The book is pretty strong and covers a LOT of ground. I can imagine a very strong series made from it.

I've always liked Stannis - particularly because Dillane has nailed that odd gravely witty tone - but his scene with Shireen was particularly strong. Even if I didn't buy that it was so much affection from him as much as a weird authoritarian pride.

It's definitely good, but hasn't achieved greatness yet. Wouldn't make my top ten dramas of the season at this point.

That was awesome.

Season 3: Most ambitious and mostly meets its ambition. Loads of insight, fascinating tangents, VERY strong direction, lots of possibilities in the storytelling. Sets up the rest of the show very well.

I love the fact that I can't read which side you're on with this comment. After all, it's probably unfair to exclude the Tsars. But the use of the word citizen likely excludes Andrew Jackson and the genocide of Native Americans.

Because of history, there can only be tragedy here. Pyrrhic victories at most. Our misplaced allegiance aside (and this episode did nothing if not remind us of that - see both Philip and Elizabeth's actions), the USSR doesn't win the Cold War. Watching Elizabeth making so many mistakes with Paige… man, that was
…

a) The amount of plot is REMARKABLE in an entirely good way. We're used to shows starting and resolving the majority of their plots in the same season. Maybe they bring up a new "holy-fuck" for the cliffhanger finale that starts a new story (The Americans did it last season with introducing a new conflict/plan re:…

I think Sunshine is an awesome movie, but I always rewrite the third (and even second sometimes) act in my head. I don't love reboots, but I'd like to see this film redone.

That was masterful. The show is in the middle of perhaps it's greatest run of episodes.

Lee followed up Taking Woodstock with Life of Pi, which made a metric fuck-tonne of money worldwide and won him an oscar. There was a three year gap, which seems within Lee's normal range.

He was on Satisfaction most recently, an interesting curio on USA

I don't know. I think Elizabeth's biggest flaw (well, maybe not biggest) is that she can't see just how clearly Paige is American. She sees it in Henry - his video games, SNL interpretations. She sees it in people who "enjoy" America (Phillip early on). But not in Paige. I think that's how it'll happen, if…

Hmmm…

Hmm, I'm intrigued that Quadrophenia is qualifies as a favourite movie without The Who qualifying as a favourite band.

How do you mean?

I don't know. You said you wanted to see Elizabeth and Philip tortured mercilessly and executed gruesomely. But you want Bush/Cheney/Rumsefeld et al put to a trial. On balance, do you find Elizabeth/Philip's actions (and consequences) worse?

Awesome.

Heh. It was the episode where Claire hired a plumber for the bathroom because Phil hadn't gotten around to it. He makes a point of stating he fixed the step. The earthquake happens, then the step gets broken again.

He did, then the earthquake happened.