The reason that shows like weeds and breaking bad jump the shark.

[Anonymous]

Is because in real life, the main characters would not get as many chances as they do on the show. Nancy would have been taken out by season 4. Walter and jesse would have been killed by season 5. Same with walking dead. There is a bit of suspending reality but not really. These shows are meant to reflect ordinary people in certain situations. How many of us would get deep in cartel dealing and somehow magically avoid cops, cartel execution, or competitor execution.

[Anonymous]

I think Walter and Jesse would have been killed before the end of season 1...

[Anonymous]

I can't speak to Weeds, as I didn't watch it but I disagree with the premise that Breaking Bad ever jumped the shark. It was incredibly strong throughout the run and the last season was really gripping.

[Anonymous]

I feel like Nancy did end up in trouble... one of the final season started with her serving 3 years in jail

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to Weeds, as I didn't watch it but I disagree with the premise that Breaking Bad ever jumped the shark. It was incredibly strong throughout the run and the last season was really gripping.

I agree, Breaking Bad was excellent for the entire run.

[Anonymous]

I haven't watched Breaking Bad. Weeds jumped the shark because they started off with an irreverent, aren't-we-clever tone, and you can only keep that going in a series about dealing drugs for 2 seasons.

[Anonymous]

BB never jumped the shark. It was way over the top, but an incredible show from start to finish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BB never jumped the shark. It was way over the top, but an incredible show from start to finish.

I agree. It didn't take long at all for it to become unrealistic, but that didn't diminish its returns.

Weeds was fun for a while and then seemed like something that time had passed on by.

[Anonymous]

Another enthusiastic vote for BB never jumping the shark.

Definitely a contender for the most impressive series in history.

[Anonymous]

But isn't the mere fact that it was "over the top" basically saying it jumped the shark?

[Anonymous]

They seem to do it right in the UK. Shorter and fewer series leave you wanting more, and they don't keep going just for the sake of continuing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to Weeds, as I didn't watch it but I disagree with the premise that Breaking Bad ever jumped the shark. It was incredibly strong throughout the run and the last season was really gripping.

Totally agree. I was on the edge of my seat during every episode. Breaking Bad was, in my opinion, something that could have actually happened to an ordinary person. But then also, you have to suspend reality just enough to fully enjoy the story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another enthusiastic vote for BB never jumping the shark.

Definitely a contender for the most impressive series in history.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They seem to do it right in the UK. Shorter and fewer series leave you wanting more, and they don't keep going just for the sake of continuing.

But Breaking Bad continued because the story hadn't ended. There was more to tell and the audience was completely intrigued and obsessed with the characters. I still miss that show so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They seem to do it right in the UK. Shorter and fewer series leave you wanting more, and they don't keep going just for the sake of continuing.

I don't know. I found the ending of Cougarton Abbey abrupt and unfulfilling.