Breaking Bad (Series Review)

 ***This review will contain spoilers***

This has been a long time coming. I can't tell you how long it took for me to watch this show from start to finish. I tried getting into this show several times and if it weren't for my boyfriend gently reminding me we still haven't finished it and to watch a couple episodes at a time then I never would have finished it. I wanted to quit watching several times and if it weren't for my boyfriend and my inability to quit shit it would have never been finished. I know that this show is more than just a man with cancer making meth to make ends mean but the whole concept of the show isn't really my vibe nor what I tend to gravitate to. 

Breaking Bad has 5 long seasons of craziness on top of craziness. Walter White a high school chemistry teacher that was diagnosed with cancer had no financial means of taking care of his family and getting treatments without absolutely losing everything and leaving his family with nothing. His brother in law Hank Schrader is a DEA agent who let him tag along on a meth lab bust and that is when this whole thing started. Jesse Pinkman, his former student and meth making partner. 

Walter White:

Walter is such a complex character and his evolution in becoming Heisenberg throughout the series was fascinating to watch. This whole thing started because he needed money and fast to try to pay for treatments but more importantly leave money behind for his family. He had good intentions but everyone knows the way to hell was paved with good intentions. In all honesty, he was bound to do something to try to gain some sort of control in his life. He was part of a team that won a Nobel prize in chemistry, he's extremely talented and was a founding member of Grey Matter a billion dollar company which he left after having a fight with Gretchen and breaking up with her. Even though he sold his portion of the company he feels like the millions earned on his research is something he should be entitled to. Walter would have done something outrageous eventually, him being diagnosed with cancer just speed along this part of him craving for control and power which had to be let out. Ego does disastrous things to people, especially, people like Walter. Being so close to success yet never fully achieving it and having to be at the mercy of other people there's a part in them that snaps and almost this alter ego emerges to fight for what they have always wanted. Respect, power, money and control. 

Walter is his worst enemy. At every turn when things are about as worse as they can get, Walter makes it worse. He never knows when to be happy with what he has. The second Heisenberg emerged, it should have been a sign that Walter is walking a fine line between doing the right thing and just fucking over everyone that is in his way. One thing that I loved from the start is Walter's clothing getting daker throughout the show and it started when his alter ego Heisenberg first emerged. It shows just how much impact clothing can have on a scene and an entire series. 

Jesse was just a pawn in his overly complicated game. In a weird way I do think he did care for Jesse but not in the sense one would think of. I always thought that Jesse was a representation of Walter's morality. At the beginning of the show, we know that Jesse had made some poor choices in his life same as Walter but overtime Walter's choices directly affected Jesse and thus almost killing his morality. And when he thought he went too far he tries to save Jesse and thus saving the good in himself. Jesse kickstarted the entire downfall that Walter set up. Jesse's decision was the catalyst of people dying and Walter's family turning on him. He wanted Jesse dead but whether it be his ego or him knowing he went too far he had to save Jesse from the hell he introduced him to. 

Jesse Pinkman: 

What else can I say about Jesse than he has such a tragic life. His family wanted nothing to do with him, Jane died by his side overdosing, Andrea's brother was murdered, Brock was poisoned and Andrea was shot in front of Jesse for him trying to break free from Jack and his gang leaving Brock motherless. So many bad things happened back to back to Jesse and most of it happened because of Walter being in his life. Despite being a drug addict and now ex drug addict, Jessie has always tried to do the right thing. He tried protecting his friends, he tries protecting the one's he loves and it's unfortunately all for naught. The guilt and despair of all the people he lost and killed at times made him a shell of who he is and just shows how compassionate he can be. Walter should have let Jesse alone because 5 long seasons of Jesse getting beaten down physically and emotionally is so tragic. 

