What Are We Comparing To?

Published June 5, 2018 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey fellas (and lady)

I’ve been listening to all of your shows since my wife discovered your GOT podcast mid-last season. I’ve since heard just about every 89s/90s movie discussion and now all the Westworld episodes. You can imagine how much my wife appreciates being responsible for my obsession. On this week’s deep dive you mentioned people pick the show apart too much and posed the question, “what are you comparing to here?” In reference to the lack of quality television these days. I’d like to take a crack at answering.

First off, I’m not going to pick apart Westworld. I do follow each episode and really need to listen to your show to make true sense of it all – and half the time it seems like you’ve seen or heard something different than I have, but I simply don’t have time to go back and watch multiple times. I will say my wife has lost interest and now doesn’t mind me watching ahead of her – and she rarely catches up.

Anyways, in response to your question, we just had the finale of in my opinion a VERY quality show on FX called The Americans. After six seasons, I’ve been left now with a void to be filled by a favorite show and I don’t think Westworld quite scratches that itch. It does occur to me I could use a re-watch. I would be interested in your take on this show; if any of you watch it, would you consider a deep dive podcast starting from the beginning? I think there’s a lot of great plot and dialog in this show. One thing I’ve learned late into the series even from the show’s creators, is that it is more a show about relationships, marriage and family than it is about spies during the Cold War. Again, I’d love to hear your take on this – whether it is mentioned on the telecast for Westworld or not.

P.S. from my understanding, The Americans didn’t have a very high rating as a scheduled broadcast in this streaming age, so doing a podcast on it just might give it the posthumous credit it deserves at the water cooler – as I know very few people who actually caught it while it was airing.

Thanks to you all and your comical insight. You remind me of my brother and friends sitting around bantering about shows/movies – and that’s what makes your show real.

David Zanko

Subscribe Now