THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 12:36:12 AM

Title: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 12:36:12 AM
Every minute I am laughing at the absurdity of these characters. They MAKE NO SENSE!

I am halfway through season 4 and the only reason I am continuing watching is because I need to see this through out of obligation, not because I'm liking it.

I fucking hate these characters, and not in a "they're bad people!" cliche way either, but because they are so horribly written. I cannot stand Walt and especially Jesse, they are distinguished mentally-challenged.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on July 18, 2012, 12:40:13 AM
There were some people here on this board who thought it was better than The Wire
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 12:41:49 AM
and I fucking laugh at their faces when they say such absolute nonsense
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: brawndolicious on July 18, 2012, 12:42:34 AM
They make sense.

Because I say so.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 12:44:14 AM
Walt realizes Jesse is missing, so he takes his unlicensed gun, drives - recklessly! - to the chicken joint and demands to speak to Gus with a gun in his hand. He tells them his NAME. He has cameras locked on him. He has a gun in his jacket pocket. They tell him Gus isn't there, and then he gets a call from Mike. Mike is like, calm the fuck down dumbass. But no, this isn't enough. Walt has to go and kick the door down to Gus' office, with cameras watching him. What does he think this will accomplish? Will it guarantee his safety? No. Will it guarantee Jesse's safety? No. Even if it's not in regards to safety, they could call the cops and he'd be in big trouble being busted with that unlicensed gun he's holding. Even if he DOES leave the place unscathed or not arrested, this will only force them to monitor him even FURTHER.

The whole thing is illogical, stupid, and requires a tremendous amount of grasping at straws to make this character behavior work.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 12:44:28 AM
I am now convinced

that The Wire is better than BB
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 12:54:31 AM
It's not even a contest that Mad Men is better. As is The Borgias, or Homeland. BB is great, but it seriously took until Season 4 for me to see any of that.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 01:06:58 AM
The writing on BB is good overall. It's some of the lazy plot devices and coincidences that sometimes make it hard to view it as some serious show to be compared to The Wire, The Sopranos, The Shield, etc.

S3 is god tier television, and S4 is very good too.

And can we stop proclaiming Homeland as the best thing ever until Showtime proves they can pull off a good season season?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 01:11:56 AM
The writing on BB is good overall. It's some of the lazy plot devices and coincidences that sometimes make it hard to view it as some serious show to be compared to The Wire, The Sopranos, The Shield, etc.

S3 is god tier television, and S4 is very good too.

And can we stop proclaiming Homeland as the best thing ever until Showtime proves they can pull off a good season season?
They already have: The Borgias.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: brawndolicious on July 18, 2012, 01:16:44 AM
The writing on BB is good overall. It's some of the lazy plot devices and coincidences that sometimes make it hard to view it as some serious show to be compared to The Wire, The Sopranos, The Shield, etc.

S3 is god tier television, and S4 is very good too.

And can we stop proclaiming Homeland as the best thing ever until Showtime proves they can pull off a good season season?
They already have: The Borgias.

Seriously, Lucrezia>Sansa any day.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Great Rumbler on July 18, 2012, 01:18:33 AM
(http://i.imgur.com/TW5Ew.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 01:19:37 AM
The writing on BB is good overall. It's some of the lazy plot devices and coincidences that sometimes make it hard to view it as some serious show to be compared to The Wire, The Sopranos, The Shield, etc.

S3 is god tier television, and S4 is very good too.

And can we stop proclaiming Homeland as the best thing ever until Showtime proves they can pull off a good season season?
They already have: The Borgias.

Seriously, Lucrezia>Sansa any day.
I love Game of Thrones but you are fucking correct.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 01:21:19 AM
I'll give it a shot, not expecting much.

But seriously, this thread is now about Homeland. Breaking Bad is a good show, get over it.

Homeland's first season is amazing. The penultimate might be one of the most tense, amazing hour of television I've seen in years. The writing is great, as is the acting.

The problem is that it did everything to set up S2 to be a disaster. We'll see soon enough
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 01:23:01 AM
The only people who like Sansa are SanSan shippers, let's be honest. Having a better character on your show than her is not some amazing feat.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 01:28:32 AM
Sansa from GoT?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 01:30:01 AM
The only people who like Sansa are SanSan shippers, let's be honest. Having a better character on your show than her is not some amazing feat.
The reason they are compared is that they are in fundamentally the same role in both shows, but Lucrezia is smarter, hotter, and fucking devious as shit.

She's basically what Sansa might become in a book or two.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 01:31:00 AM
The only people who like Sansa are SanSan shippers, let's be honest. Having a better character on your show than her is not some amazing feat.
The reason they are compared is that they are in fundamentally the same role in both shows, but Lucrezia is smarter, hotter, and fucking devious as shit.

She's basically what Sansa might become in a book or two.

So she's basically Margery Tyrell :smug
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Great Rumbler on July 18, 2012, 01:32:12 AM
(http://i.imgur.com/lC6ks.jpg)
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 01:32:30 AM
Perhaps. At least whatever show-Margaery is going to be.

But I think she's hotter than Natalie Dormer.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: brawndolicious on July 18, 2012, 01:33:27 AM
The only people who like Sansa are SanSan shippers, let's be honest. Having a better character on your show than her is not some amazing feat.

I'm just making the comparison since both characters are the same age/circumstances, but Sansa honestly never does anything rash or ballsy no matter how shitty her situation gets. Lucrezia on the other hand totally learns to pull those puppet strings. But to be fair, she's the only likable character on The Borgias.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 01:34:20 AM
The only people who like Sansa are SanSan shippers, let's be honest. Having a better character on your show than her is not some amazing feat.

I'm just making the comparison since both characters are the same age/circumstances, but Sansa honestly never does anything rash or ballsy no matter how shitty her situation gets. Lucrezia otoh totally learns to pull those puppet strings. But tbf, she's the only likable character on The Borgias.
How DARE you say Cesare is unlikable.

