Just "binge watched" Breaking Bad last week

[cajuncocoa]

That was one of the funniest scenes right there....LOL

[Bern]

...
Ah, glorious self destruction.
...

[sparebulb]

First thing I thought:

"Damn, that's a big ass pizza. Must be 20-22 inches"

Danke could learn something by watching that perfect pizza landing.

I wonder how many takes that took.

[erowe1]

I had mixed feelings about it. I really didn't like Walter. But the way it all ended gave me a sense of resolution. All in all, it was a remarkable show.

[CPUd]

If you like Bryan Cranston, check out the movie Trumbo, he does a great job in that one, too.

[Anti Federalist]

After many years now, in retrospect, I'm not that impressed anymore.

There was nobody to "root" for...not even an anti hero.

Everybody was an $#@!.

Sopranos maintains it's number one spot as best TV I've ever watched.

Chernobyl is now number two.

[GlennwaldSnowdenAssanged]

After many years now, in retrospect, I'm not that impressed anymore.

There was nobody to "root" for...not even an anti hero.

Everybody was an $#@!.



Sopranos maintains it's number one spot as best TV I've ever watched.

Chernobyl is now number two.

I watched it based on your recommendation. Great Series.
I liked Dexter, Son's of Anarchy, Peaky Blinders, Taboo, Deadwood along with Soprano's also.

The older I get the harder it is to find something that I really like. Too many series glorify the trampling of civil rights by the police and justice system.

[jmdrake]

After many years now, in retrospect, I'm not that impressed anymore.

There was nobody to "root" for...not even an anti hero.

Everybody was an $#@!.

Sopranos maintains it's number one spot as best TV I've ever watched.

Chernobyl is now number two.

Someone (I forget who) posted this clip that caused me to binge watch "The Expanse."



Space miner trying to eek out a living. Get harassed my Mars space police trying to steal their cut. And so he "gives" it to them.

[Occam's Banana]

I like Better Call Saul more than Breaking Bad.

Same here.

After many years now, in retrospect, I'm not that impressed anymore.

There was nobody to "root" for...not even an anti hero.

Everybody was an $#@!.

Sopranos maintains it's number one spot as best TV I've ever watched.

Chernobyl is now number two.

Re: "no one to root for" - you could say the same thing about The Sopranos, too.

And actually, I was kind of rooting for Gus Fring. Mike was right - they had a good thing going, and Walter went and $#@!ed it all up ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLUG7jSUR08


But I don't think you were really supposed to be rooting for anyone (except Walter at first, and then Jesse later on - and maybe Hank).

I suspect that was kind of the point.

Someone (I forget who) posted this clip that caused me to binge watch "The Expanse."

That was me.

Chernobyl = best miniseries ever

The Expanse = best science fiction[1] series ever [2]

Better Call Saul = best series ever



[1] And by "science fiction" I mean actual "science fiction" - not "sci-fi" (whatever the hell that is).

[2] And Jared Harris is in both Chernobyl (Valery Legasov) and The Expanse (Anderson Dawes).

[GlennwaldSnowdenAssanged]

Same here.



Re: "no one to root for" - you could say the same thing about The Sopranos, too.

And actually, I was kind of rooting for Gus Fring. Mike was right - they had a good thing going, and Walter went and $#@!ed it all up ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLUG7jSUR08


But I don't think you were really supposed to be rooting for anyone (except Walter at first, and Jesse later on - and maybe Hank).

I suspect that was kind of the point.



That was me.

Chernobyl = best miniseries ever

The Expanse = best science fiction[1] series ever [2]

Better Call Saul = best series ever



[1] And by "science fiction" I mean actual "science fiction" - not "sci-fi" (whatever the hell that is).

[2] And Jared Harris is in both Chernobyl (Valery Legasov) and The Expanse (Anderson Dawes).

Everyone that is supposed to be good in a good series, always compromises their lofty morals.

[GlennwaldSnowdenAssanged]

I thought Empire Boardwalk was worth watching too.

[GlennwaldSnowdenAssanged]

I'm not sure you get the same effect binge watching a show for the first time as you do watching a show develop over a long period, with anticipation each week.

I agree with you. When a series is watched episode after episode binging, the retention is less. When watching something once a week, the episode you just watched sinks in for a week. Another thing for me is that I have seen so many movies and shows that it is hard to remember the stuff I watch. Some of that is because there are so many cop shows and movies that most don't stand out as memorable. Something has to be real good for me to remember all the details these days.

[Brian4Liberty]

...
Re: "no one to root for" - you could say the same thing about The Sopranos, too.
...

There have been movies in the past where everyone was a “bad” guy, especially mob shows.

But I have noticed the trend, possibly related to “dystopia porn”, where shows in the past 15 years or so, like to switch the good guy and bad guys. Someone will be good for a season or two, and then become evil. Or vice versa.

Also note the tendency to kill off the “good” characters.

Almost seems like an implementation of Alinsky style propaganda.

[RJB]

Same here.



Re: "no one to root for" - you could say the same thing about The Sopranos, too.

And actually, I was kind of rooting for Gus Fring. Mike was right - they had a good thing going, and Walter went and $#@!ed it all up ...

I rooted for Mike. I liked his straight forward tough guy personality. His loyalty was first to his granddaughter and then to his code. He would follow his code even when it went against his best interest or even his conscience. Also when I really wanted to see someone get a beat down, Mike would give it.

