Overview of The Watch — "Oscar Nominations, ‘Sentimental Value’ Is Sensational, and Screenwriting in the Double‑Screen Era. Plus, ‘The Pit’ S2E3"
Hosts Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald react to the newly announced Oscar nominations, dig into Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value (their favorite of the year), discuss how streaming has changed screenwriting and note‑taking from studios, recap The Pit season 2 episode 3, and riff on a handful of smaller items (Drops of God S2, Matt Damon/Ben Affleck press tour remarks, social‑media habits, and some sports asides).
Key topics covered
- Oscar nominations: overall impressions, notable nominees, snubs, and early predictions.
- Sentimental Value: why Chris and Andy consider it a masterpiece and how it fits with Trier’s prior work.
- Screenwriting / streaming era: how audience attention spans and streaming analytics are changing how writers are asked to structure openings and exposition.
- The Pit S2E3: plot highlights, character beats, and why this episode works.
- Drops of God season 2: recommendation and what’s new in the second season.
- Smaller tangents: celebrity text leaks, Blake Lively/Taylor Swift anecdote, and some Phillies/MLB chatter.
Oscar nominations — what stood out
- Hosts’ overall read: a strong year for films; many categories felt competitive and healthy.
- Best Picture list (as discussed on the show): One Battle After Another; Sinners; Hamnet; F1; Marty Supreme; Begonia; Frankenstein; Train Dreams; Secret Agent; Sentimental Value.
- Notable acting/directing mentions the hosts flagged:
- Renata Reinsveig nominated for Best Actress (Sentimental Value).
- Stellan Skarsgård nominated for Supporting Actor; Joachim Trier nominated for Best Director.
- Rose Byrne and Kate Hudson both received nominations in acting categories; Andy expressed support for each.
- Snubs discussed:
- Miles (the child performer in Sinners) went un‑nominated for supporting actor.
- Paul Mescal (Hamnet) did not get a nomination.
- Chastain—there was talk about submission strategy (lead vs. supporting) affecting nominations.
- Predictions (quick summary of what each host guessed):
- Andy: Sinners could sweep Best Picture/Director; sentiment toward Sinners was strong because of critical + box‑office traction.
- Chris/Andy back‑and‑forth: Sentimental Value seen as very likely to win screenplay; One Battle After Another a strong adapted contender; multiple scenarios were floated for picture/director. (They emphasized listening to awards trackers Sean and Amanda for more informed odds.)
Sentimental Value — why it resonated
- Both hosts loved the film; Andy called it “a total masterpiece.”
- Tone and craft:
- Trier’s focus on faces, close cinematography, and quiet emotional specificity impressed the hosts.
- The film is intimate: a two‑hour+ study of family and old wounds, lots of character beats rather than blockbuster mechanics.
- It’s emotionally immediate, funny, and humane; compared to Bergman, Ozu, and Olivier Assayas in spirit.
- The film’s context:
- Trier’s work is described as a trilogy of father/daughter/sister films and the movie reflects his recent fatherhood.
- It balances ambiguity with a hopeful meeting between characters; it resists transactional plotting and instead centers human fullness.
- Practical reaction: Strong awards momentum and multiple nominations reinforced their enthusiasm.
Screenwriting in the “double‑screen” / streaming era
- Trigger: Matt Damon’s recent remarks on the press tour (Joe Rogan appearance referenced) about how streaming platforms now pressure creators to have an immediately “grabby” opening because viewers can and will click away.
- Main takeaways:
- Streaming platforms (especially tech‑driven ones) rely on retention data and focus heavily on the first 3 minutes of content.
- A common modern note: open with something huge, then flashback (“start big, then go five months earlier”), which can feel like a structural crutch.
- Writers/creators are sometimes forced to restate obvious stakes or narrate to cover viewers who might be distracted — that leads to more exposition and redundancy on screen.
- The hosts see both positives (recalibrating pacing; moments that hook viewers) and downsides (less patience for slow emotional setups; creative compromises).
