Thoughts On: Breaking Bad

Spoiler Free

A modern day retelling of Macbeth driven by fantastic acting

I’ll cut to the chase; Breaking Bad is an excellent show largely due to the caliber of acting. Bryan Cranston, along with support from other actors like Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, and Betsy Brandt, craft incredible performances. As an an actor-in-training myself, I feel like I learned something watching this show despite not even trying to, viewing their work simply out of entertainment and enjoyment. The same can be said about Aaron Paul, who’s performance I thought was lacking in the first season but ended grounded and honest by the fifth season. You could see Paul becoming a better actor over the course of the show and it was just as interesting as the arc of his character. Even as the show drags a bit through the middle, every scene remained gripping thanks to the work of these actors. Breaking Bad will be my go to recommendation for anyone looking for an example of great, great acting.

Breaking Bad is also a lesson in good storytelling, particularly in television. There are countless examples of series that should’ve ended long before they did, resulting in a slow pitter to their eventual demise. It’s clear here that the writers knew what story they wanted to tell and properly ended the show when it was over. In fact, everybody knew the plot after watching the first episode. The tragedy of man’s downfall has many iterations and Breaking Bad’s story offers nothing new, thematically or otherwise. Despite Walt’s arc being predictable overall, his journey is still interesting (again, thanks to the acting) and offers many iconic moments and quotes.

From a feminist perceptive, the writing in this show sucks. There are only two significant female roles, Walt’s wife and Walt’s brother-in-law’s wife, both of whom, along with every female character, are nothing but road blocks for the male characters. Naggy, corruptive, and stereotypically maternal, thank god these actresses were able to bring depth to these otherwise two dimensional women.

Cinematically, the camera’s only function is to capture the actors in space from a fixed position 95% of the time. Every once and awhile they decide to do something creative with a scene, further highlighting the lack of creatively otherwise. This is a damn shame, as a story such as this really could’ve benefited from greater stylization.

I highly recommend Breaking Bad to those simply looking for a well told, engaging story. When making a show, what it ultimately comes down to is storytelling. Interesting characters in an evolving plot arc is what grips people, and Breaking Bad gripped me without a doubt. In a medium that often seems to be more about advertisements and products, Breaking Bad brings the art of good storytelling and acting back to the front of our television screens.