# My Review of the First Episode of Breaking Bad (Long) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2011, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362 "2011-09-06T05:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/41 "2011-09-06T23:37:09Z")
OP, do you find you must either like or identify with characters in a show in order to enjoy the show? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/42 "2011-09-06T23:37:35Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > From what I’ve read, _Breaking Bad_ is considered to have some claim to being a dark comedy, It’s a dark drama, not a dark comedy. Once in a while humorous stuff happens, sure, but it’s definitely not a comedy. Anyway, I would give it a few episodes before relegating it to your “hated it” pile. While I liked the show from the beginning, it didn’t really hit me how great it was until later in the first season when Walt has to kill a guy with a bike lock in Jesse’s basement If you can get to that point and still not like the show, fine, it’s just not the show for you, whatevs, not everyone has to like all the same stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/43 "2011-09-07T00:09:35Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > OP, do you find you must either like or identify with characters in a show in order to enjoy the show? It helps anyway. Why would I hang around with fictional characters that I either find pathetic, boring, or want to punch in the face? I don’t do that in my regular life. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/44 "2011-09-07T00:31:17Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > From a different direction - outside of “Gunsmoke” (which I haven’t seen in 30 years and only vaguely remember), **Two Many Cats** , what shows have you ever liked? Well, let’s see. Shows that I’ve cared enough about to write fanfiction based on: _Doctor Who_: The Original Series (Fourth Doctor mostly. Although the revival isn’t bad) _The Untouchables_ _Bonanza_. But only before Adam Cartwright left the show. Shows that are my favorites, but not fanfiction worthy: _Mystery Science Theater 3000_ Most of the prime time cartoonery _The Simpsons_, _South Park_, _Family Guy_ et al. Unfortunately, most of these are about to jump the shark, if they haven’t already. _Star Trek_ TOS _I, Claudius_ _Fawlty Towers_ _Roots_ The goofy sixties comedies: _The Beverly Hillbillies_, _Hogan’s Heroes_, _F Troop_, _Get Smart_, _Green Acres_, I have a soft spot for silliness. The aforementioned _All in the Family_, _Barney Miller_, _Soap_. _The Carol Burnett Show_ _The Muppet Show_ More recently, _Seinfeld_ and _Married with Children_ I do prefer comedy to drama. The lack of good comedy these days pisses me off the most. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/45 "2011-09-07T01:44:35Z")
MST3K fanfic? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/46 "2011-09-07T01:45:38Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > MST3K fanfic? It’s been done, but not by me. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/47 "2011-09-07T01:45:51Z")
Yeah, BB is not for you. It’s something I enjoy, though. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/48 "2011-09-07T01:47:53Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Yeah, BB is not for you. It’s something I enjoy, though. Then I wish you many more happy seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/49 "2011-09-07T01:50:55Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Then I wish you many more happy seasons. Planned obsolescense. Most of us are trying to figure out what neat tricks the writers have up their sleeves. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/50 "2011-09-07T01:56:20Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > _The Simpsons_, > _South Park_, > _Family Guy_ > _Fawlty Towers_ > _Get Smart_ > _Green Acres_, **I have a soft spot for silliness.** > _All in the Family_ > _Soap_. > _The Carol Burnett Show_ > _Seinfeld_ > _Married with Children_ > > I do prefer comedy to drama. The lack of good comedy these days pisses me off the most. ☹ I mentioned it up thread in passing (specifally with a reference to Simpsons) but I’ll mention it again. I think you’d really like Psych. It’s a case of the week show, there’s no more character arc or continuity then you’d find in anything listed above and it’s equally as goofy. It’s nice because you don’t have to be invested in the show to like it. You can watch an episode today and not feel like you have to stay up to watch the next one to see how something resolves. Or, if you get 8 episodes in and decide it’s just not for you, you can stop watching it and not feel like you’re missing out on a big reveal or twist or cliffhanger. Also, if you’re just going to give the first episode a shot, I think it hits the ground running..or at least running a hell of a lot faster then Breaking Bad (which I also really like). But it’s designed to do that since, like the shows you listed above, the characters aren’t very deep. The only back story you need for any given character is given as it becomes necessary for that specific episode (“Hey, remember that time when you met that girl…” etc) BTW, if I were you, I’d stay far away from True Blood, you probably wouldn’t like that either. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/51 "2011-09-07T02:04:27Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > So, in your fiction, the things you find appalling are: > Anticipation. > Tention. > Secrecy. > Unpredictability. > Sympathetic Characters. > Characters who would act differently than you. > Aberrant behavior. > Panicking. > And wanting the premise and events of an entire 5 season series laid out in one hour. > > Am I missing anything? Anticipation, tension, and secrecy are fine. But dragging such things out over several episodes ruins it. Unpredictability is the soul of comedy. Of course I don’t find it appalling. I like sympathetic characters. Did you mean UN-sympathetic? These are fine as well, but the unsympathetic character has become so omnipresent in today’s fiction that they are in danger of becoming cliched. Characters different than myself? I certainly don’t act like any of the characters in the shows that I cited that I like. Aberrant behavior and panicking? Make the aberrant behavior interesting and it’s fine. Panicking is okay too, within reason. It has to make sense after all. As for succinctness in story structure, yes, I like it in general. For a real lesson in beautiful pacing see “The Empty Chair” episode of _The Untouchables_. It was the establishing episode of the original series, and perfectly done. No, didn’t cover the entire four year run of the show. It didn’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/52 "2011-09-07T02:12:47Z")
Almost all the shows you mentioned liking are single-episode comedies that don’t have complex plots or long storylines. So I’m not sure why you would even be trying to pass judgment on shows that are obviously not in your genre. I don’t really like musicals, I’ve seen a few live that I enjoyed but it’s just not something I really like. For that reason you’re never going to see me writing a review of one, because criticism is supposed to come from some place of experience. I would argue you do not have the experience of even an educated viewer to pass judgment on Breaking Bad. I’d probably say it is more valid for you to review _Modern Family_, _Community_, _Parks & Recreation_ and similar shows. You reviewing Breaking Bad is like me reviewing Wicked or something. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/53 "2011-09-07T02:22:58Z")
Outside of the comedy realm if you’re wondering why there aren’t shows like _Bonanza_ and _Gunsmoke_ anymore is basically because most of society considers those nice historical relics that did some important, innovative things in their time but not terribly entertaining anymore. You’re essentially in a small minority that still wants to watch shows like that, and you are why TV Land network exists. In the 1990s you saw a ton of shows like _Bonanza_ and _Gunsmoke_, shows dramas which had single episode story arcs that always got resolved at the end of the show. By and large most of them were not good, most of them were spinoffs of Law & Order (which while fine as background noise was in and of itself not that good), or various police procedural dramas. It got to the point where every show in the format like you’re talking about just became another carbon copy police show with a few gems in the rough here and there. This really I think lead to more writers and creators developing shows that weren’t intentionally trying to fit into a pre-fabricated “mold.” Shows like _Law & Order_ and _Gunsmoke_ were designed to captivate for one hour at a time, and to tie everything up at the end. It worked very well back in the _Gunsmoke_ days, and it worked well for _most_ of _Law & Order_’s run, but the problem eventually became that I think all shows of this type got distilled into 3-4 different “archetypes” all with identical stories. _Gunsmoke_ and _Bonanza_ were somewhat pioneering but if you actually watched a lot of TV back then many, many imitators came out that sucked badly and died quick deaths. Unfortunately in the 1990s the age of the imitators was 10 years and into the early 2000s and many of them hung on for 10+ seasons. I think to some degree this has killed off demand for simple dramas that resolve everything in an hour. Fans now want a story that develops slowly over several episodes, with characters you don’t really feel like you know until halfway through the first season (if not longer.) If you’re someone who really liked the _Gunsmoke_ format you won’t like that, but I think most of TV drama viewers got burned out on that format from 1990-2003 or so. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/54 "2011-09-07T03:20:14Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Almost all the shows you mentioned liking are single-episode comedies that don’t have complex plots or long storylines. So I’m not sure why you would even be trying to pass judgment on shows that are obviously not in your genre. > > I don’t really like musicals, I’ve seen a few live that I enjoyed but it’s just not something I really like. For that reason you’re never going to see me writing a review of one, because criticism is supposed to come from some place of experience. I would argue you do not have the experience of even an educated viewer to pass judgment on Breaking Bad. > > I’d probably say it is more valid for you to review _Modern Family_, _Community_, _Parks & Recreation_ and similar shows. You reviewing Breaking Bad is like me reviewing Wicked or something. Precisely. Never confuse the possibility that it doesn’t intrinsically suck-balls, rather that it’s _just not your thing._ I would never say Celiene Dion is a horrible musician, because that genre of music just doesn’t do anything for me (I may be seen grimacing). But I have no real experience of her work, so how could I say with any credence that she sucks-balls? In fact, I give her the benefit of the doubt that she might be a great musician, but I wouldn’t really know. Even if I listened to her “best of” works for days on end. This attitude that anyone can critique _anything,_ based on their meager insufficient bubble of exposure to it, especially if they have no taste or experience of it simply infuriates me. