In honor of the upcoming last season of Breaking Bad, I decided I would watch the entirety of the series before August 11. I didn't think I'd actually be able to commit to something like this unless I committed to writing about it. So before August 11, I plan to watch every episode of Breaking Bad and write about each season.
My original impression - and I mean the way I remembered the season - was that Season 1 was a show that was finding it's ground. It was a little slow, but ultimately very good. I think I started the show when Season 3 was wrapping up and the title of "Best show currently on TV" was being mentioned. My expectations were high and I think I let that affect my opinion of the first season.
The first season is a lot better than I remember. I don't know if it's a bad first impression, or if the show is just better when you re-watch it, but man it's so much better than I remember. It immediately deserved title of "Best show on TV" from the get-go in my opinion. The strike-shortened season causes the last two episodes to feel abrupt and rushed, but what are you going do?
The pilot features one of the most intriguing openings ever in a show that you pretty much have to finish the episode to know what the hell was going on. It also pretty quickly establishes a moral quandary, which is what to do with Krazy-8. The killing of Emilio was obvious self-defense so that probably took little moral thought.
Anyway, since a normal middle-aged law abiding citizen will probably not kill a person too easily, they approached Walt killing Krazy-8 in the most realistic and probable scenario possible. They needed Walt to kill him so that he "breaks bad" even more, yet it needed to be almost self-defense. Walt came to realization that it was kill or be killed when he saw Krazy-8 had a shard of plate.
I somehow forgot that Breaking Bad used to be a comedy more so than what it has become. This show was hilarious. Some highlights include the intervention (Now I have the talking pillow!), the incompetence of Walt and Jesse at pretty much everything but the meth itself (Disposing of the Emilio's body), and finally the ending of the finale with Tuco beating the shit out of his own employee over nothing. There's probably more laughs in one episode of the first season than the entire fourth or fifth season.
As far as character progression goes, Walter White has begun his slow descent into the fifth season's version, an irredeemable heartless murdering kingpin. This season he's simply a pride-driven, life-living, sympathetic family man. I think his clear love for his wife and his family is what drives the audience to root for him. Also, the fact that he's shit on so much in life and is fighting back.
I don't know what it is about Skylar, but I hate her as much as I did the first time. I realize it's irrational, and I realize none of her actions are wrong or unrealistic. But there's just something about her character to where when Walt asks her to get off his ass, it's considered a triumphant moment. I know I'm far from alone in these thoughts too. I just don't get it.
Jesse is fleshed out a decent amount in this season. We see why he chooses to make and sell meth: the alternative is being in a dollar bill costume telling people to buy (whatever it was). We see him try to quit meth by first going to his mom and dad's house. I thought those scenes were pretty good at showing a family who has seen it enough to believe he's truly changed. They were also painful to watch from the perspective of Jesse.
I also thought the show did a good job of showing why, after such a massive failure the first time they tried cooking together, they decided to team up again. