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Post by Paid Debt Lannister on Jul 9, 2015 11:03:11 GMT
I know it's old, but I have been watching this for the past few weeks and have no one to talk about. Has anyone watched it / plans to?
I finished season 4. I must say I was to hyped after season 3, that didn't quite like season 4 as much as I liked the other three. Still, an awesome show, I am just absolutely thrilled by it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 11:42:27 GMT
Great show. Cranston gave a performance for the ages. That said, I feel it's slightly overrated tbh. I don't think it's as good as some of the HBO classics (Sopranos, Wire, etc). It's right there with The Shield and Justified for my favorite non-HBO drama though.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 11:59:16 GMT
I believe this show has some weak points that most people usually just ignore. For example I think that the show could have done a better job with the characterization of characters who are not Walt or Jesse, especially in earlier seasons. They did a much better job in the last season: Skyler, Hank and Marie were all more interesting to me in S5 than ever before. On the downside, Jesse was waaaaay too underused in the final season. Having said that, Breaking Bad is definitely in my top 10, if not top 5 of the best tv shows ever. I don't know why I haven't been motivated to watch Better Call Saul yet. |
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Post by Basil on Jul 9, 2015 12:26:50 GMT
Breaking Bad is definitely one of my favourite shows. I've re-watched it at least four times in the last two years and honestly, just thinking about it right now makes me wanna watch it again.  The only problem I see with the show is Skyler White - nah, just kidding, I don't hate Skyler, at least not as much as everybody else seems to.  I honestly don't know if the show has problems, in my opinion it is very close to perfection. The writing is incredible throughout the whole show - and pretty much all the actors gave brilliant performances. I only wish they had used Hank a little bit more in the earlier seasons, since he and Jesse are my two favourite characters in the show. I haven't watched Better Call Saul yet, and I don't know if I ever will. Saul in Breaking Bad was fun, but I don't quite get why he, of all characters, deserves to have his own Spin-Off show. Nothing about Better Caul Saul intrigues me, tbh. |
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Post by Paid Debt Lannister on Jul 9, 2015 12:31:12 GMT
Yes, there are a few flaws... I have never watched to Sopranos nor The Wire, but every single show I have ever watched has plenty flaws. BB Season 4 specially had many, many of them IMO. Gus could have "won" the game in many different opportunities. In fact, the only, only way he could lose, is the one route the show took: instead of taking care of Walter or Hank first, he chose to off Tio Salamanca, who agreed to kill himself to off Gus for Walt. It felt kind of forced for Gus to die, while he was set up as a very smart guy, who I don't think would fall for that. Despite all I've said, and other plot points that I'm not sure I liked, I believe Breaking Bad is on my top 3. Definitely top 5 series ever. And I haven't even watched season 5 (which everyone says is the best one). Seasons one, two and three work the character of Walter very well, and it is fun to see how these guys, who used to be no ones, have to deal with the crazy situations they get themselves into. I agree Skylar and Walter Jr. deserve more characterization for sure, but I think their role is meant to be peripheral to Walt and Jesse's. In the end, the series does just fine with what it wanted to, I guess. |
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Post by Paid Debt Lannister on Jul 9, 2015 12:35:12 GMT
Breaking Bad is definitely one of my favourite shows. I've re-watched it at least four times in the last two years and honestly, just thinking about it right now makes me wanna watch it again. The only problem I see with the show is Skyler White - nah, just kidding, I don't hate Skyler, at least not as much as everybody else seems to. I honestly don't know if the show has problems, in my opinion it is very close to perfection. The writing is incredible throughout the whole show - and pretty much all the actors gave brilliant performances. I only wish they had used Hank a little bit more in the earlier seasons, since he and Jesse are my two favourite characters in the show. I haven't watched Better Call Saul yet, and I don't know if I ever will. Saul in Breaking Bad was fun, but I don't quite get why he, of all characters, deserves to have his own Spin-Off show. Nothing about Better Caul Saul intrigues me, tbh. Yes, regarding the actors, I have never seen anything like Breaking Bad. Some scenes Jesse crying for Jane's death on the season 2 finale, the first time Gus' face expression changes from nice guy to evil criminal, and Tio's crazy face just before killing Gus... I swear these moments stroke me so strongly. Awesome, awesome actors. And let's not even start talking about the guy who plays Walter. Simply incredible acting. Even though I have a few problems with the writing (which by no means is bad, it is one of the best shows I have ever seen), the actors alone already make watching BB a priceless experience. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 13:47:11 GMT
Great show. Cranston gave a performance for the ages. That said, I feel it's slightly overrated tbh. I don't think it's as good as some of the HBO classics (Sopranos, Wire, etc). It's right there with The Shield and Justified for my favorite non-HBO drama though. I'm watching The Shield right now and I'm freaking loving it. Just started Season 4. I also loved Justified and it's awesome to see Goggins in The Shield. Didn't know he was in it. Is The Shield overall better than Justified? So far I'd say yes. As for Breaking Bad, it's in my top 10, but I couldn't put it in my top 5. I really did love it and need to do a rewatch, but I'd put The Sopranos, The Wire, and Rome definitely above it. As well as The Shield. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 16:53:25 GMT
I think Breaking Bad is the best TV show that ever aired in terms of plot, and I think that's largely because it was a fully formed idea that ran for the planned amount of time (instead of being written on the fly and/or getting dragged out for years after it should have been over.)
