HBO has long been known for its Sunday night lineups and excellent track record for shows with amazing depth and longevity (The Wire and The Sopranos are two that will immediately come to mind for most.) A few years ago though AMC, a station not relatively watched except for movies, made a push of its own, premiering it's first two ever original series, with Mad Men on July 19, 2007, and Breaking Bad on January 20, 2008. These two programs have quickly become two of the best on television, a feat even more impressive considering they are on cable TV and not privy to the no holds barred convenience which HBO allows it's programs. I have seen each series multiple times, and am 3 episodes away from my third completion of Mad Men, while looking more and more forward to every Sunday for the latest installment Breaking Bad. But I ask you...which is better??



This is in my opinion a perfect advertisement for Breaking Bad. It tells the story of Walter White, played by the amazing actor Brian Cranston, a genius chemist who we learn in the first episode is working below his capability as a high school chemistry teacher, married with a handicapped teenage son, and a child on the way. When he is diagnosed with a stage four lung cancer, he decides to "break bad", hoping to amass enough money to keep his family afloat after he passes away. He ends up teaming up with a former student and current meth dealer jessie pinkman, who is played by a nearly perfect counter in Aaron Paul. Walt's chemistry skills have him producing some of the purest meth ever made, and while on the outside one might think this is a show of his rise as a drug kingpen, but after taking a closer look, the show is more about how his decisions literally and essentially destroy everything and everyone in his life.



Mad Men, set during a rocky and historic time known as 1960's America, tells the story of Donald Draper, who is head of a creative department at an advertisement agency in New York City. Don Draper reminds me in many ways of Fight Club's Tyler Durden, as he is a created persona of a man unhappy with his former life. He has a gorgeous wife played by January Jones, but that does not stop him from sleeping around after a day of drinking, smoking, and being an advertising genius. Basically, he is the fucking man. Don Draper aside, the depth of the show from the supporting character (so many great ones but too many to list), to the scenery and style of the era, to the American history which is intertwined into the show, make it no surprise that it was the first basic TV show to win Outstanding Drama Series.

These are both amazing shows, and to anyone reading this post without having seen either, I could not recommend a better and current choice in either of the series. Personally, Mad Men is more enjoyable for me. I almost feel bad writing that last sentence, because Breaking Bad is THAT good. However, I have never come across a program with such amazing depth as Mad Men. Some might find this blasphemous, but if Mad Men could repeat in captivation in it's next three seasons what it accomplished in the first three, I could see myself with the opinion that Mad Men is the best television show of all time, followed closely by The Wire.

Also, to anyone who decides to watch or re-watch these episodes, I couldn't recommend a better addendum to episodes than the blog What's Alan Watching, found here. It truly makes every episode THAT much better, and he also has reviews for The Wire, among other shows.

Wow this sounds exactly like something I would write.

I've watched both series a few times over and have to say they're pretty much exactly equal in quality. Mad Men is a slower show, lighter on plot, heavier on atmosphere. Breaking Bad takes turns between slower, contemplative episodes and adrenaline filled plot burners. Gotta give the edge to Breaking Bad right now.

You actually linked to Sepinwall's old blog. His new one can be found at Hitfix.

EDIT - my bad I see why you linked to his old blog, has so many good episode recaps.

And I'm really looking forward to "Rubicon" on AMC this summer(starring Lecky from "The Pacific")and "The Walking Dead" in October. Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) serves as writer, director and executive producer.

breaking bad is amazing. i just started watching a few weeks ago and i'm almost caught up. i've never seen mad men though i've heard good things

BB /

Breaking Bad is top top

 

Originally Posted by sacaniga

breaking bad, i envy people who haven't seen it yet

 

Originally Posted by TC_Clueless

Just finished the 2nd disc of Breaking Bad -- awesome. I'm somewhere in the second season of Mad Men -- really blows after season 1 imo. Is it going to pick up?

you got past season one? I couldnt bring myself to watch the 3rd episode. maybe ill throw it in next time i get some insomnia

 

Originally Posted by pokerchief29

you got past season one? I couldnt bring myself to watch the 3rd episode. maybe ill throw it in next time i get some insomnia

yea i watched a few episodes and really tried to get into it but just couldnt. gunna trust ot on breaking ba tho and go ahead and buy the full season on apple tv. I cant fathom it being bad.