Wow, what a tough week of television to crack the Top 3. The Americans, Grimm, Person of Interest, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife and Mad Men all had legitimately strong weeks as sweeps begin, but alas ... only three of them can earn This Week's Top Three honors!
3. Mad Men, Episode 5, The Flood. We have seen many period-dramas take historical moments and weave them into their fabric, but no show does it as well as Mad Men. Tying the slaying of Martin Luther King into Don and Megan's miserable trip to an advertising award show was brilliant writing and worked perfectly. Don (Jon Hamm) gut-wrenching discussion on what parenthood has been for him was also great television. Draper has had such a confusing life and horrible childhood that he had to wait until his kids were far to old to bond with them ... and he is already starting to realize that was a mistake. The scenes with Bobby (Mason Vale Cotton) were the writer's just giving us a gentle reminder that there are so many angles they can take Don Draper's life in this penultimate season. We were also reminded that there seems to be a big falling out coming for Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) and Harry Crane (Rich Sommer). With Harry basically delivering a "give me partnership or I leave" ultimatum last week ... losing Pete's support among the partners is not going to help him. And, finally, there seems to be ever so slight sparks with Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) and her boss, or at least he is clearly interested. This could be why they have planted the seed that Peggy and her current beau might not be as happy together as they appear. Throw in a few solid scenes with Michael Ginsberg (Ben Feldman) and Mad Men still has a perfect season, cracking TWT3 with every episode so far.
2. The Americans, Episode, 12, The Oath. What a fantastic episode to set up the season finale on this excellent rookie drama. FX is churning out such good television right now that I cannot wait for their next freshman to hit this summer, The Bridge. The Americans started out hot, slowed for a few episodes, but then found footing not only in the source material, but emotional footing as well. This episode centers on one key moment, when Russian-turncoat Nina (Annet Mahendru) decides to once again become Russian spy and tells her superior that she has been working with the FBI and she wants to fix it. This puts FBI agent Stan Beeman's (Noah Emmerich) life in immediate peril and puts us at as crossroads in how we feel about this show. It is so focused on the Russian plants and spies that we forget that Beeman is one of the "good guys." We know Beeman endangers our favorite Cold War heroes though, Peter and Elizabeth Jennings (Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell). And now that one of Peter's undercover personas is married to an asset, it is going to be interesting to see where that storyline goes in the season finale and heading into Season 2. The more under-the-radar story spun from this episode that could be dire for our KGB operatives is that the house maid who made the plant in the Secretary of Defense's office grew a conscience and told the FBI. This gives the FBI prime opportunity to send false messages and take the show in a handful of different ways.
1. The Good Wife, Episode 22, What's in the Box?. This show has delivered all season and is a legit contender in the best drama field now dominated by the cable networks. This episode had so much intrigue I don't even know where to begin. From the questionable ballot box on election day to Alicia Florrick's (Julianna Marguiles) life-changing decisions, it was must-see television. In one final swoop, we see Alicia choose not only to leave Lockhart-Garnder and go with Cary Agos (Matt Czuchry) and his new firm, but, by default, she has chosen her husband, Governor-elect Peter Florrick (Chris Noth) over her desire, Will Gardner (Josh Charles). With the Lockhart in Lockhart-Gardner in line for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court, Will could be left alone in business and life and it will make next season all the more intriguing. It appears that Cary screwed up his deal with Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) though, so Gardner will have at least one weapon sticking around. The way the writers slowly crafted what seemed to be a foregone conclusion (we could all see this coming about 10 episodes ago) was magnificent and another reason the show belongs at the top of the heap. Well done TGW, we will see you in a few categories on Emmy night.
Honorable Mention: Person of Interest, Episode 20, In Extremis; Grimm, Episode 18, Volcanalis.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
This Week's Top Three (Monday, 4/15/13 through Sunday, 4/21/13)
Another week where the usual suspects came to play and nothing else. The Americans, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife and Mad Men were all very well done and had very strong moments. But, was anything good enough to knock Mad Men from it's No. 1 perch?
