Do you watch shows with heavy drug use in them?

[DawnM]

I have to be honest, I have tried to get into some shows that have drugs in them.  Breaking Bad, Justice, Sons of Anarchy, and now Animal Kingdom.  I have friends who have recommended all of them and love them.  

 

I just can't get into them.  If I spend hours watching a drama, I feel I need to relate in some way to the characters.

 

Am I missing something?

 

 

Edited July 7, 2016 by DawnM

[poppy]

Did you watch Sopranos, Dexter, Mad Men, the Shield, House of Cards Rescue Me, Vikings, etc etc..... shows with criminals or anti-heroes as leads.  I don't think it's about drugs really, lots of characters have evil / dark characters as central.

 

[gardenmom5]

i grew up with siblings who used, and a brother who grew and dealt.  I'm disgusted by such shows.

[gardenmom5]

Did you watch Sopranos, Dexter, Mad Men, the Shield, House of Cards Rescue Me, Vikings, etc etc..... shows with criminals or anti-heroes as leads.  I don't think it's about drugs really, lots of characters have evil / dark characters as central.

 

Nope.

[DawnM]

Did you watch Sopranos, Dexter, Mad Men, the Shield, House of Cards Rescue Me, Vikings, etc etc..... shows with criminals or anti-heroes as leads.  I don't think it's about drugs really, lots of characters have evil / dark characters as central.

 

 

Ah, maybe that is it.  I don't like the bad guys winning.

 

Out of those, I have watched a little bit of Dexter (but he killed the bad guys), and some of Mad Men, but didn't get into that either.

 

I do watch Bates Motel, but I like psychological thrillers, so maybe that makes me a hypocrite.  

 

But his killings are not portrayed at justifiable.

 

I mostly like crime dramas where the good guys win.

Edited July 8, 2016 by DawnM

[MercyA]

I loved Breaking Bad. I felt like it contained a lot of truth about how small decisions can spiral out of control, how our choices reveal (and change) our character, and how our actions ultimately affect others. It was also just incredibly well done. The drug story line was just a vehicle for all of that.

Edited July 7, 2016 by MercyA

[Joker]

No. We don't watch any of the shows mentioned here. We heard a lot about Breaking Bad so we tried it. We made it through about four episodes and then quit. We just couldn't get into it and didn't like it.

[hornblower]

Did you watch Sopranos, Dexter, Mad Men, the Shield, House of Cards Rescue Me, Vikings, etc etc..... shows with criminals or anti-heroes as leads.  I don't think it's about drugs really, lots of characters have evil / dark characters as central.

 

 

This is fascinating. 

 

These are all shows nobody here watches.  I've never realized there was a pattern. 

[kewb]

No, I don't watch any of the ones mentioned. Dh and I tried breaking bad and didn't make it past the second episode. It wasn't the drugs that bothered me it was the grittiness of the show. Too graphic for my tastes.

[SparklyUnicorn]

I prefer lighter stuff or comedies.  If I want to escape reality, I don't go looking for a worse reality to entertain me.

 

 

 

 

[JustEm]

Yes I do watch shows with drug use and all the shows that poppy mentioned. The storylines are interesting, the characters are well developed, and I'm often left thinking deeply about the perplexities of the main characters decisions. I also watch a lot of shows with good guys as the lead. It has more to do with the story then with me needing to relate to a character.

[Allearia]

I really love breaking bad. I have read that after the show came out, meth use actually went down quite a bit because it showed the reality of the effects of taking meth. that made me feel a lot better about watching it.

[Joker]

I really love breaking bad. I have read that after the show came out, meth use actually went down quite a bit because it showed the reality of the effects of taking meth. that made me feel a lot better about watching it.

I found this interesting so I went to Google. My entire first page was articles about meth use rising across Europe due to the show.

 

I find it hard to believe a show would have an impact either way but I wonder if it's true.

[poppy]

This is fascinating. 

 

These are all shows nobody here watches.  I've never realized there was a pattern. 

 

I think the divide is, do you want to know what will happen? Shows with evil lead characters are much more unpredictable.

Whereas, every episode of Big Bang Theory , Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds is basically the same.

The other thing is divided loyalties.  Do you root for the main character Walter White, or do you root for his law officer brother in law (who is kinda obnoxious)?   Do you root for Cersei Lannister (evil) or her rivals (pretty universally not nice either).  It makes for a more dynamic watching experience.

[TechWife]

No, I don't. I believe the old saying holds true "Garbage in, garbage out" so I am careful about what I watch. I've seen real life drug use and it's effects, so I don't need to see it on tv. 

