Weekend Preview: A Totally Normal Episode Of ‘Game Of Thrones’

Game of Thrones (HBO, Sunday 9 p.m.) — Even as a non-book reader, some book stuff about Game of Thrones seeps in, and because I’m not a book reader, I sometimes don’t realize that knowledge-by-osmosis by virtue of living on the Internet can be considered a spoiler, so a few weeks ago on a podcast, I apparently said the wrong phrase in reference to this week’s episode — a phrase I picked up from YOU PEOPLE — so I blame you all. What I’m saying is, this is going to be an episode you’re not going to wait and watch on Monday.

Orphan Black (BBC American, Saturday 8 p.m.) — The season finale of the phenomenal first season of Orphan Black arrives this weekend, and if you haven’t been watching, put everything else aside (except Arrested Development and Game of Thrones, see above) and catch up. Also, if you saw last week’s episode (SPOILER), you’ll see that the inadvertent mistake I’ve been making all season in calling the show Black Orphan in the Weekend Preview wasn’t so dumb now, was it? It’s called accidental foreshadowing. Boom. End Spoilers)

Mad Men (AMC, 10 p.m.) — We’ve had a damn good time this week with the Megan Draper as Sharon Tate conspiracy, haven’t we? Can’t wait to see how Matthew Weiner goes in a completely different direction just to screw with us. DAMN YOU WEINER. But seriously, I’m going to put this out there just in case it ends up right, so I can claim credit: The penultimate episode of the season is called “The Quality of Mercy,” which is a line from The Merchant of Venice, which is about a villainous Jew, which is clearly a reference to Dr. Rosen, who inadvertently kills Megan in an attempt to murder Don after he finds out about the affair. DOTS CONNECTED.

The Killing (AMC, 8 p.m.) — TWO-HOUR SEASON PREMIERE. Well, it was canceled, then brought back, the cast has been beefed up, and we’ve been told in advance that it’s a one-season mystery. Reviews, so far, suggest that it’s better than last season, for whatever that is worth.

The Fall (Netflix, Anytime) — For the summer dead season, there’s some pretty good television this weekend, especially if you still have Arrested Development to catch up on. But, if you need even more good television, Gillian Anderson’s five-hour British series started on Netflix this week. It’s definitely worth checking out.

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