After an unexpected holiday break, Craig Elsten and Chris Reed are back for their 2025 year-end show...who cares if it came out in the first week of 2026!

First, Craig offers two favorite shows of the year that don't quite fit in the list. Then. Chris and Craig alternate moving up their list to deliver their top-10 shows of the year! Lastly, Craig has some honorable mentions. Enjoy a podcast we work all year long to bring to you, the Top-10!

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed are back with the penultimate podcast of 2025, as they take on the final three episodes of the first season of Pluribus, on AppleTV. This is one of the most thought-provoking series of the year, and Craig and Chris spend a large portion of the show analyzing the key themes we've learned about over the course of the season, especially as we learn more about The Others, how they operate and what they are ultimately on Earth to do. One of the best shows of the year! Email us at: [email protected] with your thoughts!

TIME CODES

:30 Intro/housekeeping
3:15 Big thoughts on the hive mind
9:00 Vince Gilligan trusting and challenging his audience
15:45 Humanity put into servitude for a future invader
25:00 Carol as an avatar for white entitlement
32:30 Manousos is an avatar for…? The classic mythical hero?
39:30 Isolation took a real toll on Carol
44:45 thoughts on the ATOM BOMB
50:45 do they need an atom bomb or just some screaming?
54:45 Carol under the mist of Zosia post-kiss
1:01:45 Final thoughts on the season as a whole
1:05:30 What We’re Watching

Craig and Chris are joined from New York by Amelia Campbell, who plays Amanda on The Chair Company. Chris and Amelia are old friends from a Shakespeare production in San Diego, and the podcast gets into her casting process for The Chair Company, working with Tim Robinson and much more!

this is a rarity: Craig Elsten and Chris Reed are out of alignment on this episode of Crossing Streams! One host really likes one of the two shows covered and kind of tolerated the other, while the other host REALLY didn't like one of the two shows, and truly enjoyed the other. Who's who, and which is which? Listen and find out, as we cover HBO's The Chair Company, and Netflix's tentpole teen drama Stranger Things 5 (Part One)!

:30 Intro
2:00 a quick note on the Oscars moving to YouTube
9:30 The Chair Company discussion
36:25 Stranger Things 5 discussion
1:06:30 What We’re Watching

Vince Gilligan's new show Pluribus is looking like it might just be a masterpiece. On this episode of Crossing Streams, Craig Elsten and Chris Reed take a look at the big themes and moments from episodes 4-6 of the first season. The show contains spoilers for all six episodes of the series to date. 

SHOW TIME CODES

:30 Intro
4:00 quick housekeeping
5:30 Episodes 4-6 had a theme: discovery for Carol
10:00 Rhea Seehorn is carrying the rock for Pluribus, but we will meet Manousos
14:30 Jeff Hiller appearance!
18:00 Carol’s diabolical plot to learn the truth in episode 4
23:00 Manousos can’t get here from there
27:45 The crazy visuals and methodical montages of episode 5
34:00 The Hamlin-Phone
36:00 transitioning to episode 6 and Empty Las Vegas
38:45 Pluribus as an allegory for AI re: Diabate in Vegas
44:15 you down with HDP?
48:15 The Others are colonizers and consent hypocrites
54:00 circling back to Koumba’s role and viewpoint
59:45 What We’re Watching

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed get together on the eve of Thanksgiving to go over Netflix's historical drama Death By Lightning. One of the hosts liked it a little bit more than the other, but there's a lot to unpack with an All-Star cast and a fascinating look at a less-known time in American history. 

SHOW TIME CODES

:30 Intro, giving thanks to our audience and co-host
5:00 Getting into Death By Lightning
8:30 over-arching thoughts on the limited series
14:00 appreciating the four-episode run time
16:30 who had the most dynamic performance in the series?
21:45 Matthew McFadyen’s performance as Giteau
25:00 the crazy lax security around Garfield
28:15 the best wig of 2025
31:30 did Death By Lightning take liberties with history?
35:00 a slow finish—reflecting on Garfield’s legacy
40:00 Giteau’s final moments
44:15 What We’re Watching

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed return for episode #260 of Crossing Streams, taking on perhaps the TV event of 2025 in Vince Gilligan's new series, Pluribus, for Apple TV. In the (short) non-spoiler zone the guys offer their general thoughts on the series and on Gilligan's talent. Then in the spoiler zone, a look at everything which has made the first three episodes of Pluribus so riveting, thought-provoking and funny. Both guys said after recording this was their favorite podcast of the year, so please enjoy!

