Television’s hit shows heated up in the summer months
August 22, 2012
With the variety of hit series that began and ended this summer, there was plenty to watch when…With the variety of hit series that began and ended this summer, there was plenty to watch when the heat became too much to handle.
From the end of the fifth season of “Mad Men” to the beginning of new shows such as “The Newsroom” and “Political Animals,” every hit channel seems to have a drama for true television fans. Viewers watched as Roger tripped on LSD, Daenerys hatched the only three dragons in Westeros and Walter White turned into a meth king.
To keep the drama in order, we compiled a list of our favorite summer shows. Here are five show recaps from this summer that document the emotional highs and lows of television’s hit series.
“Mad Men”
The fifth season of AMC’s “Mad Men” took fans of the hit series on a winding series of plot twists and cast changes, from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce dramatically losing a partner, to LSD trips, to huge clientele deals and to a lot of infidelity.
The season began with Don Draper and his ex-secretary-turned-wife Megan beginning their new life together both at home and in the office, which continues to function under the predominantly male infrastructure. Throughout the season, however, various social norms begin to evolve, and societal issues such as gender and race are addressed even more intricately than before.
As always, each episode focused on a character’s personal struggle both in and outside of the office. Over the course of the season, viewers saw Pete cheat on his wife and struggle with clients, Joan and Roger divorce their spouses, Peggy struggle constantly with her work and Don and Megan’s tumultuous relationship, which somehow makes its way into the firm.
But probably the most shocking turn of events came at the end of the season (though it was certainly foreshadowed throughout), when Lane steals money from SCDP, is caught and then commits suicide in the office, leaving only a succinct suicide note — his resignation letter.
Taking his position as partner at the firm is Joan, who recently became a mother. She returned to SCDP after the birth of her son, Kevin, and after working at her previous position for the majority of the season, she encountered a compromising situation with a client whom she used as leverage to become a partner.
The season ended with open storylines for each character, setting them up for a promising future on the show. Though there have been many changes with the men and women at the advertising firm, one thing is constant: Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce will never be a dull workplace.
“Breaking Bad”
It’s been one year in the world of “Breaking Bad” as the AMC show starts its fifth and final season. And the audience is watching Walter White in horror as he fully assumes the role of Heisenberg — the name he uses as a meth cook.
In season one, after discovering he had lung cancer, Walter started cooking meth in order to establish financial stability for his wife and son, who suffers from cerebral palsy. He teams up with his former high school student, Jesse Pinkman, who only played the drug-dealing field a little because of the Mexican cartel that runs the industry near the U.S.-Mexico border.
In the early episodes, Walter White claimed that he was cooking methamphetamine “for our family” — and audience members found themselves rooting for him. Now in season five, Walt is the king of the meth business and he has hubris that was brought on by his crafting the murder of the kingpin before him.
Now, Walt’s desire to keep the meth business going is purely ego-driven with the intent to portray himself as the one with the most power. It’s hard to decipher when he’s being genuine.
His wife made an emotional transition from shock at the discovery of his secret job to helping him launder his earnings through a car wash to horror at her husband who she discovers has killed people and shows no remorse. And Walter’s brother-in-law, who is up off his feet after a shootout between two Mexican cousins entwined in the cartel, continues to fervently pursue those in the web of the meth business.
Season five has been split into two parts, and at this point, there doesn’t seem to be a satisfying end in sight for how Walter White can return to the role of admirable father and husband.
“The Newsroom”
Beginning its first season this summer, HBO’s “The Newsroom” works to create an idealized show for viewers of the behind-the-scenes action at Atlantis Cable News (ACN), a fictional news channel set in New York City.
The show, created by Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing”), began with a tense question-and-answer session, in which popular news anchor Will McAvoy yells at a college student for what he deems to be Americans’ ineptness. The footage went viral, putting this news anchor in a delicate position in the newsroom.
When he returns to work, he learns that the newsroom he knew has been turned upside down. MacKenzie McHale, the show’s new executive producer — who is also McAvoy’s ex-girlfriend — came to the station with a small group of writers to help recreate the news program.
As ACN reports real-life news stories from the end of 2010 to the beginning of 2011, “The Newsroom” depicts news from the recent past that viewers will recognize and understand. It demonstrates the politics of a newsroom, how the staff works together to come up with story ideas and the personal struggles of each character. But more importantly, it serves as a blueprint of how broadcast journalism should be delivered to the viewers — with ratings put to the side.
Lost reporters, love triangles and even death threats all plague the newsroom, but that doesn’t keep the reporters from doing their job. Despite all the hassle that comes with an office environment — and in this case, a highly tense environment — McAvoy, McHale and their team of experienced journalists work ruthlessly to report the facts.
“Game of Thrones”
After wrapping up its second season, “Game of Thrones” continues to reel in viewers with its intricate plot and compelling storyline.
Set in the fictional land of Westeros, the television series picked up where it left off its first season, with the Seven Kingdoms at war. Spanning a period of several months, the season shows the delicately complex inner workings of Westeros and depicts exactly how intertwined each character’s storyline is.
Robb Stark, the King of the North, fought to gain freedom for his people and those of the Riverlands, while Joffrey Baratheon continues to hold the Iron Throne. There, he has the support of House Lannister.
But Stannis Baratheon, who has also made a claim to the Iron Throne, has sought advice from Melisandre, the priestess from the east, and Ser Davos Seaworth. She believes Stannis is meant for a greater future, while Seaworth feels uneasy about the shifting powers in Stannis’ inner-circle.
Daenerys Targaryen hatched the only three dragons in the world, and though they are currently vulnerable, they will develop into horrific creatures capable of demolishing cities at her command. As another character seeking to claim the Iron Throne, she will make her way to Westeros to obtain what she believes is her rightful place, collecting allies along the way.
Each character’s story will continue to evolve, and with tensions high in Westeros, the third season of “Game of Thrones” will prove just as exciting as its predecessors.
“Political Animals”
“Political Animals,” USA Network’s new miniseries, began its first season this summer during a time when Americans are especially interested in politics — just months before the 2012 presidential election.
Set in Washington, D.C., the show’s plot revolves around Elaine Barrish, who currently serves as the Secretary of State under President Paul Garcetti. Barrish — who recently divorced former president and infamous womanizer Bud Hammond — works to establish her own politics in a sea of deceit, scandal and intense government action that she tactfully controls as a woman in such a high position.
The miniseries began with an interview between Barrish and journalist Susan Berg, a woman just as equally driven as the Secretary of State, but by a different agenda. Sprinkled with a set of flashbacks to Barrish’s marriage and previous campaign for the presidency, the show gives viewers a more inclusive look at the life of a fictional politician.
Determined to prove her role as a leader of the U.S., Barrish decides to run for president again. The election is still two years away in the miniseries, but as a vulture in the political realm, Barrish decides to begin her campaign immediately, though under the radar. Her son Douglas leads the campaign, first attempting to destroy it before it even begins, but then conceding to it and accepting that his mother would make a good president.
It’s the many similarities to real-life American politics that make this show compelling. Viewers can easily draw parallels between the fictional characters and politicians who have passed through the White House and their conflicts with the media.
Though “Political Animals” isn’t near its finale yet, a strong plot filled with relatable characters and dramatic quality is already making the miniseries a thrilling experience.