I have prided myself on not being a big TV watcher in recent years, partly because I despise "reality" TV and talent shows like The Voice.
"Reality" TV is completely mis-named. It's badly scripted TV with terrible actors. Everything is manipulated by the people who make the shows. It has very little in common with actual reality. The only TRUE reality show is one in which people do not know they are being filmed.
Talent shows like The Voice, American Idol, etc. are agonizingly painful to me to watch. I used to audition a lot for choirs, musicals, plays, etc. and that gut-clenching terror is something no non-performer can even begin to understand. I don't care how talented you are, it's scary. The lights blind you, your heartbeat scares you, the whole situation creates internal havoc. Watching someone ELSE go through that gives me flashbacks to my own experiences. No thanks.
The other day my son pointed out that a lot of people are fairly obsessed with a show called Breaking Bad, on AMC. It stars Bryan Cranston, and I really like him. The premise also sounded kinda interesting: a high school Biology teacher who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and decides to manufacture meth in order to make money to leave behind for his family.
We have now watched [on Netflix] all of season 1 and we are deep into season 2. I am repelled and fascinated, in equal measure.
It's like a car wreck. I can't NOT watch.
I am horrified. Sorta. There are some good lessons to be learned, though, from what I've observed so far.
Lesson? I hear you chuckling.
Yeah. Good dramas teach us something. Great dramas teach us several things.
I like the fact that in a well-written TV drama you see a lot of character development.
These are some things Breaking Bad illustrates for my 17 year old son, some teachable moments:
Really good guys will do desperate things sometimes, if they are facing death: Walt [the teacher] is a mind-mannered guy, but apparently a good guy. Desperate men will do crazy things though.
Bad actions always have consequences: The meth manufacture, the murder he commits, etc. - all are morally repulsive, but they have consequences. Unlike movies, where you don't see the bad results so much, you see the toll this takes on Walter, and how it changes him and his family.
Marriages can't thrive if one person hides a big thing in their life: Walt hides the meth cooking from his wife and it's horrible for her. She knows something is up. I told Michael last night, that sort of thing is really bad for a marriage.
Drugs are terrible: We see the effects of meth on people, their desperation to get it, like the horrible couple in the filthy house who steal from one of the drug runners.They are absolutely morally repulsive. Of course the female is played by my old friend Dale Dickey, which is sort of surreal for me. [I knew Dale in high school when we were in the same dinner theater production of Hello Dolly!]
Chemistry can be really interesting and useful: I know you're saying huh? are you crazy?! but hear me out. Chemistry is something we all should have some basic understanding of, in order to function. We are all based on carbon. I suck at chemistry. Really. So if Michael is predisposed to like it, and not be scared of it, that's a good thing.
I was afraid the series would glorify drug use. I really didn't want to see that. It doesn't. So far.
So I am addicted to this show....
...despite the fact there are no short women on it. All the main female characters are tall and skinny. I CANNOT IDENTIFY.
Still, I will watch more episodes.
Addiction is a terrible thing.
Hey, at least I can admit it...
just for fun, here is a video of Bryan Cranston from his part in Argo, which I thought was awesome [sorry about the F bomb]
