Any "Breaking Bad" Fans Here?

[Storm]

I'm only on season 1 episode 5 so far.  I think the characters are believable and well done, but the story is very slow to me.  This must be one of those shows where you have to watch the whole season and then it has a brilliant story arc.

I really enjoyed the Wire, and it was like that, but they somehow packed enough into each show to make the episode entertaining, while maintaining a well written story arc that spanned the entire season.

[moda0306]

Storm,

Mad Men, for me, was like that.  I didn't really care for season 1.  Now I really like it, though I'd hardly call it amazing.

Dexter, to me, is almost the perfect show.  From the first episode I was absolutely hooked.  It's funny, intriguing, action packed, a little gross and disturbing, sad as heck at times, and full of great characters that they really round out, each with their own problems and personalities.

Keep in mind, the female characters start out very weak, though, and they all start out as a bit "characature" like.  But in a very good way.  I don't know how to describe it, but while Dexter has excellent characters, they're not in "uber-serious and/or depressing mode" like many shows that feel so "real."  There's a silliness that pervades the show that lightens it to a perfect level, IMO, but it never hightens to the point of actually being "OMG this is ridiculous."

[HB Reader]

"Breaking Bad" really is riveting.  One of the best TV series I've seen. 

[MediumTex]

I'm all caught up now and I'm ready for the season 4 finale on Sunday.

[Indices]

I'm all caught up now and I'm ready for the season 4 finale on Sunday.

What did you think of it? I stopped watching, not because it was bad, but because I found it too realistic and depressing.

[MediumTex]

I'm all caught up now and I'm ready for the season 4 finale on Sunday.

What did you think of it? I stopped watching, not because it was bad, but because I found it too realistic and depressing.

Excellent.

[jackely]

Sounds like a very interesting show but my first wife died of lung cancer 11 years ago and I'm not sure I'm up for it. One thing I'm curious about from reading a synopsis .... "a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series" .... is how you get a 4 year series out of an advanced case of lung cancer? 

[TripleB]

Sounds like a very interesting show but my first wife died of lung cancer 11 years ago and I'm not sure I'm up for it. One thing I'm curious about from reading a synopsis .... "a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series" .... is how you get a 4 year series out of an advanced case of lung cancer? 

I've only watched the first few episodes of Season 1, but I've heard there's flashbacks involved. Additionally, there's no reason you can't get 10 seasons out of a case of advanced lung cancer. Look at the show 24. They had 10 seasons that occurred over a 10 day period. It's just about how you handle time management occurring within the context of the show. Nothing says you have to run the show in real time with when it's broadcast.

[MediumTex]

Sounds like a very interesting show but my first wife died of lung cancer 11 years ago and I'm not sure I'm up for it. One thing I'm curious about from reading a synopsis .... "a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series" .... is how you get a 4 year series out of an advanced case of lung cancer? 

I've only watched the first few episodes of Season 1, but I've heard there's flashbacks involved. Additionally, there's no reason you can't get 10 seasons out of a case of advanced lung cancer. Look at the show 24. They had 10 seasons that occurred over a 10 day period. It's just about how you handle time management occurring within the context of the show. Nothing says you have to run the show in real time with when it's broadcast.

The show takes place over about a 10 month period (through the end of season 4), or that's about what it seems.

Walt's lung cancer waas stage IIIb when diagnosed and had a good response to treatment (chemo + radiation) which was followed by a surgical removal of part of one of his lungs.  This course of treatment could extend survival time by months or years.  I anticipate that Walt will die at the end of season 5, which will probably be 12-18 months after diagnosis, which sounds about right.

My dad died from lung cancer and it was diagnosed at stage IIIb.  He survived 16 months following a good response to treatment.

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer, and a nasty way to go.  I'm surprised that breast cancer and prostate cancer get as much attention as they do and lung cancer gets comparatively little attention.  Early screening for lung cancer alone would probably save thousands of lives each year.  When diagnosed early, lung cancer can respond very well to treatment.  The problem is that in its early stages there are few (if any) symptoms.

[jackely]

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer, and a nasty way to go.  I'm surprised that breast cancer and prostate cancer get as much attention as they do and lung cancer gets comparatively little attention.  Early screening for lung cancer alone would probably save thousands of lives each year.  When diagnosed early, lung cancer can respond very well to treatment.  The problem is that in its early stages there are few (if any) symptoms.
[/quote]

Yes, it is a very nasty way to go. I'll take a heart attack any day.

There were actually classic early symptoms in the form of a chronic cough which two doctors chalked up to allergies for a period of several months before an xray was finally taken in a hospital emergency room.

I learned there are two kinds of lung cancer, large cell and small cell with the latter being the one associated with smoking and the one my wife died from (a 50 year smoker). The prognosis is pretty bleak when diagnosed actually. It does respond well to treatment initially but then it nearly always comes back with a vengeance. My wife only survived 9 months. I think I read that the average survival was 14 months at the time though it may have improved since.

I think maybe it doesn't get as much attention as other forms because it is a preventable disease. I read that before the turn of the 19th century it was virtually unheard of.

[scotomatic]

We are within 24 hours of the finale of Breaking Bad for Season 4.  That is incredibly exciting and a bummer at the same time.  I never thought I could get this into a television show.  For those who find the show depressing in Season 1, stick with it.  The show becomes less depressing as the story moves forward.  Walt and Jesse's characters go through great transformations.  The acting is phenomenal.

