Vince Gilligan’s neo-western crime drama Breaking Bad will always have a place in the history of Television series. It is nothing less than a classic piece of art that excels in all departments be it acting, direction, screenplay editing. Breaking Bad is not something where some simple adjectives would suffix to establish its brilliance. This analysis is an attempt to show why Breaking Bad is a piece of art that deserves a classic title among many other epic TV series. The complete analysis can be consolidated into four reasons which can be used to explain the class of this series.
1. Making style and treatment
A popular opinion among many who have started watching the show would be that they are finding it hard to finish even the first season. What might be the reason behind this opinion? Let us introspect that. The main reason is that the makers haven’t compromised a bit to appease the viewers. If you analyze each season separately, we can see that they all follow a uniform treatment style throughout. They haven’t made use of any gimmicks to increase the pace of the show as it progresses. At times we feel the pace just because that’s the result of plot development. The makers could have opted for a thrilling narration in the start to maintain the audience base but chose not to resort to the same as they know that it would affect the depth of the plot and characters. You can also see that many episodes don’t even end with cliffhangers as observed with many other popular TV shows. To summarise the point, makers chose not to do anything with the sole purpose of increasing TRP rating.
2. Realistic portrayal and in-depth characterization
Breaking Bad follows a realistic narrative throughout. There is no element in the show that defies logic and no exaggerated theatrics involved. Above all that, the most appealing element is its intricate characterization. All characters are detailed with surgical precision. Some scenes may seemingly feel unwanted, but on closer watch, there is something in it that deciphers or reinstates character traits. One example is the scene in which Walter tries to fix a broken cardboard table. This simple scene may seem quite useless but it is perfect in establishing the consistency in his character. Not only Walter White but all major and minor characters are also given a proper identity and detailing with utmost perfection not to mention the masterclass performances from the cast.
3. No glorification of crime
Glorifying the acts of the criminal protagonists is a common narrative that we always see including in Indian films. The main protagonist is given a heroic portrayal despite how bad he is. We can even see writers pouring in some goodness here and there in these characters just to make it appealing to the audience. Meth use is ultimately a crime and the violence that is associated with it should also be treated with contempt. No one aspires to be a drug kingpin after watching this show even though not forgetting the fact that the show does have its share of heroic moments, but in the end, we can see that there is no glorification of it in totality. Everyone who is associated with the Meth business in one way or the other is doomed finally.
4. Philosophy of life and metaphors
What Breaking Bad ultimately speaks to us is some ideas of life. The whole essence of the show is converged in the last dialogue of Walter to Skyler.
”I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it. And I was really – I was alive.”
We seek to find meaning in whatever we do in life and do things that make us feel alive. But maybe not everyone will be able to do so. Walter was never satisfied with his ordinary life. He knew he came never close to his true potential. But he started to forget this when he started cooking Meth. He seeks to make an empire of his own and become its king and he is willing to go any far to achieve that. All these ideas get reflected in our lives too in one way or the other. The show uses some amazing symbolism throughout. Even the episodes are named meaningfully. Ozymandias is an episode that got one of the highest ratings in TV show history. Ozymandias is a beautiful poem written by P.B Shelley. The poem is included below.
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
– Percy Bysshe Shelley
All these reasons give Breaking Bad a classic status in TV shows history.
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