Do we talk Breaking Bad here? This season has really sucked me in. I'm loving Walt and the confidence/ identity he's getting from his drug life. I mean, you know it can't end well.

We do!

He's so good under pressure, finding out he may not have such an early deadline has really messed him up.

It's kind of funny, isn't it? Although I may be horrible, Salon had an article once by a guy with AIDS, you know, who did the dying vacation deal, spent his insurance, and then came home to find that his count was up and he was gonna live. I felt for him but I still snickered.

Eeeeee! Now I understand all the crazy squee after "The First David Job"! That was crazy shit. Aaaahh!! And, seriously, that wasn't the finale?? I'm afraid for the next episode!

The meth addict Walt met in the store last night was played by our neighbor, who is mainly a stand-up comic, continuing Breaking Bad's mission of taking funny people and putting them into bleak dramatic roles.

They should learn from "The Wire" that bleak doesn't have to be unfunny.

I am all caught up! Leverage has been pimped!

So, I think I might be one ep of Breaking Bad behind, because I've been watching on iTunes, but I am so enjoying this show. It's like the Sopranos in some ways, but better.

I don't have time to write a P-C style report (I love reading those), but here are my thoughts.

1. I think this show is all about identity (but without problematic rape and human trafficking). Walt, faced with his death, is trying to figure out who he is. Yeah, this all started with him trying to take care of his family, but there's more to it than that. He's had chances to walk away in the past, and didn't take them. He doesn't need to be Heisenburg anymore, but he loves it too much. It makes him feel strong/good about himself and he can't bear to walk away from that. Jesse too. He was a stoner loser but now he's an up and coming drug lord. He wants to be a tough guy, I think, but he also treats Walt like a father. I don't know why, but I think it's so funny that he still calls Walt Mr. White.

2. I love the character of Hank. At first I thought he was just a blowhard dumb cop - sort of a foil for his smarter but less athletic BIL, but he's a badass in his own way too. He took Tuco out with a handgun. But at a price! Walt is thriving in his new role but Hank is suffering a bit in his.

3. I think this show is smartly written. Little stuff seems to pay off. So Hank has run into Walt connections three times now in his DEA stuff (or Walk led him to DEA stuff). Someone who was not Walt's BIL might have put it together by now, but anyone who knew Walt would never picture him as Heisenburg.

4. My parents live near Albuquerque and it's so much fun to see local shops and scenery on TV.

Anyway, I could go on, but I'm enjoying watching a show that sticks with me after it's over.

I've been interested in Breaking Bad. Should I watch Breaking Bad or Mad Men next?

I haven't seen Mad Men. I think I've read more raving about it, though. But I do like BB a lot. The first season is only 8 episodes (I think) and the entire story so far takes place over just a few weeks. (Although it's funny because this season, they've mentioned "the economy" a few times, which makes me laugh because there was no "the economy" two weeks ago in show time. It's not inconsistent or anything. Just funny.)

Personally, I love the premise - chemistry teacher with lung cancer turns to cooking meth to provide for his pregnant wife and teenage son. I mean, how kooky is that? I was listening to a podcast today and the guy (I assume the show runner but not sure) said that he pitched to story as "good guy goes bad, by choice" which I think is cool because haven't we all wanted to be bad occasionally?