2011 Emmy Nominations

I haven't really talked about TV in months on this blog, which is strange considering the ridiculous amount of shows I follow. I didn't even make predictions for TV's big night, the Emmy Awards, and completely forgot that the nominations were announced this morning. As is usual with the Emmys in recent years, there's quite a bit here that I like, but also plenty of disappointments and missed opportunities.

**For a full list of nominees, go HERE.

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Glee
Parks and Recreation
The Office
30 Rock
Modern Family
The Big Bang Theory

All I really care about here is that Parks and Recreation has finally broken into the Emmy race. After an iffy debut season, the show has rapidly gained steam, and season 3 was easily its best to date. If the show can pull an upset win on September 18th, I'd be thrilled.

Outstanding Drama Series:
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Mad Men

Another solid line up, although if any of these deserve to be replaced, and it pains me to say it, it's Dexter. Season 5 simply wasn't up to par, especially coming off of the incredible 4th season. FX's Justified deserved one of the six slots instead, especially since there wasn't an eligible season of Breaking Bad (the soon-to-start 4th season is eligible for next year, however). The nomination for Game of Thrones is a nice surprise as well. The show may lack the more intimate, high-intensity acting of Breaking Bad or Mad Men, but as compelling narratives go, it was one of the best. And speaking of Mad Men, I'm starting to wonder: can the show take the Drama trophy for the fourth consecutive year, or will Emmy voters go for something different to shake things up a little?

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
Steve Carrell - The Office
Johnny Galecki - The Big Bang Theory
Matt LeBlanc - Episodes
Louis C.K. - Louis
Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory

All I can think while reading this is "why doesn't Rob Lowe have one of these slots?" This is, LITERALLY, one of the worst snubs of the year. As evidence, I present the following:


Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series:
Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler - Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall - Dexter
Jon Hamm - Mad Men
Hugh Laurie - House M.D.
Timothy Olyphant - Justified

Along with the usual suspects (minus Bryan Cranston), I'm thrilled to see that both Buscemi and Olyphant have scored nominations this year for their strong work (now if only Justified can break into Best Drama at some point...). That said, with Cranston out of the way, I'm hoping that Jon Hamm can finally claim an Emmy this year, for what was perhaps his best work yet on Mad Men.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey - 30 Rock
Laura Linney - The Big C
Melissa McCarthy - Mike and Molly
Martha Plimpton - Raising Hope
Amy Poehler - Parks and Recreation

Now this is a strong line up, one that is, surprisingly, made up of mostly new entries (the only returning nominees are Falco and Fey). Linney's role has the most drama to it, which gives her an edge over the other comedic roles (save for Falco, who some say isn't even in a comedy...). Still, I'm glad that Amy Poehler finally earned a nomination for playing Leslie Knope, and that Martha Plimpton was recognized for her work on the surprisingly hilarious Raising Hope.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Kathy Bates - Harry's Law
Connie Britton - Friday Night Lights
Mireille Enos - The Killing
Mariska Hargitay - Law and Order: SVU
Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men

While Mireille Enos is an interesting surprise, Emmy voters, I'm begging you, please finally reward Elisabeth Moss. Like Hamm, she had possibly her best year yet, and considering that she's one of the show's most interesting characters, that's really saying something.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Ty Burrell - Modern Family
Chris Colfer - Glee
Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men
Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Modern Family
Ed O'Neil - Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family

It's really nice that Ed O'Neil was actually able to join the other men of Modern Family this year; he's just as deserving as the rest of that excellent ensemble. Less deserving is Jon Cryer, who is here in a slot that should be filled by either Nick Offerman or Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation. Not that it matters, since I have a hard time seeing anyone but Chris Colfer taking the award home this year.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Andre Braugher - Men of a Certain Age
Josh Charles - The Good Wife
Alan Cumming - The Good Wife
Peter Dinklage - Game of Thrones
Walton Goggins - Justified
John Slattery - Mad Men

