Gus' back story was sublime I think its complete nonsense to suggest its purely action as if its the Expendables or something. No idea why an American TV series being far-fetched would impact how good it is either?
it was probably the one of the only decent bit of writing throughout the entire show and even then it was poorly structured. If we would've found out his back story much earlier we'd have had a much more conflicting emotions about walter white and his struggle with gus.
The pilot is a pretty great example of how far fetched it felt. It was like "oh hi there, former student of mine, why yes i would like to cook some meth, but i also have cancer". At least with shows like the sopranos the characters were real people, they had their flaws but they all had great points to them, like every person in real life. Then there was the car crash that was the end of season 2, jesus christ. Planes crashing into each other over walter's house and two bodies landing in the pool. That's really fucking realistic, because that shit happens every day. I almost stopped watching at that point but pressed on. There was an epic moment at the end of season 4 which is really "whoa shit man". In fact the last bit of season 4 was the best part of the show by far.
Breaking bad had some quite particular far fetched unrealistic moments, but every great show has it's flaws. Was not a fan of the plane collision part. (Btw a body did not land in walts pool . Was a teddy bear)
I'm not really someone that can easily get into a TV series. 1 ep in of sons of anarchy and I was not coming back, it bored me, even after relentless recommendations from mates.
However breaking bad had me gripped from start to end. It was epic.
It's just a great story.
Fantastic acting from Bryan Cranston and Aaron paul. Really getting into grips with difficult characters to identify with and play their part. Brilliant.
The thing with breaking bad is I remember watching the first few episodes on proper tv. Then it became a bit cool because it was only on Netflix, DVDs or moody sites.
Me and her watched the lot over a couple of months last year and they are addictive. Some crap episodes aside I thought it was brilliant.
The choice of shit on TV is very good nowadays, it makes me feel a bit shallow saying it to be honest but tv shows when done well are miles better than films. Watching Walter turn as he did couldn't be done in cinema. Same as programmes like the walking dead. Game of thrones I really think you need to read the books to properly get, but bloody brilliant tv if you haven't
I think you need to watch it a second time to really appreciate how good it is.
It's the tv show I find myself comparing every new tv show to.
It's a bit of a slow burner, especially in season 1, but it's worth it.
Incredible show. If you haven't watched it - watch it!
no
He said IMO.
Whats the best show kent?
i'm glad you asked.
the sopranos the wire mad men boardwalk empire
are all better than breaking bad, which has a distinct lack of decent female characters, incredibly far fetched and not very in depth story and characters. It's entertaining but its similar to the first couple of seasons of LOST where it's action action action cancer action action action swatting a fly action action end.
Well yeah, it probably wouldn't be a great show with Danny Dyer as Walter White but they are in it and the parts were written for them so...
The bodies didn't land in his pool anyway it was debris with that weird pink teddy bear after the fallout from the Jessie and his girlfriend story
Boardwalk is also similarly reliant on Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt from your list but that isn't a flaw of the show, because they are in it.
lol
there were two body bags being zipped up over the course of season 2 which led you to believe 2 people would die.
Michael pitt is only in 2 seasons of boardwalk and even then he was a bit naff, one of the worst characters in the show tbh. Richard Harrow was fair more interesting and a far better character.
I don't see why one has to be better than the other. Although I think it's easier to compare Sopranos, Mad Men and Boardwalk as all three are similar stylistically, and share the same writing and producing talent. Mad Men can, frankly, be a bit boring as it's all about interpersonal storytelling, and if you don't have an affinity for the characters, there's nothing else to keep you interested. Sopranos had the constant, menacing threat of death hanging over it, never knowing who might get popped one week to the next. Boardwalk likewise, although that show sagged more than it peaked.
