Netflix That Shit – Breaking Bad
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Some of you reading this might be surprised to know that I taught English for a while. And to answer your next question, it was mostly middle school and high school. During that time, one of my co-workers questioned my taste in literature, citing that most of the works I enjoyed teaching/reading were of a dark nature and rarely had a happy ending. My typical response was something along the lines of “Well who says that life always has a happy ending?” For me, feeling warm and fuzzy was never a prerequisite to a good book/movie/TV show. To me, the best writers were the ones that pulled no punches and let you experience all the gritty unpleasantness that the world can offer. The best characters were the flawed ones who gave you a reason to feel what they feel and see the world through their eyes. And the best stories were the ones that moved you to feel something whether it was good or bad.
A little over a year ago, I was looking through streaming titles on Netflix, and found Breaking Bad. A friend of mine had mentioned it to me several times, telling me how good it was and yadda, yadda, yadda. I knew it was about a chemistry teacher who gets diagnosed with cancer and becomes a meth cook so he can pay the bills and leave money for his family after he dies. Once I started watching it, I literally couldn’t stop. As clichéd as that sounds, I must defend my position by saying that Breaking Bad is one of those shows that really is as good as everyone tells you. The characters were unique and the majority of them are tragically flawed. The story line carries on between episodes but rarely feels like it’s lagging from lack of material. The scenes are beautifully filmed with lots of creative shots and lush colors. The show has a knack for making life seem dark, bleak, and cruel while peppering the story with dark humor and unexpected comic relief. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point. This is storytelling on a different level. The series is in its final season which began airing on August 11th, and it just so happens that the first five seasons are available to stream on Netflix, so if you become as enamored with this show as I am, you can catch up on the entire story line before the show ends forever.
If you’re not familiar with the show, some of the faces might not be instantly recognizable, but once you watch you’ll remember them forever. Bryan Cranston (who some might recognize as Dr. Tim Whatley on Seinfeld or Hal from Malcom in the Middle) plays the lead role of “Walter White/Heisenberg”, an overqualified high school chemistry teacher who partners up with former student “Jesse Pinkman” (played by Aaron Paul). Walter has an edge in the meth game in that his knowledge of chemistry allows him to produce a “pure” product. He seems poised to make huge amounts of money, but problems continue to arise either in the form of psychotic drug lords or Walter’s DEA agent brother-in-law (played by Dean Norris) who happens to be looking for him (of course not knowing that Walt is the man he’s looking for). Even the supporting cast is colorful and entertaining. One of the best additions to the cast has to be Bob Odenkirk as “Saul Goodman”, the “criminal” lawyer that helps Walt and Jesse launder their money.
Now I’m not saying anything that hasn’t been said about hundreds of different TV shows before, so in an attempt to pique your interest further, I should say that one of the main things that make this series stand out is its characters. They are unique in that there really aren’t any definite “good guys” or “bad guys”. A major theme of the series is the transformation of the main character Walter white, from a mild mannered and subdued father to a truly remorseless and cold blooded criminal. And curiously, some characters (like Gustavo Fring) might be the bad guy in one episode, but the good guy in others depending on the season and episode. It’s a creative way of keeping the viewer guessing. And keeping with the subjects of characters, this series has some majorly memorable villains. Tuco Salamanca (villain from seasons one & two who I’ll talk about later) would give any sane person nightmares after witnessing the season 1 finale.
Obviously, the pilot episode would be a great place to start for anyone curious about the series. However if you need a little more convincing, I’ve assembled a short list of a few “essential episodes” that represent the quintessence of Breaking Bad. These are the “can’t miss” episodes that highlight all the talent that goes into making this show. On your next day off, park it in front of your TV or laptop, grab some snacks and cozy up with everyone’s favorite meth cook.
Spoiler Alert – there are a few minor spoilers to follow, but nothing that will ruin the series for you.
Season 1 Episode 7 – Crazy Handful of Nothin’
This episode stands out to me for multiple reasons, not the least of which being that this is the episode where Walt “transforms” into his Heisenberg alter ego. What I mean by that is, Walt shaves his head and later in the episode adopts the pseudonym at his first drug deal. Anyway this is significant to the story because up until this episode, Walt was insistent that he and Jesse should be able to sell their product without anyone getting hurt. It marks the beginning of Walt’s moral downward spiral as he starts to realize he has a taste for breaking the law.
Just as important as this introduction though is the introduction of Tuco Salamanca, a high level drug kingpin (played by Raymond Cruz) who will change your definition of the word “psycho”. I love the way the lighting, the music in the background, and the intense acting combine in this scene to create a dreamlike atmosphere you’d expect to see in a Scorsese movie.
Never mind the fact that this guy isn’t even real; the guy is so blood chillingly scary that every time you watch one of his scenes, you’ll be secretly praying that you never run into anyone like him in real life. His stare is icy to say the least, and so convincing is Cruz’s performance that you’ll probably believe he really is that crazy. Aside from using a bag of money as a weapon, his idea of hunting is shooting a cow with a machine gun until there’s nothing left, and those gloves around his neck imply that he’s a Golden Gloves winner (which will be important in the episode “A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal”).
But the best part of this episode has to be the debut of the “Heisenberg” persona, and I speak of him as though he’s a different character because he practically is. Once Walt shaves his head, gone is the timid chemistry teacher and what remains is a confident, cold blooded criminal who lives like he’s dying. This mentality becomes a major theme of the show and the driving force for all the crazy shit that Walt does during the remainder of the series. I won’t get into what happens during the climax of this episode, but I will say you get to see Tuco put a cigarette out on his tongue and if you listen closely, you can hear Howard Dean’s famous scream used as a sound effect.
Season 2 Episode 7: Negro y Azul
To say that this episode is gritty is an understatement. It opens with a neat little mariachi song that summarizes the story so far and also gives you a preview of what’s in store. I have to say, mariachi music is much more interesting when you actually know what they’re saying. Anyway, the main feature of this episode is the development of Hank’s character, who up until now has been mostly the comic relief of the series. Hank’s life lessons and rants almost remind me of the musings of the famous blowhard Polonius from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He seems arrogant and goofy most of the time, while putting on a tough face, but here we see the layers peel away to reveal a very flawed and complex character who is troubled by a deep-seated fear of failure. In this episode, Hank accepts a promotion that involves him working in El Paso, on the border of Texas and Mexico. He has a hard time fitting in and experiences a traumatic event that really caught me off guard. The following video contains some spoilers.
This is one time where I wish I could say this scene is just Hollywood embellishment gone wild, and that things like this never happen in real life. Mexico and many parts of South America have become synonymous with drug related violence. I live in Texas and know many people who have made a weekend trip out of visiting the Texas/Mexico border, but many are now afraid to visit because tourists are commonly kidnapped now by cartel members (and that’s not even the worst of it). So while that scene does have a bit of “Hollywood flair” to it, it is not uncommon to hear of similarly gruesome and despicable acts happening south of the border. When I stop and think about what law enforcement has to go through in the fight against drugs, it really boggles my mind that such savagery exists in the world and there are people who have to stand up to it on a daily basis.
Season 3 Episode 10 – Fly
It wouldn’t be a stretch to call this episode different. On the season 3 DVD/Blu Ray commentary, creator Vince Gilligan calls this a “bottle” episode, in that the entire episode takes place in basically one setting with the intent of saving production costs. At first glance, “Fly” might appear to be filler since it doesn’t significantly advance the plot of the series. But under this façade is a gem of an episode that deserves marks for its ingenious camera shots, creative characterization, and razor sharp dark humor. In a nutshell, Walt and Jesse spend the majority of the episode trying to kill a lone fly that has found its way into the lab. What is really amazing about this episode is that the creators manage to take this one idea and keep it interesting for fifty minutes. It almost feels like a Shakespearian comedy. At times you’re laughing at the (almost) slapstick jokes, and other times you might be empathizing with Walt when he muses about how he’s “lived too long”. My absolute favorite moment from this episode though is when Walt appears out of nowhere wielding his “fly-saber”, and looking at Jesse like he’s out for blood. Watch below to see the hilarity that ensues.
As stated previously, the writers of this episode deserve some gold stars. What I love about this episode is how we learn so much about Walt through his monologues. What we see is a man who is teetering on the brink of losing everything (either by the DEA arresting him or his boss murdering him) who is looking for control over some aspect of his life. The fly represents misplaced frustrations and fears Walt is feeling, and in his mind if he can’t get rid of the fly, then he’s got no hope.
There is a spoiler or two if you watch this episode out of series, but regardless of when you watch it you’re gonna want to watch it again. It’s the kind of story that reveals new pieces every time you experience it.
So, are there people who might not like Breaking Bad? Of course…If you’re offended by swearing, sex, violence, blood, gore, prostitution, drug use, or generally immoral behavior then Breaking Bad might not be for you [/joke]. But then again, what would you expect from a show whose name means “raising hell”? The tale of Heisenberg and those who surround him is a rollercoaster at some points, and an earthquake at others. Still need more convincing to see it? Each season of the show has a page on the Metacritic ratings website. The seasons have earned scores respectively of 74, 85, 89, 96 and 99. Perhaps 50 million Breaking Bad fans really can’t be wrong. Netflix that shit!
