Kings was great this week. As usual. But at the same time, I find myself feeling disappointed. Kings is undoubtedly one of the best things on TV right now; the characters are all rich and gaining depth and breadth as the story develops; the plot is growing in unexpected directions; and the relationships on the show are all growing more intertwined and complex. But I can’t help but feel disappointed, mostly because the show introduces itself in such a grand manner, with such broad implications for the future of that world, that the smaller moves the show is taking feel like less than what the show is capable. That said, it’s still one of my must-see shows of the week and the so-called “small moves” are still rocketing the story forward with each new development.

Two weeks ago, when Port Prosperity was ceded to Gath, I was befuddled by David’s reaction. It seemed like he was more than happy to give away the land his family fought for. Some worry or trepidation seemed justified on his part. This week clarified that showing that Port Prosperity is merely in the same region as David’s land. But then, the King decides to return all of the land taken from Gath in their past wars, which does happen to include David’s homeland. He’s less than pleased. His hometown expects him to become the leader of their cause, but his loyalty to the King is constant.

David struggles this week with these divided loyalties. Ultimately, his family’s extremist unbending demands push him from blood to fealty. The one weakness of this plot for me, is that the insurrectionists’ position is irrational. Gilboa offers resettlement and equivalent employment in their new land. Would the soil beneath their feet not be drenched enough in the blood of their forebearers? I’ve never understood those feelings of “Our Land, Our Blood” so it’s hard to feel sympathetic to their cause. But the ultimate point the show makes is that peace requires sacrifices, and not always of haemoglobin.

But David’s struggles were ultimately pointless, and his failure to hold off the violent attempt at insurrection was expected. By allowing the situation to escalate while he went fishing in a river, King Silas made the conspirators against him be more forthright in their plans, which led to them all being gunned down safe for the King’s brother-in-law, William Cross, who was warned at the last minute by Silas’ head General, who’s come to see Silas as weak and is no longer willing to follow him.

Everything that happened this episode ended up working in the favour of Silas, at least in the short term. His son has been chastened, his brother-in-law’s coup-in-waiting has been severely hindered, the insurrection has been thwarted. Everything’s coming up Silas. Perhaps his sacrifice from last week is paying dividends.

Not much more to say this week. Sometimes I want to gush over every scene, other times I’m content to point out a few interesting moments. This week was one of the latter. I have to admit that some of this terseness is coming from my disheartenment over the utter failure Kings has been in terms of ratings. I find myself investing slightly less each week because the outlook is so bleak. So many of my favourite shows are on the cusp of cancellation or have already been denied renewal; I sincerely hope Kings doesn’t disappear at the end of this season, but it’s hard to see it coming back, barring a miracle as ostentatious as that of David slaying Goliath.