Breaking Bad is a very different type of show to those, and especially The Wire, which is out on its own in terms of style and substance. All of them are great shows. Breaking Bad is a page turner, as it were. A little bombastic sure, and potentially flawed in the female character department (I'd argue that Skyler is one of the all time great female roles, but that's a whole other post). But crucially it didn't delve into dreamscapes like the aforementioned trio. Stylistically, it was very different (although not short on symbolism, as has been well documented). Breaking Bad had you clamouring for the next episode, and I find most criticism of it is flawed, and largely based on a refusal to conform to popular opinion. I don't care how many people liked the show - I frikkin loved it.
As for the fly episode, I heard they spent all their budget and had to get back on track by keeping it really cheap for a week. I wouldn't denigrate the entire show on the basis that one episode was a bit boring.
are all better than breaking bad, which has a distinct lack of decent female characters, incredibly far fetched and not very in depth story and characters. It's entertaining but its similar to the first couple of seasons of LOST where it's action action action cancer action action action swatting a fly action action end.
I like all of these shows (they'd all be in my top 10) but BB is up there too. Yes, the story is far-fetched, but the acting is top notch, the dialogue is great and the cinematography is better than any of the above shows. Not sure I agree that it has any fewer female characters than the Wire, BE or even the Sopranos.
So a show is bad now because of a "lack of female roles..."
Christ I have heard it all now.
Skylier, Marie, Lidia, .....Jane, Andrea (Jesse's Ex's)
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
they're all side characters, hollow. What's all those characters hopes and dreams? What do they want/need in their lives? They're all one dimensional characters there to give the more complex male characters a wife or some kind of object of attraction.
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
are all better than breaking bad, which has a distinct lack of decent female characters, incredibly far fetched and not very in depth story and characters. It's entertaining but its similar to the first couple of seasons of LOST where it's action action action cancer action action action swatting a fly action action end.
I like all of these shows (they'd all be in my top 10) but BB is up there too. Yes, the story is far-fetched, but the acting is top notch, the dialogue is great and the cinematography is better than any of the above shows. Not sure I agree that it has any fewer female characters than the Wire, BE or even the Sopranos.
mad men's cinematography is probably the finest out of all of those. But again, on a technical level the sopranos probably has the best lighting with the use of shadows etc.
The thing with breaking bad is I remember watching the first few episodes on proper tv. Then it became a bit cool because it was only on Netflix, DVDs or moody sites.
Me and her watched the lot over a couple of months last year and they are addictive. Some crap episodes aside I thought it was brilliant.
The choice of shit on TV is very good nowadays, it makes me feel a bit shallow saying it to be honest but tv shows when done well are miles better than films. Watching Walter turn as he did couldn't be done in cinema. Same as programmes like the walking dead. Game of thrones I really think you need to read the books to properly get, but bloody brilliant tv if you haven't
breaking bad i'd say is a modern day retelling of scarface, in tv programme form.
@kentaddick I respect your opinion on how you don't personally rate the show as much as others etc you have your own reasons, but, your critical speaking angle of "lack of main part actresses" is kind of nonsense really.
What you are saying is incorrect and not particularly a big issue even if true.
Its how the story flows. Why accommodate things that are not necessarily important to the actual story?
Lydia was a female villian that seemed independent and had character depth. She was a right sneaky bitch.. with fire in her belly, and also quite hot in certain scenes.
The thing with breaking bad is I remember watching the first few episodes on proper tv. Then it became a bit cool because it was only on Netflix, DVDs or moody sites.
Me and her watched the lot over a couple of months last year and they are addictive. Some crap episodes aside I thought it was brilliant.
The choice of shit on TV is very good nowadays, it makes me feel a bit shallow saying it to be honest but tv shows when done well are miles better than films. Watching Walter turn as he did couldn't be done in cinema. Same as programmes like the walking dead. Game of thrones I really think you need to read the books to properly get, but bloody brilliant tv if you haven't
breaking bad i'd say is a modern day retelling of scarface, in tv programme form.
Well Vince Gilligan has been pretty open about originally pitching the show as 'Mr Chips to Scarface'.
@kentaddick I respect your opinion on how you don't personally rate the show as much as others etc you have your own reasons, but, your critical speaking angle of "lack of main part actresses" is kind of nonsense really.
