Every Tuesday, I will be attempting something unique. I will look through the pantheon on TV and determine what my favorite season of any show is. The goal is to explore the heights of these shows and better understand why they are beloved, at least by me. This is an experiment that I hope will last for awhile, though I am sure around the 30th entry, things will look a lot different and I will be grasping at straws. Anyways, join me for as long as this last and feel free to share some of your favorites with me as I go through this wonderful medium.
THE SHOW
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| Left to right: Krysten Ritter and Aaron Paul |
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
It is the mythical show that somehow defied all odds to become one of the most beloved dramas to air this decade. The story of a drug dealing chemistry teacher with cancer named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) evolved into a strange, artful landscape of memorable characters, excellent song choices, and intricate plot details. It was highly addictive and ended its run by winning three consecutive Best Drama Series Emmys. Even if the show sometimes valued style over substance, it did manage to make compelling TV in ways that audiences normally wouldn't have enjoyed. Breaking Bad is almost a mythical show now for how beloved it became with a reputation that likely will never be matched.
MY FAVORITE SEASON
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| Bryan Cranston |
Season 2 (2009)
EPISODES:
1. Seven Thirty-Seven
2. Grilled
3. Bit by a Dead Bee
4. Down
5. Breakage
6. Peekaboo
7. Negro y Azul
8. Better Call Saul
9. 4 Days Out
10. Over
11. Mandala
12. Phoenix
13. ABQ
HIGHLIGHTS
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| Left to right: Paul and Cranston |
1. In a cryptic fashion, the series introduces a formula that it would adopt for the rest of its run. By having their already established cold openings now have a deeper subtext that runs through the entire season, a message is parlayed that details the phenomenal events of the finale. It is a perfect encapsulation of events and use of challenging the audience that makes the show the investing series that it overall is.
2. It introduces two of the show's most iconic characters: Gus Fring and Saul Goodman (who is getting his own spin-off called Better Call Saul). While these two characters don't necessarily get a lot to do in the season, their introductions play into the Breaking Bad tradition with eccentric personalities and layered identities that have become one of the show's trademarks.
3. "Peekaboo" is one of the series' only episodes to deal with the junkies that buy the crystal meth in elaborate detail. As Jesse Pinkman travels into a house of terror, he befriends a kid and discovers just how depressing a life of drug addiction and having to rob for money can truly be. It is a striking episode with an even more profound finale that reflects one of the early signs that Jesse does have a heart.
4. "4 Days Out" is a predecessor to "Fly" in that it shows the evolution of these characters as they are forced to survive in the desert after their RV breaks down. It is an entertaining episode full of nuanced character moments and a third act reveal that momentarily changes the trajectory of the series from the initial stimulus that put Walter down this path.
5. (Spoilers Ahead) While Jane Margolis may be a damaged character, there was always something appealing about her way of life. Maybe Jesse ruined her life and that caused an extra layer of tragedy. However, as things became more desperate and she challenged Walter to give Jesse money, things became dark. Not only did it result in Jane's father cause a plane crash (and eventual suicide), but her death was one of the moments long held as a sign of Walter's transition to evil. He stood over her, watching as she choked on vomit. This is something not revealed to Jesse until the final season.
BEST EPISODE
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| Left to right: Paul and Cranston |
"Better Call Saul"
There's so much to enjoy about the season. However, the introduction of Saul Goodman is a rather compelling one. From the cold opening that is a "single take" (edited that way) of a drug bust to Saul's witticisms, this is an episode packed with memorable moments and one of the early signs of Walter betraying his brother-in-law Hank Schrader in order to get what he wants. The finale plays like the series' first homage to westerns as it trades horses for cars and cleverly manages to get a drug deal taken care of in ways that protect Jesse's friend Badger from going to jail.
WORST EPISODE
"Over"
In an otherwise great season, the one downside to the series is the consistent "Will they/Won't they?" vibe of Walter White's initial dismay towards doing the job. While it is morally a great idea, it doesn't make for compelling TV in quite the way that his later exploits would. However, "Over" in particular isn't that exciting compared even to Jesse's breakdown episode in "Down." What is left is an outbreak at a party that leaves Walter trying to get his son drunk and showing his dominance over Hank. It doesn't go well. Meanwhile, we meet Jane's father and the hostile relationship that makes Jesse hate him becomes a running theme for the rest of the season. It is an okay episode, but feels more like a transition one than a crucial selection.
FAVORITE PERFORMANCE
Jesse Pinkman in "Down"
The series played a trick on the audience by introducing the concepts in season one. There was very little beyond the style and the gimmick to go off of. In season two, they elaborated on these themes and created depth. In "Down," it became a downward spiral that not even the bleak, later episodes could compare to. Jesse was dismissed by his family and he was now trying to find someone else to live with He gets desperate and tries to expose Walter's personality after saying "You need me more than I need you." We learn a lot about the scrappy nature of Jesse, which makes his arc for the rest of the series rather cathartic. It is a sad episode and one full of lows that were never reached again, but it is the moment where Pinkman began to feel like more than just a wisecracking kid. He was a man who needed that job desperately.
IS THE REST OF THE SERIES LIKE THIS?
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| Left to right: Anna Gunn and Betsy Brandt |
The series would be totally different if this one had not existed in just the right way. From its revelation of cryptic episode titles to the introductions, this is a crucial season that does more than set up characters. It sets up the tone and concepts that will be at play for the rest of the series. It plays even more coyly with the cold opens and asks the audience to think harder about the way that the show is perceived. The family is still innocent and Walter is off on his own in ways that are exploring the morality of the business. It is still funny and as it introduces a lot of the show's most iconic characters, becomes richer and more interesting. By the time that "ABQ" rolls around, the series solidified itself as more than a novelty concept. It was now shooting for something greater.
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