I just finished binge-watching the final series of Breaking Bad, and I'm still trying to process my emotions. It's been a wild ride, and I'm not sure where to start.
What makes a show a masterpiece? For me, it's when it evokes a rollercoaster of emotions, from hatred to uncontrollable laughter. When you find yourself instantly starting the next episode as soon as you finish the previous one. When you've watched it all the way through and are left feeling empty, lost, and wondering if you'd love to forget everything just to start over again. That's what Breaking Bad does to you.
I've re-watched the series four times already, and I'll probably do it again a few years from now. It's that good.
The show is ranked #1 in the top 250 on KinoPoisk, and for good reason.
For those who haven't seen it, here's a brief description:
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High school chemistry teacher Walter White learns he has lung cancer. Given his family's financial struggles and the bleak outlook, Walter decides to start cooking methamphetamine. He recruits his former student Jesse Pinkman, who was once expelled from school with Walter's help. Pinkman had been cooking meth himself but lost his partner and lab after a police raid.
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My review will be more geared towards those who've already watched the series. I want to discuss it without any spoilers.
The main question on my mind was - who in the show is the hero, and who is the absolute villain? And to be honest, I still don't have an answer, and I probably never will. The creators showed us real life - there's no black and white, no clear-cut answers. The characters evolve, grow, degenerate, and surprise you.
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Main character - Walter White. Actor Bryan Cranston was known to me from a light-hearted comedy 'Malcolm in the Middle.' I was blown away by his dramatic performance here. He played the role of Walter perfectly. I believed every word, every movement, every twitch of his lips.
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Breaking Bad reviewsxa0
What started as a timid, sheepish schoolteacher, family man, and working stiff, transformed over five seasons into something far more menacing. Bryan Cranston's performance was nothing short of astonishing, with changes in his expression and tone that were truly remarkable to watch.
But what was most important to Walter White in life? His family, which he loved so dearly? Or the desire to 'live life to the fullest' before he died, to open himself up, become someone else, because death was always lurking, and there were no second chances. Who was his most precious person throughout the series?
Walter White wasn't my favorite character. Let's just say I respected him, understood him in many ways, but I never fell in love with him. But I was blown away by his creativity and ingenuity. The genius that had been dormant for 50 years. The duality, the acting, the cunning - and yet, the boundless creativity and unwavering principle. The toughness.
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Jesse Pinkman was initially portrayed as the lovable slacker. Too dumb, too young, reckless. All you need in life is stupidity, girls, money, and a bunch of friends who are just as clueless. But from the first season on, the character starts to change.
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Breaking Bad reviews
To be honest, I felt more invested in Jesse's storyline than anyone else's. Almost right from the start, it was clear what they were trying to show (or maybe Jesse was trying to show himself) - he's the bad guy, Walter's the good guy. But of course, it's all turned on its head!Who was the one who actually led the other astray?
What I love about Jesse's character is how deep he is. He's a loyal guy, which is probably what caught Walter's attention in the first place.
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Breaking Bad reviews
I still can't wrap my head around whether you can say that Jesse and Walter's relationship is more like a father-son bond or if there's something else at play that's more like a deep friendship. Why did they treat each other with such care and respect in a million situations that life threw their way? There were times when I thought Walter valued Jesse more than his own wife and even his own son.
Breaking Bad Reviews
I stumbled upon a funny image that showed Jesse and Walter in a romantic relationship, lying in bed. That's definitely not how their story went down in the show.
Walter White's wife, Skyler White, is a woman in her 40s, pregnant, with a teenager who has some serious health issues - diabetes. And to make matters worse, she finds out her husband has cancer while she's pregnant. That's a tough spot to be in.
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Breaking Bad Reviews
But Skyler's a real trooper. At least, she is until things start to take a turn for the worse. When I first watched this show 10 years ago, I thought Skyler was the worst person in the world.
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I've got to say, her actions were just mind-boggling - the way she was taking advantage of people, lying to her ex-boss, 'borrowing' money from Walter to cover her own tracks, wishing cancer on people, financial schemes, and the rest... it was like she was the worst wife imaginable. It was hard to understand why Walter was so worried about his family if they were all just complete disasters.
