The podcast is awesome, and it’s in no small part because Vince Gilligan is so great to listen to. In my opinion, at least, he’s just one of the smartest, funniest and most well-spoken guys around, not to mention the nicest and most polite. I could listen to him talk for days. Actually, I think may be a little bit in love with him.
I can get on board with the roller coaster analogy. The Wire is a ponderous work about how the institutions in our society fail its most vulnerable members. It has a strong political message and aspires to actually affect some degree of change in the world. The fact that it’s also quite entertaining is just a bonus. Breaking Bad, on the other hand, is a thrilling ride featuring fantastic acting and direction. It poses some questions about what seemingly decent people are capable of when placed in difficult circumstances, but doesn’t really inspire viewers to go out and change the world.
I would say The Wire is the greater artistic work for forcing viewers to reassess how they view the world, but I had a hell of a lot more fun with Breaking Bad.