HOW DARE YOU
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: brawndolicious on July 18, 2012, 01:36:30 AM
How DARE you say Cesare is unlikable.

HOW DARE YOU

He's a romantic sadist. Seriously, a lot of the time he's acting as the pope's thug or he's bitching about not being the pope's official thug.

And the rest of the time he spends looking beautiful.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 01:39:44 AM
I hate this criticism of Sansa, and it makes me upset I'm even defending her. What exactly do people want Sansa to do in her situation?  What "puppet strings" can she pull as a prisoner with next to no time to herself? Worse yet, why would she dare risk the wrath of a sadistic king and an indifferent queen?

She certainly begins to scheme a bit in the third book, but she actually has some protection...eh, I won't go into spoilers.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 01:41:03 AM
I like Sansa. I don't understand how anyone can hate her. She comes off better in the books than the show, I think.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 01:42:19 AM
I dunno, I think the underlying crux of his powerlessness as being the younger brother who craves the ability to rule an army while constantly getting shut down by his father provides a really great character conflict. On top of that, while he starts to revel in his ability to kill indiscriminately, he's constantly undone by his sister, who wants to keep seeing him as some pure person.

He's likable to me because he's got so many shades to his character -- at times he's romantic, obsessive, cynical, murderous, perverted, gentle, stoic, depressed. He wants what he can't have, an interesting contrast to his father, who has all that he wants but constantly craves more.

That brings me to Rodrigo, who is likable because Jeremy Irons.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 01:45:59 AM
Another thing about Sansa: given her situation, she should be commended for surviving and not making any major mistakes. She perfectly adapted to her role - whereas Arya would have liked been killed under the same circumstances. Likewise, Sansa certainly would not have survived in Arya's shoes. It's an interesting subject

Sansa gets smarter and more cunning in each book
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: brawndolicious on July 18, 2012, 01:51:27 AM
I hate this criticism of Sansa, and it makes me upset I'm even defending her. What exactly do people want Sansa to do in her situation?  What "puppet strings" can she pull as a prisoner with next to no time to herself? Worse yet, why would she dare risk the wrath of a sadistic king and an indifferent queen?

She certainly begins to scheme a bit in the third book, but she actually has some protection...eh, I won't go into spoilers.

GRRM could have given her a dragon-spewing crotch and a death wish. Something to make her interesting.

Sansa's actions are totally understandable, I agree. I just wish something more interesting would come of her situation.

I dunno, I think the underlying crux of his powerlessness as being the younger brother who craves the ability to rule an army while constantly getting shut down by his father provides a really great character conflict. On top of that, while he starts to revel in his ability to kill indiscriminately, he's constantly undone by his sister, who wants to keep seeing him as some pure person.

He's likable to me because he's got so many shades to his character -- at times he's romantic, obsessive, cynical, murderous, perverted, gentle, stoic, depressed. He wants what he can't have, an interesting contrast to his father, who has all that he wants but constantly craves more.

That brings me to Rodrigo, who is likable because Jeremy Irons.

This is true. I don't think any main character on The Borgias is actually totally selfish, except maybe Juan. Even power-hungry cunts like Rodrigo or King Charles can show humility, heroism, and love.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 01:55:49 AM
Don't want to turn this into another GoT thread but I'll just say Sansa is going to be a major player soon. I don't think she's the queen prophesied to destroy Cersei, but she might have the second best trump card in her pocket besides Dany (dragons)
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 10:00:57 AM
Season 1 starts slow until Kima gets shot. lol @ mojo
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 10:18:42 AM
Well, Baltimore police department really does lack funding. According to all sources, The Wire's depiction of the PD is very accurate. The office scenes are some of the best scenes as well. Seeing the reactions of the characters and their words is a big "thing" with The Wire.

Personally I liked the show from ep 1, but a lot of people aren't big on season 1 until Kima gets shot, and from there, it just goes places.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 18, 2012, 10:23:21 AM
The Wire doesn't hit its stride until the end of S01 IMO.

And BB is great pulp drama.  Does anyone expect it to be deep or meaningful?  The entire plot is outlandish.  It's a fun show and that's all it really tries to be.  And it does it well.  I hate the characters too.  They're all idiots.  Every single one.  It's fun watching their world fall apart.  Spoiler alert: you're supposed to hate them
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 10:25:54 AM
Yeah, I find BB more enjoyable if I consider it pulp, but then it tries to be this serious show, and then it takes me out of the experience because the characters are stupid.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 18, 2012, 10:29:03 AM
Yeah, I find BB more enjoyable if I consider it pulp, but then it tries to be this serious show, and then it takes me out of the experience because the characters are stupid.
The serious parts never seem that serious for me.  Like Jesse and his girlfriend, Jesse whining over Gale, Walt's marriage.  It never seemed like it was trying to evoke emotion to me.  It just seemed like the writers were using plot devices to obviously move the story in a direction.  It's all so unrealistic that I could never buy it as anything more than pulp.  It's almost as careless as Ugly Betty when it comes to plot devices and I like it that way. 
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 10:48:23 AM
Funnilly, those are my least favorite parts of BB. Jesse going emo over Gale was the last straw. It's like every season he hits rock bottom, and it's so repetitive, because Jesse will always have some new kind of understanding on life, and the whole process repeats. He has zero character development and always reverts to this depressed shell. I'm not sure if that's what they're going for on purpose, but man is it repetitive and tiring.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: CajoleJuice on July 18, 2012, 10:51:35 AM
Some people don't experience growth in real life.

spoiler (click to show/hide)
Not that I would know anything about that
[close]
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 18, 2012, 11:29:37 AM
Breaking Bad as pulp television  :lol
how is it not?  it's a fantasy.  bigger than life characters (Gus and even Walt) doing crazy shit with little or no realistic repurcussions. 
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: BlueTsunami on July 18, 2012, 12:02:42 PM
From a cinematic point of view, I love this show to pieces. Its very distinct and they take risks with various aspects and editing.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 12:30:53 PM
Throw this thread in the shite bin
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 18, 2012, 12:49:24 PM
Breaking Bad as pulp television  :lol
how is it not?  it's a fantasy.  bigger than life characters (Gus and even Walt) doing crazy shit with little or no realistic repurcussions.

