Stream Fiends

“Stream Fiends” is a podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

On Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, co-host the podcast together.

We're not as disappointed in these next couple of episodes in the continuing "You" as we were in the previous two. However, the Henderson storyline does seem pretty forced, and Joe (or Will, I guess) is still annoying us with his newfound stupidity. All in all, these episodes weren't horrible, but they weren't the highlight of the season.

We still have some important and interesting things of note that we talk about in this podcast episode, as well as an update on how we're doing during this COVID-19 pandemic.

We hope you all are staying safe and entertained from home out there. Listen on to find out more of what we're thinking of the second season of "You" so far!

“Stream Fiends” is a podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

On Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, co-host the podcast together.

The first season of Netflix's "You" impressed us, but its second season has been so disappointing (since episode 2) that we sometimes accidentally refer to it as a sequel. The main culprit is certainly the show's writing.

We're already noticing annoying plot devices, so-so to poor characterization and some things about the show so far just don't make much sense. For instance, why would Joe, who now goes by Will in an effort to change his identity, move to Los Angeles--the one place everyone is recording, snapping pictures and posting about on social media? We get it, Joe (Will) doesn't like the city, but for crying out loud. It isn't the best place to lay low.

These grievances don't completely destroy our admiration for this story continuation, however. Cinematography is still on-point, and there are a few new characters that exceeded our expectations.

“Stream Fiends” is a podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

On Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, co-host the podcast together.

All of the tension, character development and exciting storytelling of Netflix's "THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD" has led up to this moment; Bonnie is finally confronting James and Alyssa, the two kids who she believes brutally murdered her lover in cold blood. After all this build up, tension is overflowing, but there's a great sense of relief from the audience's perspective. After witnessing all of the terrible events that have transpired thus far, it feels sort of relieving to see things finally begin to end.

The characters' performances are still great in these concluding two episodes. Even more impressive than the acting is the phenomenal writing. Episode 7 tackles a huge issue—mental health and suicide—in a matter of just a few minutes, but it's done tastefully and profoundly. Even though Alyssa and James have been hunted down and manipulated, they see a vulnerability in Bonnie during the confrontation. Instead of lashing back at the emotionally distressed Bonnie, the two young adults show mercy—something we aren't used to seeing in the show.

Besides the "one scene" that tricks audiences into believing something really dark, and then flipping that belief on its head, episode 7 ends with a heartwarming conclusion that shocks audiences while bringing tears to the eyes of some. 

Episode 8, while concluding the second season, further develops the complicated themes of the previous episode. The climax has passed by now, which is evident, and things are calming way down. 

By the end of the episode, there's a real foundation to James' and Alyssa's relationship. Honestly, the series could end right at the final few minutes of the last episode and we would be 100 percent content. If Netflix has another season in store for us, we're excited to check it out, and we'd highly recommend the show to anyone. Listen on to hear why.

“Stream Fiends” is a podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

On Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, co-host the podcast together.

Netflix's drama/thriller series "You" has had some high highs in the second half of its first season, but the lows, when they do pop up, are very low.

The second half of the first season started off with palpable tension in episode 6—we thought Peach Salinger was dead, but she's not. She makes a full recovery rather quickly, but it all comes full circle with a contentious confrontation between Peach and Joe Goldberg. Even though so much is happening so soon in the second half of the season, the pacing is always great and believable.

Where the season starts to falter is in episodes 7 and 8. The lackluster therapist character Dr. Nicky, played by John Stamos, has a purpose in the series that isn't evident or very interesting until near the end of the season. He comes across as a plot device, which is disappointing and uncommon for the show.

In episode 8, after a strange and slightly uninspired breakup between Beck and Joe, not supported by very much exposition at all, we're introduced to another possible love interest for Joe: Karen Minty. She's nothing like Beck, and what's interesting is the fact that she's certainly not Joe's type. She doesn't need to be rescued from her own bad decisions and she isn't as intellectual with literature; it just isn't a good match.

That relationship ends, inevitably, giving off a confusing impression to readers: What was the point of her being in the show? Was she just filler? Because that's what it seemed like. More development in the Paco side story would be preferred.

The final episode is one of the strongest. It's where we see some of the most eloquent, literature-esque narrative, the most convincing, sincere performances from Elizabeth Lail (Beck) and Penn Badgley (Joe) and the bitter conclusion, which leads audiences well into the second season with its tantalizing plot twist. Listen on to find out how we felt about the second half of the season.

Stream Fiends is a podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

In this prequel episode of season 3 of Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, analyze episodes 6 through 10 of “You” from its first season.

