Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
We recently re-watched all 5 seasons --62 episodes-- of Breaking Bad. It’s a landmark superior series with Vince Gilligan as both creator and showrunner. Although billed along with other descriptors as a black comedy, it’s a strain to recall more than a half dozen comedic scenes in the entire run. In fact I’d forgotten how basically grim the story is, which makes it a labor --but an enjoyable one-- the type of which we are treated to once in awhile.
It’s actually a powerhouse contemporary tale with a classic noir theme: a man faced with a compelling but treacherous choice that he knows is wrong, but he proceeds nevertheless, and ends up paying a price for it.
The notable cast: Bryan Cranston (Walter White), Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman), Anna Gunn (Skyler White), Dean Norris (Hank Schrader), Betsy Brandt (Marie Schrader, Skyler’s sister), R.J. Mitte (Walter White, Jr.), Giancarlo Esposito (Gustavo “Gus” Fring), Bob Odenkirk (Saul Goodman), Jonathan Banks (Mike Ehrmantraut), Jesse Plemmons (Todd Alquist), and Laura Fraser (Lydia Rodarte-Quayle).
Of these, Giancarlo Esposito, Bob Odenkirk, Johathan Banks, and Jesse Plemmons, were all catapulted into professional demand and celebrity following the great success of the series. Bryan Cranston and Dean Norris had already achieved notoriety from previous roles.
Walter White is an over qualified high school chemistry teacher who had missed out on fame and fortune from an earlier enterprise. After being diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, he realizes that his finances would not be enough to cover his medical costs nor his family’s expenses. He runs across a former student who has turned into a small time drug dealer. Walter hatches a plan to produce high quality methamphetamine which will award the two with phenomenal money.
They eventually start up with distributor Tuco Salamanca (memorably played by Raymond Cruz), but it spins out of control. That brings them into the orbit of Gus Fring, who is a surreptitious American drug kingpin looking to break away from Mexican cartels. With increased funding Walter and Jesse are set up in a state of the art laboratory from which they can produce large quantities of high purity meth, the sale and distribution of which provides them all with millions.
Along the way there are personal developments with Walter’s family, Jesse’s private involvements, Gus’s participation, including Mike’s story as Gus’s lieutenant, and the introduction of Saul Goodman as sleaze attorney for several of the characters. It’s a wild ride over 5 seasons, leading to a straightforward and satisfactory conclusion.
There are very few weakness in this epic. To my taste the chief shortcoming is the casting of Anna Gunn as Walter’s wife, Skyler. She and Walter simply did not fit. At no time did I believe their relationship, and it increasingly became a mystery as to how those two could have gotten together in the first place. The role of Skyler White was a thankless one given her mostly detached, unloving, and finally nasty relationship with Walter. They weren’t even matched physically as a couple. I think Laura Fraser would have been better cast as Skyler, and should have left the role of Lydia Rodarte-Quayle to someone else.
Because of the incongruity of the White’s relationship, it therefore became a stretch to understand why Walter was frequently consumed with the monomaniacal desire to provide for his family’s welfare, both in the present day and after his demise. We learn to accept the premise, but it feels vaguely false.
Despite these minor criticisms, Breaking Bad is one of the finest series so far in the 21st Century. It has spawned a prequel with some sequel elements (Better Call Saul) along with a vaguely feeling spinoff series, Pluribus, starring Rhea Seehorn. Creator Vince Gilligan, along with Noah Hawley (Fargo), and Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, Landman) have pretty much become the premier American series writers.
Doc’s rating: 9/10
