I'm increasingly wary of new TV recommendations, especially after the all that post-meth cook smoke was blown up so many collective asses that it got tiresome to even be involved in the show's culture (disclaimer: I like Breaking Bad but it isn't the be all and end all of TV drama) and because to even participate in conversations around the show without either being buffeted by so much screeching enthusiasm or labelled a disgruntled naysayer for having one bad word to say about any of the many elements of the show was an absolute impossibility, I tend to try and distance myself from the new stuff.
However, HBO have gone and put out something that piqued my intrigue so much that I just couldn't stay away. So instead I am going to spend the next couple of hundred words blowing smoke up the collective asses of those of you who read this. I love the series format on TV, though I often regret the time investment, especially considering the way it's frequently so reliant on commissioning and meeting episode quotas. It often feels like creators are wrestling with network and fan expectations and thus things pan out in uneven and bizarre ways. Sometimes this is good; it was great to see Jesse's character evolved into a fuller role in Breaking Bad than showrunner Vince Gilligan had intended, and sometimes this is bad: cancellation of shows like Deadwood, shows being dragged on past their sell by date like The X-Files and et cetera, et cetera et cetera. It’s an obstacle that few shows can guarantee that they can surmount.
