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https://www.hollywoodreporter.com//live-feed/game-thrones-writer-unpleasant-scenes-699232The world is put to right as the Power Rankings! return to Mondays, as a reflection of what happened in the last week, ending on Sunday. They are also a reflection of a certain someone’s mood and whether a show he liked was good, bad or gods-awful. That is to say, the right judging of weekly television series continues apace after a triumphant return last week. If you by chance disagree with the assessments of the Elite 11 below, first tell your God to ready for blood and then please understand that it’s science and logistics and thus you are wrong.* So, welcome to The Power Rankings! for the week ending April 27. On my command, unleash hell! FYI: The Power Rankings! are where television series are ranked on a weekly basis according to their most recent episodes and the ever-changing moods of yours truly. If you want to learn how The Power Rankings! started and the methodology behind them, check out the link to the Bastard Machine post on those issues of great import. Also: The Bastard Machine is on Facebook. And Twitter. *(It has nothing to do with science or logistics, actually.)
Related Stories
RANK | SHOW | PREVIOUS | TREND | COMMENT |
1 |
The Americans |
2 | ↑ |
“Being a grown-up means doing things you don’t want to do — all the time!” Elizabeth says to her rebelliously religious daughter, Paige, though it’s a line that better applies to Philip, who had to kill two civilians as the Cold War coldness begins to take its toll on his psyche. This was yet another superb episode of The Americans, touching deeply on what faith really means. This show, people. This show. |
2 |
Fargo |
3 | ↑ |
A hearty Minnesota welcome to Mr. Numbers and Mr. Wrench. You are a welcome addition. Feel free to drill into the ice and dispose of people as you will. Also, you’re right, there should be a library in this town. It’s a darn shame. Elsewhere, Lorne Malvo continues to be the most intriguing man on television. “That’s a pretty specific number” and, well, sitting on the throne, unperturbed. Fargo is pounding hard on the ceiling, but The Americans and Mad Men have been fantastic. One step up this week, though, so look out. |
3 |
Game of Thrones |
4 | ↑ |
Yes, I know it should be higher. And it is higher this week. You may have noticed some damned impressive competition. The pressure is intense to stay on top. One less-than-brilliant episode and you can tumble. Ahem. See below. But a very strong episode moves Game of Thrones a notch closer to the throne. |
4 |
Mad Men |
1 | ↓ |
See what happens when you sleep on absolute greatness? A three-slot drop, that’s what. Not that Mad Men had a bad episode per se — “Field Trip” had much to love about it. It just wasn’t as good as the two previous episodes and not as good as The Americans, Fargo and Game of Thrones this week. That’s how bunched-up this top is. Lots of blood to be spilled in this battle. Do not bring the weak stuff. |
5 |
Orphan Black |
5 | ↔ |
Let’s just take a sweet moment here to look at this Top 5. Go ahead — give it a gander. Pretty damned impressive. I struggled mightily in considering movement here — great episodes abounded. But ultimately, every series here protected its turf and retains the same position. Orphan Black is, however, a series that needs your rallying cry to woo the faithless. It’s something everyone should be watching. |
6 |
Moone Boy |
N/A | ↔ |
Welcome to the Power Rankings! you hilarious Irish import! With a great first season under its belt, my favorite comedy of 2013 is back on Hulu. “Shut up, Pet Shop Boys.” In any case, funny, touching, heartwarming. A creative coming-of-age story that doesn’t miss a beat in season 2. |
7 |
Silicon Valley |
6 | ↓ |
Oh, pay the down arrow no mind. With Silicon Valley pulling off what is, arguably, one of the best dick jokes ever — really two dick jokes in one — I half wanted it to be No. 1 for that alone. But look — Moone Boy is pretty great and a good show to lose a peg to; no shame in that. |
8 |
Veep |
7 | ↓ |
Yep, same thing there. Good old flux. It keeps the Power Rankings! fresh and keeps shows on their toes episode to episode. Hell, Veep may be having its finest season yet, so this temporary downturn is no reflection on the content, only on the competition. |
9 |
The Blacklist |
N/A | ↔ |
All hail a network drama in the Power Rankings! (Not a first, but damned impressive). The Blacklist has been great fun since it started with James Spader hitting it out of the park pretty much every episode (no, strike that — literally every episode), so it’s nice to have the ranking here to finally appreciate that effort. |
10 |
Bates Motel |
8 | ↓ |
Nobody said competing here was easy — a two-notch drop isn’t the worst thing in the world. A couple of shows fell off entirely, by the way. But it does indicate that when new series appear (or return), then the overall competition is going to increase. Could Bates Motel have fallen further? Not with Vera Farmiga. No way. She’s a force of nature. |
11 |
Archer |
11 | ↔ |
Few animated series take as many creative chances as Archer does, and this season that was truly a factor. But it helps to know that if the creators are invested in change, they are invested in the series, not just cashing checks. Archer remains a personal favorite and one of television’s finest comedies. A nice way to go out this season. |
Out: Portlandia and Inside Amy Schumer, two very good comedies, missed the cut. But that had more to do with the return of The Blacklist and the arrival of Moone Boy. There can only be 11 in the Elite 11. We’re not handing out merit badges here. This is war. I assume each will rally.
In peril: Well, we know that Archer is over. Otherwise, a couple of shows are in their final episodes but still around. That means more carnage next week. And carnage is why we do this.
In the mix: Hannibal, Elementary, Salem, The Goldbergs, Legit, Vikings, Da Vinci’s Demons, Inside Amy Schumer, Portlandia. You know, I really tried on Turn. It’s just not there. It’s not ready for the gravitas it wants to display to the world and be known for.
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