Mad Thrones

Now that my two favorite dramas, Mad Men and Game Of Thrones, are both on Sunday nights, I can't see doing full recaps of both for Monday.  Not sure what I'll do next week, but today I'll take them both on without giving a beat-by-beat description.

One of the interesting things about Game Of Thrones is, if you haven't read the books, you don't really know where things are going. Some plots feel like they should be easy, but it's the job of the writers to make things tough for the characters.  Thus, at the end of the first season, Daenerys seemed triumphant--she was queen of the dragons and seemed ready to wreak her awful vengeance. But we're into the second episode of season two, "The Night Lands," and she's not looking so well.  Her few followers are starving in the wastelands and one of her best whom she sent out to find help returns as only a head.

Then there's Theon, who expects a glorious reception when he returns to his homeland, the Iron Islands. Instead, they think he's a fancy boy who's become a Stark.  His father wants nothing to do with any alliance, and his sister (whom he doesn't recognize and thus makes a play for) has usurped his place.  She'll be commanding the fleet.

And you'd think Jon Snow could stay out of trouble at Craster's house beyond the Wall, but suddenly he's involved in intrigue and violence.  Early on he's warning Samwell not to get involved, but by the end he's the one getting knocked out.

Not that everyone has it bad.  The star of the episode is Tyrion, who has never been taken that seriously, but has always been smart.  As a fill-in Hand, he makes it clear to the counselors who did in Ned Stark that he won't put up with their threats, and can play their game as well as they.  Then he cashiers Janos Slynt of the City Watch--anyone who can turn on Stark could turn on the newest Hand--and replaces him with his own man, Bronn, who at least is honestly corrupt.  He even has words again with his sister, and bests her.

For that matter, Melisandre doesn't have it too hard.  Stannis seems too stiff and proper to cheat on his sickly wife, but it doesn't take long to turn him around with the promise of a son.  And good old Arya thinks she has plenty to fear, so is surprised when the king's men ride to her camp and actually want Gendry.  Gendry, meanwhile, discovers who Arya actually is, and they seem to be building up a great friendship.

We also get some new characters, such as the two new Greyjoys, not to mention Davos Seaworth's pirate friend and now ally to Stannis, Salladhor Saan.  With so many figures spread out so widely, it's no wonder we didn't hear in this episode from Robb, Lady Stark, Joffrey, Sansa, Jaime, Bran or Renly.  I'm sure they'll all be back soon.  Eventually, in fact, they're all going to clash--too many kings and queens out there.  Until then, I enjoy the manuevering and plotting.

Then came Mad Men's "Mystery Date."  The title is partly from the classic commercial, though just as much in reference to unexpected visitors who come to Don, Joan and Peggy--not to mention the eight nurses Richard Speck murdered in the news story everyone is talking about.



A theme to "Mystery Date" is sleeping problems.  Don is sick and has fever dreams.  Dawn can't go home so tries to sleep in Don's office, and gets invited to sleep on Peggy's couch.  Joan can barely sleep with her new baby around, and when Greg comes home with some bad news, she has sleep problems trying to deal with him.  Roger is sleeping on the couch when Pete reminds later Friday afternoon to have the Mohawk pitch ready on Monday (which he's done nothing about).  And Sally reads about Richard Speck and cna only sleep under the couch with her grandma nearby--and the help of a Seconal.

As often happens with Mad Men, not a lot of forward plot motion (though the company succeeds selling a pitch, and then Michael convinces the clients o try another idea--after which Don reads him the riot act), but plenty of internal investigation.

We see that Don is trying to avoid past mistakes, but in his dreams, has sex with an old fling and then chokes her to death.  Peggy shows a little moxie with Roger, but later gets drunk and admits she might not have what it takes to make it in this racket.  The biggest bombshell came from their biggest bombshell.  Greg comes home but explains to Joan he has to return to Vietnam for a year.  When she finds out its voluntary (because he's finally found a place where he's needed and respected), she tells him the marriage is over.  Always a big deal, but especially so in 1966 with a baby.  (She might end up with Roger yet.) A lot of people wondered if Greg wouldn't die in Vietnam so we could be free of him. It could still happen, but it looks like Joan is going back to where she's needed and respected.

MIA were Harry, Bert and Lane, while we only got a little bit of Pete, Betty and Ken. The show ended with the tune "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)"--perhaps a bit too on the nose.