Breaking Bad? yup...it's got us. we are addicted.

[NRaleighLiberal]

We loved Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, always look forward to the next DVD releases of Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men. But we waited until just a few months ago to delve into Breaking Bad (actually reactivating Netflix streaming, because disc 1 was on a long wait for 6 months). First season, yeah, pretty good. Second season - hmmm....how to stop at just a few episodes.

Midway into season 3 - holy shit - we are planning long marathons. Incredible writing and acting, suspense - I don't think it is going to take us long to get through to the end (and then, like in the series above we loved and finished, the sadness that it is over).

That pink teddy bear...the floating eye. Brilliant.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Never touch the stuff.

I know better, it's addictive, like meth!

I mean, even LEGO is addicted:

[hlthe2b]

2. Watching that series finale and knowing it was over was so damned hard...

This song was played on the promos for the finale... Incredibly haunting... Takes me back...

&feature=player_detailpage#t=52

[pokerfan]

3. Along with the pink teddy bear (season 2 spoilers)

and since you're already in season three... if you take the names of the season two episodes that open in b&w with the floating eye, etc.

1. "Seven Thirty-Seven"
2. "Grilled"
3. "Bit by a Dead Bee"
4. "Down"
5. "Breakage"
6. "Peekaboo"
7. "Negro y Azul"
8. "Better Call Saul"
9. "4 Days Out"
10. "Over"
11. "Mandala"
12. "Phoenix"
13. "ABQ"

forms the phrase, "737 Down Over ABQ"

http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Seven_Thirty-Seven_Down_Over_ABQ

[Heddi]

4. oooh that's neat

I never saw that before!

[pokerfan]

5. And of course

everyone knows why the 3rd episode of the 3rd season was titled. I.F.T.

So many fun little easter eggs throughout the series.

[Heddi]

6. I binge-watched seasons 1-4 over the course of, like, a day :D

not really, but I could easily chew through a season in 2 days.

I was off work for surgery recovery and had nothing else to do. I started watching without my husband. Now he wants to watch it, so when we're done with Homeland (finishing up season 1 tonight) we'll start on BB.

I can't wait to watch it again. It was up and down, and some seasons better than others, but I think I got a massive ulcer from season 5...holy sheet

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. I did the same thing.

Watched the entire series in less than ten days. For those not aware, you can find the remaining episodes that Netflix does not have up yet on other sites.

[Duer 157099]

12. I found another one while watching the marathon last weekend

I've seen most of the episodes multiple times already, but somehow I had missed this little gem: (spoilers possible below for those who are still watching)





















Notice what film is playing in the background when Gus visits Hector at the nursing home, the time when he brings Jesse.

Bridge Over the River Kwai!

and you keep hearing the train whistle in the background. Just like Hector's bell-ringing keeps appearing in various scenes in various ways.

Train wreck indeed!

I see something new each time I watch them, still.

[Heddi]

26. That's neat, too. I think when I re-watch with my husband

I'm going to notice a bunch of the things that I didn't notice the first time. Also I will notice foreshadowing since I now know what happens in future episodes (but didn't back then)

[nirvana555]

10. Whoa, poker fan... I thought I knew a whole hell of a lot of interesting

Info. about BB, but that I did not know. It's almost unbelievable to me that there are human beings on this planet that are such geniuses as Vince Gilligan and the other writers. For me, every season got better and better and better. When Anthony Hopkins wrote the now famous letter to Brian Cranston, he echoed my exact feelings. To see such brilliance is so mind-blowing it just takes our breathe away. I know that sounds so corny, but my God, there was something about this show that seems almost other worldly.....And just think about the titles of some of the episodes....I mean the double-entendres were amazing.

[pokerfan]

20. The Breaking Bad Wiki is a great resource

I would watch an episode and then read the corresponding entry.

http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Breaking_Bad_episodes

Then I would listen to the Breaking Bad Insider podcast where Kelley Dixon (series editor) talks with the cast and crew of the show.

http://podbay.fm/show/311058181

[Sheldon Cooper]

21. The BrBA Wiki really is a great resource, but it is loaded with spoilers.

Be very cautious if you are looking at it before you finish the series.

