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Welcome to The Power Rankings! for the week ending April 15.
PHOTOS: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 2 Preview
And so, as it was prophesied, this might well be the most competitive week of The Power Rankings!, top to bottom, since it began years ago. And we’re only losing one series — Justified — next week, while two strong ones jump in the ring. This is why we play, people. This is why we train. And we harken back here to the famous and beloved Al Swearengen, who once decried, “Tell your gods to ready for blood” (official TPR! slogan). Because there is no time like now. Competition is so fierce right now that just one weak scene in a drama or a failed punchline in a comedy could spell a two or three spot drop in the rankings.
STORY: Awkward! Brian Williams’ Actress Daughter on Watching ‘Girls’ Sex Scenes With Dad
So, even though it’s pretty obvious, a final reminder: Do not bring the weak stuff. “On my command, unleash hell!” (also official TPR! slogan).
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.
RANK | SHOW | PREVIOUS | TREND | COMMENT |
1 |
Girls |
N/A | ↔ |
Down goes the king! The throne has been toppled after two powerful weeks. If you read the intro to The Power Rankings! you’ll see that we are at an all time battle of ferocity here. And you just can’t contain the raw brilliance of Girls. Right now, there is no voice like Lena Dunham‘s and only a select collection of series have ever come out so completely formed and grasping precisely what they are and what they want to say. This is one of those series. |
2 |
Game of Thrones |
1 | ↓ |
What, you thought it was going to fall to the bottom? Not so fast. And not so far. To show you how great this series really is, it defeated the season finale of a very beloved series. Beyond that, it’s not too much of a stretch to say that all future references to Game of Thrones should be prefaced with “The Magnificent.” |
3 |
Justified |
2 | ↓ |
There was a lot to love and a lot to question in Season 3 of Justified. But the finale did most characters right and what it did with brilliance was completely gut the viewer by having Raylan’s father not only continue to abandon him and leave him unloved till the end, but also want to kill him. I mean, take your Quarles and your Boyds and Limehouses — it was Arlo who took villainy to its end. Whatever minor quibbles I had with the season died with Raylan trying to pretend his father’s loathing didn’t bother him. |
4 |
Mad Men |
3 | ↓ |
See? There is no favoritism. There is no legacy votes. You get where you got on your last episode. And although my love for Mad Men remains strong, as I said in my deconstruction of the episode, its move to a more obvious and less subtle tone is a factor for me. |
5 |
Magic City |
4 | ↓ |
Meanwhile, where there’s altogether not enough talk about the potential of this series, we have Magic City sitting cozy. Granted, you have to have Starz. But I do and I’m still on board with this series. It’s one to watch grow. Also, the look of it is beautiful. |
6 |
Modern Family |
N/A | ↔ |
Finally, it’s back and what a fantastic episode. I’m totally going to put a speaker on my car and just drive around critiquing things. Lots of laughs here. Welcome back to The Power Rankings! |
7 |
The Borgias |
5 | ↓ |
Sure, every show is taking a drop because of the fresh blood in the ring. But an argument could be made that last week’s episode of The Borgias was its most inclusive in the use of all the characters and had in it pretty much everything, including real sadness and compassion. Thus, the drop is no reflection on its quality. |
8 |
The Killing |
7 | ↓ |
Dare I say that I’m still compelled to watch? So far, yes. Maybe the haters (ahem) will end up right, but so far I’ve got no complaints. And it’s here amongst incredible competition. |
9 |
Don’t Trust the B– In Apartment 23 |
N/A | ↔ |
Hey now, another newbie! I’m not sure anyone is a fan of the title, but don’t let that put you off. This comedy is funny and it only gets better going forward. Welcome to The Power Rankings!, oh bitchy one. |
10 |
30 Rock |
10 | ↔ |
Am I mistaken or did 30 Rock try to give us a little hug this week? Without the reach-around? It did and despite a general avoidance of comedy that wants to put some warmth in my heart, there was so much random hilarity (as usual) that I didn’t mind. And just to reiterate, the people who think 30 Rock isn’t funny any more are wrong. End of story. |
11 |
Community |
6 | ↓ |
Is Blade a bad movie? Um…Just one week after being the highest rated comedy, don’t read anything into this dip. It’s all the dramas. Maybe there’s a bias for dramas over comedies, sure, but Community is one of TV’s finest, so of course it makes this list. So many others that also merit your attention didn’t make the cut, because the competition is insane, so there’s no shame in 11. In fact, let’s go back to the apartment and celebrate. |
Out: Well, my beloved Raising Hope didn’t make it this week (I blame Nancy Grace) and neither did New Girl, which has been rising rapidly. Bob’s Burgers is missing. Now Justified has finished its season and the arrival of new competition next week means that losing one Big Show doesn’t free up any space at all. Don’t bring the weak stuff, indeed.
In peril: Everything.
In the mix: Parks and Recreation is back next week and Veep, which I loved, arrives as well. Plus, let’s not forget the shows listed above that didn’t make it this week. How are all of these going to fit? Tough times, people. Let’s just mop up the blood and see how it plays out next week.
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