Overview of The Watch
Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald open with a wide-ranging TV business and culture conversation before diving into two current shows they’re excited about: the latest Slow Horses finale and episode 3 of The Lowdown. The episode centers on a Bloomberg report suggesting Netflix engagement is softening, and the hosts use that as a jumping-off point to discuss what streamers need to do to keep audiences coming back: urgency, quality, and cultural conversation.
Netflix Viewers, Engagement, and the Need for Urgency
The main industry topic is Bloomberg’s report that Netflix users are opening the app less often and spending less time watching than they used to, even as the overall user base grows.
Key takeaways from their discussion
- Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown may be affecting the data, but the broader trend still feels real.
- The hosts think Netflix has become more like a giant content warehouse than a destination with must-watch weekly TV.
- They argue there are now two broad kinds of Netflix users:
- people who go there for a specific show or title
- people who use it more like background television
- Their concern is that Netflix has fewer true “appointment viewing” titles than it used to, especially in prestige scripted TV.
- They suggest the service may need to re-embrace scarcity, urgency, and possibly weekly release strategies for major shows.
Broader implications
- They connect the report to recent Netflix leadership changes, including the company’s push toward sports, live events, reality, and broader global programming.
- They float the idea that Netflix may eventually need to prioritize “better stuff” over sheer volume.
- They also discuss whether the company may move toward a more open-platform model, similar to Amazon, where other services can be accessed through one hub.
Slow Horses Finale: Tension, Death, and a Darker Season
The hosts are enthusiastic about the season finale of Slow Horses, which they see as one of the show’s strongest and most emotionally intense chapters yet.
What stood out
- The episode was described as unusually tense and breathless, even for a show in its later seasons.
- They praised the direction, especially the way the camera and score shaped mood and anxiety.
- The ending involving River Cartwright felt ominous and possibly life-threatening.
- Flight’s death landed as a real gut punch, especially because the character seemed poised to become a more central part of the team.
Character and series reflections
- River is becoming more compelling because the show is complicating him rather than simply making him “the competent one.”
- Jackson Lamb is also becoming a little more human and less omniscient.
- They noted the show’s ability to course-correct without flattening characters into caricatures.
- The discussion also raised a bigger question: how long can Slow Horses continue as an ongoing series before it needs a larger endpoint or a new format?
The Lowdown Episode 3: The Show Levels Up
The hosts are even more excited about The Lowdown, saying the show is clearly hitting a new gear in its second season.
Why this episode worked
- Ethan Hawke’s wandering-night sequence with a mysterious driver played by Steve Earle gave the episode an eerie, lived-in feel.
- The show now feels both more intimate and more expansive, blending character drama with mystery and Tulsa underworld archaeology.
- They praised the chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Betty Gilpin, especially in scenes that allow stillness and emotional honesty.
- Tommy Lee Jones continues to be a strong presence, and the show’s ensemble interactions are becoming a major strength.
What’s different this season
- They think season 1 was more about setting up the world and the conspiracy machinery.
- Season 2 has relaxed into something more confident, emotional, and tonally alive.
- The show now feels like it has its own internal logic and rhythm, where strange things can happen without breaking the world.
Other Notes and What’s Next
- Chris and Andy briefly mention upcoming coverage of Carrie and Crystal Lake.
- They also tease possibly discussing The Lowdown episode 4 soon.
- The episode ends with the usual mix of industry talk, personal banter, and enthusiastic TV criticism that defines The Watch.