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PODCAST

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast

Danielle Hanley & John McMahon

When you spend the bulk of your life reading, writing, and building lesson plans, sometimes your brain needs a break. Join two of your favorite political theory professors - Danielle Hanley and John McMahon - as they switch gears from the world’s so-called great books to break down some of your favorite TV shows. The twist? Only one of your hosts has seen the show before. First up? The Americans.

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

01:47:09

92. The New Pope, Episode Seven

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/08/22

[Major ep. 7 spoilers in this episode description]Pope, saint, miracle worker, messiah, christ, antichrist, revenant, which best applies to resurrected Lenny Belardo?! And which apply to your dear hosts?! Regan and John plot out this and many other papal conundrums as they discuss LENNY BACK. Lenny’s return breaks the show, and we explore the new primary setting of the Venetian manor in this episode, new questions about the Church, and, most importantly, a new opening credits sequence featuring the

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01:26:40

91. The New Pope, Episode Six

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/08/15

This episode of TV is a whole ordeal (non-derogatory, we think), and your hosts attempt to chart a godly course through the instability and chaos of it all. Leopold Essence’s (what a name) cryptic bug and Sofia’s spy mission-slash-dislocation set off the whole episode: the violence, the scheming, the response (or lack thereof) to the scheming, and the Pope’s risky interview. Esther’s storyline is itself full of chaos and violence (in multiple forms), with Regan and John talking out their reactions

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01:23:50

90. The New Pope, Episode Five

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/08/08

Hop in the Popemobile for a journey to the Vatican catacombs, Lourdes, the power of “no”, the power of Sharon Stone, and the inner workings of the collective mind of your hosts Regan and John. If the show is going to openly present narrative as a theme, there is no doubt we will run with it: if religion is a major narrative, what does that mean for the status of the church? Isn’t it fun to make a minor TV narrative about a major narrative of religion? How are Sofia and JP3 trying to shift the

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01:21:05

89. The New Pope, Episode Four

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/08/01

We didn’t blackmail you into listening to this episode (we think), but we do frame our discussion about John Paul III, Voiello, Spaletta, and the machinations within the Vatican around the idea of blackmail. Does this culminate in considering whether Catholic dogma is inherently a form of blackmail. You (and Nietzsche) already knew that it does. The final scene between Pope JP3 and Gutiérrez may offer a (semi-depraved, in true Popeverse fashion) counterpoint about the reciprocal exchange of

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01:20:33

88. The New Pope, Episode Three

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/07/25

John and Regan have some reservations about Episode Three of The New Pope. Not included in those questions?: millipedes are godly – on that there is no doubt. This may be a plot-mover more than a great episode of TV, but such venal sins have never stopped NQGB before. There is exploration of more than just millipedes in this episode, however. Your humble hosts tackle the new Pope’s three speeches, how parent-driven self-abnegation paired with a sense of grandiosity brings John Brannox and Lenny

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01:32:34

87. The New Pope, Episode Two

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/07/18

Regan and John lay about the English manor of their collective mind as they journey with Team Vatican Dream Blunt Rotation to Sir John Brannox’s estate. Mysteries, Lenny apparitions, purple suits, white rooms, mysterious boxes, and depression abound. Can the dream team convince Sir John to become Pope? What do the different characters project onto Lenny? Have we broken new ground in the cravat + guyliner space? What is the Middle Way? Can your trusty hosts shoehorn in a Saltburn reference? Of

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01:37:07

86. The New Pope, Episode One

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/07/11

PopeCast aka Hot Confessor Summer is BACK on Not Quite Great Books! Regan and John are reunited to begin their pilgrimage through The New Pope, the follow-up mini-series to their blessed The Young Pope. Lenny may be the structuring absence of this episode and this season of TV, but there is plenty to ponder. After your hosts reflect on their interactions with Catholicism since last summer, they explore the relation of corruption and piety, what the cardinals seek from god and the pope, Silvio

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02:00:36

85. The Americans Season 4 in review

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/06/20

Time for a check-in! John and Danielle look back on Season 4 of The Americans in its entirety! They dig into some of the big themes from the season, from Glanders, to Paige’s spy development, to the changes in Philip and Elizabeth’s relationship. With the help of previous guest Mike Rensink, they tackle all the different deaths and departures that occurred throughout the season, and John makes a game out of it for Danielle. Of course, they go through the biggest Ls from the Dossier, but touch on the

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01:44:06

84. The Americans 4x13, "Persona Non Grata"

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/06/06

While William battles the Lassa virus, Danielle and John contend with the season 4 finale, “Persona Non Grata.” They consider the episode through the lens of endings that lack resolution, digging into the relationships between Philip and Elizabeth, Paige and her parents, as well as the state of affairs with the FBI, Arkadii, and of course, William. Danielle logs a number of losses (and one key win) in the Dossier, and offers some Season 5 predictions. In Glas, your hosts check in with Oleg, chat

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01:43:59

83. The Americans 4x12, "A Roy Rogers in Franconia"

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/05/22

Danielle and John are back once again, and not only do they have questions about The Americans S4E12, "A Roy Rogers in Franconia," they have questions about questions. What happens in the aftermath of William's questions about his duty, Paige's questions about Elizabeth, and Oleg's questions about the USSR, and how do those questions reorient other characters? As we delve into these matters (and much more), there's still plenty of time to discuss first-kiss fish lips, a surprising Oleg-David Byrne

