Not Just a Show about Meth Anymore: Breaking Bad - Season 4

"The back of yo' head is REDIKALOUS"

Is it wrong that now whenever I hear the word 'cook', I think of crystal meth? Not to me. It just makes me smile. No, not the crystal meth. It just makes me think of Breaking Bad, which is pretty fucking awesome.

Now up to it's fourth season, it's being regarded as one of the best shows on TV right now, if not the best. I'm not sure if I'd go that far, but it's up there.

The last time I wrote about this show I praised the acting more than anything, but it took me 'till season 2 to realize that as amazing as the performances are, it's much more about the story. The plot really takes center stage from there on in. These are characters that are so well developed that at every turn their decisions are unpredictable, yet somehow, as soon as they take action they always seem to feel appropriate.

The story also benefits from a relentless pace. There hasn't been one filler episode in four seasons. Every detail, every bit of information fed to the viewer is relevant, sometimes in the smallest ways. Every plot hole is addressed, creating a level of realism that just can't be matched for a story this intricate.

The base subject for this season is really interesting to me. It asks the viewer  a very simple question that hopefully people don't ever really need ask themselves; if you had a job where you were forced to think that your boss was willing to murder you at the drop of a hat, would you do it? And if so, would you act any differently that Walt and Jesse do?


I wouldn't make some of these decisions. These two have been through a lot, and anyone can tell that over four seasons, it's taken it's toll. Some of their reasoning is outright bizarre, but when you put into consideration the crazy shit that their profession has put them through, you really can't argue that they need to blow off some steam somehow... And that makes for amazing television: when a great character does something ethically and morally questionable wrong, and we agree with their choice, that's fun to watch.

If you think about it, it's what fuels TV storylines these days. Characters doing bad things that make us feel awesome. Dexter is my current favorite show, and it's probably the best example for obvious reasons. It's focus is making the viewer feel murder is justified and it makes you cheer for the murderer. It might be turning into a formula, but it works, and we're enjoying it. Everyone loves doing stupid things every once in a while, and the only reason we don't more often is because we can't justify them... Well lately, TV has done them for us. And it may not feel as nice, but it's pretty satisfying.

Breaking Bad does an amazing job at this. Every episode has something being blown up, something being destroyed, someone being killed. And at all times, it keeps hold of you. BB seems to make sure that it doesn't jump the shark in it's insanity. It all seems very calculated in the escalation of the character's actions. Obviously the writers are building to something great, and with the announcement that the fifth will be the final season, something probably deadly to some of these characters. I say that because I can't picture all these characters walking out of this show with their lives. There are way too many skeletons in everyone's closets for it to work itself out into a happy ending... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

In closing, being the setup for the final season, the fourth isn't transitional in the least. I would actually say it's the best season since the first. Don't get me wrong, every season is a must watch for this show. Every bit is essential to understanding how complicated this story has become. And for content this outlandish at times, it feels real. And to me, that's what makes it great.

8.5/10

True Blood season 4 - Transitional as it can be

True Blood may be taking full advantage of the whole vampire fad that's going on, but it's the one thing that has been doing it decently. It's the only current vampire thing I can stand. And I only put up with it for one reason... It's kinda awesome. Season four just wrapped up and by this point is almost as big a phenomenon as that other vampire thing (yes, the fucking sparkly ones).


The season opened interestingly enough. Sookie Stackhouse had recently discovered that she was actually a faerie, she had then been carried off into some magical faerie dimension where everything was nice and pretty. I won't spoil much here, so lets just point out that time in this world works differently than in the real world. So when she comes back by the end of the episode she had been gone from Bon Temps for around a year, and much has changed.


They really play up Sookie's disappearance and they use it as a plot device to really shake up every character's situation, most importantly, Bill has become King of Louisiana. The vampire community is in damage control mode after the mess caused by former King Russell Edgington. On the human side, Jason Stackhouse is now an actual police officer while the other officer, Andy Bellefleur, is hooked on vampire blood. That's really all you need to know to get started with the season.


