2. Antagonists - Giving Us More Than Just Black And White
How Breaking Bad Has Got It Right - I noticed this, with ever growing clarity, upon my second, third and fourth viewing of the superb Season 4 Finale (As it happens, my favorite Breaking Bad episode so far) - I noticed, what a tragic character Gus Fring actually was. 'The Last Walk of Gustavo Fring' (the moment he crosses the car park of the Retirement Home) is truly a powerful and evocative moment of the series and adds (or completely changes) the emotions of the audience. I can only speak for myself here when I say - I was willing Fring to turn around, to not visit Salamanca and get out alive. Upon reflection, I find myself torn with the character. There are moments when he's chilling and the antagonistic behaviors are obvious (threatening to kill one's infant daughter is generally the course of action one might assume a baddie to take). Yet, within that are elements of a man with a strong moral integrity, a sharp business mind and an underlying respect for those that apply themselves within the organization. Gustavo Fring is not only a catalyst for Walt's development into the egoistical maniac of Season 5, but also, the other side of the coin - the heads to Heisenberg's tales. He's a foil, everything Walt's not - and everything he wants to be. I believe this to be the element that drives Walt to his actions in Season 4. He sees his path to glory and success blocked by a man who - for all intents and purposes - is better than him. As with the death of Mike in Season 5, Walt had no right to kill Fring. Gilligan really blurs the boundaries for the audience - at what point must we stop rooting for the underdog, if said underdog could not control the power that he may gain with success?
Why The Walking Dead Is Not As Good - Governor Phil is completely unworthy of the power bestowed upon him, by the Woodbury residents. Unlike Fring, who's intelligence and business savvy mind led him to become a major player on the Meth scene, there is no comprehensible aspect of The Governor's personality that would demonstrate how he found himself to be in charge of a fully functioning town, nor why people so blindly followed him down the warpath. Sure, talking the talk would get you so far but he's not dealing with mindless walkers here - no, he manages to brainwash an entire town of free-thinking human beings that offer no independent thought throughout an entire season. His motivational monologues were not that inspiring let me tell you! As I was left unconvinced by the Governor's worthiness to be a leader, he too fell short on antagonistic credibility. His motives to lead an army against Rick were unclear and largely unjustified. Okay, he's unstable but his mindless warmongering verged on ludicrous. As a result, it came across as lazy writing in an attempt to highlight that the evils of humanity remain in a world were the flesh eating undead roam the streets - basically, that its the humans that are the real bad guys all along. For me, Shane was a far more complex and interesting bad guy, and whilst killing him off before he grew stale was a smart move, I would love to see the same level of depth in the Governor's character. I'll give him Season 4 to change my mind but at the moment, the Gov just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. And the f*ck was that all guns blazing shootout on his own people? The. F*ck.