Skip to content

‘Lanterns’ Is One of Our Strongest Superhero Shows Ever. Plus, ‘Sicario 3’ and a New ‘Miami Vice’ Ending.

The Watch

Hosted by Andy Greenwald and Chris Ryan

1h 0m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald review the season finale of the DCU superhero series Lanterns, exploring its character-driven approach, unique writer's room choices, and emotional resonance. The hosts analyze the complex storytelling behind the final episode, the restraint shown with the green lantern rings, and the standout performances from the cast. Following the discussion on Lanterns, the show shifts to entertainment news, covering the announcement of Sicario 3, Michael Mann's final director's cut presentation of Miami Vice in Westwood, and mailbag questions concerning Matthew Weiner's upcoming TV project and the fidelity of the Slow Horses adaptation.

  • Writers can tackle complex backstory integration by anchoring high-stakes plots in foundational character relationships. 4:29
  • A series can build immense emotional weight through restraint and character interactions rather than constant action set pieces. 13:16
  • Adaptations of book series often receive praise for plot developments that originate directly from the original source material. 54:46
  • Filmmakers revisiting older works may alter endings to emphasize different thematic focuses like romance and doomed love. 44:28

Chapters

  1. 0:00
  2. 1:11
    Hosts Introduce Lanterns Finale

    Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald welcome listeners and set the stage for a deep dive into the Lanterns season finale.

  3. 3:21
    Lanterns Finale Breakdown

    The hosts dissect the emotional and narrative elements of the Lanterns finale, praising its writing and character arcs.

  4. 34:40
    Sicario 3 Announcement

    Chris discusses the upcoming third installment of Sicario, highlighting its creative team and potential story directions.

  5. 39:24
    Miami Vice Director's Cut Review

    The hosts review Michael Mann's final director's cut of Miami Vice, comparing it to earlier versions and exploring its thematic depth.

  6. 49:29
    Matthew Weiner & Eddie Murphy Project

    Chris covers Matthew Weiner's new TV show with Eddie Murphy, discussing its premise and significance for Paramount Plus.

  7. 51:02
    Wrap‑Up and Future Teasers

    The episode concludes with final thoughts on Lanterns, upcoming seasons, and a teaser for future discussions.

  8. 52:21
    Eddie Murphy and Matthew Weiner Collaboration Speculation

    The hosts debate the potential impact and challenges of a new project involving Eddie Murphy and Matthew Weiner.

  9. 53:13
    Slow Horses Adaptation and Fan Question Response

    A listener’s question about the adaptation of Slow Horses is read and discussed, touching on fidelity to the books and TV storytelling choices.

  10. 1:00:33
    Mint Mobile Advertisement

    A brief ad spot from Ryan Reynolds promotes Mint Mobile’s affordable wireless plans.

  11. 1:01:14
    CarMax Car Selling Promotion

    An advertisement encourages listeners to get a real offer from CarMax for selling their car.

Highlights

  • 3:21

    Surprising Finale Structureinsight

    The hosts discuss how the finale of Lanterns offered an emotionally satisfying conclusion despite being a challenging puzzle for the writer's room.

  • 12:49

    Restraint in Superhero Actioninsight

    The discussion highlights how the series exercised remarkable restraint, using the power ring for very few cool moments across the entire season.

  • 36:18

    Sicario 3 Development Newsdata

    The podcast breaks down the announcement of Sicario 3, noting the return of Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, and Emily Blunt alongside writer Stephen Knight.

  • 39:41

    Miami Vice Director Cut Screeningstory

    Chris Ryan shares his experience attending Michael Mann's final director's cut presentation of Miami Vice in Westwood with the cast and crew.

  • 50:13

    Matthew Weiner Returns with Eddie Murphydata

    Answering a listener's mailbag question, Chris Ryan details the quiet announcement that Matthew Weiner is creating a new scripted series starring Eddie Murphy.

Quotes

  • “And I think it's arguably with Watchmen, the best superhero TV show I've ever seen.”
    Chris Ryan · 2:35
  • “I think it's very clever. And I think it works, because again, like, I came away from this feeling pretty psyched about how things had gone”
    Andy Greenwald · 8:40
  • “I believe this is in development, so let's not go and, you know, don't cancel all your plans for next year.”
    Chris Ryan · 52:51
  • “And I think it's important to watch the show and take the show in as a piece of television.”
    Chris Ryan · 56:37
  • “It's really, it's really been a breath of fresh air to me on TV, and especially on Netflix.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:00:12
  • Rocket Mortgage 0:00–0:27
  • Mint Mobile 0:30–0:57
  • Priceline 33:21–33:52
  • Keurig 34:02–34:19
  • Mint Mobile 1:00:33–1:01:17

About this episode

Chris and Andy talk about the ‘Lanterns’ season finale and why it was a near-perfect season of superhero television (1:16). Later, Chris reacts to the announcement of ‘Sicario 3’ (31:43) and the new ‘Miami Vice’ ending from director Michael Mann’s final cut (36:15) before opening up the mailbag to answer a couple of listener questions (46:19). Subscribe to the Ringer TV YouTube channel here for full episodes of The Watch and so much more! Follow us on IG and TikTok! Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald Producers: Kaya McMullen and Kai Grady Studio Production: Jacob Cornett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

0:00
1:00:14

10,832 words · 7 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Slow Horses
  • Lanterns
  • Mad Men
  • CarMax
  • Sicario 3
  • Game of Thrones
  • East of Eden
  • Peacock
  • Dreamgirls
  • Lonesome Dove

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated