20 TV Shows That Are Practically Flawless
9. Breaking Bad
"We're going to take Mr. Chips and turn him into Scarface." This was Vince Gilligan's pitch for Breaking Bad, the five-season character study of Bryan Cranston's cancer-suffering chemistry teacher who becomes New Mexico's most feared and infamous meth kingpin to provide for his family and feed his monumental ego.
One of many TV golden age series to force audiences to root for a villain, Breaking Bad's key strength came from its tight, faultless structure, which effortlessly followed Walter White, his family and associates as they attempted to come to grips with the dangerous world around them.
Narratively spotless, it was also home to countless career-best peformances, from Cranston's snivelling turn as Heisenberg, Anna Gunn as his tortured wife Skyler, and Aaron Paul as his tragic partner-in-crime Jesse. It was shockingly grim but darkly amusing, and reached new highs with every twist of Walt's harrowing journey.