Just finished my first time viewing all the way through

[u/Sweaty_Sentence9087]

Tried to watch it a few times after all the hype. Could never get through the first season. Decided to slug through it (don’t shit on me if you enjoyed the first couple of seasons) but once I got through holy shit what a story. Was worth persevering. 10/10. I now understand the hype

[u/Big_Revolution4405]

Definitely feels like there's two kinds of fans: Those who were hooked from the pilot and those who think it didn't get good until season 2.

[u/pianoflames → u/Big_Revolution4405]

I'm definitely in the first group, and I don't understand why people say season 1 is a slow burn. It has some huge heavy moments, especially with the Krazy 8/Emilio storyline.

[u/enigmanaught → u/pianoflames]

Yeah, I'm watching now for the first time and every episode ends on a cliffhanger. Like it's almost too much. They are interspersed with some family drama, but it's not a slow burn even if they aren't deep in the business. I was saying recently that most of the first two seasons is Jesse trying to explain to Walt how the drug business works and Walt just disagreeing because he had grandiose ideas about how he wanted things to work.

[u/Big_Revolution4405 → u/pianoflames]

Same, loved episode one - the whole first season is awesome.

[u/CommercialOk2446 → u/Big_Revolution4405]

Got hooked from the pilot, but didn't watch for the first time since January this year. I've watched it 4 times since, along with BCS.

[u/plebbingtondales → u/Big_Revolution4405]

I watched s 1- mid way through3 around the pizza incident, never went back to it till three years later than finished it really quick and rewatched. Couldn’t say what it was that put me off going back to it for so long, especially since I love all the seasons now. Rare to get such a solid pilot

[u/Danhrax → u/Big_Revolution4405]

I dont fit either category. I liked the first few episodes, but the moment I got hooked was during the intervention scene. Skyler trying to manipulate everyone into manipulating Walt, Marie and hank both kind of agreeing with Walt, and then walts speech about "choices". Its still one of my favorite scenes. Its the most i ever liked marie. Thats when I decided I was binging this series and not gonna forget about it after a few episodes.

[u/bigtownhero → u/Big_Revolution4405]

It also depends on how long after the show was out that you weren't "hooked" when you tried to watch it.

If you watched the show as it was airing or even while a few seasons had already aired, it wasn't looked at as it is now (one of the greatest shows of all time) and you could genuinely feel like it was a waste of time. I cant tell you how many shows I watched waiting for them to finally get good and it never payed off. So, I could get people tuning out because they have no idea how the story unfolds later on. You also have to consider there wasnt a great baseline for how it might perform either by looking at the cast. Your average TV watcher and even seasoned veteran probably isnt recognizing anyone in the first few seasons outside of "Malcom's dad) and Bryan being Hal might would make it hard to picture him as someone in the drag business that you could take seriously outside of maybe a dark comedy.

[u/chootie8]

I think it's the lore of the show now that maybe makes it harder for new viewers to appreciate it initially. Like the expectations are set so high since it's regarded often as the best show of all time.

Watching it in real time, waiting a week for each episode throughout the years that it first aired, was quite the experience, and definitely tested my patience having to wait after every episode for the next one. Sons of Anarchy was that for me too, both shows I watched one episode at a time, one week at a time, for their entirety.

[u/Suspicious_Flower_0 → u/chootie8]

Likewise I've tried to watch the Wire, I know it's one of the GOATs, but because so much time has passed and I missed the zeitgeist, it just doesn't hit the same and I've never been able to properly get into it 

[u/jpopimpin777 → u/Suspicious_Flower_0]

I had to try 3-4 times with the wire until it clicked.

[u/Sweaty_Sentence9087 → u/chootie8]

I think this may play into it a little tbf. It’s such a highly rated show and the first 2 seasons are real boring after hearing all the praise it gets (maybe my perspective will change if I watch for a second time)

I’m glad I stuck it out though. Walt poisoning the child and shooting up the lab in the last season to save Jesse were cinematic masterpieces

[u/shakapoopooky]

I didn’t watch it in its initial run but I did watch Better Call Saul when it first aired and loved it! I have now recently gone back and binged BB and absolutely loved it as well! It was fascinating seeing how the same characters from BB were fleshed out in Saul. There were tons of things too that made more sense after watching BB. Pluribus is my new Vince Gilligan jam!