3. The Good Wife, Episode 21, A More Perfect Union. The Good Wife continues to flourish in its role as "The Best Show on Network Television." While that might be as lofty a title as it once was, it is still an important title and one that is barely disputed. This week's episode kept agonizingly toying with the viewers with the love triangle of Alicia Florrick, Will Gardner and Peter Florrick (Julianna Margulies, Josh Charles and Chris Noth). With Peter's proposal to Alicia being found out by her brother and her mother, she gets pressured by them to chase true love and let Peter go. But, it is not that easy for Alicia and if anything appears to have forced her closer to Peter. The season finale should be excellent as Peter's run for governor comes to an end and Alicia is sure to have conflicted feelings on her apparent choice. Alicia's mother going to Will and telling him to fight for her has stirred the pot and ought to make for excellent television. There are still great secondary stories going as well. As Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) continues to be pursued for the state Supreme Court should Peter win, Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) and Cary (Matt Czuchry) move closer to leaving the firm ... together. With Alicia examining her love and professional future, Will could be left out in the cold on all fronts.
2. Mad Men, Episode 4, To Have and to Hold. Mad Men drops to No. 2 this week, but not because of a let down, more like a Game of Thrones step up. Until they disappoint me this season, the writers at Mad Men seem almost a virtual lock to take my No. 1 drama award. To watch Don Draper (Jon Hamm) cheat on his wife more or less because he is jealous of her success and then turn around and get upset with her for a scene on her show involving another man is what makes this show so spectacular. We all want to cheer for Don. We want him to concur his demons because he seems so ahead of the curve in so many aspects, but then we are hammered with blunt realities like this that make it so difficult to pull for him. As Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) walks in an steals a client from her former mentor Don we should be proud of her, but somehow find ourselves upset that Don and his band of misogynists, led by Pete (Vincent Kartheiser), lost out on the Heinz Ketchup empire. Add the brewing battle between Joan (Christina Hendricks) and the rest of the partners and the inclusion of Harry (Rich Sommer) in the mix at the top and you have plenty of ammo for the rest of the season.
1. Game of Thrones, And Now His Watch is Ended. I was pretty ho-hum on Game of Thrones right up until the very last scene. I guess the writers expect me to cheer for Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) now that he has lost a hand, but nope ... not going to do it. I guess they think they can just keep Peter Dinklage in the background making snarky comments and I won't realize they are not exactly sure what the hell to do with him ... but nope ... I noticed. And then ... all was forgiven because of the lovely Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and her exceptional double-cross. Sure, all the viewers had to know that the Dragon Queen was not leaving without all of her dragons ... and sure, there were hints she knew all the things that Kraznys was saying about her while trying to get a dragon and give away as little of his army as possible. But that didn't change the effectiveness of the scene. Daenerys is coming with a unstoppable army and three maturing dragons. Does any of the other petty squabbling over the Iron Throne even matter?
Honorable Mention: The Americans, Episode 11, Covert War.
3. The Good Wife, Episode 21, A More Perfect Union. The Good Wife continues to flourish in its role as "The Best Show on Network Television." While that might be as lofty a title as it once was, it is still an important title and one that is barely disputed. This week's episode kept agonizingly toying with the viewers with the love triangle of Alicia Florrick, Will Gardner and Peter Florrick (Julianna Margulies, Josh Charles and Chris Noth). With Peter's proposal to Alicia being found out by her brother and her mother, she gets pressured by them to chase true love and let Peter go. But, it is not that easy for Alicia and if anything appears to have forced her closer to Peter. The season finale should be excellent as Peter's run for governor comes to an end and Alicia is sure to have conflicted feelings on her apparent choice. Alicia's mother going to Will and telling him to fight for her has stirred the pot and ought to make for excellent television. There are still great secondary stories going as well. As Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) continues to be pursued for the state Supreme Court should Peter win, Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) and Cary (Matt Czuchry) move closer to leaving the firm ... together. With Alicia examining her love and professional future, Will could be left out in the cold on all fronts.
