Shat on TV

Best TV Podcast Reviews

Tagged: Bernard Lowe

Westworld-Episode-3-Theories-The-Absence-of-Field

Westworld

Westworld Episode 3 Theories: “The Absence of Field”

Texas shows up strong in this listener mail edition of Shat on TV: Westworld. Your email and voicemail concerning Season 3, Episode 3, brought in lots of expertise, from theoretical physics to medical protocol.This week’s topics include time as a loaf of bread, the “noble savage” philosophy, humanism vs. determinism, and how to pronounce Rehoboam like a true church-goer.We also talk Isaac Asimov, “Westworld” sound design, and a string of Umm … Actually for a defenseless Dick Ebert.

Westworld-Episode-3-Reviews-The-Absence-of-Field

Westworld

Westworld Episode 3 Review: “The Absence of Field”

Who the Hale is Charlotte? Roger Roeper returns to “Shat on TV” to explore the biggest question presented by Westworld Season 3, Episode 3: “The Absence of Field.”Ashley Schlafly explains the poem behind the episode’s title and reaches back to Ancient Rome to illustrate the predicament Caleb is facing. Gene Lyons celebrates Westworld’s vision of future tech: personal assistants, predictive models, augmented-reality glasses, artificial intelligence, drip implants, and of course that one stupid ambulance. The Shat Crew also looks into Charlotte’s self-mutilation, chunky metal balls, Serac’s identity, and Jamaican riot robots.

Westworld-Episode-3-Review-The-Absence-of-Field

Westworld

Westworld Episode 3 Instant Take: “The Absence of Field”

If your main question after Season 3, Episode 3, was “who’s in those pearls?” you missed a lot of really good TV. Westworld’s genre-switching was phenomenal; Tessa Thompson’s portrayal of another inside Charlotte Hale’s shell was impeccable, and plausible glimpses of future tech were both astonishing and chilling. In this instant reaction episode, we touch on Rahobo’s mirror reality, Caleb’s augmentation, Charlotte’s predator within, and the very idea of identity. The Shat Crew also announce their new Twitch channel and celebrate pedophile murder. Also, if you miss our opening theme music, blame Apple for not allowing Audacity on Catalina. We’ll have it fixed for the Deep Dive.

Westworld-Episode-2-Theories-The-Winter-Line

Westworld

Westworld Episode 2 Theories: “The Winter Line”

Listener mail after “Westworld” Season 3, Episode 2 covers great minds like Lacan, Fromm, Faucault, Sartre, Barthe, Chomsky, and Rahobo.Ashley and Gene compare brain boners. Big D finds a mispronunciation mate, and we celebrate the memory of a Shat listener who is no longer with us.Longtime friend of the pod Thiago writes in with a Biblical “Umm … Actually” while laying on thicc praise for Armand Delgado. Muhip gives us a lesson in adversarial neural networks, and Dick Ebert teaches us about CPU bottlenecks.We discuss whether Dolores ever put a Westworld friend in Charlotte’s body, whether Maeve ever met Serac, and whether hosts other than Dolores already have infiltrated the “real world.”

Westworld Episode 2 Review: "The Winter Line"

Westworld

Westworld Episode 2 Review: “The Winter Line”

Shat on TV’s coverage of Westworld Season 3, Episode 2: “The Winter Line” starts off intelligently with discussions of free will vs sentience, the nuance between hero and villain, and Ash’s brilliant overview of Louis Althusser’s views of subjection and the state. Things take a turn as Dick Ebert unveils his latest treatise: “Rahobo, The God Humans Need,” force-feeding Gene enough tinfoil to spark a Divergence. Suddenly, it’s Big D worshipping at the altar of Coconut Guy, Gene Lyons offering to kill Dick to save the world, Ashley classifying Serac’s accouterment as “Bond Villain,” an extended team giggle-fest, and the Shat Boys getting way too specific about Westworld’s timelines.

Westworld Episode 2 Instant Take: "The Winter Line"

Westworld

Westworld Episode 2 Instant Take: “The Winter Line”

Was “Westworld” Season 3, Episode 2 a thrilling mind-bender or a “Rick and Morty” ripoff? “The Winter Line” took as back to the park and some familiar faces, including … Drogon? Maeve dropped a math bomb; Big D got on the Aaron Paul Train, and Gene Lyons thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. In this instant reaction episode, we drool over an “assed-up” Stubbs; discuss Bernard’s flashbacks; learn the difference between Greg, Gary, and Jerry; and preview Ash’s upcoming lesson on Althusser.

Westworld-Episode-1-Theories-Parce-Domine

Westworld

Westworld Episode 1 Theories: “Parce Domine”

Lister mail after the “Westworld” Season 3 Premiere covers Caleb’s humanity, the toll of trauma on military veterans, the anime “Psycho-Pass,” livestock lessons in an “umm, actually,” and sucking a butt. Things get steamy as Ashley Schlafly’s husband calls in; Gene bemoans his position as the podcast’s scapegoat; and Big D rebuke’s Mr. Lyons’ arrogance. The Shat Crew also explains why it sometimes uses listeners’ full names, why self-driving cars have driver seats and leaving room for Rehoboam.

Westworld Episode 1 Review Parce Domine

Westworld

Westworld Episode 1 Review: “Parce Domine”

Is the “real world” just a simulation? Is Francis a fidelity test? What’s Incite up to, and why is Gene Lyons so happy? We answer these questions and more in Shat on TV’s first “Westworld” Deep Dive of Season 3. Episode 1, “Parce Domine” brought us a Bible lesson, a new face for artificial intelligence, a missing Delos board member, updated opening credits, and a frank examination of personal data. Plus, Big D brings up “Robopocalypse” yet again; Gene laments freedom of choice, and Ashley talks opera.