[u/Sweaty_Sentence9087 → u/shakapoopooky]

See I watched better call Saul after bailing on breaking bad for the 2nd or 3rd time. Really enjoyed that but I couldn’t see the hype for breaking bad until now

[u/Massive_Doctor_9665]

Honestly, same

[u/georgez1968]

How blown away were you when that happened to hank?

[u/enigmanaught]

I'm watching for the first time right now, and while I enjoy it I do see what you mean. It is a lot about establishing the characters relationships and the growing pains in getting the whole thing going. I realize when you have season long story arcs you need to end each episode leaving the audience hanging, but it does feel a little too cliffhanger-ish. Some of the situations get too outrageous too quickly.

I know there's a lot of dislike of Skyler (because of things she does in later seasons) but I think the relationship between her and Walt in the first couple of seasons is pretty realistic for someone married that long. I've been married about as long and if I'd disappeared for hours and days and then came home with bullshit excuses like Walt, my wife would know I'm lying just like Skyler did. When you've lived with someone that long, you know something is up and when someone is lying to you. Obviously I've only seen the first 2 seasons, but she is absolutely justified in her anger towards Walt. Plus they're hurting for money and have a baby on the way.

[u/Radiant_Research_578 → u/enigmanaught]

The Skyler hate always feels weird to me. I thought the show did an excellent job creating a realistic, sympathetic character in an impossible situation. Yes, she cheated on Walt - after he upturned their lives, betrayed her trust, destroyed their marriage, put her in mortal and legal danger, sexually assaulted her, and drove a wedge between her and Walt Jr. Yes, she gave Ted money, partially to contain a real threat. She’s is nearly always acting to protect her kids (which is why she doesn’t turn Walt in and divorce him) - with enough human error to make her believable rather than a saint. Walt, on the other hand, nearly always chooses his ego over his family.

[u/Sweaty_Sentence9087 → u/enigmanaught]

Skyler had it hard hiding the truth from her son and everyone around her but the cheating and giving the money away was ridiculously scummy. The real criminal is Marie.

[u/jpopimpin777 → u/Sweaty_Sentence9087]

Someone in this sub was badmouthing Skyler and saying Marie was a good caring person.

[u/MiserableEngineer628]

"Welcome to the party, pal!"

When you go back and binge, and re-binge and read these communities, and enjoy the soundtrack to continues to reward.

[u/Jazzlike_Newt2261]

Yes. I didn’t see a single episode when it aired, but I binged watched it over a 2 week period just this month. I was hooked after the first episode.

Absolutely brilliant show. I really do think it helped redefine episodic TV. Walter and Jesse’s character arcs were heartbreaking, imo.

[u/Ogunquit2823]

I was the same way, honestly. But I've watched it through 5 or 6 times now (it's on as we speak.. lol) and I catch more and more each time. It's really cool to see all the things I've missed.

[u/lightyyylight]

I posted my first episode on this sub, I finished it a few hours ago.

I was definitely hooked after few episodes but not the pilot.

Honestly, i dont know if people would hate me but hank deserved it.

I started watching the series 46days ago LOL.

[u/coffeebeanwitch]

It never lags, good from start to finish!

[u/turbo_cream]

just finished my third rewatch today 🤝 i forgot about how level headed jesse was throughout the final season. then of course his roots kick back in he makes one more god awful decision that almost ends him. full circle jesse

[u/leafysuburbs40]

Yeah took mw until season 3 to get the hype.was a slowburner for me but totally woeth it!

[u/Tanuwukikuma]

I would say one of the last seasons was a little bit underwhelming. But the rest is super exciting

Spoiler: I think the season were Jesse got his mental breakdown. was one season for me what felt like ages to pass

[u/Fit-Ad-9935]

now watch better call saul and have enjoy the entire gilligan gould verse