2. Mad Men, Episode 4, To Have and to Hold. Mad Men drops to No. 2 this week, but not because of a let down, more like a Game of Thrones step up. Until they disappoint me this season, the writers at Mad Men seem almost a virtual lock to take my No. 1 drama award. To watch Don Draper (Jon Hamm) cheat on his wife more or less because he is jealous of her success and then turn around and get upset with her for a scene on her show involving another man is what makes this show so spectacular. We all want to cheer for Don. We want him to concur his demons because he seems so ahead of the curve in so many aspects, but then we are hammered with blunt realities like this that make it so difficult to pull for him. As Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) walks in an steals a client from her former mentor Don we should be proud of her, but somehow find ourselves upset that Don and his band of misogynists, led by Pete (Vincent Kartheiser), lost out on the Heinz Ketchup empire. Add the brewing battle between Joan (Christina Hendricks) and the rest of the partners and the inclusion of Harry (Rich Sommer) in the mix at the top and you have plenty of ammo for the rest of the season.
1. Game of Thrones, And Now His Watch is Ended. I was pretty ho-hum on Game of Thrones right up until the very last scene. I guess the writers expect me to cheer for Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) now that he has lost a hand, but nope ... not going to do it. I guess they think they can just keep Peter Dinklage in the background making snarky comments and I won't realize they are not exactly sure what the hell to do with him ... but nope ... I noticed. And then ... all was forgiven because of the lovely Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and her exceptional double-cross. Sure, all the viewers had to know that the Dragon Queen was not leaving without all of her dragons ... and sure, there were hints she knew all the things that Kraznys was saying about her while trying to get a dragon and give away as little of his army as possible. But that didn't change the effectiveness of the scene. Daenerys is coming with a unstoppable army and three maturing dragons. Does any of the other petty squabbling over the Iron Throne even matter?
Honorable Mention: The Americans, Episode 11, Covert War.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
This Week's Top Three (Monday, 4/8/13 through Sunday, 4/14/13)
A solid week where there was really a strong case to be made for four different shows in the top three. With Justified, House of Lies and Californication all wrapped up, it seems that The Americans, Mad Men Game of Thrones and The Good Wife will likely be permanent fixtures here unless Grimm, Person of Interest or The Following can pick things up. Spartacus was able to deliver one more appearance to the list with a surprisingly good series finale.
3. Spartacus: War of the Damned, Episode 10, Victory. Spartacus' four-season run on Starz has been marred by the death of a promising young leading man, a inconsistent storyline particularly made odd by Lucy Lawless returning from the dead because of her star power (despite making no story sense) and a focus on nude women and blood that was unnecessary with such history to work with. By the final half of the final season, however, the show found its stride and delivered some memorable television, including this finale that finally sealed Spartacus' fate. This season was marked by Spartacus finally having a worthy opponent in Crassus, and the final face-off between the two was very well done. Liam McIntyre had a very difficult task in coming on board to take over the lead role after the death of Andy Whitfield, but he performed admirably and had a strong believability factor in the role. It won't like make any Top 10 of 2013 lists, or Top 100 of all-time lists, but Spartacus was a fun show that really figured itself out by the end.
2. The Americans, Episode 10, Only You. Right when I was a little worried it was losing its stride, The Americans sucks me back in with a very emotional episode. This show has lost focus at times, because the characters are so strong that it can comfortably go in a handful of different directions and still be interesting. But, here, they once again realize that Phillip and Elizabeth Jenning's relationship and emotional states are just as interesting as all of the espionage angles. Watching Elizabeth have to walk her first recruit right into his own death was gripping television. Seeing how it covers Phillip for being a little sloppy is also great because it plants yet another seed in the relationship for these two. The acting on this show continues to be top notch and could find itself in the mix in one or two categories come Emmy time.
