TV Review: Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Many love Breaking Bad so I know many people wont agree with my view on this show.

“When chemistry teacher Walter White is diagnosed with StageIII cancer and given only two years to live, he decides he has nothing to lose.He lives with his teenage son, who has cerebral palsy, and his wife, in NewMexico. Determined to ensure that his family will have a secure future, Waltembarks on a career of drugs and crime. He proves to be remarkably proficientin this new world as he begins manufacturing and selling methamphetamine withone of his former students. The series tracks the impacts of a fatal diagnosison a regular, hard working man, and explores how a fatal diagnosis affects hismorality and transforms him into a major player of the drug trade.” - IMDB

To begin with, I by no means thought Breaking Bad was a bad show. I simply felt like Breaking Bad was messy at times. What I mean by this statement is that, the story, performances and the direction was done perfectly well. Where I had an issue with show was that it felt like this show veered of the main story arch too many times. When we focused on the character of Walter White, it was fascinating and engaging but as soon as we cut to another character and followed them around, it felt too mundane.

I think that Breaking Bad would have heavily benefited from having fewer episodes. I know for a fact that many would disagree with me but I felt this show definitely required tightening up.

Apart from the pacing of the show, it was decently well made. This being said, I still struggle to comprehend why Breaking Bad developed such a cult following as it did.  I really resented the Skyler White, she was always nagging and just in a sour mood. This made a slow paced show like Breaking Bad even more tiresome and to be perfectly honest I could not care less about her subplot. Talking about subplots, this show seemed to love using them. All I really had an interest for was for the Walter White character and the development of his character.

Overall Breaking Bad is overrated show.

2.5/5 Starrs

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TV Review: Jessica Jones (2015)

This is yet another living proof that the partnership between Netflix and Marvel is a profitable one. Similarly to Daredevil, Jessica Jones follows a gritty real superhero as they face a single villain throughout the whole show while dealing with their own internal mayhem.

Ever since her short-lived stint as a superhero ended in tragedy, Jessica Jones has been rebuilding her personal life and career as a hot-tempered, sardonic private detective in Hell's Kitchen, New York City. Plagued by self-loathing and a wicked case of PTSD, Jessica battles demons from within and without, using her extraordinary abilities as an unlikely champion for those in need... especially if they're willing to cut her a check. -IMDB

Just like Daredevil, this show has a very strong villain (Killgrave) played by a very strong actor (David Tennant). His breath-taking performance in this role has made this my favourite most memorable villain in both the marvel TV and Movie franchise. Marvel, as well as other superhero films seems to be struggling with creating distinguishable villains with any sort of depth. They all too much have been relying on Lowkey simply because has been a fan favourite but at this point he is oversaturated as a villain and no longer seems to be much of a threat. Every other villain has been more forgettable than the last, excluding Daredevils Kingpin. Kingpin playing Vincent D'Onofrio was robust; at least significantly superior to any of the marvel movie films but Killgrave has arguably outshines him in this web series. Perhaps being a fan of Doctor Who aids for my love of David Tennants character.

Both Jessica Jones and Luke Cages characters were done well. Overall the show is very difficult to fault. Killgrave seemed significantly a more interesting character than the lead character and the “hero” of the show. As the audience we are sent along with Jessica Jones in a rollercoaster of whether or not villain can be helped. There is no doubt that Killgrave is an awful human being but the show makers have purposely put story arcs and scenes in the show to make us feel somewhat sympathetic towards him.

4/5 Stars.

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