Breaking Bad

[Rhode Irish]

Arrested Development is on the short list of comedies for sure.

 

[tussin]

Favorites I've watched in no order. Never had HBO so I've missed out on a bunch of classics

Comedies
1. Arrested Development
2. The Office
3. Seinfeld
4. 30 Rock
5. Curb Your Enthusiasm
6. Parks and Rec (definitely behind the first 5)

Dramas
1. Mad Men
2. BB
3. Friday Night Lights

 

[Andy in Sactown]

Favorites I've watched in no order. Never had HBO so I've missed out on a bunch of classics

Comedies
1. Arrested Development
2. The Office
3. Seinfeld
4. 30 Rock
5. Curb Your Enthusiasm
6. Parks and Rec (definitely behind the first 5)

Dramas
1. Mad Men
2. BB
3. Friday Night Lights

YES and YES! Although the latter is a bit bias as we're all football fans. I've probably seen every episode of The Office at least 15 times. Classics like that just stay funny.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I'm giving Dr. Who a chance after lots of friends recommending it. I'm going to give this a real chance but holy shit is it British


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rhode Irish]

YES and YES! Although the latter is a bit bias as we're all football fans. I've probably seen every episode of The Office at least 15 times. Classics like that just stay funny.

IDK, my wife isn't the biggest football fan and she likes FNL as much as I do. We actually just restarted again last week.

 

[ozzman]

I agree with almost all of this, except that on rewatch The Wire actally dropped from #1 to #2 or maybe #3. At its peaks it is just incredible, but season 5 with the whole serial killer thing was bad on the second viewing. And season 2 was actually better than I remembered but as part of the series it seems like an oddity since it was the only season that was really separate, plot-wise. Fwiw, I also love Mad Men and it is probably #4 for me. Comedies as a genre need to be considered separately, IMO, but Seinfeld is unquestionably the king and it's cousin Curb is second. Then everything else.

Well thanks for ruining the plot of season 5 for me!! kidding.

I'm two episodes into season 3 now, and it's much better than season 2 already.

Another show that dropped for me on a rewatch was the shield. It was awesome when it was new and fresh, but with the quality of tv right now, it just didn't age well. Plus, I think I am starting to hate Sutters style. Sons was great for the first season or two, but it's been a slow decay ever since. I still watch, but I'm so ready for it to be over.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Well thanks for ruining the plot of season 5 for me!! kidding.

I'm two episodes into season 3 now, and it's much better than season 2 already.

Another show that dropped for me on a rewatch was the shield. It was awesome when it was new and fresh, but with the quality of tv right now, it just didn't age well. Plus, I think I am starting to hate Sutters style. Sons was great for the first season or two, but it's been a slow decay ever since. I still watch, but I'm so ready for it to be over.

Dude, wait until you get to season 4. The best season of television ever made IMO. And there is a lot more going on in 5 than that so don't sweat it.

 

[ozzman]

oh, i'm not sweating it, just giving a hard time. I can't get mad even if there are spoilers on a ten year old show. Looking forward to the rest of it.

 

[tussin]

IDK, my wife isn't the biggest football fan and she likes FNL as much as I do. We actually just restarted again last week.

...how can you not love Tim Riggins?

 

[Rhode Irish]

Well thanks for ruining the plot of season 5 for me!! kidding.

I'm two episodes into season 3 now, and it's much better than season 2 already.

Another show that dropped for me on a rewatch was the shield. It was awesome when it was new and fresh, but with the quality of tv right now, it just didn't age well. Plus, I think I am starting to hate Sutters style. Sons was great for the first season or two, but it's been a slow decay ever since. I still watch, but I'm so ready for it to be over.

Honestly, I didn't give much away. I rewrote my post to remove spoilers and I don't think I spolied S5 for you. The series overall is incredible and I'm actually a little jealous of people who get to watch it for the first time. Enjoy!