Hank Schrader:

The brother in law of Walter White and DEA agent, kick ass-er extraordinaire and overall great character. Well, almost great till the end. Hank was the comedic relief that was needed when the scenes got way too dark and when Heisenberg got way too serious. Up until season 5 I was rooting for Hank. He killed Tuco, survived the assassination attempt from the Salamanca twins and took down Gus Fring entire operation. He was badass in the field, his instincts got him where no one else on his team could go but he had his downfalls. Hank never knew when to let things go. It's like picking at scab. You can't stop till you're just left bleeding. I wish that Hank would have stopped everything when he realized Walter was Heisenberg. He rose through the ranks of the DEA to become supervisor of all the investigations in Albuquerque he should've stopped his persecution of Walter. It just looks bad on Hank no matter which way it gets pinned. 

Skyler White: 

I cannot think of a more hated character on this show. I cannot stand her from start to finish which is a testament to the actress but man she fucking pissed me off at almost every turn. Skyler was stressing out when she found out Walter had cancer and then instead of alleviating the stress she added to it. I can understand her being suspicious of Walter at the beginning when a bunch of his lies weren't adding up but to cheat on your husband while pregnant?! It was obvious that there was something inappropriate between her and Beneke that even their co-workers had weird looks on their faces. Skyler acting like she has the moral high ground at every turn became extremely exhausting. She emotionally cheats while pregnant, she cheats physically after giving birth, she helps Beneke cook his books when things go tits up and then when things couldn't be worse enough she felt entitled to spend Walter's money to pay off Benekes fine to the IRS. If I had to choose between Walter or Beneke I would pick Walter every single time. Both men were selfish in their own ways but at least with Walt he had the priority of his family while Beneke only cared about appearances. I hate that she had such a soft side with Beneke and yet was always being ruthless with Walter. 

Saul Goodman: 

Breaking Bad was a good show but when Saul Goodman came on the scene it elevated to a whole other level. Before Saul, the guys were just staying local but with Saul he introduced them to some big players and ramped up their operation to a higher level. I am a huge fan of Bob Odenkirk and I loved every scene that he was in. He made the show much better and every show needs a sleezy lawyer who is actually worth their money. I can't wait to drive into Better Call Saul!!!

Season 5:

This season was the most stressful out of all 5 seasons. The last few episodes almost did me in. I always said that Hank would be his greatest enemy and his undoing. Hank is like a dog with a bone. He never stops till an outside factor comes into play which unfortunately led to him and Gomez being murdered by Jack and his crew. Hank should have known better than to try to take down Walter. Either way, Hank would have lost everything. If he did bring in Walter he would have been fired, lost his pension and maybe served some jail time himself. I hated how Marie and Hank felt so self-righteous on their high horse. I get where Skyler gets that from. I hated how Skyler and Walter junior just turned on Walter. Skyler tries to stab him with a knife but yet his son calls the cops on him?! I felt that was terrible writing. All 5 seasons he cared and loved his father with his every being but within a few minutes he completely hates him? Skyler ruined her own life and her children's lives. Her turning on Walter left her being disgraced in a shitty apartment ,chain smoking and drinking with not a dollar to her name. She should've been smart. If she was going to leave him she should've stashed some of his money elsewhere so she never had to struggle.

I love that Walter had to have his final hurray against Jack and his crew. He literally pimped out his car in the most epic way possible with a machine gun. He got all the neon-nazis bastards and was able to free Jesse from the hell he brought him into. I did not like the ending with him dying and not knowing how his family is. The whole point of the show was to make sure that his family had money saved before he passed. We have no way of knowing if Gretchen and Elliot will actually give the White's the money that Walter left behind. All we can see is that everyone who wronged Walter has been punished or murdered. I wish we would've gotten a final scene in the future of Skyler, Holly and Flynn. 

Rating: 

I am giving Breaking Bad 4 stars on 5. I can admit that overall it is a good show but this is totally not my vibe by far. It took forever to get through it and if it weren't for my boyfriend I never would have finished it. I loved Saul and Hank! They were some of the best supporting characters. I'm excited to move on with Better Call Saul and eventually I will be watching El Camino as well.