The RP: A Solemn and Urgent Plea to the RP Nation

For the past year and a half, I have used my platform at The Recovering Politician to share my opinions on a wide variety of issues, from politics to sports to pop culture.  One consistent theme is that I have always respected — indeed invited — dissent and disagreement, in a civil dialogue, of course.

But now, I have come to the conclusion that on one matter, there is no room for even the smallest disagreement.  You must not only concur with my opinion, but I urge you — in fact, I beg you — to join me in this essential pledge:

BREAKING BAD IS THE BEST TELEVISION PROGRAM IN HISTORY.  YOU MUST WATCH IT!

For those of you who are fellow Walt-heads (OK, maybe that’s not the best expression), you already know what I am talking about.

But I know there are thousands of you who’ve never watched the program, or may have seen an early episode and dismissed it as an uber-violent slice of Americana you’d rather hide in the proverbial cellar.  That’s what I thought for five years — I always preferred shows that I could relate to — the ad men of Mad Men, the Jewish geeks of Seinfeld, the poker-playing mobsters of The Sopranos, etc., etc.

But once I subscribed to Netflix, and paced myself through the first half season, I was as hooked as many of the protagonist Walter White’s clientele.  By the time the third season rolled around, I recognized it was a masterpiece.  But this weekend, when I finished the 4th season finale, I couldn’t sleep  — it was the most extraordinary writing, plotting, narrative, and most of all, acting, that I have ever witnessed.  I haven’t even begun watching this year’s 5th season, and I’m met with brutally conflicting emotions — I want to savor the series’ final 16 episodes, knowing that thee will never be another show like it, but I live in a constant fear that some malevolent reporter or tweeter will spoil the plot developments before I get a chance to enjoy them.

I realize that you, like me, might not identify with a struggling chemistry teacher, struck with lung cancer, who turns to cooking meth to pay the hospital bills. But if you care about politics, or philosophy, or religion, or psychology; there is no book, novel, film or opera that better illustrates the human condition — particularly the moral decisions that each of us struggle with every day — than Breaking Bad.  And there’s no better primer on why seeking revenge is the most self-destructive act a person can take. (Sure, I like Revenge, but c’mon…)

So, I insist, RP Nation.  Sign up for Netflix today.  Or if you don’t want to make Reed Hastings any richer, click here to buy the box sets of the first 4 seasons.

STOP READING, STOP PLAYING OUTSIDE, TURN ON THE TV AND WATCH IT NOW.

We will now return to our regular programming…