[Bluegoat]

Sometimes I do.  It isn't a theme I particularly look out for, but it doesn't put me off, either.  I've been watching Wentworth, which is a women's prison drama, and so there is a fair bit of drug use. 

 

I don't mind shows with non-heroic characters in them either, though I find some of that type seem overly cynical, or like they are just trying to be edgy, or I find them manipulative.  I didn't keep up with The Sopranos, for example, because I felt it was just more of the same all the time, and the people weren't all that interesting.  In comparison to Wentworth, the writing is probably more clever and in some ways better, but I find the people in Wentworth more interesting - they aren't all just sociopaths, they come from really a variety of backgrounds, and a lot of them were fairly normal but are now in an abnormal situation.  I guess I feel like tow-dimentional characters aren't more interesting just because they are bad, especially when its a whole cast of them.

 

I'm not always in the mood for that sort of thing, sometimes I like more people it is possible to admire, and sometimes I want something fairly light.

[FriedClams]

Nope. I don't like violence or racy stuff either.

[Allearia]

I found this interesting so I went to Google. My entire first page was articles about meth use rising across Europe due to the show.

 

I find it hard to believe a show would have an impact either way but I wonder if it's true.

I just vaguely remembered one article so I didn't really research it. It's possible it had different effects in different places. Breaking Bad certainly put me off wanting to try meth but I'm pretty sure I would never try it anyway.

 

Now I know what I'll be googling for the next hour.

[redsquirrel]

I watched Breaking Bad for the unbelievably powerful combination of top notch writing, acting, and directing. If you are a fan of any of those, that entire show was a master class.  And to be able to keep the work at such a consistently strong level over the span of years, is just amazing.

 

It was way more intense than I generally prefer. I don't watch, or stop watching, a lot of shows with a lot of emotional intensity, such as the Sopranos (although I always say I should watch that one), or House of Cards or Vikings.  I tried to watch Mad Men, but I just never got into it. I might not have given it a real chance though.  But the writing for Breaking Bad was just so consistently good, so tightly plotted, the dialogue so real, the characters so fully realized and three dimensional, that I had to keep watching. It wasn't fun to watch, but the sheer skill of all involved took my breath away.

 

I feel the same way about some books. I might find them emotionally overwhelming, but the story is so compelling, the writing so strong, that I can't not read it.  One example might be something like Louise Erdrich's The Round House, or really most of her books. They are challenging for me, but well worth it. She is a powerful writer, and I can be overwhelmed by what she writes, but simultaneously thrilled by watching a master at work. 

 

 

And I've always thought Breaking Bad to be an excellent warning against drug use or getting involved with any aspect of an illegal activity. On the surface it look exciting, but everyone pays too great a price, many (most?) with their lives.  I know that a few have looked at it and seen only the positive, but that just goes to show that people see different things when they interact with art.

Edited July 7, 2016 by redsquirrel

[Bluegoat]

I watched Breaking Bad for the unbelievably powerful combination of top notch writing, acting, and directing. If you are a fan of any of those, that entire show was a master class.  And to be able to keep the work at such a consistently strong level over the span of years, is just amazing.

 

It was way more intense than I generally prefer. I don't watch, or stop watching, a lot of shows with a lot of emotional intensity, such as the Sopranos (although I always say I should watch that one), or House of Cards or Vikings.  I tried to watch Mad Men, but I just never got into it. I might not have given it a real chance though.  But the writing for Breaking Bad was just so consistently good, so tightly plotted, the dialogue so real, the characters so fully realized and three dimensional, that I had to keep watching. It wasn't fun to watch, but the sheer skill of all involved took my breath away.

 

I feel the same way about some books. I might find them emotionally overwhelming, but the story is so compelling, the writing so strong, that I can't not read it.  One example might be something like Louise Erdrich's The Round House, or really most of her books. They are challenging for me, but well worth it. She is a powerful writer, and I can be overwhelmed by what she writes, but simultaneously thrilled by watching a master at work. 

 

 

And I've always thought Breaking Bad to be an excellent warning against drug use or getting involved with any aspect of an illegal activity. On the surface it look exciting, but everyone pays too great a price, many (most?) with their lives.  I know that a few have looked at it and seen only the positive, but that just goes to show that people see different things when they interact with art.

 

I've seen this with a few shows, (not books so much maybe?)  It seems really clear to me that the writer is trying to, not just warn, but draw out the nature of certain kinds of errors, their consequences and how people get there, and yet you still get some people that find it really romantic, or glamourous, or cool.   Goodfellas is an example that comes to mind.  Or sometimes it is people who want a tragic charachter to remain in his tragedy rather than overcome it, because something about him seems cool.  And it doesn't seem to be about bad writing either, that isn't getting the message across, nor about the author trying to be ambiguous.