[pokerfan]

22. If you don't read ahead

and limit yourself to just the episode recaps, I think one would be all right.

[Sheldon Cooper]

23. Yes, I think you're right.

But if you're looking to learn more about certain characters, so you read their individual bio page, you will find out their fate immediately.

So, don't read the bio pages!!!

[pokerfan]

24. Absolutely

That's why I linked directly to the episode summaries. Anything other than those and you are begging to be spoiled.

Of course, the insider podcasts were created in real time so it's impossible for those to contain spoilers aside from little hints and fakes from Gilligan himself, which is part of the fun.

[nolabear]

7. We binge-watched it too. Amazing, isn't it?

Brilliant direction, brilliant character development, shocking turns, and it's a hell of an art to make someone so despicable and likeable at the same time.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. yes - great shows do that - Tony Soprano for sure, not so much for Nucky Thompson or Don Draper

their despicable side overwhelmed much of the sympathy possible for their characters.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. I watched almost the whole marathon last week - was glued to the TV.

I didn't see it when it first aired, didn't think I'd like it, but after all the good reviews decided I'd watch the first re-run episode just to see what all the fuss was about - and was instantly hooked. Great acting, all kinds of unexpected plot twists, fascinating study of moral corruption.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. It happens.

We did marathons, too.

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. If you haven't seen it, watch the HBO series "Deadwood"

If you have HBO, then you have HBOGO and you can watch all the series they have done.

I found "Deadwood" to be particularly enthralling as well, and binge watched that. If you don't have HBO/HBOGO and are getting Boardwalk Empire on DVD, then I'm sure Deadwood is available as well. If you haven't seen it, I heartily recommend it.

[nolabear]

30. I was so in love with Deadwood it hurt.

Then when they betrayed me by stopping it I just got bitter. Incredible everything. I still miss it.

[A HERETIC I AM]

31. Yup. I think there was plenty of story left too.

It was entirely too well done to be only 3 seasons.

Robin Weigert, the actor who played "Calamity Jane" was just fantastic in that role.

[nolabear]

32. She, Ian McShane and Wm Sanderson kept me coming back.

And that Amazing Western-Shakespearian writing!

[A HERETIC I AM]

34. Yes! The dialogue was superb. n/t

[Initech]

15. Wait until you get to the last four episodes!

Not to give away anything but the proverbial shit hits the fan in "Ozymandias".

[Sheldon Cooper]

19. To'hajiilee and Ozymandius are probably the best two hours of

anything I've ever seen. Just outstanding in every possible way. Incredible.

[Heddi]

27. Totally. I don't think I breathed while watching those episodes

I mean, the entire Season 5 was just holding my breath for an hour a week.

I swear I got an ulcer from that last season. My cats kept looking at me funny when I'd watch an episode b/c I'm like OH! Gah! EEP! NOONONONONONONONONO! oh god oh god....eeeee ha haha

[Sheldon Cooper]

28. Oh, me too.

I did not breathe through Ozymandius, right up until the end. And I'm of the belief that everyone in that episode should get an Emmy, including baby Holly!

[Heddi]

29. I agree with you

that just made me...gosh I get anxious just thinking about it....

[nolabear]

33. + a brazillion.

We binge watched but I always had to take breaks because I literally hurt from tension after a while!

[Locut0s]

16. Let me just put this here...

Fantastic interview between Adam Savage and creator Vince Gilligan.

I actually have yet to see BB myself and I still enjoyed about 40+ mins of this interview immensely. Gives a really great idea of what it might have been like behind the scenes. Note I don't know if there are any spoilers past the first 40mins or so.

[nirvana555]

35. I just watched the whole interview and it was wonderful! Thanks for posting :-) n/t

[sammythecat]

40. You have to do yourself a big favor

and check it out.