I will say that the guy who played Hank did the best job of just about anybody playing a cop. Even when joking around he was hyper alpha male. Most Hollywood cops strike me as sissies under the costume and porno 1970s mustache. I could see Hank shooting a dog***.

The Sopranos writing was so good that I found myself switching who I was rooting for very regularly. Paulie would crack me up one day or show a very human side then suddenly do something seemingly unforgivable. Syl and Tony were the same way.

***ETA The dog would be a pitbull or a rotweiler. I can't see him shooting a beagle like some lesser cops would.

[Occam's Banana]

I rooted for Mike. I liked his straight forward tough guy personality. His loyalty was first to his granddaughter and then to his code. He would follow his code even when it went against his best interest or even his conscience. Also when I really wanted to see someone get a beat down, Mike would give it.

I will say that the guy who played Hank did the best job of just about anybody playing a cop. Even when joking around he was hyper alpha male. Most Hollywood cops strike me as sissies under the costume and porno 1970s mustache. I could see Hank shooting a dog***.

The Sopranos writing was so good that I found myself switching who I was rooting for very regularly. Paulie would crack me up one day or show a very human side then suddenly do something seemingly unforgivable. Syl and Tony were the same way.

***ETA The dog would be a pitbull or a rotweiler. I can't see him shooting a beagle like some lesser cops would.

Mike Ehrmantraut was a great character. Anyone who wants more Mike should definitely watch Better Call Saul.

Hell, they're all great characters. Walter, Mike, Saul, Fring, etc. etc. Even Hank. After Walter went full-evil mode, I was rooting for Hank to bring him down. That's why Breaking Bad was such a great show. (And as I remarked earlier, I think Better Call Saul is even better - but it couldn't have been as good as it is if Breaking Bad hadn't come before it).

And you're right: Hank is not a pussy - he would never shoot a pregnant chihuahua.

[Occam's Banana]

There have been movies in the past where everyone was a “bad” guy, especially mob shows.

But I have noticed the trend, possibly related to “dystopia porn”, where shows in the past 15 years or so, like to switch the good guy and bad guys. Someone will be good for a season or two, and then become evil. Or vice versa.

Also note the tendency to kill off the “good” characters.

Almost seems like an implementation of Alinsky style propaganda.

I think there's a place for those kinds of stories - at least, there is when they make you question why you are "rooting" for the presumptive protagonists. The Sopranos and Breaking Bad are excellent examples of this, and they do it extraordinarily well. As for their notably inferior mimics and copycats, I suspect they are more a product of moral and creative bankruptcy (Hollywood is famous for its surfeit of both) than of the systematic implementation of some agenda (though there may be a bit of that as well), Not that it makes much difference either way in the end - though it does prompt interesting considerations such as "is it a cause?" vs. "is it an effect?", feedback loops, etc.

[Carlybee]

I love that show and also Better Call Saul.

[GlennwaldSnowdenAssanged]

I would trust the mob more than those in charge. At least the mob operates by some code.

[asurfaholic]

I love that show and also Better Call Saul.

Same, I think I have to say I ended up liking better call Saul better, but both were great

[Krugminator2]

Breaking Bad never gets old. Same category with Ozark, Better Call Saul and Sopranos.

Of non-dark shows, I think Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld and South Park are the best.

The former mob guy interview shows on Youtube are pretty good. Sammy the Bull and Michael Franzese have good channels.

[RJB]

Two other shows that had similar dark undertones that I binged. Boardwalk Empire and Dexter. I would ranked them as very good, but not as great as Sopranos and Breaking Bad.

[Anti Federalist]

Re: "no one to root for" - you could say the same thing about The Sopranos, too.

Nah, Tony Soprano was certainly, for me anyway, a sympathetic anti-hero with I could readily identify with and root for, and hope that, in spite of everything, it would all work out for him in the end.

[Occam's Banana]

Nah, Tony Soprano was certainly, for me anyway, a sympathetic anti-hero with I could readily identify with and root for, and hope that, in spite of everything, it would all work out for him in the end.

Ultimately, it's a subjective thing - de gustibus non est disputandum. My view of Tony is that he had a seed of good in him that was giving him trouble (and made him sympathetic), but he eventually succumbed (by both choice and circumstance) to the evil side of himself. If he is an anti-hero, then he is a tragically failed one.

There was a really good analysis of Tony by The Vile Eye, who does an "analyzing evil" series on notorious fictional characters. But unfortunately, I can't find it now. It might have been copyright-claimed or something (or maybe I am misremembering and it was by someone else).

Anyway, here's The Vile Eye's breakdown of Walter White, for anyone who's interested:

Analyzing Evil: Walter White From Breaking Bad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIjfojS354s

[GlennwaldSnowdenAssanged]

Goliath is another good one.

[shakey1]

Never did get a chance to watch… heard it was pretty good.

[sparebulb]

One of my favorite scenes was when Walter pathetically hits in the school secretary.

Or when he tries to throw a gigantic potted plant through the window of the guy who was screwing his wife. It was reinforced glass and just bounced off.

What a great series.

[GlennwaldSnowdenAssanged]

Breaking Bad has some very funny scenes.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

I don't have no pay tv, but I usually get the gist of these by watching the jootube and summaries. I did that last week and see the show is very well acted. Reminds me of the Sopranos, which might have the best percentage of quality actors of any show.

I also see the similarities between Breaking Bad and Sopranos. The great part is how they take these dark themes and add that style of humor.

It's just fun to watch these shows.