Greatest show of the 21st century so far

[Hash]

write-in: Parks and Rec. Aubrey Plaza is one of the greatest human beings to have set foot on this generally horrible planet.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

1. The Wire
2. Game of Thrones

3. Breaking Bad
4. The Sopranos





5. Mad Men
















































































The Update

[Leftbehind]

Game of Thrones.

no u

[Goldwater]

Write-in: Spongebob (pre 2005)

This is also a good choice.

[memphis]

Madmen is the greatest in terms of character development. Peggy's slow evolution from coy Brooklyn secretary to driven, serious Madwoman. Joanie's contrasting roles as queen of the office but personal life in shambles. And of course, Don Draper, invented man of mystery extraordinaire, and his circuitous quest from poverty to advertising demigod. Stylistically beautiful and often understated. And of all of it about the shallow consumerist culture we all embrace.

Breaking Bad, in many ways the opposite of MadMen, has been a 100mph joyride from the first episode. Except for Walt's slow transition toward the dark side, the characters are less complex than in Mad Men, but this is made up for with heartstopping cliffhangers and a plot driven narrative that is as addictive and pure as the meth Walt cooks. Heavy themes of terminal illness, insanity, family loyalties, and the complicated politics of drugs policy all intersect beautifully. Frequently grotesque but thoroughly enthralling.

The Update is something else altogether. Initially, one would expect it to be a less ambitious story. No CEO boardroom discussions. No encounters with homicidal druglords. But that's part of the Update's charm. You don't expect much, and then boom, it delivers a sucker punch of a message attacking a broad swath of American institutions. Organized religion. Marriage and the family in the early 21th century. Employment and educational policies. Obesity. Mental illness. It turns out that, despite first impressions, the Update is actually the most ambitious show. It doesn't limit itself to drug wars or advertising culture. One gets a broad breadth of Middle American society, with all its promise and pitfalls. Parents who never give up on their children, even if that paradoxically holds the 31 year old child back. A religion that keeps a man going even as it greatly limits his grasp of reality. Unlike Don Draper or Walt White, Bushie isn't trying to be a Superman. He just wants a plain American Dream. A wife. A house. A job. And of course, he's flawed. We all are. That's what makes his story so compelling. It's relatable. Nobody could be a suave as Don Draper or as cool under fire as Walter White. Bushie is everyman. I vote for Bushie.

[Eraserhead]

Breaking Bad is far better than those others.

Have you watched all of the others?

[Lief 🗽]

Unlike Don Draper or Walt White, Bushie isn't trying to be a Superman. He just wants a plain American Dream. A wife. A house. A job. And of course, he's flawed. We all are. That's what makes his story so compelling. It's relatable. Nobody could be a suave as Don Draper or as cool under fire as Walter White. Bushie is everyman. I vote for Bushie.

Beautiful post!

[opebo]

Breaking Bad is far better than those others.

Have you watched all of the others?

Yes, at least a little bit.