Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is unremarkable.

6 out of 10

 

I'll start by saying that my opinion will not be a popular one. Walter White has audiences and critics swooning. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why.

 

The show follows the life of Walter White, an underachieving chemist who is diagnosed with cancer and begins to cook meth with his former student, and drug addict, Jesse Pinkman. Turns out, their product is the purest ever and the two begin a dark journey to keep their business a secret and their loved ones safe.

 

Long ago I sat down to watch the first 2 episodes. I was not impressed. "Keep watching," they insisted. I was frequently told that it gets good later. It was actually quite comical, people even gave me the exact episode that changed their opinion. For example: "season 2, episode 8 is where it gets good." I can assure you the episode was nothing special.

 

The acting is inconsistent, ranging from riveting to barely passable (I think Aaron Paul was told to throw the words "b***h" and "yo" into his character's dialogue, a power he abuses.). Characters are also inconsistent, acting and behaving completely normal one episode and insane the next. I get that facing your own death and being in high pressure situations is stressful but it just gets exhausting. For example, Walt is fine and then the next episode he is completely insane, chasing a fly around his lab for the full 45 min (season 3, episode 10 aka one of the worst episodes of TV ever). Then the next episode, he is completely fine again!

 

Direction is adequate, occasionally pretentious. The whole black and white extended foreshadowing in season 2 was stupid, especially considering the event it leads up to which makes the whole thing feel like a waste of time. Breaking Bad is at its best when it remains modest.

 

Breaking Bad assumes that it is tense viewing. Many scenes have intense music and it assumes I am on the edge of my seat. It is wrong. I only felt any sort of tension thrice throughout the whole series (yes, I kept track). Perhaps, that was due to my lack of attachment to the characters but it didn't do much for me.

 

So what is it about Breaking Bad that makes it so widely loved? If I had to guess, I'd say it was the edge. This show is more edgy and gritty than some of the other shows on television (especially in its early seasons). However, it isn't too edgy in that most teens are able to tolerate it. Thus, it has become a rite of passage, of sorts.

 

It isn't bad, it just isn't that good. I know what you're thinking, who am I to disagree with all of your friends and every critic out there? I'm Skylar, and I write the purest reviews this side of the Mississippi. Remember my name.

 

Breaking Bad is rated TV-MA

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Tags: Breaking Bad, Bad, Breaking, TV-MA, tvma, drama, amc, television, 

Skins (U.K) starts out edgy and addictive but becomes dark, weird, and semi-ridiculous.

7 out of 10

 

 

Note that this review applies to the U.K version. There is an American version of Skins, it's just terrible. Because the show is from England, it is uncensored. Skins follows a group of British teenagers as they navigate life and find strength in their friendships. Each episode centers on a different character but everyone's lives are largely intertwined.

 

When I began the first season, I was immediately hooked. It all felt so fresh and new. Perhaps it was the fact that everyone had an accent but it was a whole new experience for me. The show expertly deals with heavy and relevant issues among teens such as eating disorders, drug addiction, depression, and so much more. It would seem like the show would be a downer but it isn't! Instead, it mixes complex topics with humor. It should be noted that this show is largely aimed at teens due to the fact that the characters themselves are teens and behave in extremely questionable ways. The whole first season was fantastic. The show was funny yet dramatic (at times) and never failed to entertain.

 

Season 2 centers around the same characters but is a somewhat different. The show is considerably darker. For example, one episode centers on a stalker who stalks one of the regular characters. Throughout the season, she does some pretty crazy (and disturbing) stuff. The show is less humorous, instead opting for a more dramatic script. It succeeds in being heart-wrenching but sometimes takes it too far and becomes downright depressing. That is not to say it isn't enjoyable. The more dramatic side of the show was a great and refreshing aspect to add. The end of season 2 is particularly interesting and left with a cliffhanger. I often found myself marveling at the honesty of the show and found it incredibly enjoyable. After season 2, the show says goodbye to the characters and picks up a new cast in season 3 (every 2 seasons there is a new cast).

 

Season 3 has an all new cast and is (once again) different from its previous season. The show once more opts for a more humorous side and the result is somewhat off-putting. Where the show was once clever, it is now crass. One of the new characters, Cook, is a disgusting human being and made the show uncomfortable. Aside from him, the other characters are still good. The story is still occasionally heart-wrenching and beautiful but is sometimes ridiculous (putting Ecstasy in brownies and feeding them to a mother? Come on). The result (sometimes) feels more like a sitcom than the raw and honest show it once was. It is still fun... enough to make me sit for a 4th season.

 

Season 4 was the darkest and craziest yet. The show now feels entirely different but remains engrossing. The season starts out with a suicide which sets it up for the dark product it was. Some parts were good and enjoyable but towards the end, things get strange. It almost felt like the show's writers were sitting in a room thinking of ways to throw "curveballs to viewers". The show feels a little ridiculous but I tolerated it. After all, how much worse could it get. The answer was a lot worse. The season 4 conclusion was appalling. It completely shocked me, in a very bad way. After it was over, I immediately swore off Skins. I also began to notice a pattern that the show follows every 2 seasons. Season 4 was less than perfect.

 

After season 4, Skins was no longer released in the US (apparently they have different DVD players in England) but all 7 seasons are available on Netflix. I plan to continue watching the show and will add to this review once I finish watching. Overall, Skins is an addicting show but is inconsistent.

 

Skins is rated TV-MA

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Tags: comedy, drama, skins, TV-MA, tvma, TV, television



Sex and the City is a fun and heartfelt look into sex and relationships in the 21st century.

9.75 out of 10

 

Sex and the City is a fun and fantastic story 4 women as they attempt to navigate love, sex, and relationships in modern NYC. Carrie is sex columnist. It is her job to observe and write about sexual trends in NYC, but her analytical tendencies start to conflict with her budding relationship with the mysterious Mr. Big. She narrates the story and acts as the main character. Samantha is a loose and highly sexual woman and believes that women are just as strong as men. She is an independent woman who feels no need to conform to society's norms. Miranda is the definition of a jaded New Yorker. Often cynical and frigid, she serves as the anchor of the group by providing the hard truth. Charlotte is a preppy optimist. A believer in true love, she constantly searches for the man to settle down with and start a family. Together, they team up to conquer the NYC social scene. Sex and the City was such a smash for the simple reason that it's amazing. Each character adds a new dimension to the group and allows any topic to receive a complex analysis. It was a bold show, able to speak candidly about sex. The writing team was able to accomplish something amazing: making the characters feel real. Through witty and occasionally poignant dialogue, each scene feels full and satisfying. Each episode features a "coffee table scene" in which the girls process the events in their life. Each one is complex and hilarious with characters never missing a beat. The show demonstrates a certain finesse by being able to talk about sex but not feel over the top. The girls are strong, independent and ultimately admirable. Sure, they may make questionable decisions... but who doesn't? They are realistic characters who the viewers are able to become very attached. In the first 2 seasons, the show is somewhat rough. During each episode, a topic will be mentioned and then multiple people will be consulted for their opinions. This provides more of an analytical feeling, which is fine but doesn't help viewer attach to the character. The show finds firmer footing in its 3rd season by cutting out confessionals. By creating solid narrative, the show was able to evolve and ultimately become stronger. The show ran 6 seasons, all strong and magnificent. Never once does the show feel stale; each new boyfriend brings something new. Even the returning boyfriends never feel stale. The show was followed by 2 movies and inspired a prequel spin-off. Overall, Sex and the City is a blissful television experience.

