# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/81 "2014-12-27T10:43:19Z")
I’m not going to vote, as I gave up on _The Walking Dead_ twice, and have never watched _Breaking Bad_ at all. But without checking the poll, my guess is _Breaking Bad_ will win amongst the SDMB crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/82 "2014-12-27T15:19:53Z")
The Walking Dead is consistently entertaining where even the bad episodes are watchable for various reasons but it is not a consistently good show. In fact it whiffs more than it hits. ---
**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 27, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/83 "2014-12-27T16:39:38Z")
> [@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. Well at least you understand my logic. In fact I have no interest in zombies. I might watch some episodes some day to find out what it’s about, but it will be difficult for me to get into a complete fantasy work like that as opposed to the not too far from reality based cynicism of Breaking Bad. So my opinion is just a comparison of the genres and not of the actual shows of which I’ve only seen one. I didn’t watch Buffy for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/84 "2014-12-27T17:07:07Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I’ve been trying to get my mom to start Breaking Bad. Currently she’s watching The Walking Dead…and she’s loving it. She says it’s the best show she’s ever seen. > > I told her she’s got to try Breaking Bad, but she thinks there could be no show that’s better than Walking Dead… If that’s an accurate summary of her thoughts, then it’s completely irrational-- especially the second part. It’s unlikely you are going to rationally argue against an irrationally held belief. Having said that, I don’t think there is any contest between the two, with _Breaking Bad_ winning by a mile. It has better writing, better acting, better directing, even better cinematography. I do enjoy _The Walking Dead_, but it’s not in the same league with _Breaking Bad_. But… they are different kinds of shows, so it’s possible that your mom just wouldn’t like the kind of show that _BB_ is, while she really likes _TWD_. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/85 "2014-12-27T21:26:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If that’s an accurate summary of her thoughts, then it’s completely irrational-- especially the second part. It’s unlikely you are going to rationally argue against an irrationally held belief. Yeah, but…in a way, we all do it. Or at least I do it, but I’m guessing I’m not alone. For example, I’m of the mind that BB is the best show ever and no other show could possibly be as good as that show. 😉 See what I mean? So it’s exactly how/what my mom thinks, only about a different show. So I guess it’s all really relative, in the end. Also, I think what you said in your last sentence (that I didn’t quote) is true. I think she’s more entertained by TWD, because it has more “action scenes”, and “deaths” and “shootings” and…well…ZOMBIES… it’s just more of a show for those who like action and suspense and high entertainment. BB has all of those things too, but like someone upthread mentioned, it’s more…drawn out. It all comes over a long period of time, rather than in every single episode. I can see someone who is a little bit more impatient or easily distracted or easily amused or easily entertained to liking TWD more (than BB—NOT about people who like TWD in general and obviously it doesn’t apply to everyone). ---
**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 28, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/86 "2014-12-28T04:09:35Z")
Since _The Wire_ was mentioned here as a contrast to **Breaking Bad** , I thought I would share this here. HBO started running The Wire back to back yesterday. I’ve gotten through about five episodes or so. I like it. I’m intrigued by the characters, their conflicts and dynamics and the whole context. However, it does lag a lot in places, and so far it doesn’t feel very tightly written. Several threads have felt pretty exploratory, and many characters seem to disappear for long periods of time. It’s also subject to the criticism many have leveled against BB: most, if not all the characters are pretty unlikable. So far, they also feel pretty 2 dimensional. But on the whole I like it an I’m looking forward to more eps soon. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/87 "2014-12-28T04:32:54Z")
I’ve seen both, and I think Breaking Bad wins by a mile. Maybe your brother likes Walking Dead more because there are still new episodes coming out? There’s an element of hope there, I guess. I think BB will be one of maybe 5 shows (maybe even the ONLY show) from this generation that people still talk about a hundred years from now. Even as enthusiastic a fan as I am of The Walking Dead, I know it can’t really hope to reach that level. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/88 "2014-12-28T05:03:46Z")
I think what I disliked about BB was how goddamn negative it was about druggies and the drug scene, I get it Walter is making meth not LSD but still. From what I know in real life druggies and drug dealers are…human beings with all that entails. They aren’t all cartel thugs. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/89 "2014-12-28T05:43:17Z")
TWD is entertaining like glazed donuts are delicious. BB is entertaining like a Thanksgiving meal is delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/90 "2015-01-01T19:49:31Z")
I would argue that up until the climactic end to Season 3 _Breaking Bad_ represents the height of dramatic television. Seasons 4 & 5 indulged the narrative arc to the point that certain characters’ behavior became irrational, particularly marked in the fiendishly rational Gus Freen. The thing about The Walking Dead is that the handful of truly powerful moments seemed transcendent. The sluggish, even boring nature of the show makes those moments all the more impactful. I also wanted to throw this out there: Aren’t Rick and Walter experiencing the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![archer\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@archer\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archer_1)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-which-do-you-think-is-the-better-show-the-walking-dead-or-breaking-bad/708075/91 "2015-01-04T00:23:49Z")
Breaking Bad is better. [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=4)