Essay about Dexter, Weeds, and breaking bad?

I think it is in people's nature to like a deeply flawed but believable anti-hero.

Othello for instance...*cough cough*

I seriously doubt race has anything to do with it.

It may be a reflection of how the general populace currently views the world. In the '80's, when the US economy was very strong and people felt secure in their lives and their futures, most shows were very lighthearted and almost disgustingly positive. These darker shows started taking hold after the economy started to fail (post Enron and WorldCom) and people suddenly were thrust into a world where they didn't feel safe and secure.

Or the "bad guy" protagonist is just another silly trend (like zombies, pirates and sparkly vampires) and will burn itself out within a few years.