Some of you reading this might be surprised to know that I taught English for a while. And to answer your next question, it was mostly middle school and high school. During that time, one of my co-workers questioned my taste in literature, citing that most of the works I enjoyed teaching/reading were of a dark nature and rarely had a happy ending. My typical response was something along the lines of “Well who says that life always has a happy ending?” For me, feeling warm and fuzzy was never a prerequisite to a good book/movie/TV show. To me, the best writers were the ones that pulled no punches and let you experience all the gritty unpleasantness that the world can offer. The best characters were the flawed ones who gave you a reason to feel what they feel and see the world through their eyes. And the best stories were the ones that moved you to feel something whether it was good or bad.
A little over a year ago, I was looking through streaming titles on Netflix, and found Breaking Bad. A friend of mine had mentioned it to me several times, telling me how good it was and yadda, yadda, yadda. I knew it was about a chemistry teacher who gets diagnosed with cancer and becomes a meth cook so he can pay the bills and leave money for his family after he dies. Once I started watching it, I literally couldn’t stop. As clichéd as that sounds, I must defend my position by saying that Breaking Bad is one of those shows that really is as good as everyone tells you. The characters were unique and the majority of them are tragically flawed. The story line carries on between episodes but rarely feels like it’s lagging from lack of material. The scenes are beautifully filmed with lots of creative shots and lush colors. The show has a knack for making life seem dark, bleak, and cruel while peppering the story with dark humor and unexpected comic relief. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point. This is storytelling on a different level. The series is in its final season which began airing on August 11th, and it just so happens that the first five seasons are available to stream on Netflix, so if you become as enamored with this show as I am, you can catch up on the entire story line before the show ends forever.
If you’re not familiar with the show, some of the faces might not be instantly recognizable, but once you watch you’ll remember them forever. Bryan Cranston (who some might recognize as Dr. Tim Whatley on Seinfeld or Hal from Malcom in the Middle) plays the lead role of “Walter White/Heisenberg”, an overqualified high school chemistry teacher who partners up with former student “Jesse Pinkman” (played by Aaron Paul). Walter has an edge in the meth game in that his knowledge of chemistry allows him to produce a “pure” product. He seems poised to make huge amounts of money, but problems continue to arise either in the form of psychotic drug lords or Walter’s DEA agent brother-in-law (played by Dean Norris) who happens to be looking for him (of course not knowing that Walt is the man he’s looking for). Even the supporting cast is colorful and entertaining. One of the best additions to the cast has to be Bob Odenkirk as “Saul Goodman”, the “criminal” lawyer that helps Walt and Jesse launder their money.
Now I’m not saying anything that hasn’t been said about hundreds of different TV shows before, so in an attempt to pique your interest further, I should say that one of the main things that make this series stand out is its characters. They are unique in that there really aren’t any definite “good guys” or “bad guys”. A major theme of the series is the transformation of the main character Walter white, from a mild mannered and subdued father to a truly remorseless and cold blooded criminal. And curiously, some characters (like Gustavo Fring) might be the bad guy in one episode, but the good guy in others depending on the season and episode. It’s a creative way of keeping the viewer guessing. And keeping with the subjects of characters, this series has some majorly memorable villains. Tuco Salamanca (villain from seasons one & two who I’ll talk about later) would give any sane person nightmares after witnessing the season 1 finale.
Obviously, the pilot episode would be a great place to start for anyone curious about the series. However if you need a little more convincing, I’ve assembled a short list of a few “essential episodes” that represent the quintessence of Breaking Bad. These are the “can’t miss” episodes that highlight all the talent that goes into making this show. On your next day off, park it in front of your TV or laptop, grab some snacks and cozy up with everyone’s favorite meth cook.
Spoiler Alert – there are a few minor spoilers to follow, but nothing that will ruin the series for you.
Season 1 Episode 7 – Crazy Handful of Nothin’
This episode stands out to me for multiple reasons, not the least of which being that this is the episode where Walt “transforms” into his Heisenberg alter ego. What I mean by that is, Walt shaves his head and later in the episode adopts the pseudonym at his first drug deal. Anyway this is significant to the story because up until this episode, Walt was insistent that he and Jesse should be able to sell their product without anyone getting hurt. It marks the beginning of Walt’s moral downward spiral as he starts to realize he has a taste for breaking the law.
Just as important as this introduction though is the introduction of Tuco Salamanca, a high level drug kingpin (played by Raymond Cruz) who will change your definition of the word “psycho”. I love the way the lighting, the music in the background, and the intense acting combine in this scene to create a dreamlike atmosphere you’d expect to see in a Scorsese movie.
