“This agency has entered the future.”
The actual dismantling of the Creative Lounge is pretty much the perfect encapsulation of not only Don’s crisis, but also of the state of SC&P. Gone are the days of pitches and gone is the essence of true advertising, replaced by fancy computers as the walls metaphorically crumble around Don. Essentially, the new world of advertising breeds fear.
The title of this episode, a Francis Bacon quote from Novum Organum, refers to the fact that “human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolors the nature of things by mingling its own nature with it”. Essentially, he’s saying that our view of science, of the world, of nature, is stunted by our tunnel vision, our focus on “human understanding” as the limit to our knowledge.
Will Graham seems like he’ll do whatever it takes to take down Hannibal Lecter, but does that mean he’s willing to become the very man Hannibal wants him to become, to have that inner beast coaxed out of him? Or, is he only willing to put up a front? Continue reading
Moral ambiguity is a staple of The Americans, a theme that snakes its way through every character interaction and every event. Coming off the heels of a masterpiece such as “Martial Eagle”, the show continues to explore that idea, crafting a fairly compelling episode in “Yousaf” as we head into the season’s endgame.
“I’d like you to avoid violence if at all possible, but if they harm Grace in any way, kill them all.”
No other line sums up the character of Harold Finch better than this one does. He’s not a man of violence, but he’s capable of love, of feeling so strongly about someone that he’d truly desire to enact revenge. For, he’s now facing the inevitable consequences of his actions, and he’s willing to place himself at risk.
“Okay.”
Don Draper is paying for his actions. He’s suffering. He’s humiliated. Yet, at the same time, he’s not. “Field Trip” is a moving, compelling episode of television that effortlessly transitions into a new power situation, and it’s yet another installment in a final season that’s shaping up to be brilliant.
Trust is hard to come by in this Orphan Black universe, and misplaced trust is ubiquitous. That idea extends into tonight’s “Governed By Sound Reason and True Religion”, an exciting episode that–although it tones the proceedings down a bit following the premiere–is still very enjoyable to watch unfold.
“Adapt. Evolve. Become.”
As we watch Hannibal Lecter’s and Will Graham’s relationship develop, the question becomes: Who has the upper hand? Is it Hannibal, fostering the killer inside what he views as his mentee, or is it Will, luring Dr. Lecter into a false sense of security before he tears him apart?
“There is grace and forgiveness for you.”
“Do you believe that?”
“I do.”
Hiding is an essential aspect of being a spy, but sometimes, we can only hide for so long. In “Martial Eagle”, arguably the best episode this series has ever produced, our spies continue to become undone, with Philip Jennings, in particular, affected the most.
“The Rooster Prince” maneuvers its characters around a chessboard, shading in certain nuances and expanding on new characters as we start to get a sense of Noah Hawley’s vision for the series. It’s a slower episode, but it’s certainly just as compelling and entertaining as it was last week.
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