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Breaking Bad shows Dexter how it’s done

Breaking Bad builds to a massive climax as it nears its finale. Make sure you've watched these episodes before clicking.

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2013-09-17_0058There’s a very stark lesson in wrapping up a series going on right now.

In one corner is Dexter, with just one episode left to air. In the other is Breaking Bad with two more remaining.

Although I haven’t seen every episode of Breaking Bad, last night’s episode was packed with the kind of huge plot moves that Dexter has sorely lacked this season.

Characters killed off, compelling family implosions, devastating endgame manoeuvres, powerful dialogue in the simplest of phrases…. it was gripping stuff, capped off with searing performances and dramatic settings.

There will surely be Emmy nominations for this episode, in acting, writing and directing.

Having hit this climax, it now has two episodes to resolve the massive cards it just dealt for characters and audience. This is how you do it.

On the other hand Dexter really only delivered in its final scenes with a major character in peril. Now we’ve come this far, we’ll begrudgingly be back for the finale next week.

Please kill him off so we go out with a bang not a whimper.

12 Responses

  4. From what this season (and interviews with Scott buck) has shown, don’t expect anything other than one of the worst endings to a show in recent years. The current Dexter writers have shown themselves to be talentless hacks who also lack any storytelling balls. Dexter had two very good seasons to start, then an average third season, an okay fourth season that was made to look better than it was (by John Lithgow’s performance), a pretty weak fifth season, a horrible sixth season, a promising seventh season (that got lazy and poor) and now this final season which has been terrible, especially since the writers knew this was their endgame. To have this be what they go out on is pathetic, too afraid to introduce any stakes, Dexter gets to be a horrible person to everyone in his life, kill innocent people and he doesn’t get brought to justice. If this was written by Vince Gilligan, Deb…

  5. Dexter had so many possibilities. The only time I’ve been excited this season was when Deb confessed but nothing came of it. And Vogel’s son isn’t anywhere near interesting enough or worthy of being Dexter’s final nemesis.

  6. Don’t think you can place Dexter and Breaking Bad on the same shelf. Dexter has been off the pace for a few seasons now.

    On the otherhand BB is almost too good to watch. It’s a great shame it must end.
    Boardwalk Empire isn’t a bad fill in though!

  7. I truly think Breaking Bad has set an entirely new standard for TV… it’s been consistently good since day one and consistency in TV is what makes or breaks a show. But these final episodes are like one major motion picture movie split across 8 episodes. I’ve never seen anything like it and not sure how long before we do again. Hats off to the show’s writer, Vince Gilligan.

  8. Last nights episode of Breaking Bad was fantastic, emotionally draining but fantastic. I used to watch Dexter but felt its best days were behind it so have not watched this season or the one before. Afer hearing the final season isn’t that good not sure if I’ll bother.

    But Breaking Bad OMG! Action packed every episode with the only exception would be ‘The Fly” episode. Will be very sad when its all over.

  11. The difference between the two is staggering. Dexter is being phoned in this season. The writing/plotting is dull, while Hall seems bored by it all. Its staggering to the finish line where once it was on the edge of your seat viewing, I am only watching because I feel a sense to see it through to the end. I’m hate watching it. After last night’s episode I have no idea how they can wrap up the series in an effective and satisfying manner.
    Contrast to Breaking Bad, where every episode this season has been near perfect. The story is phenomenal, the directing and foreshadowing has been fantastic and the acting top notch. Every scene is important. Last night’s episode was perhaps the best of the series.
    I think it doesn’t help watching the two shows back to back. You can see Dexter’s weaknesses far more. It’s sad that a great show has fallen so far from its former glory.

  12. I don’t watch Breaking Bad, however I thought last nights Dexter was a good build up, maybe not with only one to go though. Everything is tying up nicely for Dex, and now we just wait for the Bam! I really hope they do it well.

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