Why I won’t watch Breaking Bad

Everyone tells me I need to watch Breaking Bad. I tell those people to go to hell.

It’s not that I hate doing what people tell me to d… oh, wait. OK, so I hate it when people tell me what to do, but that’s just one reason why I won’t watch the show.

I’ve seen the first episode. I didn’t like it.

Now, I know what you die-hard fans might say; you can’t make your decision after watching the first episode. It gets so much better.

Well, to you people I say… go to hell. I think a TV show should be able to hook you in from the first episode, in face, from a writing point of view that’s kind of the aim.

That’s not to say I don’t think it doesn’t get better, however, I’ve also seen other episodes in passing when my family were binge watching the show and I still didn’t like it.

Here’s the reason… I know, myself, that I don’t like those kinds of TV shows. You know, the ‘real’ ones where they try to mix humour into every day depressing situations. For me that kind of TV isn’t my bread and butter. It’s the same reason I’d never watch things like Downton Abbey or read crime books or trashy romance novels.

I am an addict of fantasy. I’m an adult, I’ve come to realise the things I like in life. For instance I don’t eat meat. No matter how many times people tell me I’m missing out or I should just try it again my answer will always be ‘no’. Because I don’t like it and I don’t want to. This translates to the rest of my life.

Now, that’s not to say I won’t ever find a TV show I like that is based in reality (I actually really love the Australian drama Wentworth) but Breaking Bad? No thank you.

Whilst you’re watching a cancer patient make and sell drugs with the obvious plot turn where he starts to get dragged into the life of a criminal rather than a man just trying to make money for his family which will, no doubt, lead to a dramatic finale… I’ll be over here re-watching Buffy, Battlestar, Grimm, Lost Girl… Shows which a lot of people who watch Breaking Bad will turn their noses up at. And guess what? I’m fine with them not watching those shows which is why I find it so strange that when I tell people I’m not watching Breaking Bad, nor will I ever, I am met with the same argumentative reaction as when I tell people I don’t eat meat.

This life is full of people with different opinions, likes and dislikes. Deal with it.

Sam