These occurrences by themselves would probably make for an interesting season. Unfortunately they went in a whole other direction. Without spoiling much, Eric Northman runs into some trouble running an errand for the new King, he ends up losing his memory, and with it, most of his identity. Thus the most badass vamp in Louisiana becomes a wuss. And to me, this just about ruins the season. I looked forward to all the Eric scenes, because he's such a great character. When you take the best character in the show and turn him into an unwatchable, whiny, lovey-dovey bitch... You're going to lose some of your audience.


It's not totally bad. In the end it does make for some interesting character scenarios and situations. And the scene where that whole memory loss thing gets resolved is easily the best in the season, but they make you wait too long, and some people probably lost interest.


On the plus side, there's enough happening with other characters to keep you invested, at least in their stories. The problem is how transparent this show is becoming. It's easy to tell when we're getting a transitional season; along with season 2, this is the other clear cut example of this situation. Any time the main villain of a season of True Blood isn't a vampire, it's a transitional season. At least up until now. This might change in the next two seasons though, because I happen to think the faeries are finally pissed.


The show keeps true to it's formula of lots of sex, violence, and cursing. The character drama is also very present, it just takes different turns playing with the time lapse of Sookie's disappearance. You still get the good characters giving the hilarious one liners that everyone I know tunes in to laugh at and quote later. But without a doubt this season the 'one liner award' goes to Pam, who stole all the laughs. The poor vamp goes through hell this time around, and she makes certain that you hear her yell about it. It's really fun to watch.

The dirtiest mouth on TV, next to Cartman and probably someone on the  Jersey Shore.

The villain this time around isn't even as good as the last transitional baddie. She seems harmless most of the time, and for the most part all the evil things she does she seems to do by accident. It's not until later in the season that she actually becomes an actual threat, and again, by that time you might have lost interest.


The season doesn't really pick up until the final three or four episodes, and at that point it actually gets pretty good. I'm not saying the rest of it is bad, it's still better than most things on television, it's just not up to par with the last season which was great. I hate making excuses for TV shows, but in this case I must tell new viewers not to judge True Blood for this season, watch the last one, or wait 'till the next.


The finale is a typical close to a transitional season. The main plot gets resolved fairly early on, and then we get a massive (MASSIVE) build for what happens next. I can say with confidence that the next season might be the best one yet. There's enough emotion brewing between these characters to get some pretty intense stuff going, and I think that kind of thing (along with sex, lots of sex) is what keeps this show interesting.


As for this season, it's a decent transition. Nothing spectacular, but watchable for the most part. If the villain had been a bigger threat from the beginning it would have been better, but by the time she is, it gets pretty good.


5.5/10

Hank Moody FTW: Californication season 4 review

The only words I can use to describe Showtime's Californication would be sexual situational comedy with a family element thrown in... Did that make sense? No? Well, it's much simpler than it sounds. And honestly it's totally hilarious.

The show follows the exploits of author Hank Moody, a New Yorker living in California, legendary womanizer, and all around smart ass/asshole to most. That's honestly all you need to know about the characters; much like House, it's one of those shows where you have one amazing character and most events revolve around people reacting to him and his behavior.

On it's fourth season now the writing still seems oddly fresh. Most shows go through cast or locale changes by this point just to keep the viewer into it. But CF has managed to keep at least me totally into Hank's exploits. The show just feels consistent throughout the four seasons, other than Hank's daughter Becca's sudden growth spurts between seasons you'd think that they were totally continuous.

Californication is definitely in my top five shows. It's just one of those shows that literally makes me laugh out loud constantly. The characters are all very lovable... And when one comes up that you don't like, your love for the other ones just makes you not care. And if season five, and hopefully six keep coming in the same fashion then I can't see myself not staying hooked.

9/10