Season by Season Review - Breaking Bad

Season Review no. 4: Season 4

★★★★☆

5 word summary:

Shit’s starting to get real.

5 sentence review:

I have a confession to make, and this may account for the slightly lower mark for this season than that last…I watch breaking bad while either scrolling through Tumblr or playing random apps on my phone.

This season had a lot of talking, serious talking, a lot of which was also in unsubtitled Spanish (which is probably because I’m not watching this on DVD or TV…) but with such intense conversations either being incomprehensible to this monolingual girl or requiring my full attention, I didn’t get a lot of what was going on.

This season decided to focus on a lot of plotting, it seemed every character was scheming, even Skyler was getting in on the action, and this was enjoyable however it was also confusing because sometimes I didn’t know how much I was meant to know and whether I was only confused because I hadn’t been listening properly.

Everything seemed more devoted to tension and increasing the danger for these characters (which worries me because only one season to go and I’m expecting a lot of deaths) but I miss the old ‘funner’ days with Walt and Jesse, I’m sure this is an intentional affect, because they want the audience to realise that the two have gotten in over their heads, but that doesn’t mean that I still want it to go back to the original set-up.

Another unfortunate thing is that I knew what was going to be the climax of this season, which meant that I was just waiting for it to happen and was not overly interested in anything else going on in the episode because I knew where everything was leading too, this is the main problem with watching an incredibly popular show after it has finished – spoilers everywhere!

5 good things:

1. Jesse being paternal.

2. The final episode (although not a surprise).

3. Skyler being really intelligent and helpful.

4. Hank getting so close to the truth.

5. Giving Gus more of a back story.

5 bad thing:

1. Trying to drag up interest in Marie by having her nick things again.

2. Ted being annoying and Skyler falling for it.

3. Walter Jr. having all sorts of car troubles.

4. Walt sabotaging Hank’s investigations (let the poor guy do his job).

5. A lot of the scenes being in Spanish and yet none of them subtitled (my fault but still annoying).

Season by Season Review - Breaking Bad
Season Review no. 3: Season 3

★★★★★

5 word summary:
Getting better with every season!

5 sentence review:
The threat of the underworld is becoming more present for the characters and there were several moments when you worry about each character, which is brilliant because the best shows are the ones where you have no idea who is going to die.
The changes of Walt and Jesse's involvement in the meth industry is really interesting because they have been elevated to an industrial level, with the help of the sinister Gus, and this means that we see a very different working dynamic between the two compared to when they worked in the RV.
A few characters are being developed more, mostly Hank, Skyler and Marie, but this isn't necessarily a good thing because Hank is obsessive, Skyler is still unforgiving despite being willing to accept the drug money when it suits her and Marie is really horrible to everyone when Hank is in hospital.
A lot of these behaviours can be explained away, and the imperfection of these characters makes the show more believable, however this isn't a documentary, you can write unbelievable but likeable characters.
Overall the narrative progression is drawing me into the plot and I'm fascinated to see where the next 2 seasons take all these characters.

5 good things:
1. Fly episode (made me laugh, made me cry).
2. Badger and Skinny Pete being in it more.
3. Jesse messing around in the industrial meth lab.
4. Saul not being completely spineless and helping Walt and Jesse.
5. Showing rehab as positive and Badger and Skinny Pete not wanting to corrupt them.

5 bad thing:
1. The annoying 'threatening' Moncada silent brothers.
2. Odd drawing of Heisenberg which I don't think was explained (yet?).

3. Odd crawling scene which I don't think was explained (yet?).

4. 'Family is everything' drowning scene...necessary? Or just for shock factor?
5....

Season by Season Review - Breaking Bad
Season Review no. 2: Season 2

★★★★★

5 word summary:
Breaking Bad is the drug.

5 sentence review:
This is when Breaking Bad started getting really good for me, it has surpassed simply tom-foolery around two amateurs making meth and has now incorporated more interesting themes.
The most interesting relationship (between Walter and Jesse) is broken down in this season which is disappointing, although I love Jesse and Jane together (Jesse definitely has a lot of character progression from just a boy who says 'yo' a lot).
Walt's movement towards a darker character is fascinating because it is so well written and acted, at no point do you think 'this is unrealistic', instead you are just swept away with it.
Despite the show taking a darker turn there are still moments of comedy and happiness which allow for the audience to relax for a few moments (before tensions runs high again!)
An IMDb rating of 9.6 still seems awfully high, because it means a vast number of people actually agreeing with each other, however it is beginning to warrant its rating (hopefully the next 3 seasons also keep improving).

5 good things:
1. Jesse and Jane
2. Introduction of Saul
3. Introduction of Gus
4. Ooooooh the death at the end!!
5. Character progression

5 bad things:
1. Less of Walter and Jesse
2. Less meth cooking times

3. The season long suspense built up to...a plane crash?

4. Ooooooh the death at the end!!!
5. Walt's evil progression.

Season by Season Review - Breaking Bad

Season Review no. 1: Season 1

★★★★☆

5 word summary:
America needs an NHS now.

5 sentence review:
This is my third attempt at watching Breaking Bad and the third time really is the charm because I'm actually enjoying it and blasted through the first 7 episode season in one day.
I have to say that I didn't find it spectacular, or any other superfluous word that could be used to describe this 9.6 IMDb rated TV programme.
Instead it was well-balanced with humour and seriousness and had very interesting points but I wouldn't necessarily continue watching if I didn't know the hype.
It doesn't take itself too seriously, which is good, and is able to almost masterfully weave the comedic elements with the overly dark themes, this is a testament to the writing and acting on the show.
Although well made that doesn't mean it is enjoyable and there were times when I wasn't necessarily paying attention because there was a lot of talking which seemed superfluous because the action outshines it, hopefully I will become more gripped next season and will be clinging onto every word.

5 good things:
1. Use of a character/actor with cerebral palsy without making it centric to his character.
2.  Using very graphic language and some sex scenes but not gratuitous nudity (except for Mr. White in his whites).
3. The acting/interpersonal acting.
4. Awesome explosion.
5. Learning science stuff.


5 bad things:
1. Lack of diverse ethnicities for major characters.
2. I thought Marie (Skyler's sister) was played by RJ Mitte (Walt. Jr.) in drag until IMDbing her.
3. Making me sad and think about cancer.
4. The title doesn't make a lot of sense (although I've heard it so often that I just accept it now).
5. Doesn't live up to the hype...yet.