My biggest critique of it is its portrayal of women. It sets up the audience to hate them, even though they are not the ones doing villainous things in the show, and most viewers are happy to oblige.
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Post by MarcusAntonius on Jul 9, 2015 17:53:13 GMT
I liked it much more when I re watched it last year. It feels like a modern western at times which I dig. Cranstons performance is special.
The ending is a little weak imo, I prefer the penultimate episode to the finale
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Post by Basil on Jul 9, 2015 18:12:00 GMT
My biggest critique of it is its portrayal of women. It sets up the audience to hate them, even though they are not the ones doing villainous things in the show, and most viewers are happy to oblige. Marie is awesome, I love Marie. But I can't bring myself to like Skyler, although I do sympathize with her a lot. The writers have given her a lot of character traits, that I hate in people in real life. Skyler is passive-aggressive all the time, she's also self-righteous and not very capable, but she pretends as though she knows everything better than everybody else. Anna Gunn was brilliant, but I'm just no fan of the character. I don't know what's going on with AMC shows and their female leads. Lori Grimes was pretty much the same character as Skyler. Constantly complaining, achieving nothing on her own, but instead, making the situation more difficult than it had to be. And what the heck was that about in the last episode of Season 2? She pretty much told Rick to do what had to be done, but then she was pissed at him for going through with it? That's just bad writing, in my opinion - and there were similar problems in regards to Skyler. (Although overall, I'd say Skyler was still much better written than Lori). |
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Post by Basil on Jul 9, 2015 19:03:52 GMT
Skyler is such a fucking bitch. A humorlessness nag, cheating whore and a monster who punishes her unborn child. Well, my opinion on Skyler is not as extreme as yours, sati. As I said, I don't really hate her, I just don't like her very much. I do, however, feel sympathy towards her and I certainly don't blame her for not being able to deal with this extremely difficult situation. That being said, I hate it, when the "misogyny"-card is played (that's the reason why I can't stand freaking Anita Sarkeesian, but that's a whole different topic). If a (female) character is written to behave like a bitch, and is then perceived as a bitch by the general audience, there is nothing misogynistic about it. The issue with Skyler is not the actress, nor the fact that she's a woman, it's just that she comes across as a very unpleasent human being most of the time, even before Walt's whole mess escalated. And that's an issue with the writing, if they wanted people to like Skyler, they should have written her in a way that is, well ... likeable. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 19:06:27 GMT
Marie is awesome, I love Marie. But I can't bring myself to like Skyler, although I do sympathize with her a lot. The writers have given her a lot of character traits, that I hate in people in real life. Skyler is passive-aggressive all the time, she's also self-righteous and not very capable, but she pretends as though she knows everything better than everybody else. Anna Gunn was brilliant, but I'm just no fan of the character. I don't know what's going on with AMC shows and their female leads. Lori Grimes was pretty much the same character as Skyler. Constantly complaining, achieving nothing on her own, but instead, making the situation more difficult than it had to be. And what the heck was that about in the last episode of Season 2? She pretty much told Rick to do what had to be done, but then she was pissed at him for going through with it? That's just bad writing, in my opinion - and there were similar problems in regards to Skyler. (Although overall, I'd say Skyler was still much better written than Lori).