 

It sounds a bit cheesy, but I think sometimes it may be in part a matter of people being drawn to evil.

Edited July 7, 2016 by Bluegoat

[mamiof5]

No. I don't find any enjoyment in that type of shows.

[Sarah CB]

No. We don't watch any of the shows mentioned here. We heard a lot about Breaking Bad so we tried it. We made it through about four episodes and then quit. We just couldn't get into it and didn't like it.

 

I'm not usually very conservative about what I watch. I loved Mad Men. I watch Dexter. I watch Walking Dead.

 

But, I found Breaking Bad much too disturbing. I think dh and I watched two or three episodes and we just couldn't watch more than that. 

[Katy]

I don't like dark stuff as a general rule.  I never have.  If they're breaking the rules for a good reason (Burn Notice) then I might love it.  But going dark for the fun of it isn't fun to me.

 

I'm the type to actually like shallow, fun, and hopeful Disney movies for the tween set though. If something gets too dark, playing something fun and light makes me happier.

[Guest]

Unless House counts? No. I cannot stand anything glorifying drug culture, or even using it as a big plot point. It is really unappealing to me personally.

[Guest]

Did you watch Sopranos, Dexter, Mad Men, the Shield, House of Cards Rescue Me, Vikings, etc etc..... shows with criminals or anti-heroes as leads. I don't think it's about drugs really, lots of characters have evil / dark characters as central.

Never watched any of those, nope :)

[Paige]

Yes, I watch many of the shows mentioned and love a good anti-hero. I also love regular heroes. Mostly, I like complex characters and stories. I don't have a problem with drug use in shows and I don't think that showing drug use is somehow glorifying it. Neither do I think ignoring drug use and refusing to include characters who use is any defense against drug use in real life. I like good comedies, dramas, and tragedies. There's nothing new about tragedies and anti-heroes. I like shows that show that all people have good and evil in them at the same time. 

 

I liked Breaking Bad because of how it showed the evolution of a regular guy who turns into a pretty bad guy. I liked how he starts off wanting to be good and only doing what he needs to support himself, then the justification of his behavior and how it turns him little by little, and ultimately him facing himself. It's a moral story of how the lies we tell ourselves will take over and turn us if we aren't careful.

 

 

[Guest]

I loved Breaking Bad. I felt like it contained a lot of truth about how small decisions can spiral out of control, how our choices reveal (and change) our character, and how our actions ultimately affect others. It was also just incredibly well done. The drug story line was just a vehicle for all of that.

I agree. Breaking Bad is probably my favorite series of all time. I also enjoyed most of Dexter, and I like The Walking Dead. But watching Walter White truly evolve from cancer stricken, relatable Chemistry teacher and parent with a mortgage and bills to pay, turn into Heisenberg and the ego shift involved in it all was just simply, breathtaking. To me the evolutions of the characters was some of the best television screen writing of all time. Of course The Dark Knight is also one of my favorite movies of all time- there's some deep thought to be had in it as well if you listen to the speeches by several of the characters. I guess I am drawn to the anti-hero. And to be honest, although with TV/cinema you may be watching it, the some of the classics and history are honestly even more brutal when you read them. Walter White didn't have anything on the Romans.

[lllll]

nm

Edited July 9, 2016 by ~ d9n

[rmtzc2009]

Nope, watching drug use causes me a sick feeling inside. I much prefer light comedy.

[Arcadia]

Nope. The only show we watch is the news and occasionally PBS NOVA.

 

. I've seen real life drug use and it's effects, so I don't need to see it on tv.

This.

[hornblower]

I loved Happy Valley tho. 

Drug use is peripheral but it is dark. But it's also very female centered and ultimately it's 'on the side of the angels'. I'm going to ponder this more but I think it might be that I find evil people uninteresting. 

[SamanthaCarter]

Not really, unless Limitless counts. LOL.

 

As far as anti-hero type shows, I watched a bit of House of Cards, none of the others. For some strange, unidentifiable reason it gave me nightmares. 

[Chris in VA]

I just can't yet, still healing.

I like shows that tell truths, but I am not strong enough to go there. I love stories, however, so I do like gritty shows. I am just so dang curious about what happens in human lives.

[Guest]

No. And I'll leave it at that.

