# Help settle a debate: Which do you think is the better show, The Walking Dead or Breaking Bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 24, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075 "2014-12-24T01:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BOOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@BOOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOOM)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/41 "2014-12-24T11:35:55Z")
It’s like The Beatles vs. Adele. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/42 "2014-12-24T12:05:58Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I watched the first six or so episodes of The Walking Dead, and I got to thinking about what I would do in that situation. There are a lot of habitable islands off the coast of Georgia and up and down the Eastern seaboard. Find one big enough to have fresh water and arable land, and you’re in business. Clear it of zombies and then bring over everything you need from the mainland. Zombies aren’t going to swim out or pilot ships. Maybe there was a reason that couldn’t be done, but everything they did seemed kind of stupid. Also, they in the beginning they were having trouble finding guns. In rural Georgia. I have a real dislike of The Walking Dead. Bad acting, poor characters, poor dialogue and stupid plot developments. I have only been a casual viewer of the show and a non reader of the books, my main quibble has probably been dealt with but missed by me; why dont these people wear protective clothing? In a desperate fight for life against zombies, zombies who can zombify me with one small bite or scratch, is it really my best option to go into combat wearing only Daisy Dukes and a bra? ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/43 "2014-12-24T12:23:19Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > I have a real dislike of The Walking Dead. Bad acting, poor characters, poor dialogue and stupid plot developments. I have only been a casual viewer of the show and a non reader of the books, my main quibble has probably been dealt with but missed by me; why dont these people wear protective clothing? > > In a desperate fight for life against zombies, zombies who can zombify me with one small bite or scratch, is it really my best option to go into combat wearing only Daisy Dukes and a bra? Again: 1. Comic Book Adaptation 2. It has been established that you don’t catch zombieism from bites or scratches. You are already infected. Death turns you into a zombie not a nonlethal zombie bite. Except for Herschel. For some reason, they cut his leg off even though Rick knew he didn’t have to. Rick is a dick. 3. No, Rick really is a dick. In this world zombie literature does not exist so why does he even think that zombie bites cause people to become zombies? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/44 "2014-12-24T13:05:31Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > Again: > > 1. Comic Book Adaptation > 2. It has been established that you don’t catch zombieism from bites or scratches. You are already infected. Death turns you into a zombie not a nonlethal zombie bite. Except for Herschel. For some reason, they cut his leg off even though Rick knew he didn’t have to. Rick is a dick. > 3. No, Rick really is a dick. In this world zombie literature does not exist so why does he even think that zombie bites cause people to become zombies? You must not watch the show. Yes, everyone turns upon dying. But zombie bites are all fatal and pretty rapidly so. Herschel would have died within the day if they didn’t cut his leg off. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/45 "2014-12-24T13:48:39Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > You must not watch the show. Yes, everyone turns upon dying. But zombie bites are all fatal and pretty rapidly so. Herschel would have died within the day if they didn’t cut his leg off. You’re right. I’ve never seen the show. I’m assuming Robert Kirkman has though. > [@](#): > > “The rule is WHATEVER it is that causes the zombies, is something everyone already has. If you stub your toe, get an infection and die, you turn into a zombie, UNLESS your brain is damaged. If someone shoots you in the head and you die, you’re dead. A zombie bite kills you because of infection, or blood loss, not because of the zombie “virus.”” > —Robert Kirkman[src] This says that the virus doesn’t kill you but an infection does and I’d imagine zombies to be infection machines. It seems to follow that if the bite does not cause a lethal infection ( not the virus mind you as per Kirkland but a naturally occurring infection like you can get from a stubbed toe ) then you will live through it. Has anyone ever suffered such a wound to test this theory? Does anyone even have the medicines to properly treat an infection? Doesn’t really matter. The humans killed Ed Pelletier in episode 4 of season 1 so he would not become a zombie. Allegedly, as I’ve never seen the show of course. What example caused them to think this that early in the show? Who had this already happened to? They’re just dicks. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/46 "2014-12-24T13:52:03Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > I have seen both. > > Huge fan of the zombie genre since I first saw Dawn of the Dead many a year ago. I love the Walking Dead. > > Voted Breaking Bad. > > Easiest.Vote.Ever. QFT ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/47 "2014-12-24T14:35:01Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > No, it’s a completely overt insult - to Arrested Development and Community, both of which are nominally comedies, but not at all funny. > > Marshmallow presented a list that they claimed was ‘live action dramas better than TWD’, including Arrested Development and Community, which are not dramas. How can you say Community wasn’t funny? I know everyone has your opinions but I can’t let that slip without comment to the contrary. Great characters, didn’t take themselves too seriously, funny scenarios. It was funny. Breaking Bad \> The Walking Dead. I like zombie themes but I feel like they kind of threw away a chance to make something truly great. Then again, the zombie theme has been watered down so much it’s no surprise. Maybe that’s what Breaking Bad has going for it? We’ve never been on the meth train? ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/48 "2014-12-24T14:42:15Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > I know everyone has your opinions but I can’t let that slip without comment to the contrary. I don’t believe everyone has my opinions but Community to me was funny but nowhere near funny enough for the praise it gets. I understand why it gets the praise it gets but I don’t fully agree with it. Ditto Arrested Development. They should be in my wheelhouse but they’re not. Probably because I’d heard the hype before seeing the shows and a show needs to be transcendental to overcome that hype. