Breaking Bad vs Walking Dead vs Game of Thrones vs Mad Men

Gazza3k11

Im curious

mike65

I'm not. The four are all quite different, you might as well do a full on Vic 'n Bob poll, something like

Pants
Sparrows
Dave Hill
Sony Walkman

Gazza3k11

mike65 wrote: »

I'm not. The four are all quite different, you might as well do a full on Vic 'n Bob poll, something like

Pants
Sparrows
Dave Hill
Sony Walkman

These four seem to be the most popular among my friends so I was curious to see what would win

Kylo Ren

Breaking Bad will win.

Totally different shows however.

Matt_Trakker

Couldn't get in to Walking Dead, Zombies are so boring, unless you're slicing them up with chainsaws on the xbox. Mad Men too, not into it at all at all. Except for Jane, Jane's deadly, can't think of her real name, think it's Hendricks or something.
Breaking Bad and GofT are both great tho

Gazza3k11

Matt_Trakker wrote: »

Couldn't get in to Walking Dead, Zombies are so boring, unless you're slicing them up with chainsaws on the xbox. Mad Men too, not into it at all at all. Except for Jane, Jane's deadly, can't think of her real name, think it's Hendricks or something.
Breaking Bad and GofT are both great tho

Walking Dead is my personal favorite but I can definitely see how people could find it boring

pixelburp

Four completely different shows, set in completely different worlds, telling 4 completely different stories, using 4 completely different genres: you might as well say what's better - oranges or fire hydrants.

You're not really going to get any consensus so I'd recommend instead reading the Breaking Bad & Game of Thrones forums that sit under 'Television' and dig out the Walking Dead & Mad Men threads that can be found in here.

Yamanoto

What's the Walking Dead doing in there?

Love BB but Mad Men is astonishingly well crafted and tops it imo. GoT is all a bit silly but entertaining.

don ramo

Yamanoto wrote: »

What's the Walking Dead doing in there?

surprisingly TWD pulls in 3 times more viewers than the other 3,

i haven't gotten around to mad men yet, but of the other 3, breaking bad wins for me, its on its fifth and final season, and has gotten better each season,

the walking dead only seemed to be getting into it stride near the the second half of season 2, although TBF season 1 was only 6 episodes, so hopefully season 3 will be the making of the show,

game of thrones is one of my favorite shows and is only slightly edged out by BB, but is also followed very closely by Homeland which is oddly missing from your list,

and as has been said you couldn't possibly have picked 4 shows so dissimilar to each other, and you could have done a fifth with Homeland:D

BlaasForRafa

Matt_Trakker wrote: »

Couldn't get in to Walking Dead, Zombies are so boring, unless you're slicing them up with chainsaws on the xbox. Mad Men too, not into it at all at all. Except for Jane, Jane's deadly, can't think of her real name, think it's Hendricks or something.
Breaking Bad and GofT are both great tho

You're thinking of JOAN, her real name is Christina Hendricks.

Kirby

Actually, I think you'll find it's Chesty LaRoux

snausages

You know, just because they're different doesn't mean they can't be compared. And they're all TV shows at the end of the day, so they have that in common. In this instance, Breaking Bad is obviously better than Game of Thrones and Walking Dead. Only seen one season of Mad Men.

adamski8

mike65 wrote: »

I'm not. The four are all quite different, you might as well do a full on Vic 'n Bob poll, something like

Pants
Sparrows
Dave Hill
Sony Walkman

That is bs. Of course they can be compared! They are all popular tv shows.
I prefer breaking bad as it a more fast paced action show than mad men. Perfectly reasonable asking what show people prefer.
So if I asked what is peoples favourite take away, you'd argue that ridiculus as pizza is completely different to chinese food?!!!

don ramo

snausages wrote: »

You know, just because they're different doesn't mean they can't be compared. And they're all TV shows at the end of the day, so they have that in common. In this instance, Breaking Bad is obviously better than Game of Thrones and Walking Dead. Only seen one season of Mad Men.

yeah but generally shows are polled against other shows in their genre, like breaking bad would be put in with the sopranos and the wire, and the walking dead would be in with falling skies and terra nova,

they can of course be put up against each other, but there are a lot more action/drama fans on here so you can tell as soon as the poll is up who will win, in this case breaking bad, and Game of Thrones is coming in second which is also no surprise, 2 of the best 3 shows currently in production,

snausages

Still don't see the problem. Cross-genre comparisons are perfectly valid. Breaking Bad, The Wire and Sopranos > Falling Skies, Terra Nova, Lost, Walking Dead, Flashforward. Dickens > Fifty Shades etc.