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/55 "2011-09-07T03:21:16Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Almost all the shows you mentioned liking are single-episode comedies that don’t have complex plots or long storylines. So I’m not sure why you would even be trying to pass judgment on shows that are obviously not in your genre. > > I don’t really like musicals, I’ve seen a few live that I enjoyed but it’s just not something I really like. For that reason you’re never going to see me writing a review of one, because criticism is supposed to come from some place of experience. I would argue you do not have the experience of even an educated viewer to pass judgment on Breaking Bad. > > I’d probably say it is more valid for you to review _Modern Family_, _Community_, _Parks & Recreation_ and similar shows. You reviewing Breaking Bad is like me reviewing Wicked or something. I reviewed _Breaking Bad_ in response to a challenge in another thread. I don’t think I’m inexperienced when it comes to television drama. I’ve been watching television since before I could talk. Some of my first words were commercial jingles. I’ve watched dramas alongside of comedies for almost fifty years. Yes, it’s true that I prefer comedies to dramas. I don’t think that means that I can’t make a cogent review of an episodic drama. I understand the guidelines. If you’ll notice, in my original review, I didn’t even mention the slow pacing of the story because I am aware of the fact that the story arc extends over several episodes. I happen to think that this makes most of today’s dramas rather turgid affairs, but I refrained from pointing this out then because it’s simply a given of the genre. I mentioned the show’s good premise and natural dialog, because that’s something good that the show had, and it should be mentioned. A review should be fair to the piece in question. I find Walter White’s character uninteresting, and his panicked rampage in the RV unconvincing. I’m sorry, but that’s my opinion. A review is merely a stated opinion of a production. You don’t need a degree in the theatrical arts to review something. And a review doesn’t always have to be positive. Reviews would be useless things then. I was challenged to review _Breaking Bad_, and I did. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/56 "2011-09-07T03:37:47Z")
But the reason I challenged you to that particular show, is because it’s currently considered by audiences and critics as one of the best shows on television. I could’ve just as easily suggested anything else currently airing; the point being that you remarked that there hasn’t been anything worth watching since the 70s, in a thread about what shows you’re anticipating for the upcoming season. I’m sure, as a rational person, a statement like that will be readily challenged and strongly disagreed with by the vast majority of television watchers. You seem like you enjoy fiction. You write fiction. Where’s the disconnect? If you insist that television isn’t anywhere near the blinding bright spot of TV that was _Green Acres, Star Trek OS,_ or _Bonanza,_ I would like to hear your reasoning, than just out-of-hand dismissals of current programming. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/57 "2011-09-07T04:03:58Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > But the reason I challenged you to that particular show, is because it’s currently considered by audiences and critics as one of the best shows on television. > > I could’ve just as easily suggested anything else currently airing; the point being that you remarked that there hasn’t been anything worth watching since the 70s, in a thread about what shows you’re anticipating for the upcoming season. > > I’m sure, as a rational person, a statement like that will be readily challenged and strongly disagreed with by the vast majority of television watchers. > > You seem like you enjoy fiction. You write fiction. Where’s the disconnect? If you insist that television isn’t anywhere near the blinding bright spot of TV that was _Green Acres, Star Trek OS,_ or _Bonanza,_ I would like to hear your reasoning, than just out-of-hand dismissals of current programming. To be absolutely correct, I did not say there hasn’t been anything worth watching since the 70’s. I listed among my favorites shows like _Seinfeld_, _Married with Children_, MST3K, along with the current crop of prime time cartoons. You challenged me to watch the first episode of _Breaking Bad_, and not like it. I watched it. I didn’t like it. Case closed. I’m sorry if this outcome upsets you. It’s not like you lost a money bet or something. I don’t see any disconnect in my fictional preferences. I like my fiction to be entertaining. That’s my main requirement. I also like good pacing, wit, and making sense is nice too. But I can forgo making sense if the story is entertaining enough. Okay, resolved, I don’t like _Breaking Bad_. Somewhere else on this thread, someone suggested that I watch something named _Psych_. Perhaps I’ll try that, and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/58 "2011-09-07T04:35:34Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > To be absolutely correct, I did not say there hasn’t been anything worth watching since the 70’s. I listed among my favorites shows like _Seinfeld_, _Married with Children_, MST3K, along with the current crop of prime time cartoons. > . And this list