Re: Nielson Ratings vs. Breaking Bad

[Scott Roberts] "Don't forget, he's killing bad guys, but he still gets sick, sadistic pleasure from doing so. And who's to say that his judgement is the correct judgement? He's killed innocent people (sometimes accidentally, sometimes not) on the show before."

I still say that the violent man who lives by a self-defined Code outside the Law is the most distinctive -- maybe the ONLY distinctive -- American hero. Other ethical considerations are irrelevant. Running off the rails just means he's a hero with a tragic flaw, which goes back to the days of Greek epic poetry.

Dexter also follows the most traditional arc of the hero going back thousands of years. Campbell talks about this in Hero With A Thousand Faces, including the heroic journey's roots in the father, and the the notion that it's harder to return from the journey and reintegrate into civilized society than the journey itself.

I'm not budging off that point of view. Dexter is a hero. But even if I concede that he's an anti-hero, he's bringing up the rear in the anti-hero ratings...which I think is the case precisely because people got increasingly uncomfortable with identifying with this guy as their hero. Oh yeah, and Lithgow is gone. LOL But I think its dual nature is its genius -- we identify with both his Code and his execution (haha) of it. If he just shot those guys, there'd be no catharsis.

Anyway...

[Scott Roberts] "Well, I'd rather be part of the good 3 million, than the bad 15-20 million (who watch Big Bang Theory and NCIS)."

Have mercy. My attempt to watch Big Bang Theory after its 2 millionth award for something or other -- among the most unpleasant TV experiences of my life.

It's conceivable that I'll get over my issues with Breaking Bad - I really do keep trying. But BBT? If I ever say anything nice about that show, strap me to a metal table and peel back my skin.