What you are saying is incorrect and not particularly a big issue even if true.
Its how the story flows. Why accommodate things that are not necessarily important to the actual story?
Lydia was a female villian that seemed independent and had character depth. She was a right sneaky bitch.. with fire in her belly, and also quite hot in certain scenes.
when did i say lack of female characters? I said any deep or complex female characters. Isn't lydia only in the final season? Even then we see her only briefly, a female character there for show
Because character is the story. Read "Story: substance, structure, style and the principles of screenwriting" by Robert Mckee, every screenplay should be character driven, since it's the characters themselves making the decisions to go or do something rather than a mysterious god like person who puts them into situations. Again, the wire and other shows had females in roles whilst covering the story of an entire city.
So a show is bad now because of a "lack of female roles..."
Christ I have heard it all now.
Skylier, Marie, Lidia, .....Jane, Andrea (Jesse's Ex's)
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
they're all side characters, hollow. What's all those characters hopes and dreams? What do they want/need in their lives? They're all one dimensional characters there to give the more complex male characters a wife or some kind of object of attraction.
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
The TV show is based around 2 meth cooks/dealers... Not about housewives.
Probably the strangest criticism I have ever heard of a show, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
So a show is bad now because of a "lack of female roles..."
Christ I have heard it all now.
Skylier, Marie, Lidia, .....Jane, Andrea (Jesse's Ex's)
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
they're all side characters, hollow. What's all those characters hopes and dreams? What do they want/need in their lives? They're all one dimensional characters there to give the more complex male characters a wife or some kind of object of attraction.
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
The TV show is based around 2 meth cooks/dealers... Not about housewives.
Probably the strangest criticism I have ever heard of a show, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
the sopranos was about the mafia but still managed to have strong and complex female characters. It's a perfectly legitimate criticism. That's like saying why have women in eastenders because its about eastenders. But I guess you can watch your episodes of junk tv, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
So a show is bad now because of a "lack of female roles..."
Christ I have heard it all now.
Skylier, Marie, Lidia, .....Jane, Andrea (Jesse's Ex's)
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
they're all side characters, hollow. What's all those characters hopes and dreams? What do they want/need in their lives? They're all one dimensional characters there to give the more complex male characters a wife or some kind of object of attraction.
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
The TV show is based around 2 meth cooks/dealers... Not about housewives.
Probably the strangest criticism I have ever heard of a show, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
the sopranos was about the mafia but still managed to have strong female characters. It's a perfectly legitimate criticism. But I guess you can watch your episodes of junk tv, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
Breaking Bad is junk tv? I won't even bother dignifying that with a response.
I'm off to watch back to back Loose Women and Desperate Housewives now, with a quick privilege check in the ad break!
So a show is bad now because of a "lack of female roles..."
Christ I have heard it all now.
Skylier, Marie, Lidia, .....Jane, Andrea (Jesse's Ex's)
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
they're all side characters, hollow. What's all those characters hopes and dreams? What do they want/need in their lives? They're all one dimensional characters there to give the more complex male characters a wife or some kind of object of attraction.
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
The TV show is based around 2 meth cooks/dealers... Not about housewives.
Probably the strangest criticism I have ever heard of a show, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
Not as bad as The Guardian's recent criticism of The Inbetweeners 2 - where the women are seen as nothing but 'sex objects' lacking complexity.
So a show is bad now because of a "lack of female roles..."
Christ I have heard it all now.
Skylier, Marie, Lidia, .....Jane, Andrea (Jesse's Ex's)
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
they're all side characters, hollow. What's all those characters hopes and dreams? What do they want/need in their lives? They're all one dimensional characters there to give the more complex male characters a wife or some kind of object of attraction.
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
The TV show is based around 2 meth cooks/dealers... Not about housewives.
Probably the strangest criticism I have ever heard of a show, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
the sopranos was about the mafia but still managed to have strong female characters. It's a perfectly legitimate criticism. But I guess you can watch your episodes of junk tv, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
Breaking Bad is junk tv? I won't even bother dignifying that with a response.