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/49 "2014-12-24T14:53:14Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > This says that the virus doesn’t kill you but an infection does and I’d imagine zombies to be infection machines. It seems to follow that if the bite does not cause a lethal infection ( not the virus mind you as per Kirkland but a naturally occurring infection like you can get from a stubbed toe ) then you will live through it. > > Has anyone ever suffered such a wound to test this theory? Does anyone even have the medicines to properly treat an infection? Yes. Several characters have suffered relatively trivial bite wounds and died. Conversely, the characters routinely suffer from all sorts of other wounds that could cause infection, but do not experience infection. That said, the show is terrible for being consistent and does not survive a moment of critical thought. Within the world of the show, zombie bites of any kind are most certainly fatal. > [@](#): > > Doesn’t really matter. The humans killed Ed Pelletier in episode 4 of season 1 so he would not become a zombie. Allegedly, as I’ve never seen the show of course. What example caused them to think this that early in the show? Who had this already happened to? They’re just dicks. My recollection was that Ed was killed by zombies. He was already dead when Carol whacked his head. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/50 "2014-12-24T14:58:14Z")
If Walking Dead was better than Breaking Bad I would have watched an episode. ---
**Author:** ![NVME702-redux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@NVME702-redux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NVME702-redux)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/51 "2014-12-24T15:06:16Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > You’re not alone. Lets start a club. I’ll bring the pie. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/52 "2014-12-24T15:45:59Z")
I can clearly answer this poll with two quotes : “You clearly don’t know who you’re talking to, so let me clue you in. I am not in danger, Skyler. I _am_ the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No! I am the one who knocks!” — Walter White “Stuff…” — Rick Grimes ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/53 "2014-12-24T16:20:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If Walking Dead was better than Breaking Bad I would have watched an episode. But if you’ve never watched an episode, you can’t have an informed an episode. You sound like late 90s me dismissing BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER because the title sounded stupid. I’ve seen both shows. While BB is probably better done, I enjoy TWD more because I simply detest Walter White. ---
**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/54 "2014-12-24T17:55:52Z")
hmm…a choice between the most overrated show in history or zombies? ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/55 "2014-12-24T18:14:13Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Yes. Several characters have suffered relatively trivial bite wounds and died. Conversely, the characters routinely suffer from all sorts of other wounds that could cause infection, but do not experience infection. That said, the show is terrible for being consistent and does not survive a moment of critical thought. Within the world of the show, zombie bites of any kind are most certainly fatal. > My recollection was that Ed was killed by zombies. He was already dead when Carol whacked his head. And Jim? They abandoned him alive in the next episode. The show has Carl survive a gut shot and operation and show no signs of wear in a couple of weeks in show time. It is NOT shooting for realism but it does play by it’s creators rules and he has spoken. Or I guess I could listen to Hentor the Barbarian’s version instead. I guess I could. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/56 "2014-12-24T19:52:54Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > And Jim? They abandoned him alive in the next episode. > > The show has Carl survive a gut shot and operation and show no signs of wear in a couple of weeks in show time. It is NOT shooting for realism but it does play by it’s creators rules and he has spoken. Or I guess I could listen to Hentor the Barbarian’s version instead. I guess I could. An alternative could be to watch it for yourself. I think the better strategy is to read a short excerpt from the show’s creator and then get into online arguments based on that level of knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/57 "2014-12-24T20:51:19Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > An alternative could be to watch it for yourself. I think the better strategy is to read a short excerpt from the show’s creator and then get into online arguments based on that level of knowledge. i’m certain that if I were to watch it today I would still be of the same opinion but I don’t want to hijack the thread further so I am not online arguing today. Your views are duly noted. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/58 "2014-12-24T21:17:35Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > But if you’ve never watched an episode, you can’t have an informed an episode. You sound like late 90s me dismissing BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER because the title sounded stupid. > > I’ve seen both shows. While BB is probably better done, I enjoy TWD more because I simply detest Walter White. You’re _supposed_ to detest Walter White; he goes from a likable enough guy to a horror show, and the transition is done brilliantly. The series has no shortage of abhorrent characters, but he is truly special in his downward spiral. That the writing and acting is so brilliant as to suck you into their characters is what makes the series so amazing. I watch TWD, but I detest the writing because the writers have the characters doing amazingly stupid things; things that nobody of average intelligence would do in those situations. Case in point: brand new vehicles everywhere, but they continued to have them driving wrecks that kept breaking down at every inopportune moment. At least they’ve changed that particular annoyance. I also just don’t care about the characters. Any one of them could be killed off and I wouldn’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/59 "2014-12-24T21:49:46Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I enjoy TWD more because I simply detest Walter White. It’s the opposite for me. I absolutely loathe Rick Grimes, and feel that TWD might improve (some) if he were to be killed off. Of course, Rick is simply the most egregious of one of the show’s biggest problems: Two dimensional, intensely unlikeable characters. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/60 "2014-12-24T22:42:45Z")
Now that this question has been settled, let’s consider another of equal difficulty: Which is the better play: _Hamlet_ as performed at The Globe by the Royal Shakespeare Company -_or_- _The Story of the First Thanksgiving_ as performed by Mrs. Johnson’s second-grade class (the one with the paper mache turkey, where little Tommy forgot his lines and little Sally peed herself). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075.md?page=4)