 

[Circa]

Anyone notice the spin off, Better Call Saul? Looks great!! Mike coming back from the dead should be interesting!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j7t62r0L1bQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[ndfi78]

Anyone notice the spin off, Better Call Saul? Looks great!! Mike coming back from the dead should be interesting!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j7t62r0L1bQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It's a prequel, Mike isn't coming back from the dead

 

[Circa]

It's a prequel, Mike isn't coming back from the dead

I did know that.. It just sounded better.. thanks

 

[Irishnuke]

Anyone notice the spin off, Better Call Saul? Looks great!! Mike coming back from the dead should be interesting!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j7t62r0L1bQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Breaking Dead

 

[Andy in Sactown]

The Breaking Dead

I'd actually love it if The Walking Dead had easter eggs from other shows in the form of zombies. Have characters be zombie versions of themselves. Mike would be a good one; Saul too.

 

[phork]

I believe Better Call Saul happens before, during and after the events of Breaking Bad.

 

[GATTACA!]

I believe Better Call Saul happens before, during and after the events of Breaking Bad.

Yeah its gonna be interesting to see them put a humorous spin on some of the darker stuff that happened during BB.

 

[Circa]

DUI? Dealing Drugs? Better Call Saul!

 

[Irish YJ]

I'll be happy if BCS is half as good as BB

 

[Rhode Irish]

So pumped.

 

[GBdomer]

So fucking jacked

 

[wizards8507]

So I'm watching the season four finale on Netflix right now and OH SHIT THEY BLEW GUS' FACE OFF!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Can't wait!

 

[Henges24]

What an awesome episode! This show is going to be fantastic.

 

[GBdomer]

Awesome Episode! So jacked

 

[IrishLion]

BB was a fantastic show brought down by what I considered to be an insufferable lead. There was nothing redeeming about Walter White whatsoever, and whenever he (or Skylar) were on the screen, I tuned out and started playing games on my phone. Saul and Pinkman are what made that show for me, and I couldn't be happier that we get to see Jimmy McGill mucking around without Walt sucking the funny (or suspense or intrigue) out of the room.

I agree with the bolded; Pinkman was my favorite character by far, from the very start. The show started with subtle comic relief revolving around his language and his mishaps, but it used these little quirks to make you feel for him in a way that you didn't really expect, especially when Walter begins to transform. You realize that WW is turning into a monster/trainwreck/asshole, while Jesse actually begins making efforts to better himself.

Walt breaks bad, while Jesse takes the opposite course. I don't agree that Walt was insufferable for this, though. It was an interesting dynamic to see him break bad, with no redeeming qualities left (mostly), while Jesse worked so hard to make things right (whether it was getting better as WW's assistant, or getting better as a human being later on).

Now Skylar? My first watch-through, I hated her, and she frustrated me, and I zoned out mostly if she had a big part on screen. But I'm currently watching the show for the second time, and I'm starting to see how Skylar's insufferable character was built, and the subtleties that I didn't necessarily pick up on the first time.

The first time I watched the show, I couldn't understand how she could so quickly build a wall around herself while Walt was going through the beginnings of his ordeal, and act so distant/bitchy/uppity. But now I'm realizing that her character, which is so easy to hate, is a realistic reflection of the effects that Walter, Marie, and even Hank and Walt Jr have on her.

I'm sympathizing a bit more with her now (I'm only on season 2 though, so we'll see how I feel about her when shit really hits the fan later on).

 

[wizards8507]

I agree with the bolded; Pinkman was my favorite character by far, from the very start. The show started with subtle comic relief revolving around his language and his mishaps, but it used these little quirks to make you feel for him in a way that you didn't really expect, especially when Walter begins to transform. You realize that WW is turning into a monster/trainwreck/asshole, while Jesse actually begins making efforts to better himself.

Walt breaks bad, while Jesse takes the opposite course. I don't agree that Walt was insufferable for this, though. It was an interesting dynamic to see him break bad, with no redeeming qualities left (mostly), while Jesse worked so hard to make things right (whether it was getting better as WW's assistant, or getting better as a human being later on).

Now Skylar? My first watch-through, I hated her, and she frustrated me, and I zoned out mostly if she had a big part on screen. But I'm currently watching the show for the second time, and I'm starting to see how Skylar's insufferable character was built, and the subtleties that I didn't necessarily pick up on the first time.