Edited July 7, 2016 by Kinsa

[happypamama]

I haven't watched Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, or the like.  I tried one episode of Dexter and turned it off after ten minutes.  I like crime drama, but I don't like super gory stuff, and I don't think I'd really like the "bad guys winning" thing.  I don't love the idea of promoting drug culture, but it doesn't bother me when it's part of a crime drama show so much, but I think BB would probably not really interest me much.

 

I should maybe add that I have zero experience with drugs and anyone I know IRL, so maybe I don't really fully understand what a problem it truly is, enough to be super against shows that have them?

 

I don't care for shows with heavy s*x components or lots of gore or a lot of foul language, either.  I'm not bothered by a little violence, if it's of the "cops getting the obviously very bad guy" sort, or a little gore when a murder victim is found or whatever, but I'd prefer they not take it too far.

[justasque]

Nope, watching drug use causes me a sick feeling inside. I much prefer light comedy.

 

Ab Fab, anyone?  There's a new Ab Fab movie coming out, in which Patsy and Edina kill Kate Moss (accidentally, of course).

[ChocolateReignRemix]

The Shield is still one of the best dramas I have ever watched.  Even the writers struggled with it as they wanted viewers to hate the main character, but they made him so compelling it was easy to try and forget exactly how awful he was.  The final season made it very clear and like most of the shows listed, the anti-hero didn't win in the end.

[TranquilMind]

I have to be honest, I have tried to get into some shows that have drugs in them.  Breaking Bad, Justice, Sons of Anarchy, and now Animal Kingdom.  I have friends who have recommended both and love them.  

 

I just can't get into them.  If I spend hours watching a drama, I feel I need to relate in some way to the characters.

 

Am I missing something?

 

None of those shows interest us.  I will watch something like that only if it is not portrayed in any sort of justifiable, positive way. 

 

Of course, many programs show awful stuff being portrayed positively.   Keeps my television watching down.  

 

[Guest]

The Shield is still one of the best dramas I have ever watched. Even the writers struggled with it as they wanted viewers to hate the main character, but they made him so compelling it was easy to try and forget exactly how awful he was. The final season made it very clear and like most of the shows listed, the anti-hero didn't win in the end.

I'd only briefly heard of this one - I actually like anti heroes but it's heavy drug use and profanity that turns me off. Good acting and compelling characters are a win though. Is this series still running or completed? How would you rank it in terms of explicitness and violence?

[Bluegoat]

Not really, unless Limitless counts. LOL.

 

As far as anti-hero type shows, I watched a bit of House of Cards, none of the others. For some strange, unidentifiable reason it gave me nightmares. 

 

I haven't been able to get into the newer version of House of Cards, but I liked the older one.  It did give me the creeps in a serious way though - there was something not only evil, but really believable evil, of the PM charachter.  In some ways I would have said it was almost over the top, but it worked - it was like a Satanic version of yes, Minister.

 

I think what saved it though is that unlike the newer series, it didn't go on and on - it was in mini-series format of (I think) four episodes, and there were just two mini-series - so it all wrapped up and there was a sort of conclusdion before it became really unbearable.  I've thought that I would have enjoyed The Sopranos more if it had a similar approach.  The greater scope of television, in terms of time to tell a story, can be a real advantage over movies I think, but eight or ten episodes over five season series can easily become flabby or overdone.

[Guest]

This is fascinating.

 

These are all shows nobody here watches. I've never realized there was a pattern.

Same here. I am not interested in any of those kinds of shows. I watch 100% fluff or comedy. House hunters, Foodtv, Big Bang Theory.

[amo_mea_filiis.]

Thanks a lot, everyone... These all now interest me! Lol

 

I watched Dexter. None of the rest.

[J-rap]

I was fascinated with Breaking Bad.  Yes, it has a heavy drug emphasis, but you don't relate to that part.  You're drawn to the characters who are trying to do the right thing and make good decisions, even if they aren't perfect.  It definitely doesn't glorify drug use and corruption.  It's not like that at all.  If anything, you learn about the horrors of it and are repulsed by it.

 

The acting and storyline are incredible.  Not for children though.

[catz]

I was fascinated with Breaking Bad.  Yes, it has a heavy drug emphasis, but you don't relate to that part.  You're drawn to the characters who are trying to do the right thing and make good decisions, even if they aren't perfect.  It definitely doesn't glorify drug use and corruption.  It's not like that at all.  If anything, you learn about the horrors of it and are repulsed by it.

 

The acting and storyline are incredible.  Not for children though.

 

:iagree: I do not typically seek out shows with story lines about drugs.  But Breaking Bad was different for me.  I really felt for the main character as a father and provider for his family.  Very powerful story telling.