I'm off to watch back to back Loose Women and Desperate Housewives now, with a quick privilege check in the ad break!
When did i say breaking bad is junk tv? I love how you are so cooly dismissive to any criticism and don't even bother to respond to my arguements. It was also one arguement I used as an example of breaking bad not being that great of a show. Sign of the times again i suppose! Ignorance wins every time apparently.
So a show is bad now because of a "lack of female roles..."
Christ I have heard it all now.
Skylier, Marie, Lidia, .....Jane, Andrea (Jesse's Ex's)
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
they're all side characters, hollow. What's all those characters hopes and dreams? What do they want/need in their lives? They're all one dimensional characters there to give the more complex male characters a wife or some kind of object of attraction.
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
The TV show is based around 2 meth cooks/dealers... Not about housewives.
Probably the strangest criticism I have ever heard of a show, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
Not as bad as The Guardian's recent criticism of The Inbetweeners 2 - where the women are seen as nothing but 'sex objects' lacking complexity.
Its the Inbetweeners FFS.
quite. I don't believe anyone's declaring the inbetweeners 2 as the greatest of it's medium though.
So a show is bad now because of a "lack of female roles..."
Christ I have heard it all now.
Skylier, Marie, Lidia, .....Jane, Andrea (Jesse's Ex's)
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
they're all side characters, hollow. What's all those characters hopes and dreams? What do they want/need in their lives? They're all one dimensional characters there to give the more complex male characters a wife or some kind of object of attraction.
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
The TV show is based around 2 meth cooks/dealers... Not about housewives.
Probably the strangest criticism I have ever heard of a show, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
the sopranos was about the mafia but still managed to have strong female characters. It's a perfectly legitimate criticism. But I guess you can watch your episodes of junk tv, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
Breaking Bad is junk tv? I won't even bother dignifying that with a response.
I'm off to watch back to back Loose Women and Desperate Housewives now, with a quick privilege check in the ad break!
When did i say breaking bad is junk tv? I love how you are so cooly dismissive to any criticism and don't even bother to respond to my arguements. It was also one arguement I used as an example of breaking bad not being that great of a show. Sign of the times again i suppose! Ignorance wins every time apparently.
I just thought it was a strange reason to criticise the programme thats all!
Here's a good question, where are the complex female characters in American Psycho?
For what it's worth I think the representation of women in Breaking Bad is extremely negative, compared to say, The Sopranos or the development of characters like Peggy in Mad Men (written by one of the writers of The Sopranos incidentally). Breaking Bad was a very good series, a bit hit and miss and unrealistic at times, but overall, good viewing. To says it's the best though is just wrong. The Sopranos was in a different league in every way.
For what it's worth I think the representation of women in Breaking Bad is extremely negative, compared to say, The Sopranos or the development of characters like Peggy in Mad Men (written by one of the writers of The Sopranos incidentally). Breaking Bad was a very good series, a bit hit and miss and unrealistic at times, but overall, good viewing. To says it's the best though is just wrong. The Sopranos was in a different league in every way.
Lol you can't say it's wrong as it's down to opinions. Why some people get so involved in trying to prove that their favourite film, album, tv series is the best is beyond me. (this is a general point and not aimed at you TRR)
For what it's worth I think the representation of women in Breaking Bad is extremely negative, compared to say, The Sopranos or the development of characters like Peggy in Mad Men (written by one of the writers of The Sopranos incidentally). Breaking Bad was a very good series, a bit hit and miss and unrealistic at times, but overall, good viewing. To says it's the best though is just wrong. The Sopranos was in a different league in every way.
Lol you can't say it's wrong as it's down to opinions. Why some people get so involved in trying to prove that their favourite film, album, tv series is the best is beyond me. (this is a general point and not aimed at you TRR)
but its a fact, the difference in depth of character between carmela soprano and skyler white is so vast. When do we ever feel any warmth for skyler? She's walter's wife but there is nothing through 5 seasons that indicate why anyone would want to be with her.