Not all fantasy is pulp.
Cool.  I don't think anyone said all fantasy was pulp.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 04:34:36 PM
It puts it at a level below mad men and other serious dramas
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 18, 2012, 04:50:54 PM
Doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with that.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Robo on July 18, 2012, 04:57:50 PM
Breaking Bad is closely analogous to The Shield in terms of tone and its treatment of characters and drama.  You'd have to be pretty dumb to think that's a bad thing.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 05:32:30 PM
no, there's nothing wrong with it.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 18, 2012, 05:42:24 PM
Mad Men is overrated garbage. IT's too convenient in its themes and its just boring.

Best TV Shows in Order:
The SHield
Twin Peaks
Carnivale
Justified Season 2
HOmicide
The Wire

im sure im forgetting others
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 05:54:34 PM
You say that, but I watched season 2 as well.

First problem is a feeble plot loosely based around the Baltimore docks. It never gets any traction, continually scratching around for something to latch on but never coming close to the intensity and concentration of the First Series. Secondly, even this semblance of plot is unconvincing and surprisingly conventional. Guess what? The dockers are ripping off some of the containers! And there are some Bad Men behind the scenes with sinister foreign accents and sinister monikers like "The Greek" who calmly assure the people they torture that they have their solemn word that they'll be spared if they offer the information they're being tortured for but then have them garroted anyway. You'd think this is "Die Hard".

And then the acting is often ridiculously over-the-top. "Season One" was remarkably understated in this regard with exemplary performances throughout but here various characters vie for who can chew the scenery with more aplomb. It's more and more evident that the central character, McNulty, is miscast: Dominic West far more readily suggests that he'd be more naturally attuned to the pages of "Gentleman's Quarterly" than as a sleep-in-his-clothes self-destructive (but dedicated) cop; his drunk scene is about as unconvincing as it gets. And although many of the characters are clearly meant to be eccentrically loveable, I have to admit I find them irritating. The writing is contrived, attempting to capture the Poetry Of The Streets but failing ignominiously. Of course there is "earthy" humour in abundance but it continually falls flat; to compensate, we are shown lots of reaction shots of people laughing uproariously to let us know humour WAS intended. In fact, there's a constant straining for effect rather than natural story-telling. It's as if the writers are vainly shooting the plot up with adrenalin when it is so plainly dead.

You strained really hard to take this dump, I'm somewhat impressed.

First off, there was nothing unrealistic or contrived about the docks. Yes, labor unions and dock workers rip off shipments every day in this country and throughout the world. Yes, mob types have shipped cargo into the United States before. Your focus on this misses the rather obvious story the show told through the dock workers: the death of the manufacturing industry and its impact on the middle class. I would argue S2 of The Wire is arguably the ballsiest season of just about any "serious" show on television in the last 20 years. The abrupt change in scenery from sole focus on the dying Baltimore streets to the dying Baltimore blue collar middle class was amazing.

Second, your critique of the writing makes no sense. Contrived? Forced? One might be able to make that argument for season 5 where Simon is almost directly writing to viewers, but the first four seasons are done magnificently. I've never heard anyone question the show's writing and your weak argument (or lack thereof) explains why. Characters are presented in brutally honest, human fashions, dialogue is witty, and the overall plot movement works like nothing I've seen on television. Simon has said many times that the show's novel like pace was deliberate because he had no interest in playing catch up for viewers. Information is presented perfectly, and by the end of a season each strand has been handled with maximum care/effectiveness.

Finally on acting. The Wire has perhaps the most impressive ensemble cast I've seen on television. The Sopranos comes close, but I'd give it to The Wire due to the amazing emotional range demonstrated by most of the primary characters, and even the child actors.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 18, 2012, 05:58:13 PM
Damn, PD.  I can't believe you bit.  You must not have even read mojo's first post on this page.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 05:58:17 PM
PD he is taking quotes from amazon reviews and posting them. he is trolling lol
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 06:04:00 PM
FUCK

Well I'm signing up on Amazon to find the real poster, as OJ would say
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 06:06:40 PM
Mad men having 'convenient themes' is one of the dumbest things ive ever read
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: EmCeeGrammar on July 18, 2012, 06:08:45 PM
Funnilly, those are my least favorite parts of BB. Jesse going emo over Gale was the last straw. It's like every season he hits rock bottom, and it's so repetitive, because Jesse will always have some new kind of understanding on life, and the whole process repeats. He has zero character development and always reverts to this depressed shell. I'm not sure if that's what they're going for on purpose, but man is it repetitive and tiring.

Jesse is an ADDICT who RELAPSES whenever he can't cope with the fucked up bed he has made for himself.  Its not that outlandish, really. 

edit: the character development in BB is all about Walt and Skyler and the domino effect of justification that has resulted in their slide to criminal behaviour, (last shot of season four, ted, etc).  I'm expecting season 5 Walt to stop at NOTHING ultimately.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 06:09:40 PM
I'm at the end of S3, gonna watch the finale soon. I gotta say S3 of Mad Men is god tier television. Just amazing, and on a level about the first two seasons which I thought were damn good but not truly amazing.

I love the few discussions of race on the show, specifically the situation with Pete trying to convince a television manufacturer to advertise directly to black people, who were buying their TV sets at high rates.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: bdoughty on July 18, 2012, 06:09:51 PM
Breaking Bad's characters are a freaking Mensa group compared to Dexter. As much as I love Dexter, the rest of the cast makes me want to tear my ears off. Collin Hanks? WTF were they thinking.

