TV Spotlight: AMC's "Breaking Bad"

Breaking Bad

Sunday Nights on AMC

|Starring

Bryan Cranston
Aaron Paul
Anna Gunn
Dean Norris

Betsy Brandt

RJ Mitte

   Bob Odenkirk
   Giancarlo Esposito

**There will be storyline spoilers in this blog**

When "Lost" aired it's final episode a few years back, I thought I would never see a TV show again that was on that level of greatness. Now I realize I was in a state of "depression" because such a phenom of a show had ended. That being said, a show like "Lost" is a once in a lifetime type of show, but that doesn't mean there can't be other programs that are just as good for significantly different reasons. For example, just last year I watched every episode of the Sci-Fi series "Battlestar Galactica" in a matter of 2 months. I fell in love with the show and is easily one of the greatest shows ever put on television. Then a few months ago, thanks to the Netflix Instant Queue, I began watching AMC's "Breaking Bad". Now that I'm all caught up, I have to say that Breaking Bad is without question...the single most amazing television show I've ever had the pleasure of watching. I mean...nothing even comes close to it's epicness.

The show is initially about a high school chemistry teacher Walter White played by Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. While on a ride-a-long with his DEA brother in law Hank, Walter learns about meth labs and learns one of his old students, Jesse Pinkman is a meth cook. Realizing he's close to death and his family will be financially in the gutter, Walter finds his old student and decides to cook and sell meth to make enough money to cover his family. Obviously he keeps that part under wraps from his wife (Anna Gunn) and son (RJ Mitte). The first season is all about Walter cooking the blue meth, the best meth there is (do to his chemistry background) and using Jesse (Aaron Paul) to sell it. A couple deals go south and Walter is slowly thrust into the world of being a drug dealer and having to come to face to face with the big guns in town.

The second season is about Walter and Jesse dealing with the reprecussions of their drug dealing actions from season one and attempting to get back in the game. Walter's health issues worsen and he needs more money to cover his medical expenses. While he intended to stop cooking and selling Meth, he knows the only way he can cover his bills and still care for his family is to continue. Meanwhile his DEA brother in law is starting to learn of Walter's drug dealing alter ego Heisenberg (he doesn't know it's Walter - but his reputation is expanding) and the famous blue meth. Jesse falls for a girl, a recovering drug addict who happens to be his landlord. Walter isn't a fan, and is more concerned about their operation and not getting caught (even though they deal with the arrest of one of their dealers). The season continually foreshadows a tragic event that we don't learn what it is until the final episode.

Season 3 and 4 deals heavilly with Walter and Jesse finding themselves involved with a huge operation led by drug lord Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito). They work in an underground, top of the line, high tech lab where they cook buckets and buckets of blue meth and are paid quite handsomly for it. During these seasons there is a lot that goes down. Walter nearly gets caught a few times. Things with Gustavo become more and more intense.  To a point where Walters life is on the line. There are a few murders, and lot of lying. Walter deals with his lawyer and realizes he needs to launder his money. When his wife finally finds out the truth, she eventually becomes part of the operation and runs the money laudering aspect of the business. All while still keeping this from Hank, the DEA agent. The fourth season, is by far the most intense 13 episodes of television I've ever seen.

Breaking Bad in a nut shell, is bad ass. This is the coolest show there is. It's brilliant. The character of Walter White went from naive meth cook trying to make a buck for his family, to evil bad ass drug lord. He is feared. He has killed people. He is harmed the life of a young boy to facilitate the murder of an enemy. He let a woman die in order to get her out of his affairs. Jack Bauer used to the be the coolest dude on TV...but he can move over to make room for Walter White. Bryan Cranston embodies this character on such a dark and realistic level. He is absolutely AMAZING on this show. There is a reason why he wont three straight Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actor. Once you watch him on this show you can't imagine ever seeing a better television performance. He transforms masterfully over the course of four seasons and he becomes a character you love to hate. He goes from good guy to essentially a villain with slightly good intentions for his actions. Aaron Paul also won an Emmy for his work on this show and for good reason. He is the perfect balance to Cranston. He's young and the polar opposite to the Walter character. Giancarlo Espisto is fantastic as the eerily quiet drug lord. There are moments of extreme violence which he is apart of, but does so in such a calm and creepy way that you can't help but feel terrified over this guy.

The writing on the show is master class. It's a rare case where each season gets better and better. Just when you think they have reached the max of "holy shit" story archs...they go one step further. In season one, I never would have thought the wife would ever get involved in the drug operation...but she does. I never thought Walter would risk the life of a child for his own personal gain...but he did. I never thought he would barrel over to two drug dealers with his car then shoot one in the head...but it happened (in one of the greatest scenes of the entire show!). Breaking Bad is epic. It's a phenomenal television experience that every one should be a part of. It's as if they take every risk that no other show would dare to take. The show runners have brass balls.

Season five will air sometime this coming summer, and it will be the final season. It will be an expanded season of 16 episodes. I fully expect some major shit to go down. I just know that Hank will finally suspect Walter as being the infamous Heisenberg and there will be some kind of crazy cat and mouse game between the two of them. It's been four seasons of build up to that exact storyline. I also can't see how Walter survives the series finale. It's one case of a show that should probably end with the main star dying. Whether that finally be from his cancer or some drug deal one sour. All I know is that it's going to be good. I haven't been this excited for a season since the the final season of Lost. I know they will pull out all the stops and make this a television event to remember!

The first three seasons are on Netflix instant queue. You can watch the fourth season though....unnofficial channels online, I did. But get caught up on Breaking Bad. You will not regret. As of right now, it is my favorite TV show of all time.