1. Mad Men, Episode 3, The Collaborators. Matthew Weiner wants his Best Drama Emmy back badly and has come out swinging with nothing but perfection through the first three episodes of Mad Men this season. While he will likely not get his fifth Best Drama Emmy (still probably going to Homeland) ... that does not mean he does not deserve it. There is still plenty of season to go, but the writing and acting continue to be as good here as anywhere on television. Don Draper is hands down the most interesting character on television, more interesting than Walter White, Nicholas Brody or Nucky Thompson and that is saying quite a bit. All the different ways that Draper's character can go are on full display right now. Where is his marriage going to go? Can he deal with his wife's success? Can he deal with a needy and jealous mistress without losing a wife he clearly cares about? Where is his job going to go? Can he deal with his protege, Peggy Olson, attempting to steal a top client? When will the wrong person find out about Dick Whitman? And that is just the intrigue for one character! There is so much to wonder about Peggy, Joan, Roger, Pete and his sham of a marriage. It is all gripping television driven by nothing more than superb dialogue and dynamic sets. Episode 4 cannot get here fast enough.
Honorable Mention: The Good Wife, Episode 20, Rape: A Modern Perspective; Game of Thrones, Episode 3, Walk of Punishment
3. Spartacus: War of the Damned, Episode 10, Victory. Spartacus' four-season run on Starz has been marred by the death of a promising young leading man, a inconsistent storyline particularly made odd by Lucy Lawless returning from the dead because of her star power (despite making no story sense) and a focus on nude women and blood that was unnecessary with such history to work with. By the final half of the final season, however, the show found its stride and delivered some memorable television, including this finale that finally sealed Spartacus' fate. This season was marked by Spartacus finally having a worthy opponent in Crassus, and the final face-off between the two was very well done. Liam McIntyre had a very difficult task in coming on board to take over the lead role after the death of Andy Whitfield, but he performed admirably and had a strong believability factor in the role. It won't like make any Top 10 of 2013 lists, or Top 100 of all-time lists, but Spartacus was a fun show that really figured itself out by the end.
2. The Americans, Episode 10, Only You. Right when I was a little worried it was losing its stride, The Americans sucks me back in with a very emotional episode. This show has lost focus at times, because the characters are so strong that it can comfortably go in a handful of different directions and still be interesting. But, here, they once again realize that Phillip and Elizabeth Jenning's relationship and emotional states are just as interesting as all of the espionage angles. Watching Elizabeth have to walk her first recruit right into his own death was gripping television. Seeing how it covers Phillip for being a little sloppy is also great because it plants yet another seed in the relationship for these two. The acting on this show continues to be top notch and could find itself in the mix in one or two categories come Emmy time.
1. Mad Men, Episode 3, The Collaborators. Matthew Weiner wants his Best Drama Emmy back badly and has come out swinging with nothing but perfection through the first three episodes of Mad Men this season. While he will likely not get his fifth Best Drama Emmy (still probably going to Homeland) ... that does not mean he does not deserve it. There is still plenty of season to go, but the writing and acting continue to be as good here as anywhere on television. Don Draper is hands down the most interesting character on television, more interesting than Walter White, Nicholas Brody or Nucky Thompson and that is saying quite a bit. All the different ways that Draper's character can go are on full display right now. Where is his marriage going to go? Can he deal with his wife's success? Can he deal with a needy and jealous mistress without losing a wife he clearly cares about? Where is his job going to go? Can he deal with his protege, Peggy Olson, attempting to steal a top client? When will the wrong person find out about Dick Whitman? And that is just the intrigue for one character! There is so much to wonder about Peggy, Joan, Roger, Pete and his sham of a marriage. It is all gripping television driven by nothing more than superb dialogue and dynamic sets. Episode 4 cannot get here fast enough.
Honorable Mention: The Good Wife, Episode 20, Rape: A Modern Perspective; Game of Thrones, Episode 3, Walk of Punishment
Friday, April 12, 2013
This Week's Top Three (Monday, April 1, 2013 through Sunday, April 7,2013)
I know it is a little late, but figured I would get back to it.
This was a tough week to pick just three shows, there were a handful of great season finale's and one perfectly executed season premier. In the end, Game of Thrones, The Americans and House of Lies all got left on the cutting room floor due to an excellent week on the small screen.
