The Television Power Rankings Week 9 (March 30 – April 5)

Game of Thrones: Iron Throne

I’m so glad Game of Thrones has finally returned. I’d been fighting a close battle with myself to not buy the George R. R. Martin audiobooks (I’m too busy (lazy) to read books right now) from the ‘A Song of Fire and Ice’ series the TV show is adapted from. I’ve survived so far but I’m already itching at the prospect of waiting between the second and third seasons, especially considering the way the story has been set up in this first episode of the second season.

Game of Thrones returns right were Season 1 ends, as the shuffle for the Iron Throne continues in earnest. The Starks led by Robb Stark fight for northern independence, and Daenerys Targaryen journeys through the desert with her baby dragons to reclaim the throne for the Targaryens.  The show also expends its purview and so introduces new characters. Characters such as Stannis Baratheon, performed aptly steely by Stephen Dillane, brother of the dead King, his right hand man Ser Davos Seaworth performed by one of my favourite actors Liam Cunningham and Stannis’s new lover Carice Van Houten, a sort of temptress character. There are more characters to be introduced as the season continues but all these new characters don’t seem new at all. It’s like they’ve always been in this world but we, the audience, just weren’t aware. They are fully formed characters with ambitions, life long alliances and incredibly fascinating backstories. They all fit perfectly in this fantasy world.

As is expected, introducing new fascinating characters with enough screen time to breath reduces the screen time for your older, and maybe favourite characters. In my case I’m a Lannister guy all the way, yes this might come across as the evil, psychotic, BEEP inbred and treacherous choice… but that’s my choice. Jaime Lannister is my favourite character and I’m on #TeamJoffrey for the Iron Throne. You choose, and bask in the glorious amazement that is Game of Thrones.

The other premiere this week is The Killing, to be precise the US version of the Killing. The basic concept is chronicling to a minutia the investigation of a murdered girl in rainy Seattle. I came late on to the phenomenon that was the original Danish show (started from the 2^nd season of that one) so I suppose I’m a good judge of the US version. I can’t go any further talking about the 2^nd season of the US version without commenting on the furore the finale of the 1^st season instigated. People went bat-BEEP crazy because Rosie Larson’s killer wasn’t found and instead the show ended with a cliffhanger. In this age things can easily be made to seem bigger, better, worse, and more grave than they actually are. Most Internet commentators prefer to express themselves in extremes. So gauging the actual extent of the furore can only be done based on viewing figures as most people promised to not return. According to tvbythenumbers.com, the best website for viewing figures; 1.8 million people watched the return of The Killing as opposed to 2.3 million who watched season one finale. So I guess the furore did have a substantial effect, half a million people stayed away.

Those of us that have returned for the back-to-back episodes premiere would have enjoyed two pretty good episodes. I’ll declare my bias; I’m a big fan of Joel Kinnaman, who plays the excellently enigmatic Stephen Holder. I’ll be watching The Killing so long as Stephen Holder is on the show but I’ll predict right here, right now, that Stephen Holder will be dead at the end of this season. The show’s executives have already stated that we will know Rosie’s killer in the season finale, so I wonder what the episodes prior to the finale will hold. More red herrings? More focus on Rosie’s grieving family? Whatever the choice I hope it’s good, or fantastically bad, because I want to enjoy The Killing, I really do. Let’s see where it lands on the Power Rankings.

1. (*) Game Of Thrones (US) – HBO, Sky Atlantic – Catch-up – iTunes

A steady episode with few of the usual mind-blowing surprises (well besides rampant baby killing) that showcases the several men fighting for the Iron Throne. The stakes for each man and the lengths they will go to protect or attain what they believe is rightfully theirs. Joffrey’s inbred captivating insanity is excellent to watch, so is his mother Cersei, fighting to control him and assert the power she’s gained by whatever means necessary. “Power is Power,” she says to Littlefinger in a fantastic scene.

2. (-1) Mad Men (US) – AMC, Sky Atlantic, Catch-up -iTunes

This week’s episode brings with it a hefty Betty. The casual life of a housewife has caused Betty to explode in weight. As you’d expect Betty hates her size but cant seem to stop eating. She goes to the doctor for diet pills but is diagnosed with a mole. The rest of the episode deals with consequence for Betty, Don and their families if this mole happens to be life threatening. At the agency, the pissing contest between Pete and Roger intensifies.

3. (-1) Justified (US) – FX, Catch-up – iTunes

In this penultimate episode alliances shuffled with every passing scene. Quarles proved himself impossible to hold down. Boyd shows himself to be smarter than you’d expect. Limehouse shows himself a virtuous man, although virtue is relative considering the players, including Raylan. Raylan gets his man as he’d prophesied in court. Boyd’s desire for vengeance, Quarles desperation, and Wynn’s betrayal leads to an explosive final scene.

4. (-) Twenty Twelve (UK) – BBC2, Catch-up – BBC iPlayer

The hilarity continues as the ODC attempt to deal with the threat of boycott by Algeria, now against a deadline. A plan is finally hatched after meeting with an emergency architect, an unplanned meeting with a seemingly cool ‘Priest’ (don’t think he was actually) and a planned meeting with a representative from Muslim Focus UK. Also in the last scenes we may or may not have lost an integral member of the ODC.

5. (*) Death Row (UK) – Channel 4, Catch-up – 4oD

I love Werner Herzog. Everything he does, from his documentaries to his remake of Bad Lieutenant (Nicholas Cage’s last good movie). I don’t agree with his politics in regards to the death penalty but that doesn’t stop me from being enthralled by his fascinating insights of men about to be killed by the state. Mostly Texas it seems. This week we follow two men who were involved in a prison escape and a deadly gunfight that lead to their death sentences. One is the charismatic ringleader, the other a supposedly good guy whose life changed for the worst after he was ‘cock-blocked’ (lesson here dudes… exaggerated nod).