VinLieger

Pointless poll tbh

don ramo

snausages wrote: »

Still don't see the problem. Cross-genre comparisons are perfectly valid. Breaking Bad, The Wire and Sopranos > Falling Skies, Terra Nova, Lost, Walking Dead, Flashforward. Dickens > Fifty Shades etc.

there no problem with it, its just this forum is more skewed more towards breaking bad, sopranos and the wire, the result is easily predictable, like the HBO one a few weeks back, everyone knew the wire would win and the sopranos was the only show that might get in its way,

Richard Dower

GOT FTW!

EKRIUQ

I like them all except Walking dead, half way through series 2 and it's still the same crap running a way from zombie, kill some zombies run away again.

kevohmsford

Difficult to pick between Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. Totally different shows and budgets involved.

I would probably pick Breaking Bad if I had to choose one now but Game of Thrones has the potential to be the greatest show ever.

Basq

Breaking Bad by a long LONG LONG margin..

.. while I really enjoy Game Of Thrones, I don't fully understand the unrequited love for it.

ScumLord

They're all different and all but Breaking Bad is in a league above all of them, it's art where the other ones are just TV shows IMO.

Seren_

As much as I love Mad Men and Game of Thrones, I have to pick Breaking Bad. Unbelievable programme, with some amazing performances. I find some of the actors in GoT not to be that great, and although I try not to compare them, the tv show doesn't match up to the brilliance of the books imo, especially season 2. Mad Men is a show I find hugely interesting and enjoyable, but there's just something about BB that trumps it.

pixelburp

snausages wrote: »

Still don't see the problem. Cross-genre comparisons are perfectly valid. Breaking Bad, The Wire and Sopranos > Falling Skies, Terra Nova, Lost, Walking Dead, Flashforward. Dickens > Fifty Shades etc.

You can't really make cross-genre comparisons because different genres tell different stories in different ways. Look at it this way: you wouldn't compare Beastie Boys with The Beatles - they may both be musical groups, play music & sing songs, but both are from completely different points in the musical spectrum, bringing completely different sounds, messages & stories to the table.

It's the same with various TV fiction: you can only fairly compare each show from within the genre it exists - anything else is a crude arbitrary judgement that doesn't fairly square the merits each show has; and putting it into an X > Y > Z comparison is just too glib by half.

Personally, I've found Breaking Bad massively over-hyped; a solid drama with some standout performances from its leads, but that's about it. The Walking Dead would be the weakest show of the four, but that's within its own context: season 2 was brutal at times, but when the show clicked it entertained, thrilled and had as much legitimate drama as any HBO wunderkid.

snausages

The whole point in juxtaposing different shows is that they tell different stories in different ways. If they were all doing the same thing then there would be nothing to compare.

Beatles>Beastie Boys

Walking Dead is the worst of the 4 because of drawn out melodramatic soap opera storylines.

But I agree, Breaking Bad is ridiculously over-hyped. Since the season 2 finale it hasn't been quite the same. Still like it better than the other 3 shows though.

Grimebox

I have seen every episode Walking Dead and will continue to watch it every week but I can admit the it should not be anywhere near a list with those three.

Matt_Trakker

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

You're thinking of JOAN, her real name is Christina Hendricks.

yes, indeed, the chick with the big.....assests....I mean tits.
Don's missus is nice too, Betty's rotten now tho, used to be nice. Bet Peggy'd be filthy.

ScumLord

snausages wrote: »

But I agree, Breaking Bad is ridiculously over-hyped. Since the season 2 finale it hasn't been quite the same. Still like it better than the other 3 shows though.

