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.
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