 

 

Sex and the City is rated TV-MA

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Tags: tv, television, tvma, TV-MA, HBO, recommended, Sex and the City, Sex, city, Sex in the City

House of Cards is a dark and satisfying political drama

8.5 out of 10

 

House of Cards is a new Netflix show aired entirely on the internet. Dark and slick, it serves up good, albeit slow moving drama. Frank Underwood (Spacey) is a congressman who thinks he is going to get the Secretary of State nomination but the president elect screws him over. Hungry for revenge, he embarks on a twisted quest to destroy the presidential administration from the inside. Frank himself is a very interesting character; an intriguing anti-hero. The young reporter he manipulates, Zoe, is even more interesting and makes one question the price of ambition. Lighting is dark and sets a dreary and daunting tone to the show. Music creates a very tense atmosphere and manages to keep you on your toes. Characters are complex and have their own ambitions and personalities which makes the show as interesting as it is. Wonderfully directed and skillfully acted, it makes you question the need for cable. If a show this good can be made in the internet, why should I pay for cable? One thing I must note is that the show is very political and talky. To be honest it is the definition of no action show. However, if you can stick with it, you may be greatly rewarded. It has one season available on Netflix and the second season is set to air in 2014. Overall, House of Cards is a slow but intriguing political drama worth considering.

 

House of Cards is rated TV-MA

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Tags: drama, tv, television, TV-MA, tv, tvma, recommended, House of Cards, cards, political

Game of Thrones is a television triumph

9 out of 10

 

 

Game of Thrones is an absolute gem. Utterly engrossing and addicting, it is the definition of quality television. Welcome to the land of Westeros where summer can last for years, and winter even longer. Noble houses rule the land all united under a single king, protector of the realm. Lord Stark of Winterfell knows that winter is coming. He begins a journey up the political ladder. Complex plotlines and interesting plot twists follow and he learns that in the game of thrones, you either win... or you die. There is no question, Game of Thrones is worth the hype. It may start out slow but it achieves great success and provides great reward for those who can stick with it. Game of Thrones is the definition of excess; excess violence, sex, and money. Make no mistake, it may look like Lord of the Rings, but this is an entirely different ballgame. The violence is gratuitous and occasionally cringe inducing. Anyone who doesn't handle violence well will most likely not find comfort in this show. Sex is also extremely prevalent in this show, which I do not have a problem with except it doesn't always service the story. Occasionally, graphic sexual content is thrown in just for the sake of it and can lead to some very uncomfortable moments. I understand the show is on HBO and is allowed freedoms but those freedoms do not need to be used constantly. This show also has a very large budget, and it is used very well. A whole new world is created filled with lush scenery and interesting sets. Each landscape and city offers a new and interesting setting. The characters and actors are stunning. The characters are complex and never fail to entertain. There is a healthy balance of characters I love and characters I love to hate. Multidimensional characters allow for a more complex and dynamic viewing experience. The plot is also amazing with betrayal and intrigue around every corner. The show certainly does a great job mixing it up as it will kill off a major character without a blink of an eye. It has aired 3 seasons and has been renewed for a fourth. Overall, Game of Thrones is a very mature and complex fantasy absolutely worth checking out.

 

 

Game of Thrones is rated TV-MA

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Tags: Game of Thrones, Throne, Thrones, Game, HBO, TV, television, drama, action, fantasy, tvma, TV-MA, recommended, 

Weeds is fun but its plotlines get repetitive in its middle seasons.

8.25 out of 10

 