That said Justified is the best show on TV right now.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Freyj on July 18, 2012, 06:24:03 PM
Walt hasn't been a reasonable, logical person in a very long time, but that's sort of the point and enjoyment of the show. That is, watching Walt pull everyone around him into his downward spiral of crazy.

Jesse has been a weak/impressionable little shit from the first episode. He's more of a Wallace than a Stringer Bell. Was the Season 4 post-Jane party bullshit boring? Absolutely. Should he still be cooperating with Walt after all the bullshit? Absolutely not, but he's as weak and scared as he's always been.

I wouldn't classify them as "distinguished mentally-challenged" or "poorly written". That's reserved for shows like Dexter with characters like LaGuerta.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Dickie Dee on July 18, 2012, 06:30:33 PM
The Shield is b-tier compared to BB and The Wire
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 06:31:04 PM
The Shield shits on Breaking Bad in nearly every way
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 06:32:37 PM
I'm at the end of S3, gonna watch the finale soon. I gotta say S3 of Mad Men is god tier television. Just amazing, and on a level about the first two seasons which I thought were damn good but not truly amazing.

I love the few discussions of race on the show, specifically the situation with Pete trying to convince a television manufacturer to advertise directly to black people, who were buying their TV sets at high rates.

if you find that interesting, research this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsi#Niche_marketing

Quote
Boyd also led a sales team composed entirely of blacks around the country to promote Pepsi. Racial segregation and Jim Crow laws were still in place throughout much of the U.S.; Boyd's team faced a great deal of discrimination as a result,[9] from insults by Pepsi co-workers to threats by the Ku Klux Klan.[10] On the other hand, it was able to use racism as a selling point, attacking Coke's reluctance to hire blacks and support by the chairman of Coke for segregationist Governor of Georgia Herman Talmadge.[8] As a result, Pepsi's market share as compared to Coke's shot up dramatically. After the sales team visited Chicago, Pepsi's share in the city overtook that of Coke for the first time.[8]

This focus on the market for black people caused some consternation within the company and among its affiliates. It did not want to seem focused on black customers for fear white customers would be pushed away.[8] In a meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Mack tried to assuage the 500 bottlers in attendance by pandering to them, saying: "We don't want it to become known as a distinguished black fellow drink."[11] After Mack left the company in 1950, support for the black sales team faded and it was cut.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: CajoleJuice on July 18, 2012, 06:40:50 PM
I'm at the end of S3, gonna watch the finale soon. I gotta say S3 of Mad Men is god tier television. Just amazing, and on a level about the first two seasons which I thought were damn good but not truly amazing.

I love the few discussions of race on the show, specifically the situation with Pete trying to convince a television manufacturer to advertise directly to black people, who were buying their TV sets at high rates.

And the finale of S3 is the best part.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Dickie Dee on July 18, 2012, 06:42:08 PM
The Shield shits on Breaking Bad in nearly every way

Nope.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 18, 2012, 06:55:11 PM
Nothing in Breaking Bad matched S5 or S7 of The Shield. S3 of BB comes close of course but that's it
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Dickie Dee on July 18, 2012, 06:55:57 PM
Breaking Bad is closely analogous to The Shield in terms of tone and its treatment of characters and drama.  You'd have to be pretty dumb to think that's a bad thing.

Except in The Shield the original sin of the end of the first episode should have been threaded through every episode of the series, but all we got was a montage of Vic feelin' bad in the second episode and then it's barely brought up again except as a plot point. For 95%+ of the series Vic is just a bog-standard anti-hero.

There really is no equivalent to Walt's continued moral downward spiral on any show in history.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on July 18, 2012, 07:14:32 PM
FOREST FUCKIN WITTASKER
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: OptimoPeach on July 18, 2012, 07:20:48 PM
Let's do this nerds

The Shield > BB all day
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 18, 2012, 07:28:33 PM
Funnilly, those are my least favorite parts of BB. Jesse going emo over Gale was the last straw. It's like every season he hits rock bottom, and it's so repetitive, because Jesse will always have some new kind of understanding on life, and the whole process repeats. He has zero character development and always reverts to this depressed shell. I'm not sure if that's what they're going for on purpose, but man is it repetitive and tiring.

Jesse is an ADDICT who RELAPSES whenever he can't cope with the fucked up bed he has made for himself.  Its not that outlandish, really. 


I find this to be a cop out and doesn't excuse the repetition. We get it. Jesse is going to relapse. Doesn't mean you have to dedicate ANOTHER 3-4 episodes towards it.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: EmCeeGrammar on July 18, 2012, 08:06:24 PM
I just got done with season 4 and I don't find Jesse's story bits eat up all the screen time.  Its just a setup for Walt's endgame plane re: gus.  The episodes do a good job of showcasing the various story threads going on.  There's nothing wrong with repetition anyway if its done right. 
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 18, 2012, 08:28:40 PM
I don't think the repetition in the first three seasons is done well. When they finally break the fucking cycle of Jesse/Walt in a different way in season 4, it's much better.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Boogie on July 18, 2012, 08:30:15 PM
You say that, but I watched season 2 as well.

First problem is a feeble plot loosely based around the Baltimore docks. It never gets any traction, continually scratching around for something to latch on but never coming close to the intensity and concentration of the First Series. Secondly, even this semblance of plot is unconvincing and surprisingly conventional. Guess what? The dockers are ripping off some of the containers! And there are some Bad Men behind the scenes with sinister foreign accents and sinister monikers like "The Greek" who calmly assure the people they torture that they have their solemn word that they'll be spared if they offer the information they're being tortured for but then have them garroted anyway. You'd think this is "Die Hard".

