The Best at Grace: ‘Breaking Bad’ wins for Best TV
Media provided by IMDB.
Fifteen years ago, one of the most popular television shows of all time premiered on AMC. To this day, it is widely considered one of the best series of all time, in regards to both style and content. From the pace to the character development, “Breaking Bad” created a new expectation for what the best television show of all time should offer. While some critics believe that the suspenseful action sequences are the reason for the show’s success, it seems that a combination of writing, acting, and cinematography is the real foundation for its popularity.
Eli N. ‘23, one of many “Breaking Bad” fans at Grace, explained that his favorite thing about the show is how “the story fits tightly together. It’s linear, but at times you’ll have a cold open that happens five episodes in the future and every episode gets closer to that action.”
This method of building suspense is one of the show’s many strengths. The lead-up to the events of season two, Episode 13 (“ABQ”) of the series occurs over a four episode arc, culminating with a tragic plane crash.
Eli explained how “in one episode you see a plane explode midair, and then you see why that happens in the next episode. The slow building action that is hinted at makes the story very seamless.”
This seamless writing and directing style helps establish suspense for the viewer, provoking viewers to continue watching to see what happens next.
In addition to the suspenseful writing, the character development contributes greatly to the show’s stylistic perfection. Eli simply said, “There are memorable characters. Everything is sort of realistic. Characters make mistakes.”
In regards to the cinematography, film major Declan G. ‘23 pointed out how the show’s cinematography is generally quite simple and minimalistic: “It puts more emphasis on the characters in a way that brings you in much closer to the action.”
The camera work is part of what makes the show so entertaining to viewers. Fans are on the edge of their seats when Michael Slovis, the show’s cinematography director, pulls out one of his unique shots, whether it be a beautiful timelapse of the New Mexico sky or a closeup image of a fly.
While some people believe that the “best” television show is not quantifiable, Lucia D. ‘24 echoed Eli’s sentiments. The way the show diverges from the typical antihero stereotype stood out to her:“At first you’re on Walt’s side and very gradually he shifts, and you don’t even notice until he’s a terrible person, and you can’t root for him anymore. It’s different from other shows with an antihero because you’re not rooting for him.”
Declan said that for him, “a well-written character can be subjective. In ‘Breaking Bad’, [Walter White] is a character who despite all the bad choices he’s made, can pull the audience’s support and win their understanding.”
In addition to Walter White’s atypical character development, Lucia commented on how the show’s “cinematography, music, and acting are all really good. It wouldn’t be as good if it had the same plot without the visuals.”
And what’s a good show without its diehard fans? During the show’s airing everyone was obsessed with the “Breaking Bad” characters but some took it to new levels. In fact, Grace student and diehard “Breaking Bad” fan Cyrus M. ‘24 made the ultimate commitment – shaving his head bald to dress up as Walter White for Halloween.
“Breaking Bad” is considered the greatest television show, according to the Grace community, and people around the world seem to echo that sentiment. From the show’s gripping suspense to its masterful character development and cinematography, “Breaking Bad” is considered a masterpiece.
Ella Anderson ‘23, the author, is a staff writer for The Gazette.