There are scores of TV shows out there, with dozens of new episodes each week, not to mention everything you can find on Hulu Plus, Netflix streaming, and HBO Go. How’s a viewer to keep up? To help you sort through all that television has to offer, we’re compiling the five best moments on TV each week. This round, beloved actors Ted McGinley and Gina Torres return to primetime television and Selina Meyer suffers a major gaffe.
Daenerys Targaryen Finally Gets to FSU
The Mother of Dragons had one of the worst storylines on Game of Thrones for virtually the entire second season. After an epic ending shot of Season 1, Daenerys spent months ineffectually begging for an army from the merchant council of Qarth. Season three, however, has seen the return of Dany as a confident, ruthless leader. More importantly, it’s also the first time the audience has seen her kick some serious ass. Watching her command her dragon to roast the head slaver of Astapor before ordering her newly acquired army to kill every master they could find, it was difficult to stop oneself from yelling at the screen. We’ve always known Daenerys has the potential to do great things; Game of Thrones has just finally started to deliver on one of its most promising candidates for the Iron Throne.
Selina Digs Herself in Deeper on Veep
The latest indignity to befall hapless vice president Selina Meyer was a public relations debacle over a pro-Palestinian film review written by Meyer’s college-aged daughter Catherine. The dialogue was harsh and hilarious as always, but the episode’s high point actually came from physical comedy, in a scene where Selina reaffirms her support for Israel…while eating a pork sandwich and standing in front of a whole pig roasting on a spit. Jonah attempts to salvage the situation by physically blocking the pig with his body, albeit not very successfully. Between Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ confused expression and Jonah screaming “OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT!,” it’s pure gold.
Gloria Allred Makes a Guest Appearance in the Drag Race “Un-Finale”
RuPaul’s Drag Race has had more than its share of crazy guest stars: D-list celebrities, comedians, talk show hosts, LaToya Jackson. But it’s doubtful anyone could have predicted the appearance of lady lawyer Gloria Allred on America’s most beloved drag queen competition reality show. Allred coached all three finalist queens on how to argue their cases for Ru herself, and although “Defend Your Life” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, it was all worth it to watch Jinkx and Alaska steamroll over the self-righteous and mean-spirited Roxxxy Andrews. It wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of an actual winner — that won’t come until this week’s reunion — but we all knew Jinkx was the winner episodes ago anyway.
Megan and Don Get Propositioned by Ted McGinley
Surprise! The head writer of Megan Draper’s over-the-top soap opera show is played by none other than Ted McGinley, who once appeared in ultimate over-the-top soap opera Dynasty. Better still, McGinley and his on-screen wife took the Drapers out to dinner only to invite them back to their apartment “to smoke some grass and see what happens.” Don’s face was absolutely priceless, compensating for the ham-fisted fan service line noting that Don must “play many roles.” Unsurprisingly, the Drapers graciously declined the invitation, in one of the few funny scenes of yet another dark episode in an increasingly dark season.
Gina Torres Shows Up on Hannibal
In what’s fast shaping up to be the most reliable drama in NBC’s lineup, Hannibal introduced a new character this week in the form of Phyllis “Bella” Crawford, played by the always-badass Gina Torres. Married to Jack Crawford, the rough FBI agent played by Laurence Fishburne, Bella is a former Navy woman, met her husband in Italy, and doesn’t believe in the animal cruelty involved in making foie gras. Of course, she announces this aversion at a dinner party with the series’ title character, who responds by smiling knowingly and spouting aphorisms about cruelty and humanity in an indecipherable pan-European accent. Oh, and then the show drops a bombshell on us by revealing she has cancer in a therapy session with Dr. Lecter himself. Meaty subplot, here we come!