This show is excellent in almost every respect except for the writing. In this aspect it is both lazy and inept and it brings down the rest of the show with it. Consider the following scenes from this episode:At the trial the entire case against Sheppard rests on the notion that Sheppard is so heroic that he must be a traitor, supported peripherally by a tape of him shaking hands with an enemy agent and the testimony of a known spy. Really? This is a snare so weak that not only is there no doubt shepard will get out of it, but it is impossible to believe that anyone, especially some as supposedly cunning as king Silas, would have set it in the first place.Another scene that seems almost purposefully inauthentic involves an interaction between Sheppard and a soldier who served with Sheppard. The writers need to introduce Akham's razor to help establish the prosecution's argument so they have Sheppard say to the soldier, "in training we were taught the simplest explanation..." and the soldier finishes, "is always the truest." OK, no army in the world teaches critical thinking as part of training for enlisted men. Training for enlisted men consists of learning to stop thinking critically all of the time so the individuals can work as part of a group. The writers needed to introduce Akham's razor to help establish the prosecution's case so they made it a part of the soldiers' shared experience in a way that was totally implausible. The worst part is that if they had been just a little less lazy they could have introduced the same idea in a way that didn't insult our intelligence.There are a million little flaws like this throughout this show that make an interesting premise unbelievable and therefore unwatchable.

Wow - this story only grows stronger - nothing has made me jump out of my chair in a long, long time. If this is cancelled, the powers that be are way out of touch as I fall in the heart of the coveted demographic. I am amazed that something this good can be produced and less that it would be cancelled. When will Hollywood realize that quality will always sell. They just need to come to me - I'm not going to them. I don't have a land line and I don't have cable tv. I'm on Hulu. Create quality and we will watch. Maybe on Hulu, but we will watch.

Oh, and Marc T. -- they didn't call David "Kevin Shepherd," they called him "Captain Shepherd." Silly.

in the midst of summer and a lacking of TV shows - i started "Kings". after the first episode, i could not stop watching, only to find out that it's been canceled???NBC - this is the best drama you've had in a VERY long time. it would be a shame to not bring it back. the only reason why i didn't watch during broadcast is because saturdays aren't a normal day for series!!! give us another chance and i'll watch season 2 for sure!