Now here's a category where it's pretty much up in the air. Of the repeat nominees, none were considered front-runners, which could leave this race wide open for an excellent newcomer like Dinklage or the slithery Goggins to walk away with the trophy. Somewhat mystifying, though, is how, with all of the Boardwalk Empire love, the Emmy voters passed over Michael Shannon's scary-as-hell turn as a hardline Christian/Prohibition-enforcing federal agent.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Julie Bowen - Modern Family
Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock
Jane Lynch - Glee
Sofia Vergara - Modern Family
Kristen Wiig - Saturday Night Live
Betty White - Hot in Cleveland

Though I fear that Lynch will win again even after season 2 wasted her character, I have hope that one of the Modern Family ladies will pull through. Bowen, in particular, was on fire this year, and would be a perfect change of pace for the category.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Christine Baranski - The Good Wife
Michelle Forbes - The Killing
Christina Hendricks - Mad Men
Kelly MacDonald - Boardwalk Empire
Margo Martindale - Justified
Archie Panjabi - The Good Wife

Another strong set; the women really hit it out of the park this year on TV. As nice as it would be to see Hendricks win (how her show hasn't won a single acting Emmy is beyond me), I think the two best here are MacDonald and Martindale. Martindale's chilling scene in the first few episodes of Justified alone was worthy of a nomination, and the rest of her work didn't disappoint.

"Mad Men" Season 4 - The good-bye and the long, long wait

Unfortunately it's that time again; time to start the excruciating countdown until Don Draper and everyone else return in late July/early August. I'm still processing the season finale, "Tomorrowland," which I was only able to watch a few hours ago, but here are some overall thoughts on the past 13 episodes.

I made a post after the season premiere about how glad I was that the show was back, and that I loved the new energy the series had acquired. Season 3 spent the bulk of its episodes chronicling the agency's oppression under its new British owners (as well as the collapse of Don and Betty's marriage). By contrast, season 4 was all about the excitement so perfectly set up in season 3's finale, and the energy carried over into these past 13 episodes without losing steam. I wouldn't have been surprised if the season 4 premiere had been written very shortly after the completion of season 3; that's how well the energy transferred over. The episodes, though never frenetic, were generally crisper in their pacing and used more dialogue as opposed to season 3's reliance on quiet moments and smoldering stares and glares.

But season 4 was about something other than a newfound energy. It was about transitions, some of which spanned the season, and some of which only came to a head in the latter half. Chief among them, and perhaps my favorite, was Don Draper's shift, roughly split along the halfway point. Still reeling from the effects of his divorce and his new, much less luxurious living space, Don spent the first six or seven episodes in a continued downward spiral. And then, after the death of his first wife (sort of) Anna, we were able to witness a rebirth of sorts. Don started swimming and began drinking less (although I don't think anyone on this show will ever be depicted as completely sober...ever). He had to deal with Anna's death, but at the same time, he had to take care of himself and move forward.

And helping him move forward was one of my favorite new characters of the season: Dr. Faye Miller, played by Cara Buono. A sharp, career-driven woman who knows how to play the business game, Faye wasn't perfect and obviously had some baggage (alluded to in a scene in a phone booth where she yells at whoever is on the line), but she was in many ways good for Don, and didn't simply recoil and whimper in response to his flaws. Of course, there are reasons why Don makes the choice he made in the finale, but we'll save that for later. Now it's time to touch on the rest of the people who make Mad Men so endlessly fascinating.

First and foremost is Peggy Olsen (Elisabeth Moss), who came more and more into her own (as did Pete Campell). Now firmly in a strong position as a copywriter, Peggy was bolder and much, much less timid. Whether it was as simple as going to a bohemian party with the mysterious Joyce, or intimidating an obnoxious new employee by stripping off her clothes to get some work done (it sounds weird, but the moment is great in context and I'm not doing it justice at all), Peggy more and more became a career woman, much like Dr. Miller, someone quite obviously aspired to be like. Having the season close out with Peggy almost single-handedly saving Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce was just the cherry on top of Peggy's character arc.