And then the acting is often ridiculously over-the-top. "Season One" was remarkably understated in this regard with exemplary performances throughout but here various characters vie for who can chew the scenery with more aplomb. It's more and more evident that the central character, McNulty, is miscast: Dominic West far more readily suggests that he'd be more naturally attuned to the pages of "Gentleman's Quarterly" than as a sleep-in-his-clothes self-destructive (but dedicated) cop; his drunk scene is about as unconvincing as it gets. And although many of the characters are clearly meant to be eccentrically loveable, I have to admit I find them irritating. The writing is contrived, attempting to capture the Poetry Of The Streets but failing ignominiously. Of course there is "earthy" humour in abundance but it continually falls flat; to compensate, we are shown lots of reaction shots of people laughing uproariously to let us know humour WAS intended. In fact, there's a constant straining for effect rather than natural story-telling. It's as if the writers are vainly shooting the plot up with adrenalin when it is so plainly dead.

wat

edit:  dammit, should have kept reading. lol
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on July 18, 2012, 10:34:40 PM
The Wire Season 2 gets shat on unfairly. 
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 19, 2012, 11:21:02 AM
Breaking Bad as pulp television  :lol
how is it not?  it's a fantasy.  bigger than life characters (Gus and even Walt) doing crazy shit with little or no realistic repurcussions.

Not all fantasy is pulp.
Cool.  I don't think anyone said all fantasy was pulp.

I guess I misinterpreted your post. I thought you were saying it's pulp because it isn't entirely realistic.

Anyway, pulp, as used today, generally implies a certain lack of quality, which I don't think applies to Breaking Bad in the slightest.
I don't know.  I don't think pulp has meant that in a while.  Not since the 90's when throwbacks came into fashion full force.  Since then from what I can tell it's meant extremely self indulgent, self aware and a fantasy.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Dickie Dee on July 19, 2012, 12:25:16 PM
Breaking Bad as pulp television  :lol
how is it not?  it's a fantasy.  bigger than life characters (Gus and even Walt) doing crazy shit with little or no realistic repurcussions.

Not all fantasy is pulp.
Cool.  I don't think anyone said all fantasy was pulp.

I guess I misinterpreted your post. I thought you were saying it's pulp because it isn't entirely realistic.

Anyway, pulp, as used today, generally implies a certain lack of quality, which I don't think applies to Breaking Bad in the slightest.
I don't know.  I don't think pulp has meant that in a while.  Not since the 90's when throwbacks came into fashion full force.  Since then from what I can tell it's meant extremely self indulgent, self aware and a fantasy.

I think "pulp" means the opposite of that. It's straightforward (usually) genre stories that are clear they aren't striving to rise above the genre.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 19, 2012, 12:39:42 PM
Breaking Bad as pulp television  :lol
how is it not?  it's a fantasy.  bigger than life characters (Gus and even Walt) doing crazy shit with little or no realistic repurcussions.

Not all fantasy is pulp.
Cool.  I don't think anyone said all fantasy was pulp.

I guess I misinterpreted your post. I thought you were saying it's pulp because it isn't entirely realistic.

Anyway, pulp, as used today, generally implies a certain lack of quality, which I don't think applies to Breaking Bad in the slightest.
I don't know.  I don't think pulp has meant that in a while.  Not since the 90's when throwbacks came into fashion full force.  Since then from what I can tell it's meant extremely self indulgent, self aware and a fantasy.

I think "pulp" means the opposite of that. It's straightforward (usually) genre stories that are clear they aren't striving to rise above the genre.
I think that means generally the same as what I said (or tried to say).  Like look at action or gangster pulp from the 50's and 60's books/comics.  I don't mean self aware or self indulgent like "oh i'm so clever".  I meant it like they know what they are and are trying to be nothing more.  Maybe I used the wrong terms to describe it.  But I mean more like how even the emotional scenes in Breaking Bad and the "character development" are usually extremely shallow and downplayed except for moving the plot forward in some way.  It's never dwelled on and is strictly a plot device.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Dickie Dee on July 19, 2012, 03:05:55 PM
"It's never dwelled on" wha?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 19, 2012, 03:10:51 PM
It's really not.  For a drama there isn't a lot of emphasis on the drama.  Entire seasons aren't dedicated to Walt's and Skylar's marital problems.  It's a sideshow that provides added tension and pressure.  The show has always focused on Walt's insanity and upping the ante.  It's a thriller more than anything.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: fistfulofmetal on July 22, 2012, 11:30:09 AM
watching season 4

everyone on this show is dumb.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 22, 2012, 01:42:35 PM
haha how far are you?

i'm on ep 7
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 22, 2012, 06:05:45 PM
omg, the more i watch the more i like jesse and the more walt becomes a fucking moron

why do people have fascination with walt?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: bdoughty on July 22, 2012, 06:11:58 PM
omg, the more i watch the more i like jesse and the more walt becomes a fucking moron

why do people have fascination with walt?

What season are you on?  Jessie becomes more annoying each season where Walt becomes more awesome each season. There is only one constant and that is Walt's wife who is annoying throughout.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 22, 2012, 06:13:02 PM
Halfway through season 4.

I fail to see how Walt becomes "awesome".
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: bdoughty on July 22, 2012, 06:21:27 PM
I guess for me it is transformation throughout the series.  He goes from guy wanting to make money because he thinks he is dying to what he has become. I also think he is one of the best actors on TV. You remove him from Malcolm in the Middle and the show is unwatchable.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 22, 2012, 07:31:12 PM
:bow SKYLER :bow2
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on July 22, 2012, 08:26:09 PM
Skyler definitely redeems herself in this season.

I think Season 4 is amazing except for Walt, who becomes more and more of a dead weight.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: fistfulofmetal on July 22, 2012, 11:13:04 PM
FUCK WALTER WHITE
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 22, 2012, 11:19:32 PM
hahahaha Walt is distinguished mentally-challenged

why does everyone go along with his shit?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: fistfulofmetal on July 22, 2012, 11:28:52 PM
have you finished all the episodes? i have.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 12:05:44 AM
:bow HANK :bow2
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 01:42:19 AM
Season 4 is GREAT. Only dead weight character is Walt. Everyone else has seen growth.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 04:32:05 AM
jesus christ

Walt is not growing because the fucking show is about his emotional and moral descent. I think some might have been able to justify his actions at one point, but he has become more violent and manipulative with each passing season.