The episode of THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD we're reviewing in this episode of stream fiends is full of confrontations. James confronts Alyssa, Alyssa confronts Todd and Bonnie confronts Alyssa. 

The great writing that's come to be expected from the show provider just enough exposition to lead up to these important confrontations, and the tension during these characters' scenes is fluid and attention-grabbing

With these confrontations comes a number of important character developments; James is, again, gradually learning to stick up for himself, Alyssa is finally learning the importance of tying loose ends and Bonnie is finally pursuing her goal that set the entire overarching plot of this season's story into motion. Listen on to find out how we thought the actors supported the great writing and how we feel about the very exciting impending conclusion to this successful series.

“Stream Fiends” is a 15- to 30-minute-long podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

On Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, co-host the podcast together.

In preparation for a full review of Season 2 of “You” on Netflix, we’re revisiting the first season.

The thriller “You” combines excellent writing with a cast of talented actors, and it became popular very quickly because of its unique premise and engaging plot.

The entertaining story is told primarily via the perspective of the controlling, manipulative Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, which gives viewers an ultimately skewed perspective of Guinevere Beck, played by Elizabeth Lail.

In this podcast episode, we’re covering our analyses of the first five episodes of the first season. Thank you for everyone who requested we cover this series.

Stream Fiends is a podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

In this prequel episode of season 3 of Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, analyze episodes 1 through 5 of “You” from its first season.

Alyssa finally comes face to face with James for the first time since he was shot at the end of Season 1.

Their meeting is a bittersweet one: They're both happy to see each other again deep down inside, but life goes on, and Alyssa has a wedding to go to.

However, things go awry, and Alyssa flocks to James shortly after a confused, altogether poorly planned wedding.

If that wasn't strange enough, the duo meets an interesting character hitchhiking on the road: Bonnie.

They decide to pick her up, and that's where the grisly tale continues.

Is Alyssa's and James' reunion a good idea, or a terrible one with sure consequences? Or is it somewhere in the middle? Listen on to find out how we think things are panning out in this very unique story of teenage angst, love and revenge.

"Stream Fiends" is a 15- to 30-minute-long podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University's The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

The first season’s last episode of “THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD” left everyone on a big cliffhanger—James possibly getting shot by law enforcement. Instead of finding out if James was dead, alive, badly hurt or anything in between, the first episode of the second season introduced everyone to a new character’s story. That new character’s name is Bonnie, and it’s clear from the start that she has a very troubled background.

Bonnie works at a college’s library where she grows fascinated by a philosophy professor: Clive Koch. Remember him? He’s the guy who almost sexually assaulted Alyssa in the first season, and he had a collection of incriminating videos showing him harming and even possibly killing a number of women.

Bonnie falls in love with the professor and becomes viciously jealous of his flings with other college students—so jealous that she kills one of them and ends up in prison.

From there she learns that Alyssa and James were the suspects, but she doesn’t have the full story. She’s out to get both of them.

Meanwhile, Alyssa and James are leading very different lives than before. Alyssa is on the verge of getting married, and James is lost without a purpose.

We’re simultaneously excited and restless to see the second season continue with its addition to several new stories. Listen on to hear how we thought the episodes handled so much new information in so little time.

Stream Fiends is a 15- to 30-minute-long podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

In this first episode of season 2 of Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, analyze episodes 1 and 2 of “THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD" from its second season.

Remember when we said every episode of THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD was packed full of important scenes, characters and information? Well the final two episodes of the first season are no exception: In these episodes, we meet Alyssa's father Leslie, see Detective Eunice's first encounter with James and Alyssa and a huge cliffhanger at the end of the season, leaving viewers wondering if one very important character will even be alive come season 2.

We've been very pleased with the Netflix series, especially considering each episode is only about 20 minutes long. So much is going on all the time, but pacing has been consistently on-point. Additionally, the plethora of new characters viewers see for the first time are believable and fun to watch, even if they only get five or 10 minutes of screen time.

Surprisingly, the only real complaint with the show we've had is expressed in this podcast episode, and that issue pertains to the legitimacy of a scene where an animal gets killed. Was the scene needlessly insensitive, or was it important to conveying an important message about Alyssa's deadbeat father? Listen on to hear what the co-hosts of Stream Fiends had to say.

Stream Fiends is a 15- to 30-minute-long podcast dissecting TV shows on streaming sites, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (or anything else that broke college students can afford). Stream Fiends is an extension of Eastern Illinois University’s The Daily Eastern News Podcasts.

In this fourth episode of Stream Fiends, Logan Raschke, DEN managing editor/senior journalism major, and Elizabeth Taylor, DEN campus reporter/freshman journalism major, analyze episodes 7 and 8 of "THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD."