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News & ArtsWednesday, July 4, 2012
TV Breaking Bad Makes Me Proud to Be an American
Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Jul 4, 2012 at 2:05 PM
For years, I've been the loudest Breaking Bad fan on Slog. It seems as though the rest of the world is catching up to me, but I will not rest until everyone acknowledges it as the best show on television. You can't make a stronger argument for television serials as the new novel: This is a Dickensian TV show, following a cast of characters across a wide socioeconomic strata as they careen toward each other and collide in unexpected ways. The best part of Breaking Bad is that it has a finite arc, and it's hurtling toward its conclusion. I trust Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan in a way that I did not trust the makers of Lost or Battlestar Galactica to conclude the story in a satisfying, logical manner. It's obvious in the way these stories spin out that Gilligan is a writer in the best sense; he's going to tell his story the way he wants to tell it.
But more importantly, Breaking Bad is the most American show imaginable: It's about entrepreneurship, business partnerships, honest lawyers, good and evil, life and death, and fast food. If you're not going out to a barbecue, you should celebrate the 4th with a marathon viewing session. This is a show about the United States of America; it simply could not happen anywhere else.
2
Dude. Dude.
WORD. Breaking Bad is the best thing on television.
At least since Deadwood got killed, anyhow. And really, if anything, it's a tie between those two shows: in quality of writing, in compelling characters (notably anti-heroes), in production values, and in FUCKYEAHAMERICAnness.
I guess Bad wins on longevity, though. Siiigh. (It might also have a slight edge in Saul. Saul is the best.)
WORD. Breaking Bad is the best thing on television.
At least since Deadwood got killed, anyhow. And really, if anything, it's a tie between those two shows: in quality of writing, in compelling characters (notably anti-heroes), in production values, and in FUCKYEAHAMERICAnness.
I guess Bad wins on longevity, though. Siiigh. (It might also have a slight edge in Saul. Saul is the best.)
5
How am I the only person that can't stand Breaking Bad?
The super kingpin is pulling down millions of dollars but spends his days working at a fast food restaurant as a cover? Yeah Fucking Right.
The super kingpin is pulling down millions of dollars but spends his days working at a fast food restaurant as a cover? Yeah Fucking Right.
6
Too much cartoonery. Originally was not bad, but lost the plot about two or three seasons ago. Hank and Marie? Gimme a fucking break. Agree with @2, Saul rocks, as does Gus's nasty old man helper. The show's only true saving grace is being miles better than Weeds. Wow does that show suck rocks.
7
Best TV ever....
1. Rome
2. Sopranos
3. Braking Bad.
aiiii claro que los latinos son mas interesantes, y los programas que tratan de luteranos (the killing, deadwood) no san tan picante. Pudiera que la cultura latina tiene alguna ventaja en tratamientos de historias...come se diria....picarescas?
1. Rome
2. Sopranos
3. Braking Bad.
aiiii claro que los latinos son mas interesantes, y los programas que tratan de luteranos (the killing, deadwood) no san tan picante. Pudiera que la cultura latina tiene alguna ventaja en tratamientos de historias...come se diria....picarescas?
9
@5 - Not knowing what you're fucking talking about probably gets in the way of your enjoyment. Gus doesn't spend his days working at Los Pollos Hermanos, he spends his days OWNING it as a cover. Sure, he pops into a store now and then to play manager--that's what makes it a convincing cover. And it's what causes law enforcement to LAUGH when the suggestion is made that he's shady.
Gustavo Fring is an amazing character played by an amazing actor. And you, sir, are no Jack Kennedy.
Gustavo Fring is an amazing character played by an amazing actor. And you, sir, are no Jack Kennedy.
10
I love it when I can agree with you so wholeheartedly! With the usual caveat that these are impossible to enjoy with the slightest interruption either of commercials or having to forward through commercials. I tried to watch the second season that way and decided the show had lost its mojo. How happy I was to realize the fault was mine.
11
@10 - The first 3 seasons are on Netflix streaming right now. The last few days, I've been catching MacCrocodile up on the show in anticipation of S5 premiere. And you're right, we're definitely going to need the S4 DVDs when we reach that point.
12
Yes, Breaking Bad is the best show on television. My current obsession is Community, which has to be #2.
Apples and oranges, I know.
Apples and oranges, I know.
13
Yep great show. And I am looking forward to a real ending - more along the lines of Omar getting capped, then the Christian shitfest that was the Lost finale, or the (spoiler alert) what-the-fuck-is-starbuck-an-angel ending (or beginning??) of Battlestar. Still love those shows, but not much of a story arc towards the end... Can we cut out the crap about "greatest tv show ever"? We all have our favorites; that's all that really matters, is that it speaks to you. And to enough other people to hopefully stay on the air. BBC Sherlock has been killing it.
14
Netflix streaming is a preposterously great way to watch. I bought S4 as soon as it became available. Such a joy to watch the full sweep of the show unfold. @12, it is puzzle what may happen now that Harmon got booted. It probably can't survive, but if any show can generate something amazing to save it, it's that one. What other show can boast a medical doctor, an Oscar winning screenwriter, and Donald Glover, and that's not even the writers, it's the cast?
15
I tried to marathon the show, but somewhere around the end of the first season or the beginning of the second, it turned into a program that's mostly about killing a stereotyped Mexican every episode, and I lost interest.
Do they stop doing that shit at some point? Should I just grit my teeth and press through to wherever it gets back on its feet?
Do they stop doing that shit at some point? Should I just grit my teeth and press through to wherever it gets back on its feet?
18
Be aware that Netflix cuts out bits - tiny bits, but significant to the whole. We compared with the DVD (and the on-air version) and found more than ten chunks gone in just the first episode.
20
Megan Amram today seems to have trumped us all (h/t Rob Delaney):
As someone with more quirky and alt tastes, I can’t say that America is my favorite thing to watch. I’m more into Breaking Bad. Have you seen season 4?! Season 4 of Breaking Bad is flawless. Season 4 of America is VERY uneven. It had no main black characters. Girls, much?! I love The Wire!http://meganamram.tumblr.com/post/265131…
23
Breaking Bad is amazing. It's hard to watch, and it makes me feel dirty and depressed, but I can't pull myself away. To me, that's good television.
25
Of recentish shows:
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
I've got high hopes for The Newsroom after two episodes.
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
I've got high hopes for The Newsroom after two episodes.
26
The Wire and Breaking Bad are both great shows, and until the final scene at the ned of season 4 for Breaking Bad I would have said they were even, but that last shot of Walt's back-yard, Breaking Bad wins
There was a time when I would have added Son's Of Anarchy as a runner up, but after that whole CIA stunt, they've jumped the shark.
There was a time when I would have added Son's Of Anarchy as a runner up, but after that whole CIA stunt, they've jumped the shark.
27
I'm obviously in the smallest minority here, but I never made it to the second episode. I'd been hearing the hype from people who's opinions I trust and so wanted to give it a shot.
Don't know if it was technically the pilot episode I saw, but it was the one in which the Brian Cranston character saw the methlab being stung and saw his former student jump out the window & escape (I guess this is how they were re-introduced to start the show.)
That scene alone ruined it for me. Knowing only the slightest bit about police work, I know that drug busting operations are absolutely seemless and perimeter oriented. That his student was able to escape a sting (orchestrated as I recall, as part of a meticulously planned narc op) by JUMPING OUT A FREAKING WINDOW screamed of shoddy, negligent writing. Or perhaps a police department headed up by Chief Wiggum.
I know I'm hyper critical and a little OCD & all, but can't imagine I'm the only one to have watched that scene and rolled my eyes. I should probably try to look past that & give it another shot, I guess.
Don't know if it was technically the pilot episode I saw, but it was the one in which the Brian Cranston character saw the methlab being stung and saw his former student jump out the window & escape (I guess this is how they were re-introduced to start the show.)
That scene alone ruined it for me. Knowing only the slightest bit about police work, I know that drug busting operations are absolutely seemless and perimeter oriented. That his student was able to escape a sting (orchestrated as I recall, as part of a meticulously planned narc op) by JUMPING OUT A FREAKING WINDOW screamed of shoddy, negligent writing. Or perhaps a police department headed up by Chief Wiggum.
I know I'm hyper critical and a little OCD & all, but can't imagine I'm the only one to have watched that scene and rolled my eyes. I should probably try to look past that & give it another shot, I guess.
28
@27: Are you referring to Jesse (and by the way, do they come any prettier than Aaron Paul?) jumping out of a window in the first episode? He was banging a neighbor across and down the street? He ran away when he heard and saw what was going on at the house where he did business. That doesn't seem feasible to you?
I've a decision to make. Dish Network has dropped AMC (and its affiliated channels) for the time being - maybe forever. Who knows? The point is, in my opinion, dropping a service I signed up for (and AMC is one of the reasons why I have cable/satellite services) invalidates my contract with Dish. I know there something about Dish being able to change programming in the contract but you know there are ways around some contracts. If you and I have a contract that I am going to deliver 10 potatoes, 5 apples, and 6 bananas to you every week for a set price, then several weeks later I tell you that I no longer carry apples but the set price remains the same - well, legal or not, you're going to be pissed. I've been happy with Dish and they carry a lot of things that I've grown to really like that are unique to Dish. I live in LA right now and Time Warner Cable has an OK line-up (I use them as my ISP), but their customer service is zero and they charge a lot - for everything. They'll $5-10 a month you to death.
