This Week's Top Three (Saturday, 9/28/13 through Friday, 10/4/13)

A very tough week as Homeland started and Breaking Bad solidified itself as one of the 10 best dramas ever on television. This only left one opening for The Good Wife, Sons of Anarchy, Hell on Wheels, Boardwalk Empire, The Bridge, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, etc. to battle for.



3. The Bridge, Episode 13, The Crazy Place. A very good season finale that helped this show end on a high note. The season's promise from the first episode — with body parts of two dead girls placed on each side of the border — never seemed to materialize ... but the last couple episodes and news of a Season 2 renewal really have this show seemingly finding its pace. Throughout the season, The Bridge seemed close to busting out and being a legitimate top tier drama, but uneven pacing and weird story twists slowed it down. The main thing that has kept this show in good standing has been the fantastic acting of Demian Bichir, Diane Kruger, Thomas M. Wright and Ted Levine. All four of these top flight actors have the ability to steal scenes ... and Wright's portrayal of the intriguing Steven Linder was the high point of the first season. While the season overall left a little to be desired, I will still be looking forward to the second season next Summer.


2. Homeland, Episode 1, Tin Man Is Down. Despite premiering against the finale of Breaking Bad, Homeland still put up decent viewership numbers, because it is still a very well written, twist-filled drama that is nearly impossible to turn away from. This episode is very interesting in that it did not show Nicolas Brody at all and focused almost completely on Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) and the intense scrutiny that the CIA is facing after the attack that ended Season 2. As Carrie watches her life seemingly go down in flames, her most loyal and trusted friend, Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) has apparently turned his back on her in an effort to protect the agency. Exactly how all this will play out is going to be very interesting. Somehow, the writers and showrunners here have the ability to make Senate hearings and people watching Senate hearings very interesting.

1. Breaking Bad, Episode 8, Felina. Well ... that was it. Breaking Bad is over. Walter White is dead. Jesse Pinkman is hopefully off to the wilderness to grow old. Skyler and her family is taken care of. And Hank Schrader will get a proper burial. Vince Gilligan wrapped everything up in a nice bow for us ... and it was damn near perfect. Was it very predictable heading into the final episode? Yes. Did Gilligan maybe take the "safe way out" with Pinkman and White? Yes. Did that lessen the value of the ending to the terrific series in any way? Not really.
I probably would have liked it to be a little less predictable. But part of what made this last season so fantastic was the he showed us Walt at that diner at the beginning. So, while it made the last couple hours predictable, it also made the entire season more fun. From the second that Hank realized Walter White was Heisenberg to White's demise while saving Jesse, there was nothing to complain about in the unapologetic Final Episodes. As we watched as the once precious relationship between Walter and Jesse cracked and ultimately crumbled ... it was fantastic to see their last moments together as neither one could finish off the other. Throughout the series, the undertone was that, Walt would not allow Jesse to be killed and then Jesse would not allow Walt to be killed. In the Final Episodes, it was clear both had dropped this "rule," but somehow, when both are given the chance to do it themselves, they can't do it.
Bryan Cranston continues to be the top actor on television. Aaron Paul has taken his career to heights he could never have imagined. And Vince Gilligan will simply never be able to top his work here.
It is common with stuff ends to start spouting how great it is before letting it sink in for a bit. But here, I have no problem saying I think Breaking Bad has carved its niche into the top dramas of all time. Is it better than The Shield? The Wire? Mad Men? The West Wing? The Sopranos? Maybe, maybe not. But it is certainly in the discussion.
All other TV is lucky they have through next May to get their Emmy nominations in order, because right now I see no way that Breaking Bad walks out next September without Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Drama.

Honorable Mention: Sons of Anarchy, Episode 4, "Wolfsangel"; The Good Wife, Episode 1, "Everything is Ending"