Stranger Things, The War Between The Land And The Sea, and Spartacus: House of Ashur

Stranger Things, The War Between The Land And The Sea, and Spartacus: House of Ashur

Author: Empire Magazine December 1, 2025 Duration: 1:35:20

The wait is over! Well, sort of, because Stranger Things returns to Netflix this week for the first part of its final season to whet our collective appetites for the final assault on the Upside Down at the end of the year (44:50). Plus the Notorious RTD is back with his latest spin-off to the Whoiverse, setting Russell Tovey on a collision course with Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Sea Devil spectacular The War Between The Land And The Sea on BBC1 (1:02:31). And finally, we’re up to our ears in blood, balls and boobs as we return to ancient Rome for a sequel/reboot/retcon of Starz swords-and-sandals franchise in Spartacus: House Of Ashur on MGM+ (1:20:45).

(Episode 365)

Note: time stamps are approximate as the ads throw them out, so are only meant as a guide. If you want to avoid this and would like the podcast entirely ad-free (as well as 17 hours early, with a second weekly show and spoiler specials) then sign up to Pilot+!


If you’re trying to keep up with the sheer volume of television arriving each week, it’s easy to feel adrift. That’s where Pilot TV comes in. Brought to you by the team behind The Empire Film Podcast at Empire Magazine, this weekly discussion cuts through the noise to highlight the series truly worth your time. Each episode finds hosts James Dyer, Boyd Hilton, Steph Seelan, and Kay Ribeiro gathered for a lively, informed chat that feels like eavesdropping on the best kind of TV-loving friends. They deliver a smart, comprehensive rundown of new releases across every platform-from streaming services to terrestrial broadcasts-ensuring you never miss a must-see show. Beyond the reviews, the podcast brings you breaking industry news and sits down for conversations with some of television’s most influential creators and stars. It’s the perfect companion for anyone who wants to navigate the modern TV landscape with insight and a critical eye, transforming the weekly deluge into a curated viewing guide. Tune in for a genuinely essential, and thoroughly entertaining, take on the small screen.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Pilot TV
Podcast Episodes
The Four Seasons, Poker Face, and Malpractice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:36
Alan Alda’s The Four Seasons gets a modern glow-up with Steve Carell, Tina Fey and Colman Domingo on Netflix this week (40:53), plus Rian Johnson’s Poker Face comes crashing back with its second season on Sky (51:04), an…
Andor, Étoile, and Carême. With guest Charlotte Ritchie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:53
On program! Yes, Andor has returned and while we had to wait a week for James to get back from holiday before we were all allowed to discuss it, we review Season 2 in full this episode (58:12). Plus, following on from ou…
Your Friends & Neighbours, Reunion, and Hacks. With guest Jon Hamm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:03
Our friend and neighbour Jon Hamm is this week’s guest (36:36)as we chat burglary and anti-heroes for Apple’s new comedy drama (1:06:10). Plus we take a look at the BBC’s Deaf-centric revenge drama Reunion (1:27:15), and…
Toxic Town, Fear, and Get Millie Black [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:27
This week’s show sees us dealing with industrial pollution alongside Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood in Toxic town on Netflix (46:06), being terrorised by Martin Compston and Anjli Mohindra’s neighbour from hell in Fe…