Winning the Iron Throne is the Targaryens’ and Lannisters’ and Baratheons’ and Starks’ problem. But Westeros’ problem is that it’s had a lot of really crappy kings.
It’s Not TV, It’s Amazon; What Do the Site’s New Pilots Offer That the Networks Don’t?
Like big networks and premium channels, streaming programmers need a brand. So far, Amazon’s involves raw, cable-style laughs and something for the kids.
Two Cheers for CNN
Things haven’t been pretty at CNN lately, but Anthony Bourdain and Jake Tapper suggest two ways the network can get interesting without getting dumb.
TV Tonight: Rectify
Sundance’s meditative drama about a man released from death row is pokey, atmospheric, and the opposite of plot-driven. And it’s one of the best things I expect to see on TV all year.
Earning It: Office Darwinism on Mad Men and The Good Wife
Last night’s episodes of both dramas showed that their firms can be unfair places to work—and some of the same characters we sympathize with like it that way.
Game of Thrones Watch: Fire and Reign
Why is fire so important in Game of Thrones? Because it’s like magic: a means through which something material becomes intangible. Also, it’s freaking awesome.
Boston Manhunt: Scrambling, Waiting, and Digging for Meaning on a Surreal Media Day
Somehow, in years of post-9/11 terrorist fiction, no one had created a narrative for the American-immigrant, high-school-athlete, Eminem-quoting mass-terrorism suspect.
Dead Tree Alert: The TIME 100, TV Edition
The annual TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people is out. And the path to influence in this world being what it is, not a few of those people are involved with TV.
Un-Arrested Development: On Boston Bomber, Media Outlets Walk Back a Big Story, Again
After last summer’s SCOTUS screw-up, CNN didn’t make the same embarrassing mistake. It—and a few others—made a brand-new embarrassing mistake.
Bloody Visions: What Would the Boston Bombing Look Like in the Google Glass Era?
Some critics complain about graphic images while authorities plead to the public for more video, showing how the surveillance culture can be both scourge and savior.
After the Boston Attack, the Media Shows Power to Shock and Comfort
The Boston nightmare brought a rush of information (and misinformation), speculation, and even politicized argument. But there was also decency amid the horror.
Game of Thrones Watch: That’s What the Money’s For!
It’s not just about swords or dragons. Last night’s Game of Thrones showed that in Westeros as in our world, money has great power—and has its limits.
TV Weekend: Da Vinci’s Demons
This Renaissance drama might have been really good, if only it hadn’t had the freedom and budget of cable.