Watching TV in 2011

Just a rhetorical question:  what is the fascination with these bloody, macabre TV shows? Plots involve people breaking the law, clearly, but with reason.

A couple of summers ago, both my stepsons came to visit. They are the same age and they both were raving about two shows we had never seen:  "Breaking Bad" and "Dexter."  When they told us the plots of each, we were wondering to ourselves, 'why would anyone want to watch something like that?' but we listened and it was hard to discredit their enthusiasm. Both are intelligent, well-spoken individuals, one a writer and marketing coordinator, the other in public relations for a major computer manufacturer.

"Breaking Bad" is a series about a high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with lung cancer. After the diagnosis, his main concern is being able to provide for his family, a son who is in high school and his wife, expecting their second child. His knowledge of chemistry is genius and he runs into (literally) one of his former chemistry students who is dealing meth and making lots of money.

Walter, the main character, figures he could whip up some mean meth and does so with Jesse's (the former student) help. It turns out that it is killer meth, the best on the market. Their adventure begins.

Okay, based upon that, are you going to watch this show? We thought there was no way we would be able to sit through this, having tried to watch such things as "Old School", but we gave it a try. We didn't even know what 'breaking bad' meant! I think it is the modern-day way of saying going bad, falling off the deep end/

We totally love this show!

Which brings me to my question:  what is it about this show that keeps us watching?

The plot is great, a high school teacher becoming a meth cook. The characters have their flaws, we love them. The viewer is rooting for Walt and Jesse. They are hapless and get into situations that they never should have been able to get out of - but they somehow do get out. They are making about $7 million dollars a year - each. Jesse is a user, he has lots of ups and downs and Walter needs him as his assistant. There is conflict at every turn, including Walt's brother-in-law being a DEA agent.

Dexter - we have checked out season by season from the library. We are on season three. "Dexter" is aired on Showtime and we have only basic cable. But borrowing from the library costs nothing and you can put a hold on the entire season of a TV show.

Dexter is a serial killer with a code. He is very strict about his code and kills only people that desire to die. He is a vigilante, but a quiet one. He also works as the forensics expert specializing in blood at the Miami Police Department and his sister is a cop too! Again, great conflict, as we are wondering when someone is going to find him out. But the series goes on, he gets out of his tough spots and you are happy to still see Dexter on the screen.

And this show is bloody - somehow we got by this and I at least have no nightmares as a result of watching "Dexter." Also, when you watch a whole series with episodes back-to-back as we do, you know these characters and find yourselves talking about them during the day. "I wonder what Deb (sister) is going to do now?"

We like the writing, we are captivated by the characters, are we vigilantes at heart? Are we living vicariously through these characters?

Suffice to say, never in a million years would I have thought I would like these shows based upon the plot outlines. But not only do we like them....

Oh, gotta go - "Breaking Bad" is about to start - 9:00 p.m. on AMC.