'Breaking Bad' : The Greatest Show Ever?

After the incredible season finale of 'Breaking Bad' there is a lot of talk that it is not just the best show currently on TV, but may in fact be the best show ever made. Once the fifth and final season wraps up next year we will know for sure whether it is the greatest, but right now it is far too early to give it such a prestigious title. It is certainly in the right direction however and the finale of a series is always what makes or breaks it. People seem to forget how great 'Sopranos' was because of that inconclusive ending and many dismiss the brilliance of 'Lost' because they didn't answer every tidbit of information in their finale.

Other shows simply fail to maintain any of the things that originally made them so great; take 'Prison Break' which couldn't reinvent itself after they escaped the prison. Instead the show moved to Panama and some British guy called Whistler became important. It was just awful. This can not and simply will not happen to 'Breaking Bad' because the writers have constantly made the show better and better, so logic indicates the final season will be the best and therefore make it the greatest show ever. Right?

Many shows have nailed the landing and taken their place as my favourite shows of all time that hopefully 'Breaking Bad will soon join. It is already right up there, but the resolution of this series will be so highly anticipated that it needs to be perfect. Here are some shows (discounting mini series) that 'Breaking Bad' will equal or even surpass:

Deadwood

'Deadwood' may have been cancelled, but it was so unjust. The sweary Western set in the lawless town of Deadwood was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was ruthless, brutal and violent but it was damn good entertainment. With a fantastic cast led by Ian McShane's Al Swearengen and Timothy Olyphant's Seth Bullock; the show had one of the best ensemble of characters ranging from psychotic Casino owners to Chinese pig farmers. The show had the unique idea of watching the town grow and change and to see the internal strife between the different powers. There has been nothing like it since and I doubt there will be again. At just 3 seasons it is far too short and despite its cancellation it still ends in a fantastic and satisfying way; if only it had lasted longer.

The Wire

It would be impossible to create a post about the best shows ever without mentioning the very best; 'The Wire'. On the surface it may just seem like a routine cop drama, but it is so much more than that. Rather than focusing on just the police we are shown many different parts of the city of Baltimore, the streets, the docks, the schools and the newsroom. The flaws in each of these systems are exposed and the wide array of characters attempt to navigate their respective worlds. Add in fantastic, acting, writing and more realism seen in most documentaries and you have the best show ever made. Any show will have a hard time dethroning this 5 season masterpiece, although 'Breaking Bad' has an almighty shot.

Arrested Development

Recently it was announced this masterful comedy would be returning to our television screens with a short 10 episode season, which is possibly the best news of the year. Like 'Deadwood' the adventures of the Bluth family was criminally cut short because Fox was simply unable to market 'Arrested Development's' unique brand of humour. Comedies this smart don't come around often and it was a shame when the inevitable cancellation happened. With magician G.O.B., never nude Tobias and Carl Weathers 'Arrested Development couldn't last on Fox; too little viewers for too big a network. Just start watching now if you haven't already because the Bluths will be back.

Lost

A controversial one maybe, but I absolutely loved 'Lost'. It frustrated me, it annoyed me and I gave up at one point (midway through season 3) and despite all that now that it is finished I look back on 'Lost' with nothing but fond memories. The show became entrenched in the mysteries, provided no answers and people became frustrated. However it is the characters that will make me remember Lost above anything else; Locke's spiritual journey, Ben Linus's constant scheming and Hurley attempting to write 'Star Wars' before George Lucas. These are the reasons I love 'Lost', not Jacob, not the Others and certainly not Shannon (God she was annoying). Sure the smoke monster kept it interesting and added another layer to mystery of the island (perhaps too many), but few shows have captivated as much as 'Lost' did and I don't care what anyone says the finale was masterful.

The Shield

The story of crooked cop that doesn't play the rules and is a bit of a renegade isn't the most original of concepts, but 'The Shield' was truly groundbreaking in its gritty portrayal of the Los Angeles gang violence. With Michael Chiklis in the lead role as Detective Vic Mackey we had a true anti hero who constantly blurred the line between good and bad, and sometimes goes straight over it. The show is notable for me personally because it has the most riveting and harrowing final season and finale ever seen on television, which simply left me speechless. No show has ended quite like 'The Shield' did because without spoiling anything, it pulls absolutely no punches.

Honourable mentions:

The Sopranos (of course), Spaced, Veronica Mars, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Thick Of It