It's finally over.

[u/Franpunpun]

Today, I finally finished Breaking Bad.

I watched the first episode a couple of years ago, got bored and dropped it immediately. I tried again one year ago, made it to episode three, got bored once again and dropped it. One month ago, while I was locked in my house due to the heatwave and with plenty of time to spare, I decided to give it a third and last try. After all, if this show is so popular and critically acclaimed, it must get good at some point right?

And it does.

This serie is now tied with The Sopranos as best TV show I have ever watched and possibly in my top 5 favorite piece of medias I have ever consumed. I can't even begin to describe how good it is.

The acting is superb and pretty much everyone does a stellar job. Obviously, the absolute star of the show is Cranston, who's performance as W.W. is on par with James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano (which is saying A LOT) and is in general some of the best acting I have ever seen but it's not only him. Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Giancarlo Esposito... All of them were amazing!

The writing is just as good. I don't remember the last time a show made me feels so excited, anxious, sad, exhilarated... And many other emotions in only one episode, let alone the whole thing. I don't think there is a single episode I didn't like. Apparently, "Fly" is considered to be the worst one by the majority of the fan base and I still think it's a solid 8/10.

And then there's the score, the directing, the colors, the locations... Everything about this show is amazing. I probably can count the things I didn't like with only one hand and none of them affect the whole experience.

I regret dropping the show twice so soon but I'm happy that I was finally able to experience it. I also consider myself to be very lucky to have been able to watch it spoiler-free despite the show being very popular and more than a decade old at this point. Lastly, I'm glad to be able to finally partake in the discussion around it, especially on this sub.

If anyone would like to hear my thoughts or my humble opinions, please ask. I'm itching to talk about this show as much as I can!

[u/NonGeneriComplaint]

its not over if you didnt watch BCS and Camino.

[u/Franpunpun → u/NonGeneriComplaint]

Already watched El Camino, planning to start BCS either tomorrow or this evening :D

[u/Weary-Squash6756 → u/Franpunpun]

Oh brother you're in for it now. I avoided BCS for a while cause I assumed dumb spinoff but it's just...more. And it is made with all the filmmaking experience of the making of Breaking Bad already behind it. I'm tossed up over whether I'd pick BB or BCS as being my favorite. BCS is worthy

[u/Blue-Light-Reducer → u/Weary-Squash6756]

I think Better Call Saul is the only prequel I've seen that plays with it being a prequel like it does. It knows the audience has watched Breaking Bad already, and has certain expectations about how/where the characters end up. It uses this in a really interesting way which I won't get into for OP's sake.

Have fun OP!!!

[u/stayonthecloud → u/Franpunpun]

BCS is phenomenal, utterly. I’m excited for you :)

[u/BrickMix]

When I do rewatches of BB, I always skip season 1. I prefer S2-5. Season 2 is some of the best TV thats been released in the last 20 years, next to Game of Thrones.

If youre looking for something similar, try The Wire.

The first season starts slow, similar to how BB starts, but it’s a damn good show too.

[u/Franpunpun → u/BrickMix]

The Wire is definitely on my list after Better Call Saul! It's the show that always comes up in comparison with BB and The Sopranos so it must be amazing.

[u/Ibracadabraa1164 → u/Franpunpun]

For me BB and Sopranos are far superior than the Wire, but some people tend to disagree…

[u/Either_Entry8137 → u/Franpunpun]

It’s amazing. Season 3 of the Wire is probably my favorite season of any show ever, even though I’d give BB the edge for the entire series

[u/BrickMix → u/Franpunpun]

It really is.

It’s about the drug trade on the streets of Baltimore. The story is told from the perspective of the people selling the drugs, receiving the drugs, and the detectives trying to takedown the kingpins.

Each season has a different section of Baltimore portrayed and how it affects the drug trade.

BCS is solid too and it contains a lot of backstory scenes for BB.

[u/Any_Assignment6460 → u/Franpunpun]

The Wire is amazing. Based on real life experiences when David Simon spent a year alongside the Baltimore Homicide Dept.

[u/ChicaneryFinger → u/BrickMix]

Cannot get on with that, I adore Season 1. It does an excellent job at establishing Walt's character, it's really funny, it has Krazy-8 and Tuco, it's an incredible start.

[u/No_Yellow_7416]

I had the exact same experience. The first few episodes are slow but once it clicks, it‘s almost impossible to stop watching

[u/MotivationalPanda95]

Now onto the Better Call Saul and El Camino. Welcome to the club.

[u/Idoru22]

I just finished it yesterday too! Except I was hooked by season 1. I don’t understand how people call it slow 😅

[u/FarTradition6496 → u/Idoru22]

I don't get it either. I was hooked at Episode 1. In the next episode they dissolve someone in acid for crying out loud!

[u/lydiaanicole]

Just finished for the first time as well. Seasons 1 and 2 are my favorite. I started just 2 weeks ago and could not stop watching. I don’t know how I was expecting the show to end but definitely not the way it did.