- Andy’s experience: When developing for streamers, he’s found notes often focus strongly on the opening minutes and “stickiness.”
The Pit — S2E3 recap & reactions
- Overall verdict: A strong episode that advances the season and character work while maintaining the show’s real‑time immediacy.
- Key plot beats and characters:
- Tree of Life survivor thread handled sensitively; a quiet character moment that lands emotionally.
- A student with beads up his nose leads to a tense scene (removal moment is effective and unforced).
- Security guard who tased a kid is introduced; questions about his actions and intent remain.
- Unhoused patient (played by Charles Baker) subplot appears.
- Mr. and Mrs. Yee: an apparent road‑accident arc where Mr. Yee looks quadriplegic but then improves; Mrs. Yee later collapses — stakes rise.
- Robbie’s arc: the show is doing more show‑don’t‑tell work; last season’s flashback obsession is giving way to present tension and performance.
- Catherine LaNassa’s character (Dana) remains central; the series’ structure orbits around her.
- Episode was written by Noah Wyle (who also continues to anchor the series).
- Production notes: The episode balances urgency and quiet humanity, leaves oxygen for small looks and gestures, and hints at a looming “code black” (system overload) that promises escalating crisis.
Drops of God S2 — short recommendation
- Apple TV international co‑production about wine tasting; season 2 returns with new settings (Spain, Marseille) and a new central mystery (an unlabeled bottle’s origin).
- Andy’s praise: charming, escapist, beautifully international, and surprisingly adventurous (one subplot involves free‑diving). The season keeps the melodrama and sensory pleasures of wine tasting intact.
- If you like atmospheric, international serialized drama with strong production design and sensory sequences, it’s worth watching.
Notable quotes & insights
- “Sentimental Value is a total masterpiece.” — Andy Greenwald.
- On modern streaming notes: “There’s a window — the first three minutes — where they either are going to commit or they are not going to commit.”
- Critique of the “start big, then flashback” pilot structure: likened to over‑protective executives who won’t let audiences stray for a second — a creative constraint with cultural causes (COVID habits, smartphone usage).
- On filmmaking financing: conversation about how smaller international film commissions and patchwork financing (pre‑sales, national film boards) still underpin many auteur projects; when an American star signs on Netflix often becomes the financier that makes a production global.
Recommendations / what to watch next
- Must‑watch from this episode:
- Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier) — hosts’ strongest recommendation.
- Drops of God season 2 (Apple TV) — recommended for international, sensory drama fans.
- Blue Moon — flagged as a standout screenplay/acting entrant (Ethan Hawke praise).
- The Pit (season 2) — especially episode 3 if you’re following the season.
- Follow awards coverage from Sean and Amanda (they’re recommended as authorities on precursors and momentum).
Miscellaneous notes & housekeeping
- Live shows and appearances: Chris plugged upcoming live tapings in Boston (Sinclair, Coolidge Corner showing of Repo Man).
- Contact: the podcast accepts listener mail at thewatch@spotify.com; video versions are available on Ringer TV and Spotify.
- The hosts stray into sports talk (Phillies offseason, Declan Doyle shoutout) and pop culture gossip (Blake Lively / Justin Baldoni / Taylor Swift texts, Matt Damon/Ben Affleck promo tour), but these are ancillary to the main film/TV conversation.
Actionable takeaways for a reader who wants the highlights:
- If you only take one thing away: Andy and Chris highly recommend Sentimental Value — it’s their top film pick and a likely awards contender for screenplay/director categories.
- If you’re interested in how streaming shapes storytelling, listen (or read) the segment about first‑minute retention and the “start big” trend — it’s a useful lens for understanding why many new shows/films are paced differently.
- For serialized, sensory TV that resists second‑screening, give Drops of God S2 a try. For a tense character‑driven emergency‑room drama, jump into The Pit S2 (ep. 3 recommended).