REVIEW: Breaking Bad (Spoilers)

This blog contains spoilers for the complete 5 seasons of Breaking Bad, it assumes that you have watched the entire show. Do not read on if you don’t want the show spoiled!

 

Breaking Bad is a compelling, tense and humourous story that tells the tale and transformation of a sweet and humble man who would do anything for his family, to a monster of a man who would do anything for his family. From the moment Walt learns he has terminal cancer and approaches Jesse to be his partner in making meth, you know that’s it’s not going to be an incident-free journey.

Seasons 1 and 2 are the weakest of the show it has to be said. Whilst they are entertaining enough to keep you watching, they lack pace and never really shock you. That desire to binge-watch the episodes, staying up till 2am in the process, isn’t there and it feels a bit slow. Season 1 in particular feels more about the character development and emphasizes Walt’s dedication to his family, notably his son Walter Jr. and unborn daughter. One of the first season’s strongest scenes is when Walt defends Jr. after bullies tease him for his cerebral palsy; a scene in which you cheer for the White family. 

However, Jesse and psychopath drug dealer Tuco are actually the weak points in season 1. Jesse just doesn’t really have any likable qualities at this point, which may have been intended, but for someone who is such an important character he should have something. Tuco is just too extreme is becomes a bit comical at times. Season 1 may have been cut-off early due to the writer’s strike, but it probably wasn’t a bad thing.

Season 2 things start to get going a bit more, new characters are introduced including criminal lawyer Saul who is captivating in every scene, Jesse also becomes much more likable along with his naive friends, and Hector ‘Bellringer’ Salamanca steals the scenes he is involved in. Jesse also falls in love with recovering heroin addict Jane, who is an unlikable character who suffers a gruesome death. Watching her death scene was uncomfortable, but it was actually the strongest scene of the season and most important of the show so far. Watching Walt leave Jane to choke on her own vomit showed how much he transformed and how he was no longer that sweet and humble man we saw in the first few episodes. The messed up thing? It was actually a relief and the first time that you felt as Walt felt.

Season 2 is a strange one though, whilst towards the end of the series the pace does pick up, it still lacks that ‘wow’ factor. Throughout the season, you’re given a lot of ‘flash forwards’ that something major has happened at the White residence and that a big climax is on its way, only in reality at the end it feels the opposite and mildly relevant. The plane crash is of course a major event as it all could have been avoided if Walt had saved Jane, but it just kind of happens and is then forgotten about quite quickly.

Season 3 is where things really start to get going. Skyler learning about Walt’s involvement in the meth business was a scene that wasn’t expected this early on, but it was very well executed. Throughout the season you feel more and more tense about how long it will be till Hank finds ‘Heisenberg’, as well as other parts of the story. Although Walt is naturally the strongest character, Jesse has become much more developed as he deals with the loss of Jane. New players Gustavo Fring and Mike Ehrmantraut are the most notable additions with the former being arguably a stronger character than Jesse.

Mid-season 3 right through the end of season 4 is where the show is at its peak. The pace has picked up and you just know that each episode is significant. That feeling where you have to watch the next episode immediately is there and you may find yourself watching them back-to-back till 2am. There are huge shocks along the way and thanks to characters like Gus and Mike, you’re constantly guessing what is going to happen. Episodes like ‘One Minute’ and ‘Salud’ are standout ones, but the final couple of episodes of season 4 are without a doubt the best of the entire show.

Walt has reached the point now where he is no longer Walter White, he is Heisenberg as he goes to new extremes to ‘win’, most notably poisoning Brock. The reintroduction of Hector is welcomed as part of Heisenberg’s plot to take out Gustavo, which is perfectly executed. The finale to season 4 is that good it almost felt like there didn’t need to be any more seasons following it because you know it’s never going match up to it. Everything was tied together perfectly.

The Final Season didn’t feel essential, but it’s was obvious that it was produced as we had to see the rise and fall of Heisenberg following the death of Gus, and when Hank will find out that Heisenberg is Walt. Season 5 does maintain good pacing throughout as Walt, Jesse and Mike work with a group of burglars to manufacture their meth, but it just lacks something which the previous couple of seasons had. Despite that, it is a terrific final season which draws the show to a satisfying but not perfect close.

There is so much at stake for Walt now as he spirals out of control following his transformation into a ‘monster’. His greed is emphasized throughout the season as the season’s highlight episode ‘Dead Freight’ pictures Walt nearly sacrificing Jesse and Todd for every single drop of the methylamine from the train. There are few reasons to actually like Walt now, especially after shooting Mike, but as a character he is at his best in the final season and carries it throughout. 

The moment that the show had been building up to for the last 4 and half seasons finally came when Hank was looking for reading material in Walt’s bathroom, and it didn’t disappoint following that. It was well thought out that half a season should be dedicated to the fall of Heisenberg. The rage felt by Jesse upon learning that Walt poisoned Brock was in particular well executed. That said, although Todd and his men arriving to Walt’s rescue had an element of deus ex machina about it, that cannot take away the shock and anger felt when the bullet punched through Hank’s head.

The final two episodes did just feel like a chance for Walt to redeem himself to a degree. He’d lost the thing he cared about above everything, his children, and it was upsetting to hear Jr. cry for him to leave him alone and ‘die’. Walt’s final act before his resurgent cancer took him was to get his remaining $9m to his son in some form, and get revenge on those who double-crossed him and took the rest of his money. It did feel a bit formulaic and the final scene was predictable.

The issue with the characters Walt is getting revenge on is that they are all fairly stereotypical and rushed in by the writers, only Todd has something unique about him. It was obvious that the show would end with the death of Walter, but it could have been executed in a less predictable way. Maybe it was because that’s what the fans wanted, to see Walt die in the environment in which he loved, but it might have been more powerful to end in another way e.g. Walter’s funeral. Despite this, season 5 still maintained that ‘shock’ and ‘wow’ factor throughout and it was hard to turn it off.

Breaking Bad has its flaws, as with every TV show, but it really is a fantastic show with a extremely strong lead and magnificent supporting cast. Of the main cast, Skyler is the weakest as her actions are often bizarre and may leave you bewildered, but when you have Jesse, Gus, Hank, Mike, Walter Jr, Maria, Hector et al to enjoy, it makes up for it. 

Bryan Cranston will be remembered for a long time for his portrayal of Walter White as much of Breaking Bad rested on his shoulders, and he didn’t disappoint.