost 18 months, why it's returned, and what we aim to accomplish. Then in this "episode zero" style show, the guys discuss the best shows they have watched so far in 2025, plus Craig's Top-10 shows from 2024, and what Craig and Chris are watching for future episodes.

Craig is joined by one of his Padres Hot Tub patrons, "Danny Deskjob" for a full review of the final Mike Flanagan Halloween-timed mini-series on Netflix, The Fall of the House of Usher. We pick our favorite death scene in the show, narrate the good, bad and middling, and at the end rank each of Mike Flanagan's five Netflix series.