[stone]

Regarding lung cancer, what are your thoughts regarding owning tobaco stocks? One tobacco stock is contained within what I hold for my PP stock allocation. The employee pension fund of my employer is greatly overweight tobacco stocks. I'm not even sure to what extent people avoiding tobacco stocks (and so increasing dividend yields for those who continue to hold them?) would even act to reduce tabaco use. In principle I wouldn't want to prevent people from smoking if they want to and act freely on their own choice but it seems grim to profit from them making a deadly choice that I wouldn't make. It also troubles me that most smokers become addicted whilst still children. I guess junk food, alcohol etc etc are also responsible for a mixed bag of health outcomes too.

[rhymenocerous]

Wow.  That finale delivered on all expectations.  I love the "slow-burn" type plans where you know what has to happen, but all of the stars have to align and everything has to go just right for it to work.  All you can do is sit there and watch it slowly unfold.  I do have a question though.  I didn't understand the final two words Walter said to Skyler on the phone.  Did anyone else catch it?

[MediumTex]

Wow.  That finale delivered on all expectations.  I love the "slow-burn" type plans where you know what has to happen, but all of the stars have to align and everything has to go just right for it to work.  All you can do is sit there and watch it slowly unfold.  I do have a question though.  I didn't understand the final two words Walter said to Skyler on the phone.  Did anyone else catch it?

I thought he said "I won" or something to that effect.

[jackely]

Regarding lung cancer, what are your thoughts regarding owning tobaco stocks? 

I probably wouldn't buy one directly but I'm not going to get upset about holding some in a fund. Even though my wife died of lung cancer it didn't turn me into an anti-smoking zealot. I don't care what people put into their own bodies as long as I don't have to breathe it into mine.

[Storm]

Just watched Season 1 episodes 6 and it finally got interesting...  I think I will watch this one, even though it's portrayal of the meth trade is highly inaccurate.

[moda0306]

Storm,

Inaccurate portrayals that feel "gritty" or "real" make all our lives a better place.

Don't be like the jerks that had to point out all the errors in Braveheart.  Ignorance is bliss.

[Storm]

Storm,

Inaccurate portrayals that feel "gritty" or "real" make all our lives a better place.

Don't be like the jerks that had to point out all the errors in Braveheart.  Ignorance is bliss.

Haha, moda, this is not Braveheart (although I really enjoyed that movie).  It's just that your typical meth "cook" is much more likely to be a white trash (trailer park type) cooking small batches in a seedy motel room than a high school chemistry teacher.  I suppose the inconsistency is part of what makes the show entertaining.

[MediumTex]

Storm,

Inaccurate portrayals that feel "gritty" or "real" make all our lives a better place.

Don't be like the jerks that had to point out all the errors in Braveheart.  Ignorance is bliss.

Haha, moda, this is not Braveheart (although I really enjoyed that movie).  It's just that your typical meth "cook" is much more likely to be a white trash (trailer park type) cooking small batches in a seedy motel room than a high school chemistry teacher.  I suppose the inconsistency is part of what makes the show entertaining.

If you continue watching you will see that Walt's unique background is what makes him so valuable to those much higher up in the organization.  His partner Jesse, I think, is supposed to represent a more typical cook.

Walt becomes a unique commodity in the meth world--a veritable Julia Child among a bunch of Waffle House cooks.

[Lone Wolf]

Haha, moda, this is not Braveheart (although I really enjoyed that movie).  It's just that your typical meth "cook" is much more likely to be a white trash (trailer park type) cooking small batches in a seedy motel room than a high school chemistry teacher.  I suppose the inconsistency is part of what makes the show entertaining.

Yeah, I love this aspect of the show.  Cranston's wizardy is selling Walt as a desperate, prideful man boiling over with unrealized potential... and precious little time to make use of it.

I don't know when this is revealed, but Walt is much more than your garden variety high school chemistry teacher.

I still haven't even start season 3.  It's sad.  My envy of all you people that are caught up knows no bounds.

[MediumTex]

I still haven't even start season 3.  It's sad.  My envy of all you people that are caught up knows no bounds.

Well, I envy you as well.  You've got all that excitement in front of you, while it's now just a bunch of memories for me.

[l82start]

i am halfway through season three now.. 

[scotomatic]

I am not sure the season finale last night (season 4) could have been any better.  In fact, it's hard to imagine being able to top the craftsmanship in this episode.  The acting, the writing, the directing.  We expected a lot and the Breaking Bad team delivered.  Wow. 

I expected to feel disappointed since the season is now over.  But it was such a satisfying climax that I feel okay with it.  I cannot imagine TV ever getting better than this.   

I know I sound like a total geek. But if you aren't watching this show, do yourself a favor and start with season 1.

[Maestro G]

I am not sure the season finale last night (season 4) could have been any better.  In fact, it's hard to imagine being able to top the craftsmanship in this episode.  The acting, the writing, the directing.  We expected a lot and the Breaking Bad team delivered.  Wow. 

I expected to feel disappointed since the season is now over.  But it was such a satisfying climax that I feel okay with it.  I cannot imagine TV ever getting better than this.     

I know I sound like a total geek. But if you aren't watching this show, do yourself a favor and start with season 1.

Scotomatic,

Couldn't agree more! Thank god for BB! The best show on TV currently IMHO! It's made the absence of "Mad Men" palatable. The subtle ambiguities of the Season 4 finale are what great writing and acting are all about, and set up what I suspect will be a tour de force Season five conclusion to the entire series! I could say more, but then I would spoil it for those here making their way through earlier seasons.

Press on. You will enjoy the rewards!

Maestro G

[l82start]

WOW    OK i just finished season four...WOW... i wont post any spoilers for those still watching, but i must say... best ending ever!
if you haven't started yet...start... if you are part way through  keep going... you wont be disapointed....