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02:00:33

82. The Americans 4x11, "Dinner for Seven", with...

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/04/18

Danielle and John are joined by one of John’s best friends, Jordan Cass, to chat all things The Americans 4x11, “Dinner for Seven.” Jordan proves himself to be an impressively prepared co-host, and helps guide us through the key points in this episode around various characters’ experiences of guilt. Together, your three hosts consider how guilt informs Elizabeth’s decisions, relationships with Pastor Tim and Alice, as well as the interaction between Stan and Oleg. In the Dossier, Danielle touches on

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01:40:25

81. The Americans 4x10, "Munchkins"

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/04/04

Despite its name, this is not an episode about the Lollipop guild - it's The Americans 4x10, “Munchkins.” John and Danielle work through the different plot elements through the lens of entrapment: Stan & Aderholt, Alice & the Jennings, Elizabeth & Don, Gaad & the Munchkins. Danielle laments how Pastor Tim was snatched from his impending death and your hosts laud Keri Russel’s ‘are you kidding me’ face, which makes many-an-appearance this week. In Glas, they chat about Oleg and

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01:41:55

80. The Americans 4x9, ”The Day After”

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/03/21

Danielle and John are back to discuss The Americans 4x9, “The Day After.” They call on their Gen-X expert, Jon Keller, to weigh in on the titular TV special and its general significance. They dig into the challenges posed by obligation, thinking about obligations to self, others, and the nation as they structure the lives and decisions of Elizabeth, William, Philip, and Paige throughout the ep. In the Dossier, Danielle claims victory about some of her latest predictions. In Glas, your hosts are

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01:50:58

79. The Americans 4x8, ”The Magic of David...

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/03/07

Buckle up, folks! This week, John and Danielle dig into The Americans S4E8, “The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears.” Through the lens of consolidation, they consider the beautiful, silent opening scene of the episode, Martha’s departure, and the ensuing inner turmoil for Philip, challenges for Elizabeth (including an EST visit), and the clash with Paige. They also tackle Gabriel’s course-correct, TV magic, and EST as an MLM. With Martha gone, it’s time to turn to a new

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01:32:04

78. The Americans 4x7, ”Travel Agents”

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/02/22

In their discussion of The Americans 4x7, “Travel Agents,” John and Danielle come face-to-face with the age-old question (at least for this show…) is the FBI good or bad at its job? And, on top of that, what about the KGB? They marvel at the parallel searches for Martha following her escape, happenings at the respective home bases, as well as the tensions between Philip and his two (?) leading ladies. Danielle reveals a new suspicion and a new worry in the Dossier, and in Borrowed Nostalgia, your

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01:53:38

77. The Americans 4x6, "The Rat"

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/02/08

Ohhh wow. Things finally come to a head as Danielle and John discuss The Americans S4E6, “The Rat.” They follow the arc of the episode, remarking on Martha’s farewell to her apartment, the tension at the safe house, the FBI discovery, the literal rat, and Martha’s escape. Don’t worry, your hosts don’t miss a chance to draw parallels between the sex scenes between Martha and Philip and Philip and Elizabeth, nor does Danielle miss a chance to lament the continued survival of Martha. They express some

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01:51:51

76. The Americans 4x5, ”Clark’s Place”, with Lilly Goren

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/01/25

John and Danielle are joined once again by the incomparable Lilly Goren to dig into The Americans 4x5, “Clark’s Place.” Together, they talk about the table-setting that happens throughout this episode, considering the emotional turmoil of Paige, Martha, and Philip. They take stock of Martha’s pill-popping, Philip’s conversation with Stan, and of course, the “priest” they bring to Pastor Tim. Don’t worry, your hosts also dissect the intense sex scene that closes the ep before heading into the

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02:01:46

75. The Hepta-Pod: Arrival and "Story of Your Life,"...

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/01/18

We're receiving a transmission [static] The Americans podcasting interrupted [static] some heptapods have arrived for this hepta-pod(cast) [static] our favorite political-science-fiction enthusiasts Desiree Weber and Sid Simpson join John to break down this developing story.Join us as we discuss the 1998 novella "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang and the 2016 film Arrival (dir. Denis Villeneuve) that is based on the novel. After a genre-defining consideration of sci fi and politics, we turn to the

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01:47:47

74. The Americans 4x4, ”Chloramphenicol”

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2024/01/11

Reeling from the Glanders exposure, your hosts are quarantined and tackle The Americans 4x4, “Chloramphenicol.” Together, after addressing Nina’s shocking demise, John and Danielle question what happens when Philip and Elizabeth are stuck - physically and emotionally - in quarantine. They take on Elizabeth’s hallucinatory dreams, the conversations between Philip and William, and then turn to consider what happens to others, like Paige and Martha, when they are absent. Danielle contemplates Paige’s

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01:44:57

73. The Americans 4x3, ”Experimental Prototype City...

Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast ·

2023/12/28

Back for another unhinged journey into the world of The Americans, John and Danielle take on Season 4 Episode 3, “Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow,” which Danielle only just now learned is what the acronym EPCOT stands for - oof. Your hosts consider the link between spying and MLMs (multi-level marketing schemes), with a few (just a few) digressions for good measure. John offers a Galaxy-brain EPCOT take that is sure to make your head spin while Danielle reverse-laments the non-death of

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