I'm not all that impressed with DirecTV. They, too, are pretty expensive and nickle-and-dimey. So, what do I do? Sit it out and wait for AMC and Dish to agree (if they ever do - seems pretty contentious) who has the bigger dick (and meanwhile watch Breaking Bad via other methods (hrumph! )) or jump ship and go with someone who doesn't pull this crap. Dish has a history of doing this. You may recall a few years back they stopped carrying Viacom programming (Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Logo, BET, Nickelodeon, etc) over price disputes. Then later, Disney and then The Weather Channel. All resolved. Dish says they do this to keep prices low - and frankly, I think I do save about $20-30/mo having Dish. Still, a pain in the ass to put customers through this when the new season of Breaking Bad draws nigh. Fortunately, they didn't drop AMC until the season finale of Mad Men and The Killing, but the last two episodes came with an annoying AMC-generated crawl about Dish discontinuing AMC. Hate that. Also, hate those little pop-ups about what's on next or what's on Thursday. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. I digress.
I'd appreciate your input.
More...
I've a decision to make. Dish Network has dropped AMC (and its affiliated channels) for the time being - maybe forever. Who knows? The point is, in my opinion, dropping a service I signed up for (and AMC is one of the reasons why I have cable/satellite services) invalidates my contract with Dish. I know there something about Dish being able to change programming in the contract but you know there are ways around some contracts. If you and I have a contract that I am going to deliver 10 potatoes, 5 apples, and 6 bananas to you every week for a set price, then several weeks later I tell you that I no longer carry apples but the set price remains the same - well, legal or not, you're going to be pissed. I've been happy with Dish and they carry a lot of things that I've grown to really like that are unique to Dish. I live in LA right now and Time Warner Cable has an OK line-up (I use them as my ISP), but their customer service is zero and they charge a lot - for everything. They'll $5-10 a month you to death.
I'm not all that impressed with DirecTV. They, too, are pretty expensive and nickle-and-dimey. So, what do I do? Sit it out and wait for AMC and Dish to agree (if they ever do - seems pretty contentious) who has the bigger dick (and meanwhile watch Breaking Bad via other methods (hrumph! )) or jump ship and go with someone who doesn't pull this crap. Dish has a history of doing this. You may recall a few years back they stopped carrying Viacom programming (Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Logo, BET, Nickelodeon, etc) over price disputes. Then later, Disney and then The Weather Channel. All resolved. Dish says they do this to keep prices low - and frankly, I think I do save about $20-30/mo having Dish. Still, a pain in the ass to put customers through this when the new season of Breaking Bad draws nigh. Fortunately, they didn't drop AMC until the season finale of Mad Men and The Killing, but the last two episodes came with an annoying AMC-generated crawl about Dish discontinuing AMC. Hate that. Also, hate those little pop-ups about what's on next or what's on Thursday. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. I digress.
I'd appreciate your input.
29
Breaking Bad is the most American because every other damn country in the civilized world would have treated Walt's cancer in season one.
30
I've had a hard time getting back into Breaking Bad ever since the incredibly contrived ending to Season 2... it's as if the writers realized that they'd written themselves into a corner with all of the foreshadowing of a massacre at Walt's house, and had to come up with some way to explain a slew of dead bodies... so they wrote in a BS plane crash at the 11th hour.
31
As much as I love Breaking Bad, I wonder if Game of Thrones will get mentioned more in these sorts of conversations after season 3 finishes, or at least after THE EVENT transpires.
33
@30- I think you're missing a bit of the point. (S2 SPOILERS COMING!)
Walt acted with deliberate negligence when he encounteded an OD'ed and choking Jane, leading to her death, which leads to her dad's distraught state, which causes the crash. Its another ripple effect generated by his actions- those are a big element of the show.
Goddamn I love breaking Bad. I don't think anything better has ever been on the TV.
Walt acted with deliberate negligence when he encounteded an OD'ed and choking Jane, leading to her death, which leads to her dad's distraught state, which causes the crash. Its another ripple effect generated by his actions- those are a big element of the show.
Goddamn I love breaking Bad. I don't think anything better has ever been on the TV.