While Gunn's performance was good her NYC letter was so pathetic I even wrote an open letter to her cinematiccorner.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-open-letter-to-anna-gunn.htmlWell, you don't have to like her (and she is not my favourite character either), but I'm a bit astonished by your choice of words. Skyler was clearly overwhelmed by everything that was happening to her and actually feared for her own life. She was terrified of her own husband. That kind of psychological pressure can lead to some irrational and extreme behaviour. Don't get me wrong, I don't excuse the bad things she did, but I'm well aware of the fact that existential fear can take a toll on one's psyche and make people do things they would never do under normal circumstances. The show was actually showing an ordinary woman in a very extreme and extraordinary situation. It's not unheard of that good people do some nasty stuff when forced into such a predicament. By the way, the accusations about some fans being misogynistic only came up, because some people were condemning and hating on Skyler and at the same time celebrating every despicable thing Walt was doing. Excuse me, but if this is not a double standard then I don't know what is.  |
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Post by Admin on Jul 9, 2015 19:11:38 GMT
Well, my opinion on Skyler is not as extreme as yours, sati. As I said, I don't really hate her, I just don't like her very much. I do, however, feel sympathy towards her and I certainly don't blame her for not being able to deal with this extremely difficult situation. That being said, I hate it, when the "misogyny"-card is played (that's the reason why I can't stand freaking Anita Sarkeesian, but that's a whole different topic). If a (female) character is written to behave like a bitch, and is then perceived as a bitch by the general audience, there is nothing misogynistic about it. The issue with Skyler is not the actress, nor the fact that she's a woman, it's just that she comes across as a very unpleasent human being most of the time, even before Walt's whole mess escalated. And that's an issue with the writing, if they wanted people to like Skyler, they should have written her in a way that is, well ... likeable. Well, you don't have to like her (and she is not my favourite character either), but I'm a bit astonished by your choice of words. Skyler was clearly overwhelmed by everything that was happening to her and actually feared for her own life. She was terrified of her own husband. That kind of psychological pressure can lead to some irrational and extreme behaviour. Don't get me wrong, I don't excuse the bad things she did, but I'm well aware of the fact that existential fear can take a toll on one's psyche and make people do things they would never do under normal circumstances. The show was actually showing an ordinary woman in a very extrem and extraordinary situation. It's not unheard of that good people do some nasty stuff when forced into such a predicament. By the way, the accusations about some fans being misogynistic only came up, because some people were condemning and hating on Skyler and at the same time celebrating every despicable thing Walt was doing. Excuse me, but if this is not a double standard than I don't know what is. I don't care about the pressure on her, that baby was defenseless. And she was a nag from the pilot episode. Yeah I'm gonna focus on a grown ass women going 'poor me' in big magazine and trivializing what misogyny is instead of on Walt fanboys here. |
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Post by MarcusAntonius on Jul 9, 2015 19:58:53 GMT
Yeah Skylar is the worst, don't really find Marie all that great either. So yeah I agree that BB shit the bed when it came to female characters. Lydia was probably the best and she wasn't special .
Anna Gunn is a great actress though, Mrs Bullock on Deadwood is a much more likable character than Skylar and she played that really well. Deadwood in general has some of the best female chatacters on TV.
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Post by Basil on Jul 9, 2015 20:06:14 GMT
Oh Lydia, I completely forgot about Lydia. Honestly, I hated her more than I could ever hate Skyler, just because she was a horrible, horrible human being with no redeeming qualities.  But she was at least kinda amusing, I suppose. I loved Marie though. I found her to be genuinely funny and adorable. I really enjoyed the relationship between her and Hank and the way they played off each other. "Jesus Christ, Marie. They're minerals!" |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 22:28:58 GMT
Lydia oh Lydia, oh have you met Lydia?
I DO think people hated Skyler extra because she's a woman, but I also think she was written in a lazy way that put her in the cross-hairs. As for her being a whore...Walt got exactly what he deserved there. I would do the same thing, THE EXACT SAME THING, if my husband ever pulled some bullshit where he tried to hold all the power over my head and left me with no options. And he knows it.
I hope we're not spoiling you on the show, PDL!
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Post by Paid Debt Lannister on Jul 10, 2015 3:28:06 GMT
Lydia oh Lydia, oh have you met Lydia? I DO think people hated Skyler extra because she's a woman, but I also think she was written in a lazy way that put her in the cross-hairs. As for her being a whore...Walt got exactly what he deserved there. I would do the same thing, THE EXACT SAME THING, if my husband ever pulled some bullshit where he tried to hold all the power over my head and left me with no options. And he knows it. I hope we're not spoiling you on the show, PDL! Don't worry Witchy! I can sense spoilers and stop reading when I think one post can have one. You don't have to tag, or not say spoilers because of me. But thanks for the concern! |
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Post by Paid Debt Lannister on Jul 10, 2015 3:28:49 GMT
Btw I think Jesse Pinkman is just very attractive. I mean very.
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Post by Basil on Jul 10, 2015 8:03:30 GMT
He certainly is, but I'm not sexually attracted to him, at all. (Okay, maybe a tiny bit in the earlier seasons ... xD) Aaron Paul is such an incredible actor and he's particularly good at crying. When Jesse is crying, I cry too. Poor guy, he just needs a hug.   |
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Post by Paid Debt Lannister on Jul 10, 2015 8:11:37 GMT
He certainly is, but I'm not sexually attracted to him, at all. (Okay, maybe a tiny bit in the earlier seasons ... xD) Aaron Paul is such an incredible actor and he's particularly good at crying. When Jesse is crying, I cry too. Poor guy, he just needs a hug. YEAAHHH you are right!!! When he cries my heart absolutely breaks. I had no idea Aaron Paul was such a talented actor. It makes me wanna get inside the show and help Jesse make better choices of his life (the guy is a millionaire, get your life right for fucks sake) Still, I am sexually attracted to him, at least up to season 4. I have just started season 5, and episode 1 already broke my heart (when Walt tricks Jesse into believing he did not poison Brock, and Jesse cries for "misjudging" Walt. If Jesse cried every episode, the show would be good already just for that) |
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I honestly don't know if the show has problems, in my opinion it is very close to perfection. The writing is incredible throughout the whole show - and pretty much all the actors gave brilliant performances. I only wish they had used Hank a little bit more in the earlier seasons, since he and Jesse are my two favourite characters in the show. 
But she was at least kinda amusing, I suppose. 