214 replies to this topic

[Monkeydog]

You know, I seriously thought this show would show decline in quality in its third season...but jeez am I wrong.

This show is just getting better and better.

[toysintheattic]

Nah. Shit sucks.

[Monkeydog]

That is a lie you know it.

[Monkeydog]

sdfjdsaghksjgsdfhgdsjhdf!

Next week is the season finale...ahhhhhhhhh.
And I think how the story is going, it'll be ended next season. Oh my god this show is perfection.

[Donkeymog]

I'm downloading the first two series. But I have to say after reading this thread I'm expecting something pretty special otherwise I'm never going to stop bitching at you to watch The Wire, Six Feet Under and Deadwood.

[Monkeydog]

I really need to watch all three.

But trust me, this show just gets better and better as it progresses. I know people who've seen all three of those shows and love Breaking Bad too. It's great. Seriously.

[toysintheattic]

Yeah, unfortunately I haven't seen any of those apart from a few episodes of Six Feet Under.

Buuut, I really don't think you'll regret watching Breaking Bad.

[Monkeydog]

I am glad at the prospect of this thread changing from just me all the time.

Also. As brilliant as a metaphor and well conceived last season's finale was...I really hope they don't do something like it again. Because I appreciated it, I thought it was kind of pretty great too...but doing it again. Argh. But I guess, considering how this season has worked as compared to last season, it'd be impossible for them to do what they did again. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

[Donkeymog]

I am glad at the prospect of this thread changing from just me all the time.

Yes! But it means you'll have to be careful with spoilers.

And not to derail this thread or anything but...

what did you make of Sex Feet Under, Toyz?

[toysintheattic]

I liked it, I guess. Michael C Hall is a sexy man.

I don't know. I'd have to sit down and properly marathon it at my leisure.

[Monkeydog]

Oh god.

Why do I have to wait so long to see what happens next? arrrrgh.

[Donkeymog]

I'm three episodes in and it's okay.

I don't see why it's anything special though. I don't find any of the characters particularly believable or particularly relatable, which makes it difficult for me to really care about the "whacky" scenarios they find themselves in.

Malcolm in the Middle's dad does a good job though, I enjoy his performances even if the rest of his family is fairly tedious.

[Monkeydog]

I was rewatching the first season recently, and it really really really is so far away from what the series turns in to in the second and (especially) third seasons. It's way more light hearted, and at the same time, some of the more compelling characters like Saul, Mike, and Gus are not around yet. And characters who become far more in depth, like Jessie and Hank (and to an extent Skylar), have not had the time to develop. Although, to an extent, no matter how much Jessie [color=#000000;background:#000000;' onmouseover="this.style.color='#FFFFFF'" onmouseout="this.style.color='#000000']becomes the moral center of the entire series, while Walt slips, [/color]he can still be really tiresome for the most part. But he always seems to redeem himself once in a while, like he did in the last two episodes of the third season.

The first season doesn't even really have a season finale because of the Writer's Strike. And really doesn't have the moments that made the second and third season amazing. The intense monologues that demonstrate how fucking amazing Bryan Cranston is...and to an extent Aaron Paul. Season 1 has none of that. Nor does it really have the OMFG just dramatically/action flavored intense scenes. The closest things that parallel with them in season 1 are the conclusion to the third episode, and the 6th episode. But still, they have nothing on the last two episodes of this season...or the second to last episode of the second season.

I don't know, I remember getting into it pretty easily. But I think what truly made this show great for me is the way it develops over time. If I had to judge it on just Season 1...I'd say it was an above average show, and maybe even one of the best Dramas on not HBO/Showtime (And that's only because Bryan Cranston is phenomenal sometimes)...but the last two seasons is what really makes it go above and beyond.

[Donkeymog]

Jesse. No 'i'.

[Monkeydog]

Jesse. No 'i'.

Yeah...I screw that up a lot for some reason.

[Donkeymog]

Jesse. No 'i'.

Yeah...I screw that up a lot for some reason.

It's my name irl, btw, bbq.

[Donkeymog]

Just finished the first season and I still have fairly mixed views on this.

I think Hal puts in some really great performances and he gives all of the plot exploring mortality a surprising touch of class. His bad-ass outbreaks are particularly amusing given the whole Malcolm in the Middle connection. Jesse as a character has grown on me too, not particularly through great development or anything but just through being consistent even if he is a bit whiney and his dialogue is a bit too functional.

But the supporting cast really let this show down. The cripple kid, the non-entity of a wife, and those other two who seem entirely inconsequential to the plot and feel like they're just kept around to pad out minutes between advert breaks. None of these characters are portrayed convincingly either which makes the family scenes fall kind of flat.

[Monkeydog]

But the supporting cast really let this show down. The cripple kid, the non-entity of a wife, and those other two who seem entirely consequential to the plot and feel like they're just kept around to pad out minutes between advert breaks. None of these characters are portrayed convincingly either which makes the family scenes fall kind of flat.

Walt Jr. never becomes that big into the plot...neither does Marie. But Walt Jr. really has no business being a big piece in the plot, nor does Marie. And I can see why the family seems like rubbish in the first season, but trust me, Skyler and Hank's roles become pretty important to Walt as season 2 and 3 progresses. As well as the show losing stupid subplots revolving around Walt Jr. and Marie. Especially Season 3 in where I can't think of anything revolving Walt Jr. or Marie (well...Marie SPECIFICALLY).

Although I really don't understand how Walt Jr. isn't portrayed convincingly enough for you.

And I will admit, I may have never thought much on these things because I was in the middle of the second season by the time I got into the show. (I watched the first season probably within a day or so)
But as you bring these things up, I can see what you're saying. But trust me, it gets so much better and focused (On Walt and Jesse) in the second and third seasons.

[Donkeymog]

I like to smoke while watching this show. I strike heroic poses like in my avatar as I do so.

[toysintheattic]

Maybe I should rewatch some of the older episodes. Personally I remember being hooked basically from the pilot, and the family didn't bother me, really. I think it's generally well-acted. I understand what you mean, though. Hank in particular is sort of a caricature, though I still like him. Kinda reminds me of my uncle in that he's always saying crude cheesy uncle-type jokes. But, like monkey said, some of these characters don't really get to shine until season 2, or even season 3. And some characters don't even exist yet. I mean, I hate to be like the guy that says "Final Fantasy 13 gets really good 30 hours in!" but I think it's worth sticking it out for a little longer.

And, I don't know. It's probably worth the price of admission for Bryan Cranston alone. Walt's a pretty great character. Aaron Paul's got chops, too.