A Tale of Two – “The Killing” and “Game of Thrones”

I know we advertised this, but you don't really expect tofind that out right?

You know, in many ways, we are in an amazing era for television. We have evolved past the typical network-ruled society and become a world in which there is something for everybody. Where movies have become increasingly repetitive, focusing on remakes, reboots, and sequels instead of originality, TV has become just the opposite. For many years now HBO has been evolving their original programming to the point that they are not only the best pay channel for movies, but now may be the best for original TV as well. Shows like the Sopranos helped one of the original pay channels evolve into something that the networks should rightfully be afraid of. Not only can HBO go to places that the networks can only dream of because of their lack of censorship, but the minds that create their innovative programming aren’t restricted and beaten down like they are at the major networks. To a certain extent, AMC has become a smaller version of HBO and shows like “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” have helped establish it as a major player in original content. It is good to know that while Hollywood keeps pumping out the same drivel, that television is picking up the slack.

This past season in particular was an interesting one as the top two (unofficial, I realize that) networks both had important shows debuting/ending at virtually the same exact time. Both of these shows do not seem fit to compare subject-matter-wise, but really the place where they are linked is in their execution and what they mean to their networks moving forward. While one is evidence of the continued mastery of the art of episodic television, another is more indicative of perhaps a backslide of its network. Both are ambitious ventures and were based off of previous material (original can mean daring as well). Both also succeeded in getting people talking about what their season 1 finales meant and where the series would go from there. Unfortunately one also succeeded in alienating much of its fan base and probably most of any DVD sales that it might have gotten.