3. Californication, Episode 12, I'll Lay My Monsters Down. Every year I expect this show to disappoint me for whatever reason. It is kind of goofy, kind of jumps around, doesn't seem to have a real focus. But, every single season the writers prove me wrong. This show knows EXACTLY what it is doing and where it wants to go and is taking us there at such an interesting pace. This season was the best since Season 3 and the angle they are taking heading into what might be the final season is perfect. There is not a single viewer who thought Runkle and Marcy were going to stay on the outs and the show is definitely more fun with those two together, but the Hank/Karen relationship is really what makes Californication go and they have dangled it so well over six seasons. As we continue to watch Hank Moody fail time and time again to get things together and convince the love of his life it is for real, we always hope he will figure it out. The ending of this season let us glimpse that maybe ... just maybe ... he is finally ready to be the guy that is happily married and OK with that.
2. Justified, Episode 13, Ghosts. Justified is simply the most underrated show on television and it is not even a close contest. This show deserves to be on every top 10 list and deserves to be in serious consideration for a Best Drama Emmy nod and we know that just is not going to happen. Another show that never strays from its characters and it has molded them so well over 4 expertly crafted seasons that could all stand alone. This final episode saw a new angle, Boyd Crowder not seeing two steps ahead and watching his beloved Ava head to the slammer. That will make for a very interesting Season 5. The writers have struggled since Season 1 to find reason to keep Boyd and Raylan from going head-to-head because the show just can't win by having one of them lose. But, Boyd is not going to stand for Ava being locked up and his vengeance could finally draw Raylan out to battle, despite Givens' clear soft spot for the homicidal Crowder. The final scene, with Raylan sitting at the grave of his mother and his daddy as he thinks about where his life is heading is perfect. Everyone around him can see that his life ends sooner than later in a grave on that plot. The question is ... can Raylan Givens change from the bitter, cynical guy he is now that he has a daughter on the way to make his life worth living?
1. Mad Men, Episode 1&2, The Doorway Part 1 & 2. There has been a ton of press out there whining about the premier of Mad Men and how "nothing happened" and the show thinks it can get away with doing nothing. They are completely off base and show a lack of understanding what has Mad Men one of the best shows ever on television. This season started off with soul searching for handful of very key characters and where that searching takes them should make for what might be the best show of the year come Emmy time. Don has fallen back into his cheating ways and feels guilty about it, but at the same time doesn't. He feels his grip slipping at work and is starting to move toward full mid-life crisis mode. The development of Megan's successful acting career is perfect for this show and really means we can explore Draper fully. While it often takes a while to see what seeds have been planted, I could not turn away from this premier knowing that so much in it will be explored fully over the next 11 episodes. Mad Men is back ... and wants its Best Drama Emmy back from Homeland.
Honorable Mention: The Americans, Episode 9, Safe House; House of Lies, Episode 12, Til Death Do Us Part
This was a tough week to pick just three shows, there were a handful of great season finale's and one perfectly executed season premier. In the end, Game of Thrones, The Americans and House of Lies all got left on the cutting room floor due to an excellent week on the small screen.
3. Californication, Episode 12, I'll Lay My Monsters Down. Every year I expect this show to disappoint me for whatever reason. It is kind of goofy, kind of jumps around, doesn't seem to have a real focus. But, every single season the writers prove me wrong. This show knows EXACTLY what it is doing and where it wants to go and is taking us there at such an interesting pace. This season was the best since Season 3 and the angle they are taking heading into what might be the final season is perfect. There is not a single viewer who thought Runkle and Marcy were going to stay on the outs and the show is definitely more fun with those two together, but the Hank/Karen relationship is really what makes Californication go and they have dangled it so well over six seasons. As we continue to watch Hank Moody fail time and time again to get things together and convince the love of his life it is for real, we always hope he will figure it out. The ending of this season let us glimpse that maybe ... just maybe ... he is finally ready to be the guy that is happily married and OK with that.