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But... looking back now, through the lens of my own life experience (I'm getting older, you know), it's clear that Skyler was just a desperate woman who wanted a quiet, normal family life. No special effects, no surprises.
Many of her actions, which made her look like a complete villain (like going to Walter's old friends for money), were actually done for Walter's sake - to try and save his life. I feel bad for her.
And, by the way, she was still morally upright (even if not in a physical sense) - not gossipy. It's not easy to keep something like that inside.
It was all pretty ambiguous. Even her reaction to Walter's decision to undergo chemotherapy (fans were screaming - she didn't let him die in peace! he has the right to decide for himself) - that's family too. So... not exactly clear-cut.
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Breaking Bad Reviews
I'm still trying to wrap my head around why Skylar would have a kid at 40 with no money and a complicated first pregnancy. Maybe she just wanted a surprise or something.
Walter Jr. - I think we were supposed to see him as some complex teenager, but it just didn't work out. I didn't like this character at all. Oh, great, a new car! Thanks, Dad! Oh, great, we get to live in a hotel! Thanks, Dad! You're sick, I'll help with the finances! I'm a winner, Dad!
The problems started when he'd say things like, 'You're not the father, you're a coward if you won't get treatment,' or 'I'm not Walter, I'm Flynn.' And then there was the time he cried to his mom after his dad attacked her with a knife. That was just a total face-palm. I guess Jesse meant more to him than his own son, who was emotionally closer to a piece of wood in the backyard.
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Breaking Bad Reviews
His meltdown in season 5 after a phone call? Absolutely horrific. He didn't even try to talk it out, listen, or understand. He was just a mindless, clueless mess.xa0
Hank Schrader - Walter's brother-in-law. He's a pretty smart guy, but he's completely oblivious to what's going on right in front of him. He's just lost. It's sad, you know? He's just a really unlucky guy living among such despicable people.
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Breaking Bad Reviews
What really won me over was the show's unwavering commitment to its principles, even when it meant being inflexible. That's not something you see every day. The outcome was pretty much what I expected, but the reputation was everything to these characters.
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Hank's wife, Marie - she's the ultimate enabler. Chatty, airheaded, and manipulative. She claims to stand by her principles, but she's not above taking a little extra cash for herself, even if it means being ungrateful for the help she's been given (I'm talking about the medical bills). I found her even more infuriating than Skyler.
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Saul Goodman - he's one of my favorite characters. Charismatic, resourceful, quick-witted, and cunning - that's exactly what you want in a lawyer. He always managed to find a way out of sticky situations, and his positive demeanor made the show even more enjoyable. He was never afraid to bend the rules, but he always stuck by his clients. It's weird, but that's exactly what made the show so compelling - the theme of loyalty.
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Highly recommend checking out the spin-off 'Better Call Saul' afterwards.
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Breaking Bad Reviews
I've gotta give it up for Mike Ehrmantraut - if Saul was the slick lawyer, Mike was the sharp detective. He's got this sixth sense for situations, he's meticulous, precise, and smart. He's loyal to his boss and loves his granddaughter! He'll execute orders no matter what, you can count on him every time. He's not impulsive, just a level-headed thinker.
There were plenty of secondary characters in the show - Jane, for instance, was just stunning...
Breaking Bad Reviews
Characters like Skinny Pete, Skinny Marv, Gus Fring, the Salamanca family, Gale Bickner, and others were all so well-written and added to the show's overall development...
Breaking Bad Reviews
In short, it's a shame the show ended - I'm still reeling from it. And, honestly, I just love it. It's definitely in my top 10 favorite shows. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out.
Also, I'd recommend checking out the movie 'El Camino,' which came out a few years after the show ended. It's a perfect conclusion to the story and I really enjoyed it. I even got a little emotional...
All in all, I highly recommend it. It's an amazing show.
Want to know what else I've been watching? Check out my other movie reviews here!
Game of Thrones: discussing the eighth season SPOILER-FREE! What's the verdict: a bitter aftertaste or a logical conclusion? I've got so many questions and not enough answers...
Best, your host, The Grey Mare ← there's plenty more where this came from