6. (-1) Spartacus (US) – Starz, Sky 1, Catch-up – iTunes

In the finale everything happens fantastically well for Spartacus and his legion of rebels. One of the major characters in the legion does die, but in my (blood-thirsty maybe?) opinion that wasn’t enough considering the dire circumstances for Spartacus and the legion at the end of last episode. My favourite character also dies. He/she deserved to die but it was sad to see them go.

7. (*) The Killing (US) – AMC, Catch-up – iTunes

The hunt for Rosie’s true killer continues. Sarah Linden now trusts no one especially her former partner Stephen Holder as she seeks the truth by herself. Jamie struggles to contain his emotions as he waits for Darren to regain consciousness and realise his fate. Stan Larson fights to protect his family when he finds that Darren is not being charged of his daughter’s (Rosie) murder. Add to that the ‘real’ killer taunts Stan. Stephen spirals when he realises that he’s being played.

8. (-1) Awake (US) – NBC, Catch-up – iTunes

Michael is brought in to negotiate a hostage situation involving a mental patient. The case and the mental patient lead Michael to question his mental competency and his future, considering his very unique situation. There is a very intriguing revelation in the last moments of the episode.

9. (-3) Fringe (US) – FOX, Sky 1, Catch-up – iTunes

An episode that reworks a classic season 1 episode (The Transformation). Olivia is initially benched by Broyles in the wake of her memory loss but this doesn’t stop her helping Walter, Peter, and Lincoln investigate the case involving a group that wants to create a new evolution of mankind. In the episode’s crisis moment, Olivia’s prowess saves Lincoln from near death. In the last scene Broyles reinstates Olivia in the Fringe Team.

10. (-) The Apprentice UK – BBC1, Catch-up – BBC iPlayer

The teams are merged to start the episode. It’s no longer a battle of the sexes. Some of the contestants are beginning to stand out, for several reasons. This week Duane stands out for good reasons as he’s sent to lead the women’s team. The task was to create condiments. The predominantly male team chose to make ketchup. The Duane led predominantly female team made chutney. After a cringe-worthy boardroom session, Lord Sugar rightfully fired the weak-link of the losing team.

Dropouts

• Panorama – The week’s topic (state of Apprenticeships in the UK) didn’t particularly interest me.  I really don’t know why.
• Luck – Last week was the season finale.
• Happy Endings – Don’t know why, but E4 didn’t air an episode this week.
• The Ultimate Fighter – Not a really strong episode and the live fight at the end of the episode wasn’t the most exciting.

Bubbling Under/Honourable Mentions (besides the Dropouts)

Modern Family (US, UK airdate) – ABC, Sky 1; Scott & Bailey (UK) – ITV1; Touch (US) – FOX, Sky; Bob’s Burgers (US) – FOX; Silent Witness (UK) – BBC1.

“It’s official. We live on Planet Hip-Hop”

So says my favourite actor Idris Elba in the Channel 4 countdown show, How Hip-Hop Changed The World. Intriguing title I thought, although I’m not a fan of Hip-Hop anymore (more a Johnny Cash man me, and Adele, and a little Dance, and Country, and… just generally GOOD music) but anything with Driis (Idris Elba for us pretentious folks) I’d watch.

How Hip-Hop Changed The World is a countdown show about how Hip-Hop changed the world (repetition I know), how the culture has influenced a generation of people around the world. Many miles and oceans away from The Bronx where Hip-Hop was originated by the innovation of DJ Cool Herc, and then formed into a culture by DJ Afrika Bambaataa. The 5 Elements of Hip-Hop as stated by DJ Afrika Bambaataa are Dance, DJing, MCing, Grafitti, and importantly Knowledge (which is lacking today).

The show is an amazing educational, fun, and nostalgia filled ride through the history of Hip-Hop. Things you’ve forgotten you forgot, things you want to remember, things that bring back good memories, and bad memories. Superbly driven by Driis, and the multitude of talking heads from American Hip-Hop stalwarts Snoop, Will.i.am, Rakim, Nas (to name a few), through the likes of other genre stalwarts, Damian Marley and Blondie (naming a few), and our British stalwarts (not so much ‘stalwarts’) Ashley Walters (So Solid Crew), Tim Westwood (the greatest… yes he is!), Artful Dodger (graffiti artist), Noel Clarke (filmmaker, Kidulthood…) and N-Dubz (I know what you thinking but I did say not so much).

The show does a great job of stating its case, and I must confess, although initially sceptical, Hip-Hop has certainly changed the world, whether for the better might be up for debate. But from the start of the countdown, the London 2012 logo is graffiti, allow that to sink in… that is Hip-Hop. Through its influences on language, advertising, clothing… just culture in general, urban and otherwise. Hip-Hop influences are everywhere around us, and this superb show does a great job at pointing it out. Although I don’t completely agree with the countdown order (Soldier Boy more influential than The Streets! Hell NO!).

But that’s what the show does, it engages you. I thought I didn’t care for Hip-Hop anymore but I loved this show, my brother who adores Hip-Hop came into my room for a chat half way through the show and stayed till the end, glued to my laptop as we watched it on 4oD (Channel 4’s version of iplayer). I paused and we argued whether or not George Bush hated black people (thanks to Kanye ‘I’m immensely talented but a BEEP douche’ West) and if The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was actually a good show (I think NOT in both cases). I know I risk lavishing too much praise on this show, but it is amazing and certainly worth a watch.

Just to prove the show’s point…