Crossing Streams

Crossing Streams

San Diego radio vet Craig Elsten is joined each week by a rotating cast of top voices to talk about streaming TV, current and past shows, and much more. Each week is a different show and co-host.

Episodes

#253: Did Alien Earth Blow It With The Finale? (with Ken Gartin)

September 25, 2025 • 62 mins
Craig and Chris are again joined by Ken Gartin to go through the finale of Alien: Earth. Two of our three panelists were really let down by the finale, while one saw the promise for future seasons. What did you think? Email the show at crossingstreamstvpodcast@gmail.com! 

SHOW NOTES

:30 Intro
3:00 Initial thoughts on the season one finale
10:30 The deathpool that wasn’t
14:45 how does a season finale wind up so static?
20:00 Is Sydney ov...
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#252: Midseason Check-In on Alien:Earth (with Ken Gartin)

September 16, 2025 • 73 mins
Ken Gartin returns to join Craig and Chris and review the middle portion (episodes 3-6) of FX's Alien:Earth. The guys thought it would be a shorter episode, but nope! Too much fun breaking down all the plot twists and possibilities for the endgame. 

SHOW NOTES/TIME CODES

:30 Intro, show set-up
1:45 initial thoughts from everyone on where Alien:Earth stands right now
5:30 getting into episode 3
10:00 Sydney’s brand-new power of Alien lan...
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#251: In-Season Thoughts on Platonic and The Paper

September 12, 2025 • 68 mins
Craig and Chris have two episodes to bring you on the Crossing Streams feed this week! First up, a look at two comedies in full swing, Platonic (season two now on AppleTV+) and The Paper (all episodes streaming on Peacock). Chris appears on episode 6 of Platonic season two and tells the story of his day on set, plus much more! 

TIME CUES

:30 Intro
3:00 housekeeping/show set-up
5:30 Platonic—premise of the show
6:30 Opening thoughts on P...
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#250: Alien: Earth Episode 1-3 + "Smoke" Season Finale Spoilers (with Ken Gartin and Chris Reed)

August 25, 2025 • 77 mins
Ken Gartin makes his triumphant return to the Crossing Streams feed to lead our discussion of the brand-new FX series, "Alien: Earth". Chris Reed had NEVER watched any Alien content, so he's in for a spooky surprise! Later in the show, Craig and Chris go through the explosive finale of Smoke (on AppleTV+) and talk about how the show has gone under the radar of a lot of fans and reviewers. 

SHOW NOTES


  • :30 Intro, welcome Ken Gartin
  • ...
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#249 (V2.E9): What Should You Watch, Untamed or Smoke?

August 13, 2025 • 77 mins
Craig Elsten and Chris Reed review and compare a couple of summer mystery series: "Untamed" from Netflix, and "Smoke" on AppleTV+. The guys do non-spoiler reviews and recommendations before doing brief spoiler sections for both shows. They wrap up with "What We're Watching" with some more recommendations and a setup for episode #250

TIME CODES

:30  Intro
5:30 Untamed non-spoiler review
26:00 Untamed mini-spoiler section
40:00 Smoke non-...
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#248 (V2.E8): The Eternaut Is A Summer Sci-Fi Escape (Non-Spoiler and Spoiler Review)

July 31, 2025 • 44 mins
SHOW NOTES

:30--intro
2:00--housekeeping/listener e-mail
5:00--the decades-long history of The Eternaut in Argentina
10:00--The Eternaut NON-SPOILER review begins
18:00--the excellent Ricardo Darín in the lead role
26:45--SPOILER review
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#247 (V2.E7): Poker Face Season 2 Finale + A Conversation with Poker Face Writer Raphie Cantor

July 22, 2025 • 77 mins
SHOW NOTES/TIME CODES
  • :30--Intro
  • 3:00--listener e-mails (crossingstreamstvpodcast@gmail.com)
  • 9:20--Murderbot Season Finale talk (spoilers)
  • 14:30--Poker Face Season 2 final overview
  • 17:00--favorite episodes and guest stars
  • 23:30--do we like putting Charlie back on the road?
  • 27:30--welcome Raphie Cantor
  • 29:00--getting involved with Poker Face, working with Rian Johnson
  • 43:00--how does the writers room match senses of humor and style?
  • 50:00...
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#246 (V2.E6): Squid Game Season 3 Full Review + Duster Gets Dusted

July 11, 2025 • 89 mins
Craig Elsten and Chris Reed are back with one of the longer episodes in show history, because they've got a LOT to say about Squid Game Season 3! 

SHOW NOTES

Welcome/housekeeping/email/5-star reviews

SQUID GAME 3




  • Why is Squid Game the most popular IP in Netflix history? (8:30)
  • From original to franchise to game/video game, Squid Game loses its meaning as a thing of horror
  • What did we like about Squid Game 2/3?
  • Was the final season (sp...
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#245 (V2.E5): The Bear Season 4 Full Recap (Non-Spoiler and Spoiler)

July 5, 2025 • 78 mins
Craig and Chris turn the stove all the way up for a complete Season 4 review of The Bear on FX! First, the guys do a non-spoiler look at the season and the series as a whole, including the news of a fifth season on order. Then (32:30), a spoiler-filled look at the fourth season, standout episodes and performances, whether or not we buy the conclusion as presented, and what the show could still do with a fifth season. 

