Screen Babble Podcast #40: Doctor Who, Riverdale, Rebellion and The Big Lez Show

Screen Babble is your essential guide to everything on television, from the mainstream to the marginal. NationalWorld’s podcast producer Kelly Crichton, news and trends expert Steven Ross, and critic Alex Moreland discuss what is – and what isn’t – worth watching. This week is tinged with some sadness as we bid farewell to Alex as he appears on his final episode of Screen Babble (for now anyway!).

As always, we begin by discussing what we’ve been watching recently. Steven decided to give Rebellion a go, which is based on the lead up to the 1916 Easter Rising which took place in Ireland. Alex has been watching Not Dead Yet in between the old reliable that is Doctor Who - but which Doctor Who is the best Doctor Who and who of Steven and Alex is right? I've taken some recent recommendations from the rest of the team and started Yellowstone, appreciating Kevin Costner on the small screen and Painkiller which is hard not to compare with recent opioid crisis drama Dopesick.

For our closer look this week, Alex takes us to the incomparable world of Riverdale. Showing his critic's teeth like never before Alex tells us why any of the Riverdale naysayers out there are just wrong and it is in fact a quite brilliant piece of entertainment, amongst the grandiose language and other puzzling elements.

Finally, Steven brings us back to the future with an animation that has made its name on YouTube, The Big Lez Show. Much like Riverdale it's not for everyone but Steven loves it and he tells us why.

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for Steven’s Weekend Watch, previewing all the best TV to watch over the next few days. Plus, join us again next week for episode #41 and a new guest host.

Alex Moreland is taking his exceptional TV knowledge and critical eye to pastures new. We’re very sad to see him go but listeners we know it won’t be long before you hear from him again!

Listen to Screen Babble #40 here

Where can we watch this week’s shows?

• Rebellion, Painkiller and Riverdale are currently available on Netflix.
• Not Dead Yet can be found on Disney+
• The Big Lez Show is available on YouTube.
• Yellowstone is on Apple TV
• Doctor Who is available on BBC iPlayer.

Screen Babble: how to follow the show

Screen Babble is available to download on all podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify. You can watch Screen Babble on Freeview Channel 276, Shots!

You can join the conversation on our Screen Babble Facebook group

If you’ve enjoyed the show or found it useful, we’d love you to give us a rating and review, as it helps us to reach more listeners.

You can also follow our TV coverage on Twitter @NationalWorldTV - as well as @morelandwriter and @steven_jross and @kelc100

We’re also on Instagram and threads as @alexmorelandwriter and @steven_jrossnationalworld

Do you have a TV question you’d like the Screen Babble team to answer on a future episode, or a recommendation of your own? Send it to [email protected] or [email protected]