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
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