Posted on 01/20/2018 8:13:06 AM PST by Drew68
Television changed the night of January 20, 2008: Breaking Bad, a bold and singular drama about a downtrodden, dying high school teacher so desperate for cash that he starts cooking crystal meth, would come to define a golden era of television. But nobody knew that on the night the show premiered. In fact, there was every reason to assume the show, debuting on a then-nascent network with no track record in original programming, wouldn’t last past its first season.
Breaking Bad was not a ratings hit, not a household name, not a show that earned a spot in the zeitgeist for several years. Its slow-burn character writing, bleakly stunning visuals, and moral nuance made it niche; its early days brought a series of hurdles that could have killed a lesser show. But it had a passionate fanbase, a growing mass of critical support, and a network that believed in this story of a good man gone bad—or, depending on your take, a bad man finally given the chance to unmask himself.
Turning "Mr Chips into Scarface," as creator Vince Gilligan has famously dubbed Walter White’s transformation from milquetoast to ruthless drug lord, is no small feat. Through Bryan Cranston’s six-time Emmy winning performance, viewers witnessed a modern-day Greek tragedy—a man who claims to be protecting his family but ends up destroying them, along with Jesse (Aaron Paul), his protégé and greatest victim. It was a meticulous, mesmerizing character study that made it impossible to look away once you were in. As the acclaim and the awards piled up, the ratings gradually followed. By the season finale in 2013, viewership had spiked tenfold, with a record 10.3 million viewers tuning in for the final chapter.
(Excerpt) Read more at esquire.com ...
Actually, I always thought what happened to Jesse was the one story arc that wasn't resolved. And really, I suppose, Gilligan wasn't obligated to resolve it for us. We'd like to think he grabbed a bag of money and went off to live a quiet life somewhere but last we saw Mr. Pinkman, he was pretty messed up in the head.
How about;
HOTEL CALIFORNIA
in The Big Labowski?
White had plenty of violence in him from the start. He just used to focus it inwards. Remember him looking up Grey Matter’s stock price on his birthday, that is serious self destructive behavior. Then he got his diagnosis and came up with his idea and his destructive tendencies turned outwards. Jr never had that kind of problem, he actually likes people and himself. White never really liked people except as an audience to remind him he was brilliant, and he keeps that in the deaths he causes. Notice how except for moments of desperation (the RV cook that goes bad, the guys that are going to kill Jesse) he never kills anybody in a “normal” way, it’s always some super genius science nerd thing, with explosives and poisons and kit bashed machine guns. It’s really just more of his playing to an audience “look at how brilliantly I kill you”.
Jr was never written with those tendencies, changing him in the last episode would have felt artificial, unearned, and just dumb.
I think Jesse sells the movie rights. He’s got a hell of a story to tell. And outside of that he probably never accomplishes anything in his life.
Agree - Newhart ending was best ever.
Oh, yeah... Gus’ face. First we’re thinking, “Oh, crap; he didn’t die”. Then we gasped.
We”ve been trying to figure out the Cinnabon connection in “Saul”. Then after we binge watched BB last week, Jimmy’s new ID was for Nebraska, and Cinnabon is in Omaha, I think. I guess it’ll all be pulled together one of these episodes.
The first season of “Fargo” was excellent. After that... not so much — at least in our opinion.
That rug really tied the whole room together
The Hispanish version for that Jesus pedarast. STFU Donny.
Shut up you ignoramus. I just stated I’m watching it for the FOURTH time. What’s up? You just like beating up on girls? Get a life.
G-d people please give this up. I have seen it FOUR times plus! I am a long time FReeper and mostly people here are kind and and intelligent but I’m always interested to see the men here that are infinitely crusty and belligerent. I get it. You don’t care who says what. I don’t either! Now PLEASE move on. I’m sorry to all you men who’ve gotten your feelings hurt!
No problem and I’m kinda surprised my comment hit so many’s button. Thanks to you for being respectful, Wardaddy.
Btw were you in war? My father is a WWII veteran going strong at 92. A true gentleman I might add. I guess I grew up in a different time than some of these men here as I never cease to be disappointed by some of the hateful comments.
Again, I appreciate you were not unkind. Not that I can’t handle myself if necessary. ;)
At the very end, I wasn’t 100% convinced Walt was dead. It would’ve left open the option for a return. Ditto for Mike. We assume, but don’t KNOW, he died since he was behind bushes.
Have an A-1 Day!
I think Soprano’s ended the same way.
I have Not seen It Yet,either.
“Yeah but they’re cool. And they have shark skin suits.”
They were cool and badazz. Too bad they had to make them go out like incompetent punks to keep Hank alive. I hate to see good characters wasted.
I’ve never seen the show. Not even one episode.
My husband and I have a thing. Whenever we like a show and convince the other to start watching, that show gets cancelled. It has happened with several, the first was Seinfeld.
My husband watched the show from the beginning. I was not allowed to watch it, lol, for fear that it would be cancelled.
Now we have cancelled cable and direct and I am looking for things to watch on Netflix so I will probably watch it finally.
Why are you a chick?
You must be really old, or just out of touch. The TV watching world has changed a lot since I love Lucy .
NO NO NO!!!!! That is long in the past, it’s over and thank God. My only point was the momentum it takes on. It’s hard to stop. But I did.
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