My thoughts
on the now finished AMC Television Series “Breaking Bad” have been the topic of
much controversy lately; both in my personal life and on social media. So here’s the deal. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE I know, urged me to watch “Breaking
Bad”. “George, you gotta watch this
show.” “George, you are going to love
this show.” “George, this is the best
show of all time.” “George, as an
aspiring writer, it’s an obligation that you watch this show.” Those were just a few of what my friends had
told me. So I started watching the show…
Here is
where the trouble began. Now before I go
any further, I want to say, ON RECORD, overall “Breaking Bad” is a remarkably
well written, directed and acted show.
That is not in dispute. I do feel
that Season 1 was a little bit weak but that’s not the point. The point is this; I don’t like the show. I don’t enjoy it. Although the show is filled with remarkable
talent across the board, I don’t enjoy it.
I feel like that is the key word here, enjoy. The subject matter in the show I find to be
sad, disturbing and overall it just puts me in a bad mood. I don’t enjoy watching Walter White go
through hell with cancer, lie to his family AND himself and then go cook
crystal meth. It doesn’t make me want to
watch the show and it doesn’t make me like the main character.
Walter White
is a man who feels like he’s been screwed over his whole life; so after he gets
cancer and can’t afford treatment, he decides to cook meth? Friends offered to pay for his treatment. He wouldn’t accept due to pride. I get it.
The fact remains, this man is dealing drugs, killing people and slowly
dying inside. Not a cheery day at the
office.
Some people
say to me, “George you love “Sons of Anarchy”; isn’t that the same thing?" My answer is, no. It is not.
“Sons of Anarchy” is an over the top, pulp action show. It is so over the top that it is not based in
reality. You can’t take it too
seriously. The same cannot be said for
“Breaking Bad”. I understand the quality
of this show is phenomenal but I also understand that much of it feels
real. Maybe too real for me and while it
is fantastic television, it’s too much for me.
- George McCann
I get what you mean.
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