Best thing I've ever seen on television. Interesting characters, superb acting, and brilliant writing. I so enjoyed looking forward to Sunday nights.

It never wastes your time or insults your intelligence. No red herrings, there's a reason for everything. You can tell this was a labor of love for the writers and they put a lot of effort into making what I think is a masterpiece of television. It was a sad day indeed when it came to an end.

I don't know if it's something you'd be into or not, but I liked to read the recaps and analysis at several sites. Vulture.com was a good one, but my favorite was a relatively obscure one at www.mydogsaretiredofhearingthis.blogspot.com. This guy's recaps blew the others away in my opinion. It was a shame that he'd get very little, or no, feedback.

So, check it out. I bet you'll be glad you did and for ever after you will not hear one of those little bells with the button on top without thinking of Br Bd.

[Locut0s]

17. My parents binge watched it too. I want to see The Wire...

I have yet to see BB, probably will eventually. My father couldn't stop talking about it lol.

The series I keep telling myself to see is The Wire. I saw the first 2 episodes and could immediately see it was very very worth watching but have yet to see more.

[MadrasT]

18. Yep... I binge watched the whole thing.

Could not stop watching.

It is awesome.

[warrior1]

25. good acting in BB

but I really didn't like the show.



If WW had excepted the help from his friends from Gray Matter, he could have ask to start working for them. Pay them back the $$ he owed then if he was this great chemist, find a cure for cancer himself.

Of course, I know that wasn't the point of the show.


I've got the last 7 ep to go.

Too many people died because of WW. I was always hoping he would get caught.

but that's just me.

I don't think I could watch it over again. It's too depressing.

[Whisp]

36. I couldn't stand the sight of Walter during most of the show.

I think he is one of the most despicable characters I have ever seen, with his greed and selfishness and hairy chest pounding self appointed lord over it all.

I especially couldn't stand seeing him in his shorts.

but what a great actor, what a show!

[mucifer]

38. Yeah, even in the beginning I thought he was a selfish entitled ass.

Day one he didn't care about killing destroying people with his extra pure meth.

Great acting on the show.

BTW I don't agree that the theme is that our bad health care system drove him to do what he did. If he lived in a single payer country, he may or may not have been part of an obscure medical trial with an excellent doctor. Not everyone in the state can see the best doctor in the state.

[Whisp]

41. Another thing I found to be odd, maybe someone can explain:

Him being a teacher with a salary of about 45,000, how The Hell do you afford such a big house with a Pool?

Skylar wasn't pulling in much money and I believe that Walter left Gray Matter with no money settlement at all...

but I have noticed that in tv and movies - the homes are usually very big and abnormal to most in the real world. Probably done for some propaganda reasons.

[Sheldon Cooper]

42. Based on the show's timeline,

the home would have been purchased around the early to mid-90s, when it was extremely easy to buy a big house with a pool and etc. The trick would have been to be able to hang onto it when the bubble burst. Part of Walt's narrative is that they were so broke - living paycheck to paycheck, only having $7K to his name, which he had to borrow from his retirement account in order to buy the RV, Skyler reprimanding him for using the 'wrong' credit card to buy printer paper, etc.

When he was given his death sentence, he knew there would be no way Skyler would be able to keep the house once he was gone. Hence, the get rich quick method of cooking as much meth as he could before he died.

[Whisp]

43. alright, that is a good explanation - a real life one.

I should have seen that, but didn't.

[NewJeffCT]

37. I'm midway through Season 3 now

I'm trying to get through at least 2 episodes a day. Good stuff, excellent writing - I've hardly seen dialogue that seems forced/unnatural and/or out of place.

I'm at the point now where (spoilers) [font color=white] Hank is in the hospital after being shot up by the two Mexican cartel brothers. Walter, Jr, Marie and Skylar are there waiting.[/font]

[caraher]

39. Goofy comedians' take on the show from Great Britain

[Whisp]

44. She looks like the actor in the Jane Austin Fight club vid: