Weekend Preview: The Prequel To ‘Breaking Bad’s’ Ozymandias

Breaking Bad (AMC, Sunday 9 p.m.) — The sixth episode of Breaking Bad is called Ozymandias, a reference to a poem about the inevitable decline of a leader. One would think that this Sunday’s fifth episode of season 5B, “To’hajiilee,” would be about whatever it is that precipitates the fall of Walter White. It’s worth noting that “To’hajiilee” is also the Navajo Indian Reservation where Walt has stashed away his money, for whatever that is worth.

Boardwalk Empire (HBO, Sunday 9 p.m.) — SEASON PREMIERE. The fourth season of what is quietly one of the best dramas on television returns on Sunday. To get you ready for the season premiere, here’s 20 Obscure Facts about the Cast of Boardwalk Empire, some of the key differences between Steve Buscemi’s Nucky Thompson and the character upon whom he has based, Nucky Johnson, and here’s Buscemi reading Tweets on Fallon.

The Newsroom (HBO, Sunday 10 p.m.) — It’s become almost a necessity now that cable dramas kill off a character in their penultimate episodes of the season. WHO WILL DIE ON THE NEWSROOM? Oh, the irony of Jim Harper getting run over by a Sex and the City bus would be so rich.

Low Winter Sun (AMC, Sunday 10 p.m.) — Hahahahahahahahahahaha. No.

Sunday Night Football: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys (NBC, Sunday 8:20 p.m.) — It’s just plain cruel to bring back the NFL on the same night as Breaking Bad and the premiere of Boardwalk Empire. On the one hand, it’s un-American to DVR football. On the other, if you don’t watch Breaking Bad live, some jackass somewhere will spoil it for you. Fortunately, even if you watch Boardwalk and Breaking Bad, you can still catch the fourth quarter because primetime NFL games last forever.

Dexter (Showtime, Sunday 9 p.m.) — Just repeat after me: Three more episodes. Three more episodes. Three more episodes. We can get through this, guys.

Luther (BBC America, Friday 10 p.m.) — This is the fourth and final episode of the season, and while I liked it, it’s been divisive, with some suggesting that the episode ruined the entire season. I don’t see it.

Comedy Bang Bang (IFC, Friday 10 p.m.) — For a guy who just quit SNL, and only has South Park and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 to promote, we’ve sure seen a lot of Bill Hader lately. That is not a complaint.

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