I liked Skylar in S4 a lot, although a lot of her arc exposes how dumb Walt is. He didn't think of laundering his money? Lying to your wife about where you got money is one thing, but lying to the IRS is another thing - and until S4 there was no mention of how he was explaining his finances. But maybe I'm just a nerd for that shit...

Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 04:34:11 AM
I know that. Doesn't stop Walt from sucking and being a fucking idiot.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 04:35:29 AM
Why did Walt decide to disappear when Gus said he'd kill his family? Didn't Gus say he'd kill his family ONLY if Walt bothered Jesse? Or was he talking in general?

Just take it and die. You've dug your grave, baka.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 04:38:25 AM
Why did Walt decide to disappear when Gus said he'd kill his family? Didn't Gus say he'd kill his family ONLY if Walt bothered Jesse? Or was he talking in general?

Just take it and die. You've dug your grave, baka.

Because Walt realized that Gus was replacing him. Gus was going to have Walter killed regardless, since Jesse could cook nearly as well plus was more controllable. It seems like you're trying harder to find plot holes than to actually watch the show.

Walt being an arrogant asshole is the point. He's a genius in many regards, and has come up with some calculated brilliant shit. But he also constantly overlooks some small (and big) details that could easily fuck him over.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 04:42:20 AM
I know the point of the character and the show is that he's full of his own hubris.

That's not a plot hole. Gus flat out said,"if you bother Pinkman, ever..." Walt says,"or what? I bother Jesse or what?" and Gus replies,"I'll kill your wife, son, and your infant daughter." Afterwards, Walt decides to make his whole family disappear? Dude. Gus gave Walt an ultimatum: bother Pinkman or die. If you haven't bothered Pinkman yet, why round up your family?

Why can't Walt just lie in his grave and die?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 04:47:39 AM
I'm done after this: Walt suspected through the entire first half of the season that Gus wanted to replace him. He saw through Gus' plan to manipulate Jesse/earn his trust. Ultimately Walt was fired for being so unstable, unreliable, and dangerous. Jesse was easier to manipulate and control, hence him being promoted.

Do you think Gus was simply going to let Walk go his merry way after replacing him? He was going to have him killed one way or another, and even seemed ready to take out Jesse once the recipe was secured.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 05:01:56 AM
Gus said it was ultimately down to Jesse and in order to replace Jesse, Jesse would have to teach his own replacement how to cook. So he needs Jesse alive, and Jesse won't do it on the condition that Walt is kept alive.

I didn't say Gus wouldn't let Walt off alive. Walt is dead to Gus, that doesn't matter.

What does matter is Walt running immediately to Saul, telling he wants to hire the guy that makes people disappear, when Gus specifically said not to bother Jesse or he'll kill his whole family. What were the condition Gus used against Walt's family? Read this again, PD: Walt's family. F-A-M-I-L-Y. With the one caveat of killing Hank. Not Walt, himself, Walt is dead no matter what he does.

I'm asking for clarification. Did Gus say he'd kill Walt's family if he got in the way of the hit on Hank? Or did he say he'd do it if he bothered Jesse? Or was it just a general threat?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 05:12:18 AM
He told him to stay away from Jesse, something Walt clearly could not do. So Walt panicked and decided to run. Again, Walt was not going to be allowed to live, and eventually Gus would have killed Jesse too if he had his way. Hence why Gus sent Jesse to Mexico
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 23, 2012, 11:03:46 AM
Not to mention that Walt will take any excuse to escalate the situation.  That's part of his nature.  He's a dramatic woman.  How many times throughout Season 4 did he actively try to make Gus seem insane and unstable when it was clearly Walt taking something out of context or overreacting?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 11:12:27 AM
Honestly Walt was right more than he was wrong on Gus. He realized Gus was trying to create a rift between himself and Jesse, correctly guessed that Mike set up the robbery to make Jesse a hero, realized Gus wanted the recipe for his own production, etc

The major time he was wrong was on purpose, to manipulate Jesse's emotions
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 23, 2012, 11:14:37 AM
Yeah but those were all usually because of situations that Walt put Gus in by being a dumbass.  Walt dug his own damn grave.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 12:03:11 PM
Oh totally agreed. I think he clearly miscalculated his value, and thus how far he could test the limits before reaching dangerous territory. His speech to Skylar about being the man with the gun is quite the telling admission.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Mupepe on July 23, 2012, 01:16:23 PM
Yep.  I loved that speech though.  Blew me the fuck away.  Watching Walt circle the toilet bowl is one of the greatest things I've ever witnessed on TV.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 01:46:46 PM
Breaking Bad is hardly the best show on tv.

But Bryan Cranston plays the best acting on tv this side of Don Draper. Seeing the spiral of Walt down the toilet bowl is nothing short of amazing and Cranston pulls it off amazingly.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 02:06:16 PM
Cranston is superior to Hamm. His emotional range is better and more convincing. I think Hamm is great as Draper, but the role itself is rather reserved whereas Cranston has knocked every single scene out of the park. One could argue it's one of the absolute best acting roles in television history, and I'm not sure I'd put Hamm on that list.

Breaking Bad is probably the second or third best show on television, behind Homeland and Mad Men.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 02:11:33 PM
Hamm acts very well, but Cranston, holy shit dude. He truly deserves them awards.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 02:28:00 PM
Aaron Paul can't be overlooked either. I think Peter Dinklage is great as Tyrion, but there's really no comparing the roles this year: Paul was significantly better and deserves the best supporting actor award. Whereas Dinklage's performance was more of the same overall - snark, swagger, and a war speech. That's not to belittle him, afterall it's a damn good performance...it just lacks the depth and range seen from a character like Jesse, and an actor like Paul. In many ways Tyrion's role reminds me a lot of Draper - suave and charisma moreso than emotional depth; of course, Hamm knocks all his emotional scenes out the park though, although he doesn't get too many from S1-S3 compared to him just being...Draper.