Breaking Bad has gotten better and better with each episode. Everything about it trumps the other shows. Just the way it's shot is in a league far above the other shows never mind the story.

Basq

Yep, Breaking Bad is the best it's been... seems to break conventions in that every single episode has an inherent air / feeling for danger for every SINGLE character. Some of the most tense and brave scenes on TV both in the past and present.

snausages

ScumLord wrote: »

Breaking Bad has gotten better and better with each episode. Everything about it trumps the other shows. Just the way it's shot is in a league far above the other shows never mind the story.

Watching Season 5 atm I would definitely say it's better than 3 or 4, but the series as a whole really hasn't maintained that consistent standard throughout. Season 4 was laboriously paced. It had its moments towards the end, especially with Don Eladio, but season 4 seemed to be spinning the wheels for a long while until we got to that episode. It's not like we needed an entire episode dedicated to Maria's kleptomania, a plot piece that was done and dusted it seemed in season 1. There are quite a few other examples of episodes like that where you'd have these inconsequential scenes that add nothing (how long did Walt and Skyler spend rehearsing the car wash alibi?) or scenes where it just seems like they're giving the rest of the cast something to do (Walt Jr. anyone?). Season 3 then had those ridiculous mexican twins straight out of the Matrix. After Tuco it was a bit jarring, thank god for Gus.

All nitpicking aside it's the best thing currently airing on TV. I'm surprised that season 5 is as good as it is. After season 4 I was worried it had run out of steam.

podgemonster

Quite a pointless poll also but nevertheless i couldn't help but vote for Game of Thrones despite the second season to be much weaker than the first.

I would also be of the opinion that Breaking Bad, while excellent is highly overrated. I am half through series 4 of Breaking Bad and while I enjoy it only the final few episodes in each season actually gripped me like GoT did. Whole sections of each season just drift by, the cousins wandering around, the car wash deal, Hank in hospital, Skyler's IFT.

I find the series story progression very slow. A lack of new faces, the same characters many of which i am sick of (Skyler, Walter jnr., Maria, Badger). The vast dry wasteland setting of New Mexico is losing its appeal also. I have been told that season 4 improves and season 5 is great though but so far, its the best thing on while GoT is off the air.

Walking Dead's a good bit of fun, pure popcorn and gore. Do need to be fully entralled in it to keep up and not afraid to kill of a few main characters.

Speaking of which Game of Thrones is ruthless for this, you have no idea when the arrows will reign in or some is stabbed in the back, poisoned or sentenced to death. On top of that the lavish production of costume, location, props, cgi and cast is an example of how money should be spent on tv show. By no means perfect though.

Antar Bolaeisk

I wanted to pick Breaking Bad but couldn't let the injustice of Walking Dead getting more votes than Mad Men stand :mad:

ScumLord

snausages wrote: »

Watching Season 5 atm I would definitely say it's better than 3 or 4, but the series as a whole really hasn't maintained that consistent standard throughout.

It's lack of pandering to what people want and expect is part of what I love about it so much. It's not a crime show, it's not an action show, it's not just a drama, it's the story of these people and it's real, everyone in it feels real and real people and situations aren't action packed. There's so much in-between that TV typically leaves out but breaking bad embraces.

Most drug related shows never show the waiting around that's involved in drug deals, it's all action and parties which just isn't how it happens in the real world.

I don't have any expectations out of breaking bad, I don't know where it's going but I believe all the characters and want to see what happens.

snausages

ScumLord wrote: »

Most drug related shows never show the waiting around that's involved in drug deals, it's all action and parties which just isn't how it happens in the real world.

What drug shows are those?

Anyway, I appreciate a slow burn, but with season 4 the first six or seven episodes really lacked momentum. I don't tune into Breaking Bad every week to hear the latest on Walt Jr's breakfast eating or Maria's shoplifting. The 'Open House' episode is probably the worst of the entire series imo. I'm not asking to be pandered to, but I don't see how anyone could say that storyline or the car wash one were handled well.