Meanwhile, Joan, always so fun to watch, went through a number of transitions. Now living the married life, Joan was suddenly forced to deal with her husband's decision to go to Vietnam, and as was shown several times early in the season, it's the last thing she wants. And despite her one-night-stand/reconnection with Roger, she refuses to allow things to go back to the way they were, even upon discovering that she is pregnant with a child who couldn't be her husband's.

Even Lane, whose personal life was never given that much focus, had his moment to shine. Most notable was his even out with his father, who was so insistent that Lane return to London that he punches him, sending his grown son to the floor. For a character who initially began his run on the show as the enemy, Lane's part has evolved into yet another of the show's signature brand of immensely flawed-yet-talented protagonists.

But moving away from the workplace, there's also the issue of Don's other side; his ex-wife Betty, her new husband Henry, and of course the three children. While always important, no one from this side of the show's story impressed or fascinated me more than Don's daughter Sally (Kiernan Shipka), who became such a wonderfully complex character played with great skill by such a young actress. Though the character is perhaps too young to be totally swept up in the revolution(s) of the 60s, I'm thrilled with the direction the writers are taking Sally as she continues to butt heads with Betty, who becomes increasingly bitchy and cold with each appearance.

And speaking of Betty, even with a drastic reduction in appearances (only 4 episodes this season...maybe 5), she continues to fascinate with her downward spiral. While not as overly destructive as Don's, Betty's path puts her on an interesting track that makes me wonder if her marriage to Henry will simply be a cliff-notes version of her marriage to Don. This is highlighted in the season finale, both in her angry interaction with Henry, and with her sudden flaring anger that causes her to lash out (and subsequently fire) Carla. Even when pushed to supporting status, Betty's world of dissatisfaction continues to intrigue, even if her interactions with Don are now limited mostly to phone calls.

As for the season overall, it reached its high point at the middle with "The Suitcase." Set almost entirely in the offices and featuring only a handful of supporting characters, this one-long-night look at Don and Peggy's lives as affected by their work was a highlight, featuring absolutely stellar acting from both Hamm and Moss. Emmy voters, please, let the be the season the show finally earns at least one acting award; you've waited too long, and this is too good of an opportunity to pass up. Amid all of the great acting on the show this year, from Joan's heartbreak to Pete's frustration over the conflicts in his work and personal lives, to Roger's coping with failure, it's "The Suitcase," an episode that only focuses on two characters, that represents the show in its finest.

As for the increasingly divisive finale? Well, that's a bit of a mystery. After the punch of season 3 heading off into bold new territory, season 4 was significantly less forward moving in the work place. However, it's hard to miss the big announcement: Don's proposal to secretary Megan. I think Peggy's reaction upon hearing the news is perhaps how most people felt during it all. As happy as Don seemed, we were caught totally off guard, and somewhat iffy. It wasn't an inherently satisfying ending to what had been such a knock out season, but upon reflection it makes sense. Don's decision to pick Megan over someone like Faye may not be something joyous for us as an audience, but it does make sense in a depressing sort of way. As Faye bluntly puts it when Don tells her of his proposal, Don is only interested in the beginnings of things. He sees a woman who is basically what Betty should have been in his mind, and he jumps, seeking a relationship that will restore things to the way they once were: happy, married, and with children. And as indicated in the final shot, which shows Megan happily asleep but Don looking on edge and awake, light seeping in through his dingy window, there could be plenty of trouble ahead for the newly engaged couple. Lots and lots of trouble.

So where does season 4 rank in the series so far? For me it's easily up there with season 3, and I think it makes a great companion piece as far as tone and story progression goes. The characters remain compelling as ever, and even if the show didn't end with its best foot, this season as a whole represents TV at its finest: well-written, beautifully acted, incisive, and always intriguing enough to keep you waiting desperately to see what will happen next.

