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On Quitting

 My family is parting ways with two bad TV shows: "Billions" and "Organized Crime."


The process takes time. First, you have to acknowledge that the show has jumped the shark. The acknowledgment might come thirty to fifty episodes *after* the actual event. (And this is like the standard comment about divorce: The thing is dead for two years before you actually shoot a bullet in its head.)

I began to lose patience with "Billions" when Axe departed, abruptly; I thought the complete disinterest in Axe's children was a case of writerly laziness, and I had no idea what to make of Wendy's behavior. But it's not like I stopped watching right after Axe left. I kept hoping that the show would win me back; after all, Corey Stoll once did great work in "House of Cards." But the returns were shrinking hour after hour, until one night I really felt that I was watching paint dry. Thus, to mix metaphors, the plug was finally pulled.

Even so, I find myself asking about "Billions" at dinner parties. Is anyone watching? Did Corey Stoll become a plausible character?

"Organized Crime" has been a rockier divorce. As cheap as the show seems to be, the writers will still give you Ellen Burstyn occasionally, and they'll even toss in a fun James Cromwell "spy" subplot. I feel that "Organized Crime" is a rudderless ship; although the story isn't going anywhere, the constant drifting at least means that you'll spot a fun mermaid, or a Charybdis, every few hours. I'm not at all convinced that my family is done with "Organized Crime" -- although we've attempted the uncoupling.

Dumping, or half-dumping, a bad show means that you at least free up some time for good writing. In the void left by scuttled shows, I've inserted some re-viewings of "Breaking Bad." Even in the somewhat quiet first season, the show has a point of view, a voice, a sense of humor, and a murderers’ row of great actors. The scripts are like "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant"-meets-"The Talented Mr. Ripley." It's a pleasure to be reminded of this.

Maybe Walter White will help my family to move -- finally, decisively -- away from Elliot Stabler. Stay tuned.

And let's hope for a brighter future for Maggie Siff -- who is, right now, treading water as Wendy Rhoades.
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