Breaking Bad

[falafel]

I don't think that is true at all. You can like the show without loving Walt. Walt is a terrible person doing despicable things. I root against him ... I don't love him. I watch because I want to see him get what he deserves.

No. The show has never been boring. What does that have to do with liking or hating Walt?

I don't think your stated reason for watching existed much in the beginning. You probably didn't hate Walt when the show started.

[Commando]

I don't think your stated reason for watching existed much in the beginning. You probably didn't hate Walt when the show started.

Not true- don't we all hate that asshole struggling high school teacher with an aptitude and concern for his students that is far above his pay scale who gets struck with cancer?

[Flystripper]

I think you are wrong about most viewers.

mmmmm doubt it

[The_Douger]

So did you think the show was boring back when Walt was just trying to create a nest egg for Sklar and the kids? Lucky for you Walt's soul turned black or you would have been very bored.

No, it's always been compelling because it explored a lot of ideas I'd never thought of before. I work in a profession where I see the ill effects of meth on a daily basis.

I just find the show to be an interesting commentary on how many lives are affected by this stuff, how far reaching it goes, and I find interest that at some point it became more about pride than about getting that nest egg. And the pride relates back to his previous business failures despite being what I'd consider a genius.

It's been interesting to watch him go from protagonist to antagonist and circle the drain in morally bankrupt fashion. But I don't love Walt, I think you can still love the show and not love Walt. The only character I really like is Jesse.

[UVACoug]

I don't think your stated reason for watching existed much in the beginning. You probably didn't hate Walt when the show started.

I didn't say I hated him when the show started, although I have never been particularly sympathetic towards him. My feelings for Walt have nothing to do with the way I feel about the show. I watch because the story is amazing. There have been times I have liked Walt ... and others when I despised him. That doesn't impact my appreciation for the show in general.

[falafel]

No, it's always been compelling because it explored a lot of ideas I'd never thought of before. I work in a profession where I see the ill effects of meth on a daily basis.

I just find the show to be an interesting commentary on how many lives are affected by this stuff, how far reaching it goes, and I find interest that at some point it became more about pride than about getting that nest egg. And the pride relates back to his previous business failures despite being what I'd consider a genius.

It's been interesting to watch him go from protagonist to antagonist and circle the drain in morally bankrupt fashion. But I don't love Walt, I think you can still love the show and not love Walt. The only character I really like is Jesse.

There is a difference between liking a character and approving of his actions. I think that is where people are getting tripped up here.

[UVACoug]

No, it's always been compelling because it explored a lot of ideas I'd never thought of before. I work in a profession where I see the ill effects of meth on a daily basis.

I just find the show to be an interesting commentary on how many lives are affected by this stuff, how far reaching it goes, and I find interest that at some point it became more about pride than about getting that nest egg. And the pride relates back to his previous business failures despite being what I'd consider a genius.

It's been interesting to watch him go from protagonist to antagonist and circle the drain in morally bankrupt fashion. But I don't love Walt, I think you can still love the show and not love Walt. The only character I really like is Jesse.

I don't think it was ever about him getting a nest egg. Walt may have thought that was his motivation at the beginning, but he was deluding himself. We found out almost from the beginning that this was about ego and control, not money. If it was about money he would have taken Gretchen and Elliot's offer. He certainly felt like he deserved a share of that Gray Matter profit.

[Commando]

I don't think it was ever about him getting a nest egg. Walt may have thought that was his motivation at the beginning, but he was deluding himself. We found out almost from the beginning that this was about ego and control, not money. If it was about money he would have taken Gretchen and Elliot's offer. He certainly felt like he deserved a share of that Gray Matter profit.

This is the awesome detail that gets me and really humanizes Walt for me. I'm sure we all have our own personal Gray Matters in our lives that help us justify the shitty things we do.

[jay santos]

I don't think it was ever about him getting a nest egg. Walt may have thought that was his motivation at the beginning, but he was deluding himself. We found out almost from the beginning that this was about ego and control, not money. If it was about money he would have taken Gretchen and Elliot's offer. He certainly felt like he deserved a share of that Gray Matter profit.

Agree on all counts. Still love Walt.

[Non Sequitur]

I don't think that is true at all. You can like the show without loving Walt. Walt is a terrible person doing despicable things. I root against him ... I don't love him. I watch because I want to see him get what he deserves.

When you watched the Sopranos, were you rooting for Tony to get whacked or busted? I doubt it.

[Donuthole]

When you watched the Sopranos, were you rooting for Tony to get whacked or busted? I doubt it.

I laughed out loud when Bill O'Reilly's claimed that he watched Sopranos to root for the police.

[falafel]

I laughed out loud when Bill O'Reilly's claimed that he watched Sopranos to root for the police.

What is that, a restaurant?

[UVACoug]

When you watched the Sopranos, were you rooting for Tony to get whacked or busted? I doubt it.

I've only seen the first season of The Sopranos. Haven't really felt compelled to watch much more. I really don't understand why people think it is impossible to like a show without liking the main character. I agree that there has to be something sympathetic there (which is the main problem I have with Mad Men), but it doesn't have to be the lead character. In the case of Breaking Bad, my sympathies lie with Jesse (and have for pretty much the entire series). Jesse is pretty much a co-lead though, so maybe that does support the theory that you have to have a sympathetic lead for people to like your show.

[Donuthole]

What is that, a restaurant?

Pub.

[Commando]

I've only seen the first season of The Sopranos. Haven't really felt compelled to watch much more. I really don't understand why people think it is impossible to like a show without liking the main character. I agree that there has to be something sympathetic there (which is the main problem I have with Mad Men), but it doesn't have to be the lead character. In the case of Breaking Bad, my sympathies lie with Jesse (and have for pretty much the entire series). Jesse is pretty much a co-lead though, so maybe that does support the theory that you have to have a sympathetic lead for people to like your show.

Among movie and literary personalities usually lies a character called the protagonist, with whom the reader/viewer takes the journey and identifies, despite and because of their flaws. This isn't organic chemistry here.