Seasons 1 and 2 were slow as well, but not a single minute went to waste. Some of the best episodes in the entire series where simple ones with the lads in the RV just cooking up small batches, Walt dealing with his cancer and his family, Jesse and Jane, Hank coming to terms with killing a man. Even Maria and Walt Jr were good characters in those days. Those were the highlights of the entire series for me. Season 3 and 4 were still good, but for me nothing comes close to 'And the bag's in the river', 'Crazy handful of nothing' or 'Grilled'. That was when the series was at its peak. 'Crawl-space' and 'Dead-freight' were good as well, but not in the same league.

larrymickdick

I've watched walking dead and find it kinda repetitive - yer one the wife wrecks my head!
only seen the first season of breaking bad - found it hard to get into but love it now - might actually watch some more now....

have mad men on the external hard drive but haven't started watching it yet -

me personally think game of thrones should have won - only 2 seasons so far but have read ahead all the books - christ the twists and turns in it is enough to keep me interested!! seems no one is safe and I hate that some shows can be a bit predictable - not them!! awesome!!:cool:

SuperInfinity

Antar Bolaeisk wrote: »

I wanted to pick Breaking Bad but couldn't let the injustice of Walking Dead getting more votes than Mad Men stand :mad:

That's an extremely stupid thing to do. That goes against the whole idea of a poll. You're not supposed to change your vote depending on how the poll is going to skew the poll. That's the same as the people who say: "oh, I would give this movie a 7 but so many people were giving it a 10 which I didn't like so I gave it a 0 instead to push it back to what I wanted". Ridiculous. So what if the poll isn't going the way you wanted, it's not an "injustice" at all, so what if it offends your sensibilities.

irish son

SuperInfinity wrote: »

That's an extremely stupid thing to do. That goes against the whole idea of a poll. You're not supposed to change your vote depending on how the poll is going to skew the poll. That's the same as the people who say: "oh, I would give this movie a 7 but so many people were giving it a 10 which I didn't like so I gave it a 0 instead to push it back to what I wanted". Ridiculous. So what if the poll isn't going the way you wanted, it's not an "injustice" at all, so what if it offends your sensibilities.

Its not as stupid as people voting for The Walking Dead in the first place.

DaveSuarez

Breaking Bad, never seen as much as a second of The Walking Dead.

SuperInfinity

irish son wrote: »

Its not as stupid as people voting for The Walking Dead in the first place.

oh yeah? Why do you care what people like? And why don't you view it to see how many "stupid" people there are here?

I am asking this as a serious question, why don't you use it as a barometer to see how many people you think are stupid are here? Why do you feel the need to announce it and to get some feedback from your statements if you are so sure in yourself and consider it obvious to other non-stupid people?

If you can't give simple respect to the integrity of the poll then don't vote at all.

Riddle101

Breaking Bad. Walter White says "Stay out of his territory, to the other shows"

Also I feel like Dexter should be in the list as well.

kraggy

I actually feel Breaking Bad isn't quite as good now that's it's in the 5th season.

I'm still going to follow it til the end and I still cant wait to watch it every week but let's just say it's at 90% now intsead of 100%.

sink

This would be my current fav shows from top to bottom, there are probably a few I've forgotten.

Breaking Bad
Game Of Thrones
Boardwalk Empire
Homeland
Sherlock
Community
Mad Men
The Walking Dead
The Newsroom
The Big Bang Theory
Modern Family
Suits
Californication
Sons Of Anarchy
Dexter
Fringe
Falling Skies
Spartacus
Castle
Bones

Riddle101

kraggy wrote: »

I actually feel Breaking Bad isn't quite as good now that's it's in the 5th season.

I'm still going to follow it til the end and I still cant wait to watch it every week but let's just say it's at 90% now intsead of 100%.

Why? do you the material has gone down, or is it just not exciting now that it's in its 5th season?

Yamanoto

SuperInfinity wrote: »

oh yeah? Why do you care what people like?

Why do you care how others choose to vote or indeed what their rationale is for doing so?

It's hardly the frickin poll to end all polls.

tommy2bad

Really hard to say which show I love more.
Easy to say which is the best, BB, no contest. For it's quirkiness, humor and truthfulness. It's art as much as entertainment.