SUBJECT TIME CODE MENU

:30 Intro/housekeeping
NON-SPOILER ZONE
3:40 Opening thoughts on Pluribus from both hosts
10:15 Vince Gilligan is in his bag and a master of his craft
SPOILER ZONE
13:15 The first episode of Pluribus is an all-timer
15:15 The art of “show don’t tell”
19:00 Rhea Seehorn’s performance as Carol
24:00 Does Carol have a drinking problem? Is she a reliable narrator?
29:00 The surprising humor of Pluribus
37:00 Is The Joining a metaphor for Heaven?
41:30 Is The Joining a utopia or are The Others concealing a lot still?
45:00 the use of the countdown/count-up clock as a storytelling device
55:30 What We’re Watching

If you like this podcast, please give us a five-star review and/or kind written review on your podcast platform of choice, and thanks as always for your time and support!

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed get back together to talk about the finish of The Lowdown, a show that was beloved by both. The guys get into the storylines from the final three episodes, before welcoming on actor Eric Edelstein, who played Blackie on the show. Longtime friends with Chris, Eric gets into the magic of Sterlin Harjo's set, working in Tulsa, the process of getting the gig and much, much more!

:30 Intro/housekeeping/spoiler warning
5:00 narrative momentum of the final three episodes
8:00 a show made with a lot of love
11:00 creating a well-rounded character in Lee Raybon
17:00 episode 8 brought Lee and Marty together
21:00 directorial flourishes and one-shots
27:00 the relationship between Lee and his daughter
36:30 Eric Edelstein interview

Craig Elsten is joined by one of the patrons from the Padres Hot Tub discord, Oliver the Baseball Nihilist, to discuss a series near and dear to both of their hearts, The Diplomat on Netflix. In the non-spoiler zone of the show, the hosts discuss why they like The Diplomat and what makes it such a compelling watch. In the spoiler zone, the guys go all the way in on the big moments of the third season, the wild plot twists in the finale, and what it means for a season four. 

SHOW NOTES/TIMES

:30 Intro, welcome Oliver, housekeeping
NON-SPOILER ZONE
3:30 why do we like The Diplomat generally?
8:00 Keri Russell keeps bringing you back
9:45 the show reflects a different era of politics
12:30 Would The Diplomat be better served by a weekly release instead of binge schedule?
16:15 a very strong bench of supporting characters
SPOILER ZONE
18:55 amazing political drama in season three, but the romance wasn’t as strong
22:30 episode six, our favorite of the season
25:30 did The Diplomat try to cram too much plot into season three?
30:00 the big season finale twist between Kate and Hal, was it earned?
35:00 Rufus Sewell had an amazing season
44:00 in praise of Rory Kinnear as Trowbridge
47:45 do we buy all of Kate’s decisions this season?
52:30 how can The Diplomat keep Kate in London for a fourth season?
56:30 What We’re Watching

If you enjoy the podcast, please leave us a five-star rating on your podcast platform of choice! Feel free to email us with your thoughts on The Diplomat at: [email protected]

Craig Elsten and Chris Reed are back to share their thoughts on the final two episodes of Task, where Brad Ingelsby has grown as a showrunner, the themes of redemption that ran through the series, and whether or not there should be a second season. What did YOU think about Task? Email the show at: [email protected] and we'll read your replies on a future show! 

SHOW NOTES/TIMES

:30 intro/housekeeping
2:45 overall thoughts on the full season of Task
11:00 themes of redemption
14:30 is Grasso going to jail or was he redeemed too?
19:00 Would Tom have really let Maeve keep the money?
22:00 Episode Six was a BANGER
29:30 should there be a second season of Task?
34:00 What We’re Watching