It's funny, but the grimness is actually a net positive for me most of the time. I actually think there must be something wrong with me on that front, because it's not just this show, but pretty much all of them. (Case in point: you might be aware that The Good Wife had a bombshell of an episode last week, where something very emotionally difficult happened? my reaction to this is to look forward to next week when they're coping with the fallout. Like I said, something wrong with me.)

You're hardly alone in that. Look at Game of Thrones. I don't watch it but they apparently had a bloodbath at the end of the season. I don't think it lost them any viewers. I'd say my reactions are less typical.

You'll love "Breaking Bad." It goes from bad to worse to hell on earth. I quit watching it after the second season finale. I'm afraid I tend to bail on shows that get unreservedly grim. I already quit watching Justified this season. There is a long list of shows I've quit. I'm convinced that if I had been watching The X-Files in real time I'd never have made to the end.

We'll have to see if I make to the end of this season of The Americans.