2. Justified, Episode 13, Ghosts. Justified is simply the most underrated show on television and it is not even a close contest. This show deserves to be on every top 10 list and deserves to be in serious consideration for a Best Drama Emmy nod and we know that just is not going to happen. Another show that never strays from its characters and it has molded them so well over 4 expertly crafted seasons that could all stand alone. This final episode saw a new angle, Boyd Crowder not seeing two steps ahead and watching his beloved Ava head to the slammer. That will make for a very interesting Season 5. The writers have struggled since Season 1 to find reason to keep Boyd and Raylan from going head-to-head because the show just can't win by having one of them lose. But, Boyd is not going to stand for Ava being locked up and his vengeance could finally draw Raylan out to battle, despite Givens' clear soft spot for the homicidal Crowder. The final scene, with Raylan sitting at the grave of his mother and his daddy as he thinks about where his life is heading is perfect. Everyone around him can see that his life ends sooner than later in a grave on that plot. The question is ... can Raylan Givens change from the bitter, cynical guy he is now that he has a daughter on the way to make his life worth living?
1. Mad Men, Episode 1&2, The Doorway Part 1 & 2. There has been a ton of press out there whining about the premier of Mad Men and how "nothing happened" and the show thinks it can get away with doing nothing. They are completely off base and show a lack of understanding what has Mad Men one of the best shows ever on television. This season started off with soul searching for handful of very key characters and where that searching takes them should make for what might be the best show of the year come Emmy time. Don has fallen back into his cheating ways and feels guilty about it, but at the same time doesn't. He feels his grip slipping at work and is starting to move toward full mid-life crisis mode. The development of Megan's successful acting career is perfect for this show and really means we can explore Draper fully. While it often takes a while to see what seeds have been planted, I could not turn away from this premier knowing that so much in it will be explored fully over the next 11 episodes. Mad Men is back ... and wants its Best Drama Emmy back from Homeland.
Honorable Mention: The Americans, Episode 9, Safe House; House of Lies, Episode 12, Til Death Do Us Part
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
This Week's Top Three (Monday, 3/25/13 through Sunday, 3/31/13)
This was one of the most interesting week's of the year as The Walking Dead reached it's Season 3 conclusion on the same night that HBO launched Season 3 of Game of Thrones. So, it is safe to say plenty of people had their DVR's working full tilt. At the same time, The Good Wife was continuing along with a great season and Justified aired Season 4's penultimate episode.
It was a tough week to pick No. 3 since the top two were pretty much a foregone conclusion going in ...
3. Californication, Episode 11, The Abby. Californication is one of those shows that is just impossible to get a handle on because the writers keep it moving at such a well-timed pace. Every week it takes a few days to get a full understanding of where the episode took the characters because the writers have stayed so very true to each and every individual on the show over the course of six seasons. This episode was not one that needed to simmer though. It very much leaves the viewer wondering exactly where the relationship of Hank Moody (David Duchovny) and Karen (Natascha McElhone) is going to go now that their daughter, Becca, has moved away. Karen comments that she thinks Becca may have been the only thing keeping her and Hank together all these years ... and the viewers have to know that she has a valid point. On the side, we have the wonderful up-and-down relationship of Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler) and Marcy Handler (Pamela Adlon) coming full-circle to what seems to be a re-marriage of the couple we all cheer for each week. The final episode of Season 6 is sure to be good and we already know we are getting a Season 7, so it will be interesting to see what kind of cliffhanger is in store for Hank.