I'm not trying to prove my particular favourite is better than breaking bad, i'm trying to prove breaking bad is a averagely written but extremely well acted piece of tv entertainment. It's by far not the best ever made as so many people say.
For what it's worth I think the representation of women in Breaking Bad is extremely negative, compared to say, The Sopranos or the development of characters like Peggy in Mad Men (written by one of the writers of The Sopranos incidentally). Breaking Bad was a very good series, a bit hit and miss and unrealistic at times, but overall, good viewing. To says it's the best though is just wrong. The Sopranos was in a different league in every way.
Lol you can't say it's wrong as it's down to opinions. Why some people get so involved in trying to prove that their favourite film, album, tv series is the best is beyond me. (this is a general point and not aimed at you TRR)
but its a fact, the difference in depth of character between carmela soprano and skyler white is so vast. When do we ever feel any warmth for skyler? She's walter's wife but there is nothing through 5 seasons that indicate why anyone would want to be with her.
I'm not trying to prove my particular favourite is better than breaking bad, i'm trying to prove breaking bad is a averagely written but extremely well acted piece of tv entertainment. It's by far not the best ever made as so many people say.
Why do we need to feel warmth for her? She is not Carmela and it didn't hinder my viewing. It IS by far the best ever made in all those people's opinions, however much you disagree.
For what it's worth I think the representation of women in Breaking Bad is extremely negative, compared to say, The Sopranos or the development of characters like Peggy in Mad Men (written by one of the writers of The Sopranos incidentally). Breaking Bad was a very good series, a bit hit and miss and unrealistic at times, but overall, good viewing. To says it's the best though is just wrong. The Sopranos was in a different league in every way.
Lol you can't say it's wrong as it's down to opinions. Why some people get so involved in trying to prove that their favourite film, album, tv series is the best is beyond me. (this is a general point and not aimed at you TRR)
but its a fact, the difference in depth of character between carmela soprano and skyler white is so vast. When do we ever feel any warmth for skyler? She's walter's wife but there is nothing through 5 seasons that indicate why anyone would want to be with her.
I'm not trying to prove my particular favourite is better than breaking bad, i'm trying to prove breaking bad is a averagely written but extremely well acted piece of tv entertainment. It's by far not the best ever made as so many people say.
Why do we need to feel warmth for her? She is not Carmela and it didn't hinder my viewing. It IS by far the best ever made in all those people's opinions, however much you disagree.
and i've given legitimate criticisms for it, which no one has responded to except "yeah... well, screw you man".
Because otherwise she's such a one dimensional character and incredibly boring. Skyler white does something that makes us angry shock, ahhh skyler acting like a bitch again, whats new?
Oh yeah, and gus fring's death was beyond cringeworthy. It turned 2 fantastic episodes into some shitty terminator esque ending. Because bodies that are half blown away walk off and adjust their tie before collapsing... sure. It completely took me out of the moment which was gripping.
Comments
The pilot is a pretty great example of how far fetched it felt. It was like "oh hi there, former student of mine, why yes i would like to cook some meth, but i also have cancer". At least with shows like the sopranos the characters were real people, they had their flaws but they all had great points to them, like every person in real life. Then there was the car crash that was the end of season 2, jesus christ. Planes crashing into each other over walter's house and two bodies landing in the pool. That's really fucking realistic, because that shit happens every day. I almost stopped watching at that point but pressed on. There was an epic moment at the end of season 4 which is really "whoa shit man". In fact the last bit of season 4 was the best part of the show by far.
I'm not really someone that can easily get into a TV series. 1 ep in of sons of anarchy and I was not coming back, it bored me, even after relentless recommendations from mates.
However breaking bad had me gripped from start to end. It was epic.
It's just a great story.
Fantastic acting from Bryan Cranston and Aaron paul. Really getting into grips with difficult characters to identify with and play their part. Brilliant.
The bodies didn't land in his pool anyway it was debris with that weird pink teddy bear after the fallout from the Jessie and his girlfriend story
Boardwalk is also similarly reliant on Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt from your list but that isn't a flaw of the show, because they are in it.