Grade: A

Chasing Emmy: Predicting the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards

The Globes, Grammys, Oscars, and Tonys were all months ago, and yet now, at the end of August, the Emmys, the odd man out of awards shows, is finally upon us. I agree with those writer who have pegged the 2000s as a new Golden Age of Television, and despite some terrible snubs from the 09-10 TV season, the Emmy voters made some terrific choices this year. Here's hoping tonight's winners measure up. One thing before we get started: it's easy to forget, but even when it comes to series or performances, the shows usually only submit one or two episodes for consideration, which can sometimes affect a nominee's chances (I've heard that Modern Family's producers made a poor choice for Sofia Vergara, submitting an episode where she does practically nothing). I haven't been able to find a list of submitted episodes (yet), so these predictions are based more on my knowledge and feelings towards the shows and performances as a whole, not on an episode-specific basis.

Outstanding Comedy Series:

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Glee

Modern Family

Nurse Jackie

The Office

30 Rock

Will Win: Glee or Modern Family.

Though 30Rock is still the funniest show on TV when it hits its mark, season 4 took longer than usual to find its groove, and people noticed. Expect the comedy champion's (it has won for its first three seasons) reign to finally end. The question is, what will take its place? Modern Family is more consistently funny and balances its ensemble better, but Glee really has been the "it" show of the season.

Should Win: Modern Family.

Right from the pilot episode, it's been funny, consistent, and known how to use every member of its ensemble to perfection. Some shows take a half season or a full season to really find their groove; Modern Family founds its immediately, with brilliant and hilarious results.

Outstanding Drama Series:

Breaking Bad

Dexter

The Good Wife

Lost

Mad Men

True Blood

Will Win: Mad Men.

Unlike 30Rock, Mad Men still has a strong shot at keeping its winning streak going (let's hope it doesn't end next year though; season 4 has been amazing so far).

Should Win: Dexter.

As much as it pains me to say it, I'm not sure if season 3 was the best year for Don Draper and crew (though season 3 did have one of the best episodes in the show's history: "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency..."); at times it was almost too slow. Season 4 of Showtime's vigilante serial-killer Dexter Morgan, on the other hand, delivered some of the show's strongest moments by far, both in terms of acting (Hall, Carpenter, Lithgow), writing, and story-telling (the Trinity Killer case).

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

Alec Baldwin - 30Rock

Steve Carell - The Office

Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm

Matthew Morrison - Glee

Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory

Tony Shalhoub - Monk

Will Win: Tony Shalhoub.

I'm just glad that this show is finally over. I have nothing against Tony Shaloub, but the same cannot be said for Monk or his performance on the show.

Should Win: Alec Baldwin.

Can he win for the fourth year in a row? It's doubtful, but as part of the pair that holds 30Rock together, he's still fantastic on the show.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

Kyle Chandler - Friday Night Lights

Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad

Matthew Fox - Lost

Michael C. Hall - Dexter

Jon Hamm - Mad Men

Hugh Laurie - House

Will Win: Michael C. Hall or Jon Hamm.

Both have yet to win an Emmy for their acclaimed performances, and this could finally be the year one of them takes home a statue. Between the two, I have a feeling the Emmy voters will pick Hall over the more understated Hamm, but that's far from a bad thing; both are excellent performances.

Should Win: Michael C. Hall.

He's made a serial killer likable and fascinating over and over again, without ever once delving into the obnoxiousness that pervades the character in the source novels.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

Toni Collette - United States of Tara

Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey - 30Rock

Julia Louis-Dreyfuss - The New Adventures of Old Christine

Lea Michele - Glee

Amy Poehler - Parks and Recreation

Will Win: Edie Falco.

The show has received pretty solid support, though the one thing that could lessen her chances: Nurse Jackie is more of a drama with some comedy in it, not the other way around...will the voters notice, or will they only use that as a reason to vote for her?

Should Win: Tina Fey or Amy Poehler.

Two very funny women on two very funny shows. Fey in particular had a great, and she seems to blossom (as an actress) a little more with each passing season.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

Connie Briton - Friday Night Lights

Glenn Close - Damages

Mariska Hargitay - Law and Order: SVU

January Jones - Mad Men

Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife

Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

Will Win: Julianna Margulies.

She's practically had this in the bad since the Golden Globes; the show and the role have been a huge comeback for her and people have taken notice.

