In Politically Turbulent Times, Do All TV Shows Hold Political Meaning? — Very Good TV Podcast

The trend is as inescapable as the daily news: We’re seeing some amazing shows roll out right now, but the first topic of conversation when discussing them isn’t the performances or the production. Instead, it’s about what they say about the current state of not just national, but global politics.

Of course, it’s impossible to ignore the political implications of a show like “The Handmaid’s Tale” (even if the cast might occasionally try to downplay them). And we don’t believe that they should.

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But while series like “Dear White People” and “American Gods” are definitely plugged into the current state of the world, do we do them a level of disservice by amplifying their political relevance at the expense of their craft? And are there other shows that are… just entertainment? If you listen to network presidents talk, it’s sometimes hard to think so. But sometimes escapism is real.

Listen to IndieWire TV Editor Liz Shannon Miller and TV Critic Ben Travers debate the issue in this week’s Very Good TV Podcast (above). Don’t forget to subscribe via Soundcloud or iTunes, and follow IndieWire on Twitter and Facebook for all your pertinent TV news. Check out Liz and Ben’s Twitter feeds for more, more, more. Plus, don’t forget to listen to IndieWire’s other podcasts: Screen Talk with Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson, as well as Michael Schneider’s new podcast, Turn It On, which spotlights the most important TV of each week.

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