Write the show...
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#244 (V2.E4): Dept Q Full Review + Early Expectations for The Bear S4

June 28, 2025 • 72 mins
Craig Elsten and Chris Reed get together for a full review of Netflix's breakout detective hit, Dept Q. The guys begin with a fulsome no-spoilers review and recommendation segment, then get into the meat of the story with full spoilers (31:45). Later (56:15). they look back at Season Three of The Bear and early impressions of what's coming in Season Four, ahead of next week's full season review. 

You can email the podcast with your ...
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#243 (V2.E3): Checking in on Apple TV+ (Murderbot and Stick reviews)

June 20, 2025 • 64 mins
Craig Elsten and Chris Reed start the show with listener email, then get into a review of the AppleTV+ platform and the kinds of shows found on the app. Then, they offer reviews of two of the current AppleTV shows, Murderbot and Stick. Lastly, the boys offer a sincere recommendation of a sports show they think is much better than Stick, "Shorsey" on Hulu. 
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#242 (V2.E2): The Return of Comfort Food TV (Poker Face and Duster)

June 12, 2025 • 68 mins
Craig Elsten and Chris Reed talk about the changing state of streaming television, and how "thing of the week" shows are regaining their niche in the contentverse. Two current examples are both in play, "Poker Face" on Peacock, and "Duster" on Max. Hear reviews of both series without spoilers!

Send the show an email: crossingstreamstvpodcast@gmail.com 
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#241 (V2.E1): Crossing Streams Is Back! The Best of 2025 TV So Far (Co-Host: Chris Reed)

June 4, 2025 • 51 mins
We're back, baby! Crossing Streams has returned as your weekly home for streaming TV talk! Join co-hosts Craig Elsten and Chris Reed, they begin the show by explaining why the podcast has been gone for almost 18 months, why it's returned, and what we aim to accomplish. Then in this "episode zero" style show, the guys discuss the best shows they have watched so far in 2025, plus Craig's Top-10 shows from 2024, and what Craig and Chr...
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#240: The Fall of the House of Usher (with Danny Deskjob)

November 4, 2023 • 52 mins
Craig is joined by one of his Padres Hot Tub patrons, "Danny Deskjob" for a full review of the final Mike Flanagan Halloween-timed mini-series on Netflix, The Fall of the House of Usher. We pick our favorite death scene in the show, narrate the good, bad and middling, and at the end rank each of Mike Flanagan's five Netflix series.
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#239: AppleTV+ Has a Secret Vintage in "Drops of God" (with Andrew Dyer)

October 17, 2023 • 50 mins
Craig Elsten is joined by KPBS reporter, soccer supporter and wine enthusiast Andrew Dyer to discuss AppleTV+'s hidden gem, "Drops of God". The eight-episode miniseries came out during the Emmys glut, and was easily missed. However, it's a series with lush locations, multiple languages and a treatment of a manga conversion that is visually arresting! The guys meet in a park to sip some French wine and talk Drops of God!
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#238: TALK NERDY TO ME: Ahsoka Season Finale, Loki Season 2 Premiere and Survivor 45 (with Ken Gartin)

October 7, 2023 • 81 mins
Craig Elsten and TALK NERDY TO ME correspondent Ken Gartin discuss the good, bad and middling of the full season of Ahsoka, including the muddled place the series ends...for now. Then, a look at a disappointing premiere of Loki Season Two, and a much better start for Survivor 45.
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#237: Unpacking the Contradictions of Special Ops: Lioness (with Ryan Phillips)

September 23, 2023 • 58 mins
Craig Elsten is joined by Ryan Phillips to discuss Taylor Sheridan's latest series on Paramount+, Special Ops: Lioness. There are some aspects of this series that are definitively good, and others that verge on regrettable. "And yet", it's a compelling series in many ways. Craig and Ryan go through the many ups and downs of Lioness.
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#236: Ahsoka is "Full Filoni" and We Like It! (Episodes 1-4 Review with Ken Gartin)

September 7, 2023 • 54 mins
Craig Elsten is joined by his "Talk Nerdy to Me" correspondent Ken Gartin for a complete look at the first four episodes of "Ahsoka" on Disney+. This is creator Dave Filoni's pride and joy, and he's operating with the shackles off...how does it translate into live-action? Is this Rebels season five? Does it matter? The guys go through everything they like, with a little room to critique Hera's tactics in episode four!

Enjoying the ...
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#235: Justified: City Primeval's Finale Hits the Spot (with Ryan Phillips)

September 1, 2023 • 45 mins
Craig Elsten and Ryan Phillips get back together to discuss the finale of Justified: City Primeval. Did the series deliver on what it intended? What did they think of the choices made in the finale? And yes, of COURSE we are going to talk about the HUGE twist at the end!
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#234: Justified City Primeval Midseason Check-in (Episodes 3-6) with Ryan Phillips

August 19, 2023 • 42 mins
Craig Elsten and Ryan Phillips are back to look at the middle four episodes of Justified: City Primeval, covering episodes 3-6. The guys break down the things they absolutely love about the limited series, and where it feels a bit undercooked. Then, both offer possible predictions as to the late-series twists, and how they see things concluding.
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