Breaking Bad and Dexter (RIP 2013)

Two long running series recently ended, both about killers and both about family, but completely different on almost every other level.  Dexter finished its seven year run with what should have been a bang, but more like a whimper as well as leaving it wide open for future possibilities, whatever they might be.  The other show which just wrapped up was Breaking Bad, where after five seasons of escalating violence and tension wrapped with that bang Dexter should have, providing a definite and concluding ending.

Dexter probably reached its high point a couple of years ago and many people say it should have ended then.  When Dexter’s wife was killed by John Lithgow’s character in the fourth season the show had never been more exciting and more dangerous.  Season five carried on and would have made a good ending point with Dexter dealing with his grief, or as much as he could feel such, but as it was we got two more years out of the show seeming to wind down as it went.

Breaking Bad never felt like it was on a break, even though it was broken up into seasons as the show took place in a single time period of one year.  As previously mentioned, the tension escalated episode to episode, year to year.  The show was frantic at times, manic in its energy as Walter tried to keep all the threads of his life together both personal and criminal.  Bryan Cranston’s portrayal of a family man with seemingly no options left but to turn to lawlessness is probably one of the greatest television performances ever seen.  The great thing about this show unlike Dexter was that it did not overstay its welcome.  The show was mapped out and there was an ending in mind that came to fruition never seeming too long nor too short.

Both shows promoted family at their core, underneath it all Dexter and Walter tried to keep their families safe in spite of their actions and both ultimately failed.  Dexter lost a wife, a sister and his children while Walter lost his entire family.  And the loss could have been prevented if it was not for the characters own narcissistic reasons.  Sure, Dexter had a problem akin to addiction, but could have stopped if he wanted to.  By the end, he sacrificed his future happiness to give his son a life free of possible insecurities.  As for Walter, he finally admitted he didn’t do it for family – he did it for himself.  Walter loved his family, more than anything, and though he could never do so fully, redeemed himself by the series finale.

Love, loss, redemption and corruption, just a few of the themes Breaking Bad and Dexter have in common, yet two completely different shows in most every other aspect.  Some will say all the shows did was glorify killing and drugs and yes they might have done so a little, but if all that was taken away from the show was that, then view them again because they were far more than just surface observations.  A sad day for television but hopefully one that will only help it get better as these two shows rewrote the book on what could be done in a weekly serial, changing the landscape for all those that follow.

Hello Ladies (HBO, 2013)

Hello Ladies is a brand new show from Stephen Merchant about a single guy looking for love and never succeeding.  Does not help if you are almost seven feet tall, gangly and look like a bobble-head, towering above the ladies you are trying to woo and saying all the wrong things.  You have to give it up for Merchant’s character though; he has confidence and seems to be quite the optimist.  Incredibly funny from one half of the Gervais/Merchant team in a sea of comedies that are not anywhere near as smart or as brilliant as this.  Definitely worth your time and your laughs, check it out.

5 out of 5