is becoming strangely longer (bolding mine)… > [@The new TV season](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/17): > > It’s just like last season. There’s not a damn thing that I’d bother watching. **\** > [@The new TV season](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/19): > > **\** Sorry, still batting zero here. > [@The new TV season](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/34): > > **\** Maybe I should watch a newer show end to end. But they’re all like soap operas now. You have to watch a whole damn season for anything to happen. Maybe the old programs deserved criticism for neatly solving problems in an hour or less. But there’s something to be said for a succinct storyline. > [@The new TV season](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/39): > > > [@cmyk](#): > > > > Is this sort of like one of those “The only good music, was [whatever music you listened to when you were growing up], because the stuff now, is just noise and crap. Crappy noise.” things? > > There’s something of that, true. But really, I’m just sick of wanting to vomit whenever I watch TV that’s not a documentary or a thirty year old rerun. > [@The new TV season](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/43): > > Last prime time fictional show I tried? _Chicago Code_. I watched out of hometown pride. Watched one episode. Couldn’t bring myself to watch again. > > Last prime time fictional comedy show I actually enjoyed? I’d say _Seinfeld_. Good dialog there and clever plot twists. > > Last prime time drama show I actually enjoyed? Christ, it’s been so long. _Law & Order_ with Jerry Orbach I guess? > [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Well, let’s see. Shows that I’ve cared enough about to write fanfiction based on: > > _Doctor Who_: The Original Series (Fourth Doctor mostly. Although the revival isn’t bad) > > _The Untouchables_ > > _Bonanza_. But only before Adam Cartwright left the show. > > Shows that are my favorites, but not fanfiction worthy: > > _Mystery Science Theater 3000_ > > Most of the prime time cartoonery _The Simpsons_, _South Park_, _Family Guy_ et al. Unfortunately, most of these are about to jump the shark, if they haven’t already. > > _Star Trek_ TOS > > _I, Claudius_ > > _Fawlty Towers_ > > _Roots_ > > The goofy sixties comedies: _The Beverly Hillbillies_, _Hogan’s Heroes_, _F Troop_, _Get Smart_, _Green Acres_, I have a soft spot for silliness. > > The aforementioned _All in the Family_, _Barney Miller_, _Soap_. > > _The Carol Burnett Show_ > > _The Muppet Show_ > > More recently, _Seinfeld_ and _Married with Children_ > **\** So we go from “Not a damn thing”, to this list of shows (incidentally, the majority are from the 70s), and even a few that are currently airing, or were fairly recent. I hate to beat a dead horse, here, or appear that I’m picking on you, exclusively, but day-um, If you’re telling me I inferred wrong from these consecutive posts, you have me really confused. It’s not that I’m upset, _at all,_ that you didn’t like BB, and it was your idea to start this review thread. I’m merely indulging my main point here. Either you’re extremely biased toward a period of television that is nostalgic to you, and are heavily guarded against anything new, or you haven’t been entirely forthcoming. You… fascinate me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/59 "2011-09-07T06:16:01Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > And this list is becoming strangely longer (bolding mine)… > > So we go from “Not a damn thing”, to this list of shows (incidentally, the majority are from the 70s), and even a few that are currently airing, or were fairly recent. I hate to beat a dead horse, here, or appear that I’m picking on you, exclusively, but day-um, If you’re telling me I inferred wrong from these consecutive posts, you have me really confused. > > It’s not that I’m upset, _at all,_ that you didn’t like BB, and it was your idea to start this review thread. I’m merely indulging my main point here. Either you’re extremely biased toward a period of television that is nostalgic to you, and are heavily guarded against anything new, or you haven’t been entirely forthcoming. You… fascinate me. 🙂 Yes, I am heavily biased toward 70’s shows. With good reason. I never said I wasn’t. Are you confused because I said “It’s just like last season. There’s not a damn thing I’d bother watching.” and neglected to mention the prime time cartoons? Because I profusely apologize for confusing you then. Of course, since the prime time cartoons _Simpsons_, _South Park_, _Family Guy_, etc. have been running now for over ten years, I’d hardly consider them new shows. I didn’t even consider them part of the new TV season because new animated episodes tend to come out in spurts unrelated to the schedules of regular TV programs. Animated shows are always a class apart. Oh, and I’ve just watched the first episode of _Psych_. I’m not even going to bother with a separate review thread like I had planned. Suffice to say it’s a routine detective show starring Smug Annoying Bastard with his “Damn White Boy, You Crazy!” Black Friend. I won’t be watching another episode of that either. And my lonely quest to find new TV that doesn’t suck continues… ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362/60 "2011-09-07T06:31:15Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > away from True Blood, you probably wouldn’t like that either. Hell, I watch that for the opening credits music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-review-of-the-first-episode-of-breaking-bad-long/595362.md?page=4)