timboytx

In this beautifully photographed series, great production values and performances take a back seat to scenes of gruesome torture and death. A compelling story isn't enough for the creators; close-ups of bleeding wounds and sound effects of breaking bones and knives slicing through flesh are necessary since the primary goal is, apparently, to shock the viewers. Realism is one thing, but this leaves realism far behind in its exaggerated in-your-face violence. Fortunately we have the skip-ahead feature and the mute button to alleviate that most unnecessary element. I kept watching simply because the tale itself is engrossing.

A fairly engrossing story arc is undermined again and again by implausible choices made by the writers. The performances are solid, but far too many plot turns are dependent on coincidence. Add to that a few ridiculous, unbelievable choices some characters make, clearly revealing the writers' goal of keeping things dramatic. On the positive side, it's interesting to see so many characters faced with situations where it's unclear which path forward is the most morally correct. As for Bryan Cranston, if you love seeing needlessly lengthy sequences of him chewing the scenery and milking every long closeup for every drop of drama, this is definitely for you.