Never mind the fact that this guy isn’t even real; the guy is so blood chillingly scary that every time you watch one of his scenes, you’ll be secretly praying that you never run into anyone like him in real life. His stare is icy to say the least, and so convincing is Cruz’s performance that you’ll probably believe he really is that crazy. Aside from using a bag of money as a weapon, his idea of hunting is shooting a cow with a machine gun until there’s nothing left, and those gloves around his neck imply that he’s a Golden Gloves winner (which will be important in the episode “A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal”).
But the best part of this episode has to be the debut of the “Heisenberg” persona, and I speak of him as though he’s a different character because he practically is. Once Walt shaves his head, gone is the timid chemistry teacher and what remains is a confident, cold blooded criminal who lives like he’s dying. This mentality becomes a major theme of the show and the driving force for all the crazy shit that Walt does during the remainder of the series. I won’t get into what happens during the climax of this episode, but I will say you get to see Tuco put a cigarette out on his tongue and if you listen closely, you can hear Howard Dean’s famous scream used as a sound effect.
Season 2 Episode 7: Negro y Azul
To say that this episode is gritty is an understatement. It opens with a neat little mariachi song that summarizes the story so far and also gives you a preview of what’s in store. I have to say, mariachi music is much more interesting when you actually know what they’re saying. Anyway, the main feature of this episode is the development of Hank’s character, who up until now has been mostly the comic relief of the series. Hank’s life lessons and rants almost remind me of the musings of the famous blowhard Polonius from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He seems arrogant and goofy most of the time, while putting on a tough face, but here we see the layers peel away to reveal a very flawed and complex character who is troubled by a deep-seated fear of failure. In this episode, Hank accepts a promotion that involves him working in El Paso, on the border of Texas and Mexico. He has a hard time fitting in and experiences a traumatic event that really caught me off guard. The following video contains some spoilers.
This is one time where I wish I could say this scene is just Hollywood embellishment gone wild, and that things like this never happen in real life. Mexico and many parts of South America have become synonymous with drug related violence. I live in Texas and know many people who have made a weekend trip out of visiting the Texas/Mexico border, but many are now afraid to visit because tourists are commonly kidnapped now by cartel members (and that’s not even the worst of it). So while that scene does have a bit of “Hollywood flair” to it, it is not uncommon to hear of similarly gruesome and despicable acts happening south of the border. When I stop and think about what law enforcement has to go through in the fight against drugs, it really boggles my mind that such savagery exists in the world and there are people who have to stand up to it on a daily basis.
Season 3 Episode 10 – Fly
It wouldn’t be a stretch to call this episode different. On the season 3 DVD/Blu Ray commentary, creator Vince Gilligan calls this a “bottle” episode, in that the entire episode takes place in basically one setting with the intent of saving production costs. At first glance, “Fly” might appear to be filler since it doesn’t significantly advance the plot of the series. But under this façade is a gem of an episode that deserves marks for its ingenious camera shots, creative characterization, and razor sharp dark humor. In a nutshell, Walt and Jesse spend the majority of the episode trying to kill a lone fly that has found its way into the lab. What is really amazing about this episode is that the creators manage to take this one idea and keep it interesting for fifty minutes. It almost feels like a Shakespearian comedy. At times you’re laughing at the (almost) slapstick jokes, and other times you might be empathizing with Walt when he muses about how he’s “lived too long”. My absolute favorite moment from this episode though is when Walt appears out of nowhere wielding his “fly-saber”, and looking at Jesse like he’s out for blood. Watch below to see the hilarity that ensues.
As stated previously, the writers of this episode deserve some gold stars. What I love about this episode is how we learn so much about Walt through his monologues. What we see is a man who is teetering on the brink of losing everything (either by the DEA arresting him or his boss murdering him) who is looking for control over some aspect of his life. The fly represents misplaced frustrations and fears Walt is feeling, and in his mind if he can’t get rid of the fly, then he’s got no hope.
There is a spoiler or two if you watch this episode out of series, but regardless of when you watch it you’re gonna want to watch it again. It’s the kind of story that reveals new pieces every time you experience it.
* * *
So, are there people who might not like Breaking Bad? Of course…If you’re offended by swearing, sex, violence, blood, gore, prostitution, drug use, or generally immoral behavior then Breaking Bad might not be for you [/joke]. But then again, what would you expect from a show whose name means “raising hell”? The tale of Heisenberg and those who surround him is a rollercoaster at some points, and an earthquake at others. Still need more convincing to see it? Each season of the show has a page on the Metacritic ratings website. The seasons have earned scores respectively of 74, 85, 89, 96 and 99. Perhaps 50 million Breaking Bad fans really can’t be wrong. Netflix that shit!