We chose to unpack The Studio, Episode 02, "The Oner," because basically every line of this story is a Chekhov's Gun waiting to go off, and they all do! This episode is a masterclass in storytelling and filmmaking craft. We try not to talk too much about how we just love it, but we can't help gushing because it truly is that good. The entire episode is structured as a flawless bookend, and we dive into the dense narrative that allows it to achieve this structural triumph.

In this episode, we analyze everything from the micro-nuance of the filmmaking to the overarching plot. We dissect the technical aspects, including the use and misuse of "The Oner" (the single, continuous long take), and contrast the artistry with the time wasted on set to create the perfect “oner.”

Critically, we look at how the story maintains its narrative perfection even as chaos erupts on set.

Our discussion is a full breakdown that covers real-life stories from behind the scenes, the satirical skewering of studio executives, and the mastery of the cast, including the amazing Greta Lee. Join us as we explore why this story was simply too perfect to ruin, even when someone couldn't resist turning Chekhov's Gun from a pistol into a machine gun.

CHAPTER TIME STAMPS & MUST-LISTEN MOMENTS:

00:00 - Cold Open

00:39 - Sketch: Chekhov's Gun

01:17 - The Behind-The-Scenes Magic

02:29 - The Bookend Magic Trick & Steering Wheel "Acting"

06:40 - Skewering “Oners” As a Concept

10:40 - The Characters

16:02 - Mastery of Craft

19:44 - Pre-Conceived Notions

24:25 - Real Life On-Set Story

27:27 - References & Greta Lee

30:45 - Sketch: Chekhov's Gun + Ending

Key Credits The Studio, Episode 02, "The Oner"

Directed by: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg

Written by: Peter Huyck

Cinematography: Adam Newport-Berra

Cast: Seth Rogen (Matt Remick), Ike Barinholtz (Sal Saperstein), Greta Lee (Herself), Sarah Polley (Herself), Catherine O'Hara (Patty Leigh), Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Petra)

Awards (Episode Specific):

• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Won by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, 2025)
• Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour) (Won by Adam Newport-Berra, 2025)

• The Studio (Season 1) won a record 13 total Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series.

Sound Design Credit Attribution:

Chekhov's "Gun" Sketch - Gun Pew Pew Two by OBXJohn -- https://freesound.org/s/365634/ -- License: Creative Commons 0