BREAKING BAD AND SOPRANOS SPOILER BELOW
Joe texted me this morning about how he thinks the murders of Phil Leotardo and Dead Eyed Todd from Breaking Bad are the most satisfying murders in televisions history. I can't disagree on on Phil at all. I even laughed I think.
But Todd made me sad. Jesse, who obviously struggled with Gale's murder, is no doubt going to struggle with this one. The murder of Todd was pure vengeance that solved nothing. I would argue that he lost more of his humanity in killing Todd as opposed to killing Gale. With Gale he was purely manipulated into doing something horrific to save someone's life. With Todd, it was pure, selfish rage. Sure, he's got all that time of being a slave cook to deal with, but that murder will haunt him. It's sad.
(Let's also not pretend Gale wasn't in the game just the same as Declan. Gale's hand were dirty. No one laments over Declan's murder like they do Gale's because Gale was this quirky and relatable nerd and we knew nothing of Declan other than he was also a cook. "You play in dirt, you get dirty.")
So any other TV deaths?
Joffrey was certainly satisfying. Maybe Arzt in Lost as well. (Artz!)
I feel like there have the be quite a few from 24, but none of them leap out to me right now. The obvious one to me that wasn't mentioned though...
ReplyDeleteBOARDWALK EMPIRE SPOILERS.....
Gyp Rosetti in Season 3. Bobby Cannavale deservedly won an Emmy for best supporting actor that year after playing the deranged rival of Nucky Thompson for a year. While the method wasn't that great, it was ultimately satisfying to see him get his.
Locke from this season of Game of Thrones absolutely. Death by Hodor is a strong way to go.
ReplyDeleteErrol from True Detective
I got in an text debate last night about the Breaking Bad finale with Joe last night. First, I don't think any death on that show was satisfying. They set up in the third episode that you can find a way into dignity for any human being, even one who's going to certainly kill you if you let him go. Second, Todd being strangled by Jesse was pure fan service. There's no reason to think he survives the gun barrage. Same for Uncle Jack.
I want to say Captain Turner in Deadwood, but the show undercut that joy by showing how wrecked Dan is by it.
Cheese getting it in The Wire is pretty great.
Staying with Boardwalk Empire, the way the Commodore went was spectacular. If ever an old racist rapist had to go, it was him.
I hated seeing Gyp Rosetti go. The trail of destruction and sex toys he littered the Jersey Coast with was fun to watch. I'm not saying he was a great guy or anything, but I really didn't want to see him go.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really don't think the Alaska bound Jesse is going to be tortured with killing Ricky Hitler. Perhaps some of the other deaths sure, especially Andrea, but not Todd. Todd was barely human. I think some people mistake his keeping Jesse alive as some sort of affection he had for him. I saw a pet owner training his pet to do his bidding. (Your name is Reek!) Sure there was pride there, but that doesn't mean there is love or admiration. Jesse was a pet to Todd, and nothing more.
Also, was I the only one that didn't really feel bad for the death of Gale? Maybe I need to view that death from a different lens, because to me that scene was all about Jesse. I felt for Jesse there because he was clearly violating himself and he couldn't say no. That doesn't make it okay, but that was still my stronger connection to that scene. I still haven't decided who Jesse's worst enemy is. Himself or Walt? I think the last episode definitely tried to resolve that issue, but it's not definitive because we really don't know Jesse's future.
I think Todd's death in Breaking back was very satisfying. And hearing Vince Gilligan and Aaron Paul talk about it afterwards confirmed that with me. I don't think Jesse would regret it one bit... he was given that moment, and deserved it as much as the fans did. And even if it is mostly (or all as some of you may think) fan service... I think that qualifies as satisfying.
ReplyDeleteDexter had a few satisfying deaths.... excluding any of them in the series' final two episodes.
Six Feet Under did well with theirs, and while not the kind of 'revenge/they deserved to die' satisfying... they were mostly done well and satisfied the fans.
I actually found Charlie's death in Lost more satisfying than Arzt.. among others.
Joffery is certain up there... and there are certainly more to come in Game of Thrones, however many seasons they give us.
I think the most notable death for 24 in these terms.. would be Nina's. Jack had to wait and deal with so much for that one. It's also perhaps the one that actually could have got him locked away, he knew that, but it was more important for him
Also makes me think of one of the least satisfying... The Mentalist and Red John. They spent multiple seasons on Red John...and the end of that storyline, while 'okay,' did not live up to expectations considering the investment put in.
Joffrey was not satisfying, because I loved that character so much. When he wasn't murdering prostitutes, he was the funniest part of the show. I still miss him.
ReplyDeleteHe was a great character.. and Gleeson was outstanding in the role. I'm actually pretty bummed that he's retiring (perhaps/hopefully temporarily) from acting already.
DeleteBut Joffery was still the character to hate...and if anybody deserved the death the received, it really was him. Did he make the show better? Absolutely. But watching him choke was a big moment of satisfaction for the viewers and even some people at the Purple Wedding. Even Tyrion agreed!