Content wise, Dinklage will have better material to work with next season, but I have very little confidence in the writers on the show...
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 02:49:22 PM
Alfie Allen was the standout in GoT this year.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 03:06:15 PM
Speaking of Allen, he seemed particularly agitated during the GoT comic con panel. Martin came off EXTREMELY creepy with constant sexual jokes or references, and at one point joked about Allen saying his favorite scene was his speech towards the end of the season; Martin wondered why the sex scenes weren't his favorite, or something like that, and Allen was like uhhh because I'm an actor and like the act. I kind of wondered if Allen was upset about likely being snubbed by the Emmys
http://winteriscoming.net/2012/07/game-of-thrones-panel-video/

cringe worthy shit
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Purple Filth on July 23, 2012, 03:06:18 PM
Gus said it was ultimately down to Jesse and in order to replace Jesse, Jesse would have to teach his own replacement how to cook. So he needs Jesse alive, and Jesse won't do it on the condition that Walt is kept alive.

I didn't say Gus wouldn't let Walt off alive. Walt is dead to Gus, that doesn't matter.

What does matter is Walt running immediately to Saul, telling he wants to hire the guy that makes people disappear, when Gus specifically said not to bother Jesse or he'll kill his whole family. What were the condition Gus used against Walt's family? Read this again, PD: Walt's family. F-A-M-I-L-Y. With the one caveat of killing Hank. Not Walt, himself, Walt is dead no matter what he does.

I'm asking for clarification. Did Gus say he'd kill Walt's family if he got in the way of the hit on Hank? Or did he say he'd do it if he bothered Jesse? Or was it just a general threat?

It was a either/or scenario which guranteed his family being dead anyways as he will try to help hank or will try to keep Jesse in his corner since Jesse is basically whats keeping him alive.

Its fun seeing this guy decending so far and his defense that made the audience somewhat sympatehic to him at first is no longer working.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 03:12:44 PM
Speaking of Allen, he seemed particularly agitated during the GoT comic con panel. Martin came off EXTREMELY creepy with constant sexual jokes or references, and at one point joked about Allen saying his favorite scene was his speech towards the end of the season; Martin wondered why the sex scenes weren't his favorite, or something like that, and Allen was like uhhh because I'm an actor and like the act. I kind of wondered if Allen was upset about likely being snubbed by the Emmys
http://winteriscoming.net/2012/07/game-of-thrones-panel-video/

cringe worthy shit

martin :rofl
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 23, 2012, 03:56:04 PM
Yeah fuck no. cranston is not even in the same league as hamm and it's laughable to say otherwise. fuuuck this noise.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: BlueTsunami on July 23, 2012, 04:10:06 PM
Yeah fuck no. cranston is not even in the same league as hamm and it's laughable to say otherwise. fuuuck this noise.

smh

Now I have a vested interest in Hamm going 0 for 4
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 04:42:36 PM
Yeah fuck no. cranston is not even in the same league as hamm and it's laughable to say otherwise. fuuuck this noise.

what the fuck are you talking about
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 23, 2012, 06:16:00 PM
Jon Hamm is an incredible actor and easily my favorite male TV actor. His work on mad men is unparalleled.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 06:27:51 PM
Jon Hamm is an incredible actor. Season 5 of Mad Men proves this. It's really hard comparing Hamm to Cranston, and even silly, because their roles on their own shows are like so different. Don Draper hides everything from everyone and tries to fake all emotion, and puts on an act for everyone so he can manipulate them. Walter White is a character dropping further and further away from anything with any sense of morality or ethics, a character who is swimming in his own hubris with very little control of his emotions.

So of course Cranston is going to have more great moments: his character practically requires it, because he's so fucking nuts. Don Draper is cool and collected, and Hamm's acting chops show through in smaller, less bombastic moments than Walter White's crying and then laughing in a psychotic way moment.

I'd say Hamm is also much better at selling key emotional moments, while Cranston is better at displaying anger, frustration, and weakness.

It comes down to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjg5TuXV09U

vs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtlG0KZ2Sec

It's totally apples and oranges.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: BlueTsunami on July 23, 2012, 06:36:03 PM
The floorboard scene is one of the best scenes I've ever watched on TV. No lie. Cranston was transcendental in that scene and deserves the award for it. It helps that the team in general help elevate his ability even higher.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 06:37:04 PM
For me, what makes that scene is the music. Goddamn. Perfect and on cue.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 06:43:02 PM
Jon Hamm is an incredible actor and easily my favorite male TV actor. His work on mad men is unparalleled.

No one believes that...

Cranston is clearly superior on every level. Hamm is a great character actor, but overall the role doesn't demand the type of emotional scenes Cranston has knocked out the park for four seasons.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 06:44:24 PM
I dunno, man. I don't think Cranston really came into his own until season 4. Plus, you haven't seen seasons 4 and 5 of Mad Men.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: fistfulofmetal on July 23, 2012, 06:45:27 PM
What sold that scene for me wasn't Cranston, or the music. They helped obviously. It was actually Skyler. The rage emitting out of Walt was intense and how she was reacting to it and realizing what it meant made everything work.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: BlueTsunami on July 23, 2012, 06:46:38 PM
For me, what makes that scene is the music. Goddamn. Perfect and on cue.

Definitely. Feels like a culmination of all the good things about Breaking Bad. Cranston, the cinematography, scenarios put forth (so writing) and the music and SFX.

What sold that scene for me wasn't Cranston, or the music. They helped obviously. It was actually Skyler. The rage emitting out of Walt was intense and how she was reacting to it and realizing what it meant made everything work.

