Overview of The Watch (The Ringer)
This episode of The Watch (hosts Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald) runs through a pile of TV news and new/returning shows: the Euphoria season 3 trailer, three spy-y returns (Hijack, The Night Manager, and Peacock’s Ponies), plus a close read of The Pit Season 2 Episode 2. The conversation mixes show notes, casting updates, tonal critiques, and broader industry observations (budgets, streaming strategies). Chris also announces upcoming live Ringer events in Boston.
Key segments and takeaways
Euphoria — Season 3 trailer
- Sam Levinson and the series are returning; the trailer looks ambitious and stylistically bold.
- Zendaya’s Rue remains the emotional/central engine; season 2 left her in deep trouble with addiction and criminal consequences.
- Andy Greenwald admits he’s never watched a frame of Euphoria and will be watching season 3 “sight unseen” as an experiment.
- Several new cast additions are name‑checked in the episode (Sharon Stone, Natasha Lyonne, Eli Roth, Rosalía, Marshawn Lynch, Kadeem Hardison and others), underscoring a larger, star‑heavy season.
- Tone: the hosts expect the season to be intense, cinematic, and possibly polarizing; they recommend checking the trailer but note some memetic reactions online.
Notable quote: “For the haters and the losers and the doubters, you guys are fucking wrong. The show is coming back.”
Tell Me Lies — Season 3 (brief)
- Discussed as a dark, college-centered melodrama with a framing device around a wedding in 2015 and flashbacks to the late‑2000s.
- Central toxic relationship: Steven (manipulative) and Lucy; hosts highlight a particularly disturbing early‑season beat where Steven pockets Lucy’s MDMA, leaving her high and vulnerable — used to illustrate the show’s moral nastiness.
- Content warning implied: mature themes, drug use, sexual/psychological abuse. Not recommended for younger viewers.
Hijack — Season 2 (Prime)
- Idris Elba returns as the lead; S2 premiere felt confusing because of the long gap and an opaque “previously on” recap.
- Criticism: the season 2 first episode leaned heavily on a twist that the trailer already spoiled, making a lot of 40+ minutes feel like setup for a short reveal.
- Tone/visuals: claustrophobic subway setting, which the hosts felt lacked the urgency of plane-based thrillers; still engaging enough to likely continue.
- Creators: Jim Field Smith returns; George Kay (co‑creator) reportedly moved on to other projects.
- Verdict: enjoyable at moments thanks to Elba, but the season will need to clarify its broader stakes.
The Night Manager — Season 2 (Amazon)
- A continuation of the John le Carré adaptation that now stretches beyond the original book — this raises adaptation challenges.
- Hosts argue the show leans into glossy, globetrotting blockbuster spy tropes (surveillance, explosions) rather than le Carré’s quieter, character‑first moral detachment and wit.
- Production values are high and the cast is deep (Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Hugh Laurie referenced), but the tonal shift away from le Carré’s style disappointed the hosts.
- Diego Calva and Camilla (Camila?) are singled out as strong performers; the series may still find its footing.
Ponies (Peacock) — pilot
- Premise: darkly comic Cold‑War/1970s Moscow espionage skewed through the eyes of two Americans (Emilia Clarke, Haley Lu Richardson) whose husbands are CIA operatives; the title refers to “persons of no interest.”
- Tone: lighter, more irreverent and premise‑driven than Night Manager — a deliberate tonal choice rather than an inferior one.
- Production: filmed in Budapest (used as 1970s Moscow); feels lower budget relative to Night Manager but inventive and original.
- Verdict: hosts liked Ponies’ originality and comic angle; worth watching if you want a different, less prestige‑spy approach.
The Pit — Season 2 Episode 2 (HBO)
- The episode leans into both the show’s grim medical spectacle and increased humor/banter. It includes graphic medical scenes (maggots, major shoulder trauma) that some listeners/viewers may find extreme.
- Character dynamics: Robbie (lead), Dana, Dr. Al‑Hashimi (new/contrasting presence pushing digital/AI workflows), Santos, Ogilvy, and several new recruits figure heavily. The show balances ongoing patient chaos with brief character beats and unresolved interpersonal conflicts.
- Themes: tension between medical instinct/gut and digitization/AI; the ER’s pulse means most character conflicts play out in interrupted, 15‑second slices (which the hosts praise as dramatic and realistic).
- Verdict: still a well‑oiled, compelling series; its combination of heightened gross‑out moments and human depth continues to work.
Industry/format observations
- Streaming timing and multi‑episode drops create viewing overload; long gaps between seasons (and complicated “previously on” recaps) make follow-ups harder to enjoy.
- Budget and platform constraints shape creative choices: high‑budget prestige shows (Night Manager) can signal scale and cast depth, while lower‑budget projects (Ponies) must use ingenuity to deliver different pleasures.
- The hosts argued for creative decisions that embrace constraints (go deep rather than wide when budgets are limited), citing House of the Dragon spinoff decisions as a positive example.
Announcements & logistics
- Chris Ryan and Yassi Salek will do live Ringer events in Boston at The Sinclair (Jan 30) and a screening at Coolidge Corner Theatre (Jan 31); tickets available at ringer.com/events.
- The Watch will return Monday with a show covering the Landman season finale, Industry episode 2, and Night of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 1.
Quick “What to watch” recommendations from the episode
- Must‑see trailer: Euphoria S3 (for Zendaya’s Rue and Levinson’s return).
- If you want satire/quirk: Ponies (Peacock).
- If you like big, glossy spy thrillers: Night Manager (watch with le Carré expectations adjusted).
- If you liked the first Hijack: give season 2 another episode to see if the arc clarifies.
- If you’re already invested in The Pit: Season 2 continues to deliver — expect grotesque medical setpieces mixed with solid character work.
- Content caution: Tell Me Lies S3 and The Pit contain graphic/triggering material; parents should screen before letting younger viewers watch.
Notable quotes & moments
- “I have never seen a frame of the show.” — Andy Greenwald on Euphoria (setting up an unusual “sight‑unseen” viewing experiment).
- “For the haters and the losers and the doubters, you guys are fucking wrong. The show is coming back.” — on Euphoria S3.
- “This guy pockets his [MDMA]… it’s the greatest crime I’ve ever seen.” — on Tell Me Lies’ Steven, describing an especially manipulative act.
- Ongoing comedic bits: hosts’ recurring jokes about Chris’s reading of a long German history book and their shared beefs about crudité platters and broccoli.
Bottom line
This episode is a dense, culture‑forward roundup: big streaming premieres (some slick, some scrappy), one particularly dark college drama worth avoiding around kids, and a detailed, enthusiastic take on The Pit’s continued strength. If you want to be up to speed quickly: watch the Euphoria trailer, consider Ponies for a lighter spy twist, give Hijack one more episode, and keep watching The Pit if you appreciated season 1. The Watch returns Monday with several more episode conversations.