Upon A Mad Throne

Just a couple weeks of the Sunday hat trick left, so let's have a quick summary of the action.

Against all odds, Once Upon A Time is becoming more compelling. It's still poorly written, poorly acted and, in general, ridiculous, but the overall story is starting to move and it feels like progress is being made.

In "The Stranger," we learn August's backstory.  He was Pinocchio, and Geppetto tricked Snow White by putting him in the enchanted tree.  So he's been sent to the non-magic world to look over Emma and remind her of who she is so she can save the everyone.

She still refuses to believe, which certainly makes sense, since the story is so fantastic.  Still, she's heard it from at least three separate people--are they all mad?  Also, August is failing and he's turning back into wood. We can see his wooden leg (not to mention his wooden acting) but Emma can't.  Why?  He says she's in denial, but either his leg is turning into wood or not.  Can only fairyland character see it in this real world?  I don't quite get it.

The other question, and this deals with where the series is going, is not only when will Emma discover her true calling, but what happens after?  Once she knows what she must do, then isn't the jig up, and the show all but over.  Though I guess the action would turn toward how does she wake everyone else up and get them back to where they belong (which doesn't seem all that great a place, filled with powerful kings, queens, wizards and ogres).

Meanwhile, Regina takes some lumps, which is kind of nice, after a whole season of lording it over others.  Mary Margaret tells her she's the cursed one--trying to destroy others can never fill the hole in your heart.  Then Henry tells her point blank, again, she's the evil witch and Emma will break the curse.  It must be tough on her--for 28 years, she was in charge and things never changed, which is apparently the way she liked it.

We're also stuck with the uninteresting plot of Emma trying to regain custody of her son, but at least she spirits him out of Storybrooke, which could lead to something actually happening.

Game Of Thrones had another good episode, "The Ghost Of Harrenhal," though I had a slight problem with it.  We sort of knew Renly was a goner last week,and if there was any question, his quick conversation with Cat in his tent the night before the battle sealed it. He was friendly and sensible and ready to solve all problems--no show can have that.  So in came the shadow baby to kill him.  And that's my problem.

Up till now, the show has downplayed its fantasy element.  Sure, there've been direwolves and dragons and white walkers, but you could go with them, and they were rarely running the plot. But if magic can take out any character, then there are no rules as to how things much work--the reason I don't generally like fantasy.

Anyway, Brienne is aghast that the one man she cared about is gone, and swears vengeance.  However, she's the main suspect, so she escapes with Cat and soon pledges her life to her--Brienne seems to be the kind who has to pledge her life to someone to keep going.  (Though wouldn't a big lug like Brienne be more helpful to Robb?)

Loras is also inconsolable.  Stannis may have all the rest of Renly's men, but with both Loras and Brienne sworn to avenge Renly, the only question is who will get there first.  Meanwhile, Davos convinces Stannis to take King's Landing without the Red Woman by his side, since many think she's too powerful.

Back at King's Landing,  citizens think the Imp is too powerful. If only they knew he's their best friend.  Everyone knows Renly is dead and Stannnis is coming.  Tyrion discovers the King's defense, which is, literally, firepower, and thinks he may use it for himself.

At Pyke, Theon still has to prove himself, even with his crew.  These Iron Men are tough.  But he figures he'll take some north lands easily while Robb is away.  Maybe he can't hold it, but he'll get respect. (Could he possibly have his sights on Winterfell?)

Just as Robb is away from Winterfell, the Lannister's best fighters aren't at King's Landing, but Harrenhal with Tywin.  They feel beleaguered by military genius Robb Stark.  Meanwhile, Arya is the littlest spy, serving Tywin and his council.  Tywin notices the girl is from the North, and quizzes her about Robb.  She looks at him and says anyone can be killed.

Out fetching water, Arya runs into Jaqen.  He says she saved him and the other criminals, so he owes her three lives.  She suggests the torturer first.  By the end of the episode, he'd dead.  Who could be next?  The Mountain comes to mind, but Tywin would be the real prize.

We go north beyond north, where Jon Snow and the gang are digging in. It's time to kill the Wildlings, who are getting too smart. Jon hasn't been too impressive lately, so it's time for him to prove himself.  Then we go all the way across the known world to the greatest city that ever was, Qarth.  Dany sees her cute little dragons learning to breathe fire.  She and her people don't fit in, but at least they're taken care of. More than that, in fact.  Rich merchant Xaro offers her half his wealth if she'll take his hand.  This would give her the chance to get a fleet and reclaim the Iron Throne.

Not so fast, says Ser Jorah.  All the money is Essos won't help without support in Westeros. Is he saying this because he's a wise counselor, or because he secretly loves her?  Or both?  Either way, he says he'll get her a ship.