TWD. it's just a zombie show and one that has too much soap plotting. Still, zombies!

MM. quiet, slow and needs close attention to get the most out of. I like this one a lot.

GOT. Pure escapist entertainment, Dallas with dragons.

I wouldn't cancel any of them but hope all of them reach a conclusion.

irish son

SuperInfinity wrote: »

oh yeah? Why do you care what people like? And why don't you view it to see how many "stupid" people there are here?

I am asking this as a serious question, why don't you use it as a barometer to see how many people you think are stupid are here? Why do you feel the need to announce it and to get some feedback from your statements if you are so sure in yourself and consider it obvious to other non-stupid people?

If you can't give simple respect to the integrity of the poll then don't vote at all.

First of all I actually didn't vote, and secondly I didn't call anyone stupid, I said voting for The Walking Dead over the other three is a stupid thing to do, there's a difference.

I don't really see the point of either of your posts in this thread to be honest.

JP Liz V1

I find TWD and GOT overrated myself

With MM and BB you either love them or hate them there is no in between if that makes sense I went for BB in the end even though Don Draper is very sexy

SuperInfinity

Yamanoto wrote: »

Why do you care how others choose to vote or indeed what their rationale is for doing so?

derp, because the idea of doing a poll and viewing the results is to get people's honest answers to it.

We can go on all day like this, but in the end, I'll always be right and your only defence will be "it's only an online poll lol, I'll manipulate it how I want", and ruining the whole idea of a poll in the first place.

Yamanoto

SuperInfinity wrote: »

derp, because the idea of doing a poll and viewing the results is to get people's honest answers to it.

We can go on all day like this, but in the end, I'll always be right and your only defence will be "it's only an online poll lol, I'll manipulate it how I want", and ruining the whole idea of a poll in the first place.

Some form of response bias will commonly factor in polling, be it on Boards or elsewhere.

But hey, get yourself worked up about it if you so wish.

DuckStab

I started watching Breaking Bad when TG4 began airing it a few months ago, just after finishing season 2. Top notch performances from Bryan Cranston, Emmys certainly well deserved, and great interplay between him and Aaron Paul.
Acting aside, to be honest the show had me ho-humming up until around the penultimate episode of season 2. It was a vast improvement on season 1 but I have yet to see what it is that makes people rave about it being the best show ever. It's an enjoyable show certainly, but I wouldn't put it on so high a pedestal... Yet! From sideways glances at non-spoilery topics I think I've gleaned that season 3 is the pinnacle so I'm looking forward to it.

Last year I would've felt compelled to say GoT was the best but after reading the books (which, ironically I wouldn't have read having not watched the show in the first place) I feel the series falls slightly short. I enjoyed the tourney the first time round, then read the book's version with its painstaking detail of the grandeur of the event, afterwards it just looked like a few lads in a field. It's difficult for such a detailed world (characters, locations and lore) to be brought to the screen without some sacrifices, and they've done a pretty good job so far, but I don't think that *everything* needs to be explained through the medium of sex scenes! Season 2 was good, not as much as Season 1 but there's always that sense when one becomes accustomed to a new setting, although Storm of Swords was much better than A Clash of Kings, so looking forward to that too!

The Walking Dead is alright. Not great, but a decent enough show if you're willing to suspend disbelief. I didn't get the unreal amount of hype surrounding the first season, same as I don't get the unreal amount of hatred for the second. First, complaints of no character development, then complaints of no zombies once they attempted said development! Seems people aren't satisfied with the show either way. Third season looks promising, although the introduction of a

katana-wielding zombie slaver

had me laughing when I probably shouldn't have.

Mad Men I found to be a prime example of style over substance. Put all the effort into the wardrobe, hair, sets and hope that people won't notice the lack of a coherent or interesting plot. And it worked! Fair dues. Watched the first two seasons but turned off after that.

So for me at the moment it's a tie between BB and GoT, with season 3 of both to be the deciding factor!

Dermighty

I'd say Mad Men is the best of the lot, but Breaking Bad is great too. Game Of Thrones isn't even in the same league as Mad Men.