Breaking Bad - Review

“I am the one who knocks” – A review of Breaking Bad. 

What do you do if you’re really sick and you can’t afford health care? Take a second job? Beg money from friends and family? Go into debt you’ll likely never pay off? Nah.

You cook meth, of course.

Despite this premise, Breaking Bad isn’t really a critical review of the US healthcare system. Created by Vince Giligan, Breaking Bad is a story of a man named Walter White who begins as a weak victim and becomes a drug lord, partnering with a former student, Jesse Pinkman, to do so. This is a show about choices, moral dilemmas, consequences and survival.

One of the most intriguing things about Breaking Bad is Walt’s transformation. What begins as an attempt to gain financial security for his family transforms into a lust for power, criminal activity and greed. This isn’t rushed though; the dark path that Walter walks down takes several seasons to develop. Is he a hero? Certainly not. Walter commits a host of horrific crimes, including murder, and his treatment of Jesse often leaves much to be desired, but he’s certainly intriguing and you can’t help but root for him even when he’s acting in a… less than desirable… manner. Walter transforms from an emasculated, mild-mannered man to a menacing criminal mastermind, and that transformation is an incredibly dark but intriguing one to watch.

His accomplice, occasional friend and former student Jesse is another incredible character to watch grow. Whilst he does assist Walter with his endeavor, he also acts as something of a moral compass, often feeling guilt whilst Walter feels none. As Walter becomes bolder, eventually becoming the criminal mastermind Heisenberg, Jesse is haunted by his actions. Jesse’s story is one of loss, pain, redemption and moral struggles. All Jesse really wants is acceptance, and he is often reflective, delivering heart breaking scenes.

There are several characters of note, all with their own complexities and depth. Gus Fring is, on the surface, a philanthropist and owner of a restaurant, yet what lies underneath is a chilling and sophisticated drug tycoon. Whilst he first hires Walter to work for him, hoping to enlarge his meth operation, the two soon become rivals and Gus becomes the main terrifying antagonist of the show. Gus is a chillingly calm and collected individual, with an equally questionable moral compass, and someone who truly serves as real competition for Walters own empire.

There are so many other characters I could mention here; Skylar, Walter’s wife, is a character I essentially despised, but that didn’t make her any less intriguing, especially as she became complicit in his crimes. Saul Goodman is a less than perfect lawyer with a mixed set of morals, and Hank is Walter’s brother-in-law who just so happens to also be a DEA agent on the hunt for Heisenberg. Each character who is introduced to the show adds depth and new challenges for Walter and the ever complex and evolving plot.

Something I love about Breaking Bad is the moral complexities. After each episode, you’re left asking yourself questions about your own morality and ethics – what lengths would you go to in order to secure a future for your family? Can a person be driven to evil through desperation? Do the ends justify the means, and where is the line if they do?

There are no easy answers to these questions to be found in the show. No character is perfect, and no character is simple to understand. I think that’s what makes this such a compelling watch; even the villains are complicated and can even seem reasonable occasionally. Every now and then, you may find yourself feeling sympathetic towards a character who has committed horrendous crimes just a few episodes beforehand. The human condition is one that is explored and dissected throughout the show, and it’s an absolute thrill to experience.

I won’t say that the show is perfect, but it’s incredibly close and I only have very minor complaints. I absolutely couldn’t stand Walters family, especially Skyler, and I would roll my eyes almost every time she spoke. The drug scenes sometimes felt a bit too overdone, as if written by the “Just Say No” drug campaigners from when I was at school. These are incredibly minor details that absolutely did not ruin the show for me at all, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Overall, Breaking Bad is a perfectly paced, thrilling crime drama which grapples with the human condition, ethics, morality and difficult themes in a hugely entertaining and addictive way. If you haven’t seen it, I cannot recommend it enough. I’m struggling to think of another show which comes close to this; Breaking Bad truly is one of the best television shows ever created.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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