This too which makes me feel bad for not acknowledging her. If it was any lesser actor Cranston's emotional implosion could have fell flat. That moment when he starts to laugh maniacally, the look on her face. Amazing.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Purple Filth on July 23, 2012, 06:49:36 PM
That Breaking bad Laughing scene would have made the Joker proud.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: BlueTsunami on July 23, 2012, 06:52:43 PM
You know the laugh scene is going to be shown at the Emmys when they run down the names. In one scene you're gonna have Cranston giving everyone goosebumps, standing ovation, on the other you're gonna have Hamm being a douchebag savant with that Dreamworks expression plastered on his face to a tepid applause.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 06:58:14 PM
I dunno, man. I don't think Cranston really came into his own until season 4. Plus, you haven't seen seasons 4 and 5 of Mad Men.

Let me guess, he's still smoking, still suave, still staring down rivals, and throwing in a few puppy dog eyes to chicks when he gets in trouble
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 07:04:17 PM
What sold that scene for me wasn't Cranston, or the music. They helped obviously. It was actually Skyler. The rage emitting out of Walt was intense and how she was reacting to it and realizing what it meant made everything work.

I'm surprised she acted so well there. In season  5 episode 1, she is just staring into space when she looks scared. What happen?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 07:08:20 PM
You know the laugh scene is going to be shown at the Emmys when they run down the names. In one scene you're gonna have Cranston giving everyone goosebumps, standing ovation, on the other you're gonna have Hamm being a douchebag savant with that Dreamworks expression plastered on his face to a tepid applause.

More than likely it will be the part in season 5 where Don chases his wife in violent rage with the threat that he's going to beat her.

But nice try.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 23, 2012, 07:10:55 PM
you cant really comment on jon hamm's acting chops until you see season 4 or 5. the suitcase, the summer man, and any number of scenes in season 5 between him and joan or him and megan sold me on him being tv's best actor. he can sell emotions so fucking subtlely that it always impresses me.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: BlueTsunami on July 23, 2012, 07:13:03 PM
 :smug GET OVER HERE YOU BITCH
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 07:15:19 PM
Man AMC is fucked when BB is over. Mad Men season 6 ain't close by a damn sight, and they've Shitting of the Dead up for bat again - when?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: BlueTsunami on July 23, 2012, 07:18:47 PM
Yup. The commercial breaks for this season of BB have been awkward as fuck too. I seem to remember there being no commercials between the cold open and the show proper. AMC are scurred.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 07:21:54 PM
They also are taking AMC off Dish.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 07:25:11 PM
They're really fucking up with all these faux reality shows and stupid shit. I can understand why they felt The Killing was appealing, but it hasn't worked out. Weak ratings and bad reviews. I heard AMC has another crime show in the works, and The Killing hasn't been renewed yet...so yeah. We'll see.

Walking Dead will soon be their sole bread and butter. They better find a show to replace BB and Mad Men in the next couple years
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 07:26:55 PM
Doesn't AMC have an adaptation of World War Z coming or is that a film?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Purple Filth on July 23, 2012, 07:31:26 PM
They also are taking AMC off Dish.

They are already off and it didn't stop the premiere from doing well by BB standards.

I agree its gonna be rough when BB and Mad Men are done but they have one more year for BB and i guess MM will be out by then as well.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 07:35:28 PM
amc is still on my dish ???

Mad Men will have maybe 2 more seasons. They want it to encompass the entire 1960's.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: ZephyrFate on July 23, 2012, 07:35:58 PM
Mad men has 7 seasons so they have until 2014 pretty locked up
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Purple Filth on July 23, 2012, 07:41:01 PM
amc is still on my dish ???

Mad Men will have maybe 2 more seasons. They want it to encompass the entire 1960's.


Really? Some already don't have it and had to watch it on streams and shit, i guess its going on a phase thing?

2 more seasons should be able to keep them going for a while but they better hope they can get another hit to keep going
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Eel O'Brian on July 23, 2012, 09:42:59 PM
Doesn't AMC have an adaptation of World War Z coming or is that a film?

film

Walking Dead will soon be their sole bread and butter. They better find a good show

ftfy
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Himu on July 23, 2012, 09:54:08 PM
The Shitting Dead, as bad as it is, still brings in ratings. So that's something!
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 23, 2012, 11:42:42 PM
Second half of Walking Dead S2 was great. If they  can continue that momentum, the show could be very good

I wonder what take on anti-heroes will AMC come up with next. I'd love to see another mob show arise, preferably a period piece to avoid 1:1 Sopranos comparisons. Wasn't there talk of AMC doing a show based on Goodfellas, actually?
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Purple Filth on July 24, 2012, 01:26:56 AM
Never watched Walking Dead and i still have no intention to
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: bdoughty on July 24, 2012, 08:14:58 PM
I can understand why they felt The Killing was appealing, but it hasn't worked out. Weak ratings and bad reviews.

Not season one?  It was the second best reviewed new show of that year by critics.  The second season not so much, but far from anything produced, created by or starting Whitney Cummings.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: CajoleJuice on July 25, 2012, 12:08:12 AM
jon hamm always makes the same goddamn fucking face during emotional moments. maybe cranston does the same shit, but it never stood out to me. i realize i'm bringing this discussion back up, but i only just today watched the second episode of this season of BB. show is fucking amazing.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 25, 2012, 12:41:38 AM
second ep was waaay better than the premier
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: BlueTsunami on July 25, 2012, 12:45:57 AM
The slope since the premiere has been upwards for me. I wonder if they can maintain this momentum but its only like 8 episodes? So maybe they can.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: brawndolicious on July 25, 2012, 02:08:39 AM
Well it's going to "slope up" to a fucking M60 so they better.
Title: Re: Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Post by: G The Resurrected on July 25, 2012, 03:03:48 AM
Between last season's lack luster acting and this year's horrible acting I don't know what to think. I personally loved gustavo's character and his death, but everyone's acting just bothers me to no end. Season 1-3 feel different in comparison to 4-5 so far.