Should Win: The only one I've seen consistently is Jones, and while she's perfect for Betty Draper, she's extremely limited as an actress (I'm still trying to forget that SNL episode).

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:

Ty Burrell - Modern Family

Chris Colfer - Glee

Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men

Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Modern Family

Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother

Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family

Will Win: Neil Patrick Harris.

He already has an Emmy this year (for his guest stint on Glee) but Harris has yet to win for HIMYM. The men of Modern Family will likely split votes among themselves, I don't really see Glee winning BOTH of the supporting categories, and Jon Cryer already has an undeserved Emmy from last year.

Should Win: This is a tough one. The MF guys are all great in their roles, but then again, but I'm going to have to go with Burrell for being such a hilarious doofus desperate to be a "cool dad".

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:

Andre Braugher - Men of a Certain Age

Michael Emerson - Lost

Terry O'Quinn - Lost

Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad

Martin Short - Damages

John Slattery - Mad Men

Will Win: Terry O'Quinn.

Lost's final season isn't leaving empty handed, and this is its strongest bet.

Should Win: Aaron Paul.

At times extremely unlikeable (though the same can be said of everyone on Breaking Bad), season 3 was Paul's best yet as Cranston's partner in crime. Those last few episodes were award-worthy on their own.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:

Julie Bowen - Modern Family

Jane Krakowski - 30Rock

Jane Lynch - Glee

Holland Taylor - Two and a Half Men

Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

Kristen Wiig - Saturday Night Live

Will Win: Jane Lynch.

The easiest category to pick for tonight's show, Lynch's Sue Sylvester has been a sensation since's Glee's beginning. Throw in a handful of touching scenes involving Sue and her mentally handicapped sister, and the award is all but locked up.

Should Win: Any of them.

No seriously, any of them, with the exception of perhaps Taylor. This is an absolutely incredible line-up and any one of these ladies would be incredibly worthy winners.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:

Christine Baranski - The Good Wife

Rose Byrne - Damages

Sharon Gless - Burn Notice

Christina Hendricks - Mad Men

Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men

Archie Panjabi - The Good Wife

Will Win: Elisabeth Moss.

She's been nominated before (in lead), and I don't think any of the others have enough buzz or support, whereas Moss was praised from early on.

Should Win: Christina Hendricks.

She's made Joan Holloway something of an icon (and not just for her figure), and taken a role that could have been a complete throwaway and made her an interesting role. While Moss's Peggy somewhat retreated in season 3, Joan stepped up to the plate on more than one occasion, and Hendricks deserves to be rewarded for it.

For the remainder of the nominees, jump on over to IMDb. The show starts at 7 pm (Central Time) on NBC; happy Emmy viewing, everyone!

Thank you for making that worth the wait

After a week of missed chances and failed DVR-ing, I was finally able to catch up with the season premiere of AMC's Mad Men, and it only reinforced my opinion that this is the best drama on TV. In short, what made the season 4 premiere so strong were the elements that make up the best of Mad Men's episodes: strong, more dialogue-heavy writing, more energetic pacing that still allows for drama, and plenty of sharp, funny exchanges between characters. As many of the critics have said, the changes that have occurred story-wise, which I won't spoil for non-viewers, have given the show a new vitality, after season 3 had a few too many slow-burning episodes that were far too slow. As usual, the fantastic production values were as good as they've ever been (and enhanced by the show's continued decision to shoot on 35mm film. I know these haven't exactly been deep, insightful thoughts, but I just wanted to write a brief little post about how glad I am that the show is back, and off to a great start. Here's hoping that the remaining 12 episodes of season 4 continue in the footsteps of the season opener.

Only one more month...

A spoiler-filled (well...sort of) look at season 3 of "Mad Men"

Mad Men Spoiler Report - watch more funny videos

Promo for season 3 of "Mad Men"!!!

I'm not sure that any of that was new footage...but it's good to know that YES this show still exists.

Attention all "Mad Men" fans

You can now breathe a collective sigh of relief; all of the cast and crew will be back. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, click HERE

Source: Yahoo.com

After months of limbo, Matthew Weiner, the creative genius behind the award-winning AMC drama, has inked a two year, seven-figure deal with Lionsgate TV to continue working on the series.