With all this planning, just one question.  Why the rush?  How about waiting until the dragons grow up?  Because if they'll be big in a few years, then you can return to King's Landing in style. Wasn't that the plan all along, at least since they were born?

Things are dull at Winterfell until they learn of Theon's exploits, even if they don't know it's Theon.  They figure it's Tywin. Should be interesting when they find out.  Certainly the Greyjoys are a pain in Robb's side.  If he ever has the time, I assume he can do to them what Ned did. But when will he have the time?

Overall, things moved forward, if not a lot.  But that's how this show works.  There are around ten stories going on at once--I can't remember the last time we even saw Jaime Lannister--so if you're lucky, your favorite part of the plot will get ten minutes on any given week.

On Mad Men, in "At The Codfish Ball," things are getting in gear. The shows has always been about relationships, but it's good to see some of the characters getting back into the central relationship--with the agency. Everyone's been in a funk the last couple weeks (and the episodes have been extra arty), but we get some forward motion now.

We start with Sally on the phone to Glen at a boarding school.  Didn't think we'd see Glen again, but I guess it helps being Matthew Weiner's son.  Anyway, Grandma (sally calls her Bluto), who's watching the kids while Betty and Henry are away, trips over the phone cord (which Sally later lies about), hurts herself, and Sally and Bobby get to go to Don's pad.

Don already has his hands full, with Megan's sophisticated and bickering French parents there to watch him get an award from the Cancer Society.  Megan's mom flirts while her academic, socialist dad disapproves of everything (including, it would seem, his own life).

Roger, we're glad to see, is changed.  When he lost Lucky Strike, the wind went out of his sails, but LSD has made him a new man.  He'll be going after new accounts, and asks his old wife for help.  About time.  Score another for LSD therapy.

At the office, Megan proves she's not just the boss's wife by coming up with a good idea for Heinz.  Don backs it and everyone admits it could work. (We've seen a lot of Megan this season. Before it started, fans speculated if she'd even be in it.  It's almost as if Weiner is rubbing our faces in the doubt.)

Peggy's off the account, but she's got other things to worry about.  Abe is insistent they meet for dinner on a weeknight.  She goes to Joan and worries he's about to break up with her.  Joan says men just let things lapse until you force the issue in breakups. No, this dinner is about a proposal, so go shopping and get ready.  Joan is right, but she's a little old-fashioned, still.  Yes, it's a proposal, but about shacking up, not getting married.  Peggy is a bit let down but agrees.

Peggy invites her mom over and tells her the news.  The mom is disgusted, of course.  She was ready to accept an engagement with a Jewish guy, but her good Catholic daughter living with her boyfriend? He's using her.  I'm not sure what else Peggy expected.

Meanwhile, Don and Megan and Ken go out to dinner with the Heinz honcho and wife.  Ken suggests they see the new Albee play, but they've already been in town a while and have seen it. Immediately we know they've seen another agency and Cooper Sterling has lost the account...all thanks to Don't "Love Leave." (Also, would you really want them to go see A Delicate Balance for a good time? Let 'em see a musical.)  Still, if you can't take a hint, Megan finds out in the bathroom, tells Don, then suggests he do the new pitch right there and in classic Mad Men style they win the account.  Once again, about time.  They've been letting the agency drift for too long.

Next day the office is celebrating. Ken relates the amazing story (with Harry's help, though he wasn't there--always good to see Harry).  Peggy honestly congratulates Megan, but Megan is the only one who doesn't seem that happy. Is it that her socialist dad is getting to her?  Has she sold out on her dreams?  Is that all there is?

At the awards ceremony, Roger and Don seem to be doing good business, but head honcho and Ken's father-in-law (played by the great Ray Wise) shocks Don with the truth--all the powerful people there love Don, but no one will work with him since his "screw you" letter to Lucky Strike, which is what he's getting the award for.  They don't think they can trust him. Time for Don to secretly let people know he never meant it, and he'll gladly sell out.

But that's not the biggest shock.  We'd been warned about adult situations, and had patiently been waiting for one.  Well, Megan's mom Marie has been quite charmed by Roger, and let's face it, this is the old Roger, who's about as charming as can be.  Meanwhile, Sally, who has a new outfit and feels like an adult at the event (Megan's dad mistakenly said Sally is ready to "spread her legs and fly away"), has to go to the bathroom, and we know immediately she's going to walk in on Roger and Marie in a compromising situation.  Sure enough, she opens the door to the wrong room and sure enough, there's a seated Roger getting head from Marie.  It's enough to make a kid want to eat the fish they're serving.

Sally doesn't tell anyone, but we end the show as we began it--with Sally talkng to Glen on the phone.  The whole episode was about the relationships parents have with their grown-up kids, and maybe Sally's the one who did the most growing up.