2. Game of Thrones, Episode 1, Valar Dohaeris. Dragons, dwarf, Daenerys. Delicious.
1. The Walking Dead, Episode 13, Welcome to the Tombs. The Walking Dead season finale did everything a season finale is supposed to do. It also had a handful of problems ... but if we all watched TWD just pointing out the problems ... the show would pretty much be ruined. This season had a great focus on the "kill or be kill" mentality of Woodbury's leading man — The Governor played perfectly all season by David Morrissey — vs. the struggle of Rick (Andrew Lincoln) trying not to become that. And it teased all season that we would get an epic showdown ... there was only one problem the writers had with that. They need to be able to bring the ultra-villainous Governor back in future episodes/seasons when needed. So, they took this episode to remind how reprehensible he is, get Rick and his misfit band of survivors in the clear, and leave open the possibility of future head-butting. The season long turmoil felt by Andrea (Laurie Holden) and her desire to bring Rick and The Governor together without anybody getting hurt ended the only way it could, with Andrea dead. I thought the death scene was done well and wreaked of desperation that everyone in zombie world must feel day after day. Carl's cold-blooded killing of a kid who was handing over his weapon also sets up a very good future storyline with his father, who seems to have come back around to the steady hand that we all cheered for throughout Season 1 and most of Season 2. Season finale's for super-popular shows are tough to do. They need to keep plenty of storylines available going forward because this show could clearly end up with a 6 season run or more and writers on popular shows know that actors and actresses are a fickle bunch that could just flake out at any point (ask the Downton Abbey writers about that). So, with that in mind ... we did not get the great big bang-em-up shootout ending many people hoped for, but doesn't everyone remember the silly ending to Season 2 with unlimited shotgun ammo and unlimited zombies? Maybe the folks at TWD realized they need more to a show than bang-em-up shootouts ... and they gave us plenty of story angles instead.
It was a tough week to pick No. 3 since the top two were pretty much a foregone conclusion going in ...
3. Californication, Episode 11, The Abby. Californication is one of those shows that is just impossible to get a handle on because the writers keep it moving at such a well-timed pace. Every week it takes a few days to get a full understanding of where the episode took the characters because the writers have stayed so very true to each and every individual on the show over the course of six seasons. This episode was not one that needed to simmer though. It very much leaves the viewer wondering exactly where the relationship of Hank Moody (David Duchovny) and Karen (Natascha McElhone) is going to go now that their daughter, Becca, has moved away. Karen comments that she thinks Becca may have been the only thing keeping her and Hank together all these years ... and the viewers have to know that she has a valid point. On the side, we have the wonderful up-and-down relationship of Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler) and Marcy Handler (Pamela Adlon) coming full-circle to what seems to be a re-marriage of the couple we all cheer for each week. The final episode of Season 6 is sure to be good and we already know we are getting a Season 7, so it will be interesting to see what kind of cliffhanger is in store for Hank.
2. Game of Thrones, Episode 1, Valar Dohaeris. Dragons, dwarf, Daenerys. Delicious.
1. The Walking Dead, Episode 13, Welcome to the Tombs. The Walking Dead season finale did everything a season finale is supposed to do. It also had a handful of problems ... but if we all watched TWD just pointing out the problems ... the show would pretty much be ruined. This season had a great focus on the "kill or be kill" mentality of Woodbury's leading man — The Governor played perfectly all season by David Morrissey — vs. the struggle of Rick (Andrew Lincoln) trying not to become that. And it teased all season that we would get an epic showdown ... there was only one problem the writers had with that. They need to be able to bring the ultra-villainous Governor back in future episodes/seasons when needed. So, they took this episode to remind how reprehensible he is, get Rick and his misfit band of survivors in the clear, and leave open the possibility of future head-butting. The season long turmoil felt by Andrea (Laurie Holden) and her desire to bring Rick and The Governor together without anybody getting hurt ended the only way it could, with Andrea dead. I thought the death scene was done well and wreaked of desperation that everyone in zombie world must feel day after day. Carl's cold-blooded killing of a kid who was handing over his weapon also sets up a very good future storyline with his father, who seems to have come back around to the steady hand that we all cheered for throughout Season 1 and most of Season 2. Season finale's for super-popular shows are tough to do. They need to keep plenty of storylines available going forward because this show could clearly end up with a 6 season run or more and writers on popular shows know that actors and actresses are a fickle bunch that could just flake out at any point (ask the Downton Abbey writers about that). So, with that in mind ... we did not get the great big bang-em-up shootout ending many people hoped for, but doesn't everyone remember the silly ending to Season 2 with unlimited shotgun ammo and unlimited zombies? Maybe the folks at TWD realized they need more to a show than bang-em-up shootouts ... and they gave us plenty of story angles instead.
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