"Since the beginning, the show has been a charmed experience, made possible by my partnership with AMC and Lionsgate," Weiner said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. "I am proud to work so closely with these two companies who love taking risks and value creativity and I am thrilled to get back to work with the most talented cast and crew in the business."

With the deal finally in place, Mad Men's writers are immediately getting back to work on the show's third season, which premieres this summer.

The good, the bad, and the ugly of the 66th Annual Golden Globes

The Good:

Slumdog Millionaire wins every Globe it was nominated for.

30 Rock and Mad Men win Best Comedy Series and Best Drama Series respectively

Tina Fey addresses nasty internet bloggers in her acceptance speech, and flippantly tells them to, "suck it!"

Tracy Morgan, accepting the award for Best Comedy for 30Rock, "I'm the new face of post-racial America. Deal with it Cate Blanchett!!!"

Both of Kate Winslet's acceptance speeches (even though I wanted Cruz to win supporting actress)

COLIN FARRELL WON!!! COLIN FARRELL ACTUALLY WON!!!!

Kate Winslet, receiving the Best Lead Actress - Drama award, congratulates her fellow nominees, except for Angelina Jolie, whose name she blanks out on. The camera then cuts to Jolie trying her best to not look pissed. God I love live TV.

For the first time in YEARS, the speech by the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press was SHORT (and even a little amusing).

Virtual unknown Sally Hawkins (Best Actress - Comedy) is on the verge of tears and so stunned that she can barely hold herself up.

They actually kept the show within the slotted 3 hour run time.

Director Darren Aronofsky playfully gives Mickey Rourke the middle finger during Rourke's acceptance speech.

Emma Thompson. Just having her there makes things 15% better.

They finally stopped asking celebrities "who are you wearing". It's about damn time.

Ricky Gervais and Sacha Baron Cohen's somewhat brutally funny introductions while presenting.

The Bad:

Ricky Gervais being used only to introduce...The Jonas Brothers. WHY ARE THESE TEENYBOPPER FREAKS AT A ****ING AWARD SHOW?????

Anna Paquin...please go away, and don't come back until your teeth are fixed.

Renee Zellweger. What happened there?

The ominous announcer-voice introducing Jennifer Lopez as an "actress". Right...just like I'm the reincarnation of Tchaikovsky.

Megan Fox telling a red carpet interviewer that she hates the way she looks and that sometimes she, "feels like throwing up!" Classy broad, eh?

The Ugly:

Why was Glenn Close dressed like a MAN?

So...I think I have a new favorite TV show...

I picked up the first half of season 1 of AMC's "Mad Men" last night, after hearing so much about it (and it's 16 Emmy Nominations) and wanted to see what all the fuss is about. For those not familiar, it takes place in the 1960s, where advertising men on MADison (haha) Avenue reigned supreme. If that doesn't sound interesting, then think again; it's fascinating and it explores the fact that everyone has many layers within their personality. I won't talk about much of the plot, but there's so much going on that if I started talking about it I might accidentally ruin a twist (and this is only after 6 episodes!). Here's a few things that I CAN comment on:

The Opening Credits Sequence: Best I've seen in a long time.


The Cast/Acting: They're all excellent, especially Jon Hamm as mysterious Don Draper and Vincent Kartheiser as smug and uppity Peter Campell, who just wants to impress Don (and possibly take over his job).

The Writing: sharp and smart without being over the top or grating. Though there's plenty of drama, the show doesn't try to force in a bunch of "explosive dramatic moments" (something that bothers me about most TV dramas). Instead of blowing a bunch of hot air, the show's dramatic moments are often handled in low whispers.

The Production Values: As good as any movie set in the period. Costumes and sets are all top notch.

The directing: the best for last. The camera work is beautifully handled, and feels like it could be up on the big screen.

I know the show just started it's second season last week, but I'd advise anyone interested to start with season 1, because even though there are only 13 episodes, there's a lot to catch up on.

Grade: A