Game of Thrones (HBO) ended its captivating first season with a wailing guitar solo of a final image: a hot naked chick mothering three dragon hatchlings. In fact, as badass as the first season was — and it was so very, very badass — it seems that it may have been just one long prologue to bolder stories with even higher stakes. I’m already rolling out a “Game of Thrones” withdrawal survival plan: read the next book in the series and try to focus my TV addiction on “Breaking Bad,” then “Mad Men,” then “Justified.” That should get me to next spring. (Animated GIF of the banner image here thanks to bohemea; Joffrey’s sarcastic clapping via.)
The Killing (AMC) dropped what many are considering to be the biggest turd in the TV punchbowl this season: the season finale “revealed” the killer to be the Seattle mayoral candidate played by Billy Campbell, only to pull yet another last-second twist, an occurrence that happened so often in Season 1 that it made the show predictable. People who invested their time watching the first season are NOT happy:
It wasn’t just a bad ending to a poorly constructed, sloppy, disappointing season. It was a jaw-dropping instance of a show not just squandering its promise, but betraying its viewers. The tone-deaf arrogance of the writers and executives responsible for ‘The Killing’ is simply astonishing… What a mess. What an avoidable, idiotic, ill-conceived mess. [Mo Ryan at TV Squad]
I gotta say, I feel pretty great about tuning out after five episodes.
Falling Skies (TNT) debuted with what I’m sure will be solid numbers. The show is enjoyable but devoid of subtlety: military history professor Noah Wyle spouts helpful lessons to fortify the band of human survivors he leads, and the treacly family stories with swelling music — an obvious Spielberg touch — will ensure that “Falling Skies” will appeal to a larger, dumber audience. Whatever, it’s summer. I’ll probably watch it, too.