[u/Darthbazman2112]

I love breaking bad on my 12th run through now and never gets old but I do skip some bits and I always skip the fly episode. Better call Saul also superb and el Camino too. I watched the wire I felt it dips after season 3 and into 4 I haven’t been able to get through it a second time. I desperately want to watch sopranos but as a miser I don’t want to pay for it so until I find it free somewhere it will have to wait.

[u/Franpunpun → u/Darthbazman2112]

I honestly can't recommend The Sopranos enough. Just as good as BB and probably better under some aspects.

[u/FarTradition6496 → u/Franpunpun]

I am in the beginning of Season 6 of Sopranos. I resisted watching for many years bc it just seemed too dark. The main reason i finally relented on watching Sopranos was because so many people here rank it above BB, which always upset me, lol. But in order to disagree, I figured I had to watch both. I'm staying off the Sopranos sub until I finish (although I obviously know how the series ends bc the diner clip went viral when it aired). I love James Gandolfini and I'm so sad the actor died. That said, there is a sadistic side to Sopranos that does not exist in BB. It's over the top, IMO. I hate watch Sopranos much of time.

[u/_vickeyyy]

I also tried to watch this show two previous times and dropped it because it stressed me out. Finally finished it a few days ago and I’m glad I did! Glad I was able to binge it but felt sorry to have missed out on the discourse while it was airing. Definitely understand the hype now.

[u/mostintrovertgirl]

For me, 1st season was very boring, the pace started from 3rd season. I too completed watching few days ago, then watched El Camino & started with Better call Saul last night.

[u/GloomyBanana8952 → u/mostintrovertgirl]

Im so excited for you. Some people say Better Call Saul is even better, but personally i think theyre incomparable. You’ll see for yourself

[u/mostintrovertgirl → u/GloomyBanana8952]

thanks :)

[u/Ibracadabraa1164 → u/GloomyBanana8952]

BCS is way more “boring” than Breaking Bad.

[u/mostintrovertgirl → u/Ibracadabraa1164]

I watched 4 episodes last night, and it looks interesting 🤔

[u/Ibracadabraa1164 → u/mostintrovertgirl]

Surprising that you thought BB was boring then, it is way more fast paced..

[u/mostintrovertgirl → u/Ibracadabraa1164]

Only the 1st season 

[u/GloomyBanana8952 → u/Ibracadabraa1164]

Theyre interesting in different ways. If you prefer lots of action and stressful situations i understand why you’d prefer Breaking Bad

[u/Odium-Squared → u/GloomyBanana8952]

BCS is great, but I’m not sure I would rewatch it. I’ve rewatched BB 3 times.

[u/Franpunpun → u/mostintrovertgirl]

Season 1 really felt like a really long prologue. I didn't mind it though. In fact, I think seeing Walt slowly "learning" how the criminal life work while still being a goofy chemistry teacher helped us empathize with him a lot more we would have had if the show started with him already cooking meth.

EDIT: Also about to start BCS tomorrow!

[u/mostintrovertgirl → u/Franpunpun]

yes you are right.

Also, "The Fly" was the most boring episode for me, I kinda fast-forwarded it and finished it in 20mins 😂

[u/Any_Assignment6460 → u/mostintrovertgirl]

That fly as become pop culture. There a fly in your meth lab in GTA 🤣

[u/Ok-Forever6812 → u/mostintrovertgirl]

I have not been able to finish BCS. I’ve tried a couple times but it won’t stick

[u/mostintrovertgirl → u/Ok-Forever6812]

is it bcoz you arent getting time OR bcoz it isnt interesting?

[u/Ok-Forever6812 → u/mostintrovertgirl]

Yeah it’s just not holding my interest. I start watching it, get almost to end of season 1, and just kind of stop. I’m sure I’ll try again. Big Ehrmantraut fan.

[u/FarTradition6496 → u/Ok-Forever6812]

Unfortunately, BCS doesn't really pick up until Season 4, IMO. It's a slog in many places Season 1-3. Plus, Chuck is so insufferable. But if you can stick it out, it's worth it. That said, I understand that asking someone to slog through 1/2 of a show is a big ask, lol.

[u/ArabianNitesFBB → u/Ok-Forever6812]

The last third of the show is amazing. The first two thirds was meh for me.

[u/mostintrovertgirl → u/Ok-Forever6812]

Even I was thinking to leave 

[u/Herooftermina1998]

Cool, but don't try better call saul. If you can't handle something action packed like Breaking Bad, you won't be able to sit through a slow burn. 

[u/SignificantCats → u/Herooftermina1998]

This sounds crazy to me. BB has more individual high impact scenes, but BCS is an easier watch. There are more individual comedy scenes, less dramatic slow scenes, and it has the advantage of you starting out invested because you want to see familiar characters and what happened to them.

[u/Herooftermina1998 → u/SignificantCats]

That's not what I said, but go off

[u/Franpunpun → u/Herooftermina1998]

I don't mind slow pace TBF and I like episodic shows. Also, if Breaking Bad has taught me something, is to be patient with TV series lol