Breaking Bad (Series)

Breaking Bad: property of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.

There are different types of series, for all the different types of viewers. The comedy ones are very popular among the general public. Of course, this is natural when you think that watching series may be a relaxing moment for some people. Like a happy hour after a hard day, when you just sit in the couch, grab some food and drinks, and turn on the television/computer/tablet to have some fun with a comedy story.

Although comedy may be very popular, drama series are more capable of delivering an immersive experience. These stories offer an approach of the real life, showing situations that make you want to know what will happen to the characters, how they will deal with their problems and difficulties. In other words, drama stories work with empathy, making you hate or love the characters, cheering for they success, or failure.

One of the best series that represent this segment is Breaking Bad, aired from 2008 to 2013 on AMC. Although the beginning was just fine, the drama and the thriller increase during the five seasons. The author Vince Gilligan created a story that works as a well-planned mechanism, making you eager to know what comes next every episode.

The series tell the story of Walter White, a high school professor with a brilliant scientific mind, diagnosed with a fatal disease. The lung cancer will kill White soon (but may take years), and with no money even for the treatment, he ends to become a drug producer and seller. With the help of his former student, the junkie, but loyal, Jesse Pinkman, they start into the illegal methamphetamine market. The professor objective is to gain a lot of money, enough to sustain his family if he dies of cancer, besides paying for his treatment.

Remember: the series is extremely volatile, and will blow your mind some times

And when we remember the story, we need to remember the characters. Probably the best quality of Breaking Bad, the cast was certainly a mixture that worked very well. Walter White was played by Bryan Cranston, and Jesse Pinkman was played by Aaron Paul. Both actors worked marvelously, making their relationship as business partners and, why not, close friends, one of the best parts of the series. Aaron is the most empathic character of the series, even if you are not fan of junkies. And Walter has good and bad guy moments, being a complex and fascinating character.

Walter and Jesse in their drug making clothes

Besides these two main characters, Breaking Bad has a lot of other fascinating people. Skyler, Walter’s wife, played by Anna Gunn, is certainly the third pillar of the series. She is, at the same time, worried about his husband and family, but also with what will happen to her. This “noble/selfish” personality makes Skyler an unstable and critical part of the story. Her pregnancy, starting in the beginning of the series and going until the second season, when the baby comes, adds another important factor to the couple relation, mostly to Walter.

Of course, there are other important characters, as White’s son Walter Jr. (played by RJ Mitte), the baby Holly (“played” by Elanor Anne Wenrich), Skyler’s sister Marie (played by Betsy Brandt) and her husband Hank (played by Dean Norris). Hank is agent of DEA, or the Drug Enforcement Administration. Obviously, this detail is an important factor during the course of the story.

As Walter White develops his career in the drug business, he meets new people that play crucial roles in the story. One of them is the trickster, but very smart, lawyer Saul Goodman (funnily played by Bob Odenkirk), responsible for most of the legal stuff in the series. Saul presents White to Mike Ehrmantraut (played by Jonathan Banks), a mysterious man that works as private investigator and problem fixes. Finally, there is Gus Fring (played by Giancarlo Esposito), a drug kingpin that finds in Walter White a great opportunity for his business.

Breaking Bad cast

Thanks to the intelligence of Walter, there are many cool scientific experiments in the series (besides the revolutionary drug chemical processes created by him, of course). From deadly acids to automated robots, Breaking Bad has many memorable moments. Some cliffhangers are really smart, leading you to reflect what will happen next. Of course, there are some funny moments, where the tension of the series is somewhat relieved.

The classic pizza scene

The focus of the series is Walter White. It’s how his personality changes from the hopeless professor, with no money and a deadly cancer, to the drug dealer, capable of amazing and wicked things to save his life, and, above all, take care of those who he loves. There are bad mistakes and there are good accomplishments, and that’s why Breaking Bad is marvelous. The choices in the series are complex, and lead you to think: What would you do?

Walter obtained a lot of money, but also a lot of problems during the series

Breaking Bad won a lot of awards, including the Emmy for best drama series, lead and supporting actor, and the Golden Globe for best drama series. The series received both critical and public acclaim, entering the Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed show of all time. As a very well planned series, with an almost perfect structure and story, they really deserve most of the prizes.

Some people say that Breaking Bad is the best series of all time. Fanatical fans aside, and some minor problems, as the useless and boring “Fly” episode and the “never crying baby” Holly, it’s one of the best, and offers really great moments. There is fun, action, thriller, and, above everything, a perfect plotted drama, with remarking characters inside an addictive story. As can be read in one of the series last ads: "It's all in the chemistry. Thanks to everyone who made bad so good".