Weeds is brimming with colorful and interesting characters and some very interesting plot twists. There is no way around it, Weeds is a highly addictive series. Well, at least it starts out that way. Nancy Botwin is your average soccer mom from California. Recently widowed, she is forced to start selling weed to maintain her lifestyle and support her family. The show follows her struggle to balance work and family as well as manage the dangers of being a drug dealer. Nancy turns out to be the  ultimate badass. Mary Louise Parker is absolutely hilarious and does an excellent job with the character. Her supporting characters are what really make the show shine. Each character has their own personality that makes them likeable in their own way. Weeds has an excellent first 3 seasons. In fact, I watched the first 3 seasons in 1 week (season 2 and 3 on one weekend). Weeds first 3 seasons were edgy and fun. They had raunchy humor but also a lot of emotion which made it very easy to feel attached to the characters. In season 4, the show seems to become less inspired. After some major changes at the end of the 3rd season, it almost feels like an entirely different show. Season 4 is by no means bad, just different. Season 5 is similar but season 6 caused me issues. It felt less anchored. Again, it is not bad, just not nearly as good as the first 3 seasons. Season 7 is able to stabilize the show and bring is to a satisfying (albeit strange) conclusion in its 8th season. Weeds is the perfect show to binge watch and its easy accessibility on Instant Netflix make it that much more enticing. Overall, Weeds is a highly addictive show definitely worth watching.

 

 

Weeds is rated TV-MA

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Tags: Weeds, TV, television, comedy, drama, tvma, TV-MA, recommended

Girls provides a darker and genius look into growing up in a modern world.

9 out of 10

 

Many compare this new HBO show to Sex and the City. There are similarities but ultimately it is an entirely different product. Girls is an experience unlike anything I have seen before. Brimming with cynicism, Girls is an explicit and often hilarious look into the lives of 4 women. Hannah is in her 20's and lives in New York City. The pilot finds her being cut off from the financial support of her parents. As a writer, she struggles to find a way to make money while figuring out who she is and who she wants to become. She doesn't stumble along the way, she falls flat on her face and her journey is truly something to behold. Her best friend Marine seems to have it all figured out. She has a committed boyfriend and a successful job, but is she happy? Jessa, their English friend, appears once more having just returned from her latest trip. She is a flaky and loose girl who has traveled the world and doesn't really have a set plan in her life. And Shoshanna, Jessa's cousin, is a virginal college student that doesn't know how to shut up. Together, they embark on a journey of self discovery that the show describes as, "Living the dream. One mistake at a time." Writer/director/star,  Lena Dunham (plays Hannah), is simply amazing. Her characters come to life in an extremely realistic way. I found it incredibly easy to relate to them. However, due to their realistic nature, they make mistakes. Some of these mistakes are very obvious and thus create a feeling of annoyance but in the end, they are still awesome. Girls is one of the most mature shows I have ever seen. Some scenes are very sexually explicit and made me uncomfortable (no easy feat). If you do decide to watch Girls, know what you are signing up for. That said, the show is not all twisted sexuality. There are moments of genuine joy that set this show apart from the rest. One of which is a dance party Hannah has after receiving some distressing news. Such displays of innocence are a joy to watch. Season 2 further refines the show, toning the sexual content down (not by much! It is still very explicit). Is it perfect? No. However, it does provide a very interesting look into one of the most whiny and self-indulgent generations. Overall, Girls is a fun and explicit look into maturing in today's world. It is absolutely worth checking out, if you can handle it.

 

Girls is rated TV-MA

 

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Tags: Girls, HBO, recommended, television, tv, TV-MA, tvma,

The Newsroom is a fresh and inspiring look at what TV should be.

9.25 out of 10

 

 

HBO's The Newsroom is a stunning look inside journalism and the news today. It features wonderful and stinging social commentary. Will McAvoy is a famous news anchor on the fictional news network ACN. He follows the status quo until Mackenzie McHale appears and shakes up his world. From that moment, the ACN newsroom covers real life news with a very interesting and honest twist. It is filled with colorful characters (Sloan Sabbath is particularly interesting) and a fair share of relationship drama (just the right amount). Inspiring and well written, The Newsroom had me cheering for more. It's second season was more focused in its narrative and was just as wonderful as the first season. A third season has been confirmed and I anxiously await its release. Overall, The Newsroom is a wonderful (and very mild by HBO standard) show and is worth checking out.

 

The Newsroom is rated TV-MA

 

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Tags: comedy, drama, HBO, news, newsroom, recommended, television, the newsroom, tv, TV-MA, tvma