35
My wife would display Br Ba on Net Flex. My comment was "don't want to watch a show about Cancer...I'll deal with it if I get it, but not until. My wife never gives up on me. Finally I watched the first episode. We watch the 2nd, then the third and were hooked. We viewed all 33 shows, then off to the Wallmarche for season four. Then we did all 46 again, every night one or two.
How did you folks stand it, waiting a week between shows and a year between seasons. We watched it as a 36 hour movie.
It may will be the best TV show I have ever watched. Besides having a great story and actors the photography is amazing. The only episode I didn't really care for was the one about the fly in the lab.
We are looking for something new again, so thanks for the forgoing tips and/or comparisons of other shows. No land line cable here on the farm in "red zone". Got high speed and netflix to carry us through.
How did you folks stand it, waiting a week between shows and a year between seasons. We watched it as a 36 hour movie.
It may will be the best TV show I have ever watched. Besides having a great story and actors the photography is amazing. The only episode I didn't really care for was the one about the fly in the lab.
We are looking for something new again, so thanks for the forgoing tips and/or comparisons of other shows. No land line cable here on the farm in "red zone". Got high speed and netflix to carry us through.
36
@27 - Not sure if it matters to your perimeter problem but it was the neighboring house he jumped out of. It wasn't the house they were raiding.
38
Paul, if not for Mad Men--the only feminist show currently on TV, as well as the best show currently on TV---you would be right.
39
Overrated. It's good, but to everyone who insists this or The Wire are the best shows ever, you're doing these shows a disservice by setting the bar so impossibly high.
40
@31
I have a feeling GOT is gonna lose a lot of fans at that point. Also, we are bad people for even breathing about this.
It's not that I think Breaking Bad isn't good. It's an awesome show. It's just not a show I would choose to watch. However due to my gf's insistence, I am all prepared for this coming season. Seriously though, it's that weird, anxious, dirty feeling other people have commented on here that turns me off. I gave up complicated plots in video entertainment a long time ago; my life is complicated enough.
I have a feeling GOT is gonna lose a lot of fans at that point. Also, we are bad people for even breathing about this.
It's not that I think Breaking Bad isn't good. It's an awesome show. It's just not a show I would choose to watch. However due to my gf's insistence, I am all prepared for this coming season. Seriously though, it's that weird, anxious, dirty feeling other people have commented on here that turns me off. I gave up complicated plots in video entertainment a long time ago; my life is complicated enough.
41
I watched the pilot when it first came out and I was bored out of my mind. There were pants flying merrily through the air, but that was about as amusing as it got. Also, didn't the story start where he's diagnosed with cancer that's supposed to kill him very shortly? Why isn't he dead yet?
42
@31 I love to hate GoT! (It's amazing that anyone on the planet could write books so sleazy that HBO would have to tone it down.) Which "the event" do you mean? George "Sure the R.R. Wasn't My Publicist's Idea" Martin tries to do so many. The Red Wedding?
Seriously, don't get me started on those books. I'll bore you so hard you'll think you were on Livejournal.
Seriously, don't get me started on those books. I'll bore you so hard you'll think you were on Livejournal.
44
Everyone attempting to criticize Breaking Bad on this thread is making themselves sound like a complete retard. Best show ever.
45
I, too, suffer from that weird, dirty apprehension when it comes to Breaking Bad. I have a hard time putting it back on ... yet, when I do, it never disappoints. I remember at some point in Season 2 (long after it first aired), we just stopped watching for a while. We finally figured out that we were too emotionally exhausted watching the depression and anger both Skylar and Walt were going through trying to hold their marriage and family together through the cancer. It was just one or two episodes, but they punched you in the gut.
46
To the people saying you feel "dirty" watching this show: really??? Guys, it's a TV show. A really great one, mind you, but it's a fictional show. Would you criticize a film by saying it seems too gritty and real and makes you feel dirty? That seems to be what Breaking Bad is going for, so you're criticizing the show for achieving its intended effect. Also, it's got a LOT of humour in it as well.
47
@43 IMHO, people who don't already know what the Red Wedding is are unlikely to be spoiled by the term. All it really says is that there's going to be a wedding (of which we've already seen two) and that something about it's red.
If they didn't stop watching when Boromir bit the big one then they're unlikely to stop watching just because Melisandre marries Joffrey OH NO I SAID IT!
If they didn't stop watching when Boromir bit the big one then they're unlikely to stop watching just because Melisandre marries Joffrey OH NO I SAID IT!
50
I'll never calm down. I want to be "the one who knocks" on the thick skull of anyone who refuses to recognize that Breaking Bad is amazing.
I do love Lebowski though.
I do love Lebowski though.
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