Anthony Stokes on shows to fill that Breaking Bad void; first up is Sons of Anarchy…
It’s finally come to an end after five seasons. Breaking Bad, one of the most celebrated shows since The Wire, is over. Not the most explosive series finale ever, but it did its job very well . I’ve seen a lot of people wonder what to do with themselves now that Breaking Bad is over. Well, not only is there other good shows, but there are shows that are as good and in some ways better that people might not be watching . Starting with Sons of Anarchy.
Sons of Anarchy is about a motorcycle club in a small town called Charming and what they have to do to survive against cops, rival gangs, and even trouble from within. Sons of Anarchy is a combination of modern Shakespearean drama and gangster movies like Goodfellas. The drama is constant and always interesting, and every character has a subplot. Where for me, Game of Thrones is always a little too busy with its ensemble, Sons is paced well enough that it keeps things fresh.
It’s the show I’d say is closest to Breaking Bad due to its approach to storytelling and character development. The best part of Breaking Bad was the characters having to think themselves out if a situation using their head, or introducing a problem for Walter to solve . Whereas Breaking Bad only has a few smart characters, Sons has its entire cast. Also, both shows pile on drama from one event, causing more pain and suffering for everyone involved. One decision results in the unraveling of the entire universe. There’s also a lot of black humor, which Breaking Bad does better, but Sons has much more of.
If there’s anything Sons of Anarchy has over Breaking Bad it’s pacing. As much I love it, sometimes Breaking Bad meandered for a little bit and some scenes felt like filler. Sons is constantly moving, delivering more drama per episode. And it’s more satisfying, with payoff coming quicker and constantly giving audiences what they want. It can be a tad predictable every once in a while and it’s not as tense as Breaking Bad at its best, but being constantly gratified with a confrontation or a character death is a fair trade off.
There’s life after Breaking Bad. While a great show has ended there are several other great shows that can be substituted in its place. But if worse comes to worst and nothing else scratches that Breaking Bad itch hopefully Better Call Saul will do it for you.
Anthony Stokes is a blogger and independent filmmaker who also assists with the music blog DopesterMusic and co-hosts the podcast Delusional Losers.
Originally published November 18, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
