Chuck Klosterman On Breaking Bad

Take some time to read this excellent Klosterman essay on Why AMC's Breaking Bad beats Mad Men, The Sopranos, and The Wire.. The title is a bit incinderary but it's also meant to be subjective. It says nothing bad about the other three series in the title but aims to make a point as to why Walter White's tale is more engaging.

Yet there's one profound difference between this series and the other three, and it has to do with its handling of morality: Breaking Bad is the only one built on the uncomfortable premise that there's an irrefutable difference between what's right and what's wrong, and it's the only one where the characters have real control over how they choose to live.

The argument continues from there. It's a quick read but a highly satisfying one.

While I do agree with the majority of the reading, it's worth noting that the way a show wraps itself up can make a world of difference. Fortunately, I've no doubt that Vince Gilligan and his talented staff will take their Breaking Bad story to exactly the right point of closure.