That book was definitely one that I need to get too, but I think after this trainwreck, I've had it with Cormac McCarthy for a while. There's too many other great writers who aren't such utter opportunist pricks,

It's a goddamned hyperbolic, preachy, condescending mess.

Yggdrasil.

In retrospect I'm realizing this show was way ahead of it's time, and something really special. It's incredible it was even made, but true to form American entertainment (even HBO) doesn't do very well with holding such an unstinting mirror up to the power culture of the country. Enlightened was right on target, but…

The fantastic Diana Riggs.

Ron Shwangson.

Well she's beautiful in an unconventional manner. In an exaggerated exotic mystical temptress sort of way.

Jarl Borg is obviously very treacherous and devious. My theory is that Mistress Asluag was a "honey-trap" laid out for Ragnar, (like the fly in the web that King Horik points out to Floki) and there's good chance she's faking being pregnant. The question then becomes will Ragnar realize it in time.

The better question might be, why is his son Bjorn holding his father to those very standards. I wasn't sure after a season of pretty wonton and liberal sexual relations why he'd be so worked up about it.

Look on the bright side: If Martha makes it out of this thing alive, she'll get to write what's likely to be an instant bestseller, with the awesome title:

Yeah, that bit of casting against type there with that actress is endlessly amusing, and that quaint Midwestern accent she affected was a such a nice perfect touch.

I don't think Nina even has a gun. I think if it comes to that it will come from Phil's gun, and the look of Stan's face will be like: D'oh!!

Yeah, i was thinking the same thing. How has Martha not knocked it off at some point during their wild romps??

I agree. And wonder, although it was a nice touch to character's motivation, if it was necessary for her to take that oath at the beginning of the program, re-dedicating herself to Mother Russia after her promotion in the Rezidentia.

Interesting too, that when Nina's asks Stan straight out if he'd killed Vlad, after a pause Stan finally says "I would never do anything to hurt you," and Nina's response as they get down to "business" on the bed is simply "Let me…," as if to say, "Let me, hurt you, now…" as she's undoing his trousers, and that cuts…

Good episode. So many threads tightening up nicely, and so many betrayals especially poor Martha, who I think is going to get nailed or the bug she put in Gads office. They'd be idiots NOT to do a bug sweep in that whole office after Viola' s confession, and that won't be pretty, but you know that Nina's double turn…

Elizabeth realizing she's reacting from a personal motivation rather than as a trained and efficient professional is what leads to the emotional breakdown. It makes sense and Russell handled it fine.

Indeed. Zhukov has been Elizabeth's mentor and protector (as well as Uncle/Father figure) since the series began and he's always had her back.

"He tries to break things off with her, but, well, he sees her in his underwear, and he can’t."
Golly, I just hate it when I'm ready to break it off with a woman and they pull the ole, underwear switcheroo on me. SOOO HAWT!!

I think there's something to that actually. The show so far hasn't left any significant loose ends whatsoever (I'm so glad they made Sarah look so awkward with the radio fro example), the faith they've established with the audience storywise has been pretty awesome.