Me and her watched the lot over a couple of months last year and they are addictive. Some crap episodes aside I thought it was brilliant.
The choice of shit on TV is very good nowadays, it makes me feel a bit shallow saying it to be honest but tv shows when done well are miles better than films. Watching Walter turn as he did couldn't be done in cinema. Same as programmes like the walking dead. Game of thrones I really think you need to read the books to properly get, but bloody brilliant tv if you haven't
there were two body bags being zipped up over the course of season 2 which led you to believe 2 people would die.
Michael pitt is only in 2 seasons of boardwalk and even then he was a bit naff, one of the worst characters in the show tbh. Richard Harrow was fair more interesting and a far better character.
Breaking Bad is a very different type of show to those, and especially The Wire, which is out on its own in terms of style and substance. All of them are great shows. Breaking Bad is a page turner, as it were. A little bombastic sure, and potentially flawed in the female character department (I'd argue that Skyler is one of the all time great female roles, but that's a whole other post). But crucially it didn't delve into dreamscapes like the aforementioned trio. Stylistically, it was very different (although not short on symbolism, as has been well documented). Breaking Bad had you clamouring for the next episode, and I find most criticism of it is flawed, and largely based on a refusal to conform to popular opinion. I don't care how many people liked the show - I frikkin loved it.
As for the fly episode, I heard they spent all their budget and had to get back on track by keeping it really cheap for a week. I wouldn't denigrate the entire show on the basis that one episode was a bit boring.
Christ I have heard it all now.
Main roles for them.
I dont understand why it needed more. Is it playing the sexiest angle or something?
sopranos, mad men, the wire and boardwalk all have complex female characters who have their own unique relationships, hopes dreams and fears. The Wire and Boardwalk squeezed all that into 5 seasons whilst also giving the background on an entire city and it's politics both on the street and in the mayor's office whilst the other does it whilst spanning years of history. So to say there wasn't enough time in 5 seasons to do all that is lazy.
The thing with breaking bad is that it's not a subtle series at all, and maybe thats where my problem with it really lies.
Again, i'm not saying it's a "bad show". It's just overrated. Entertaining but overrated. I said to a friend recently that it's like some one whos never had steak before and has one at a wetherspoons and declares it "the best thing i've ever eaten."
What you are saying is incorrect and not particularly a big issue even if true.
Its how the story flows. Why accommodate things that are not necessarily important to the actual story?
Lydia was a female villian that seemed independent and had character depth. She was a right sneaky bitch.. with fire in her belly, and also quite hot in certain scenes.
Because character is the story. Read "Story: substance, structure, style and the principles of screenwriting" by Robert Mckee, every screenplay should be character driven, since it's the characters themselves making the decisions to go or do something rather than a mysterious god like person who puts them into situations. Again, the wire and other shows had females in roles whilst covering the story of an entire city.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/13/breaking-bad-no-real-women
indicates my views perfectly.
The TV show is based around 2 meth cooks/dealers... Not about housewives.
Probably the strangest criticism I have ever heard of a show, sign of the times we live in I suppose.
I'm off to watch back to back Loose Women and Desperate Housewives now, with a quick privilege check in the ad break!
Its the Inbetweeners FFS.
Here's a good question, where are the complex female characters in American Psycho?
Why some people get so involved in trying to prove that their favourite film, album, tv series is the best is beyond me. (this is a general point and not aimed at you TRR)
I'm not trying to prove my particular favourite is better than breaking bad, i'm trying to prove breaking bad is a averagely written but extremely well acted piece of tv entertainment. It's by far not the best ever made as so many people say.
Because otherwise she's such a one dimensional character and incredibly boring. Skyler white does something that makes us angry shock, ahhh skyler acting like a bitch again, whats new?
Oh yeah, and gus fring's death was beyond cringeworthy. It turned 2 fantastic episodes into some shitty terminator esque ending. Because bodies that are half blown away walk off and adjust their tie before collapsing... sure. It completely took me out of the moment which was gripping.