The first time I watched the show, I couldn't understand how she could so quickly build a wall around herself while Walt was going through the beginnings of his ordeal, and act so distant/bitchy/uppity. But now I'm realizing that her character, which is so easy to hate, is a realistic reflection of the effects that Walter, Marie, and even Hank and Walt Jr have on her.

I'm sympathizing a bit more with her now (I'm only on season 2 though, so we'll see how I feel about her when shit really hits the fan later on).

Since you mentioned Hank, I also hated how they concluded his season five arc.

[SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS]

I feel like the writers thought they were being clever by having Walt responsible for Hank's death. However, it was painfully obvious from the first few episodes of season one that the series would end with drug kingpin Walt killing (directly or indirectly) DEA agent Schrader and then Walt himself being killed. This robbed both of those moments of all of their supposed emotional impact.

 

[IrishLion]

Since you mentioned Hank, I also hated how they concluded his season five arc.

[SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS]

I feel like the writers thought they were being clever by having Walt responsible for Hank's death. However, it was painfully obvious from the first few episodes of season one that the series would end with drug kingpin Walt killing (directly or indirectly) DEA agent Schrader and then Walt himself being killed. This robbed both of those moments of all of their supposed emotional impact.

MORE SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS



You are correct that it was obvious from the start how things were going to play out. It's like Chekhov's Gun: You don't make one main character a teacher-turned-druglord, and another main character a DEA agent, and then NOT have one/both die after a conflict of some sort due to an obvious clash in their professions, especially IF THEY ARE BROTHERS IN LAW. That was a super-obvious setup.

I actually did feel satisfied with Hank's conclusion, though. Everyone knew that Walt would be responsible, whether that meant he had it done on purpose, or if his actions simply lead to it. But when Walt tries to bargain for Hank, Hank got his moment to shine in his "indestructible" nature when he told Walter that he was an idiot, and that the guy had already made up his mind. Hank got one last moment to be stubborn, and though it was Walt's fault, Hank's final lesson to Walter almost felt like an "I forgive you" moment.

 

[wizards8507]

MORE SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS



You are correct that it was obvious from the start how things were going to play out. It's like Chekhov's Gun: You don't make one main character a teacher-turned-druglord, and another main character a DEA agent, and then NOT have one/both die after a conflict of some sort due to an obvious clash in their professions, especially IF THEY ARE BROTHERS IN LAW. That was a super-obvious setup.

I actually did feel satisfied with Hank's conclusion, though. Everyone knew that Walt would be responsible, whether that meant he had it done on purpose, or if his actions simply lead to it. But when Walt tries to bargain for Hank, Hank got his moment to shine in his "indestructible" nature when he told Walter that he was an idiot, and that the guy had already made up his mind. Hank got one last moment to be stubborn, and though it was Walt's fault, Hank's final lesson to Walter almost felt like an "I forgive you" moment.

Spoilers

Fair points, but agree to disagree. You could have fulfilled Chekhov's gun and had Hank take down Walt. Not everything HAS to be doom and gloom... it's not a Snyder/Nolan Batman film. I think the most fitting end for Walt would have been to get busted with mountains of evidence against him due to something he overlooked. His fall would have been the result of hubris akin to Oedipus. Then, the cancer catches up to him and he dies in the jail cell awaiting trial.

 

[IrishLion]

Spoilers

Fair points, but agree to disagree. You could have fulfilled Chekhov's gun and had Hank take down Walt. Not everything HAS to be doom and gloom... it's not a Snyder/Nolan Batman film. I think the most fitting end for Walt would have been to get busted with mountains of evidence against him due to something he overlooked. His fall would have been the result of hubris akin to Oedipus. Then, the cancer catches up to him and he dies in the jail cell awaiting trial.

That would have been the most fitting end, and the most realistic with how badly Walt had begun to botch things, but it would have felt anti-climactic after all of the drama and suspense.

As an aside, I think in going for the big climax, the last two episodes of BB were a bit TOO fantastical. I was looking for somewhere between what you described, and what the show gave us. I wasn't disappointed, but looking back, it wasn't overly satisfying either. It just felt too perfect, which is why the "dream theory" is kind of interesting.