Top 10 Reasons To Rewatch Breaking Bad
#9: The Writing
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In 2014, “Breaking Bad” won a Primetime Emmy award for “Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series”. The winning episode, “Ozymandias”, has been cited as being one of the best episodes of television, let alone “Breaking Bad”. It’s episodes like this that illustrate how well the writers of this show seed stories that play out later on. Even in instances where the story seems to have backed the writers into a corner, they creatively find a way to make that a strength versus falling back on a deus ex machina to magically resolve any quandary they’ve found themselves in.
#8: No Filler Episodes
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For years, television programming in the United States saw most primetime shows average around 22-25 episodes a season; sometimes more than that. When writers have to churn out that much material week after week, it’s a safe bet that some episodes may be more filler than entertaining. Many modern cable TV or streaming shows now have been known to have seasons that last less than 10 episodes. “Breaking Bad” was fortunate enough to see their seasons last anywhere from seven to 16 episodes, giving the writers more than enough time to write fuller, or meaningful stories. That translates into far fewer episodes of “Breaking Bad” that feel like filler.
#7: The Humor
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In casting Bryan Cranston for “Breaking Bad”, officials at the network only knew him from his comedic role on “Malcolm in the Middle”. Thankfully, “Breaking Bad” didn’t go the route of offbeat comedy, but Bryan and his co-stars had plenty of opportunities to inject a handful of laughs into the show. Episodes like “The Fly” have comedic touches that make the viewer laugh, but then turn on a dime and become a means for major character development. Those offbeat moments often help introduce a bit of levity when a scene can be overwhelming. You sometimes find yourself laughing even in the midst of something quite serious.
#6: Saul Goodman
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Part way through season two of “Breaking Bad”, we finally met the underhanded lawyer who would help keep Walter out of trouble for the rest of the show’s run. Countless jokes about underhanded lawyers have been told over the years, but it’s not too often we get to see those jokes in action. Saul became such a fan favorite character that he was spun off into its own series which takes place prior to the events of “Breaking Bad”. What started as a small, bit character on the original show, has become so much larger thanks to the prequel series.
#5: Yeah Science!
Watching Walter White teach chemistry class itself is not all that entertaining, but it does provide a bit of education on the subject. Much like any fictitious story told on television, a bit of creative license is always used. However, the writers have done a decent job of trying to keep some of the actual science closer to the real world than one might think. The show employed a real scientist by the name of Donna J. Nelson who helped fact check much of what they did. There’s also been a book written about the science of the show.
#4: Gus Fring
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With Walter being the mastermind behind his meth empire, he was bound to find a real adversary eventually. That came in the form of Gus Fring. Introduced in the second season, Gus became one of the largest antagonists in the show, and gave us one of the most memorable deaths ever depicted on camera. He exudes a calm demeanour but with such intimidation that you could easily be terrified to cross him in any way. We don’t know why Giancarlo Esposito hasn’t won an Emmy yet but hopefully his time in “Better Call Saul” will see one land his way.
#3: The Supporting Cast
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When it comes to real estate, they say “location, location, location”. The same could be said in television except it would read as “casting, casting, casting”. Although it’s Walter’s journey we’re following, the story isn’t going anywhere without the supporting cast. Anna Gunn somehow found a way to make Skyler one of the most hated characters on TV. Dean Norris’ Hank was a perfect fit as the ever-so-clueless DEA agent. And of course, we can’t forget Jonathan Banks who continues to play Mike in the prequel show, but gave us some of his best scenes in “Breaking Bad”. Every one of the supporting players on this show elevates it just that much further.
#2: The Series Finale
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All shows eventually come to an end, but it can be rare for many of them to stick the landing. Do a quick web search on “best tv show finales” and you’re bound to find countless lists that all include “Breaking Bad”. In fact, the entire second half of the last season is one great episode after another. For the finale, the biggest questions are answered, and we see a very satisfying conclusion to Jesse’s imprisonment arc. When all is said and done, viewers feel a sense of relief, and are at peace with where Walter finally ends up. What more could you ask for?
#1: Bryan Cranston / Walter White
We previously mentioned how the AMC network was hesitant to cast Bryan Cranston in such a heavy, dramatic role. Both Matthew Broderick and John Cusack were considered for the role of Walter White. Can you imagine what the show would have looked like with someone else playing that character? Cranston’s range was key to the success of Walter White’s character. He somehow found a way to depict the desperation that incited Walter’s descent into the drug world, while also infusing it with a touch of pleasure he garnered from the power White accumulated as his empire grew. It’s no wonder he won four Emmys for this role alone.
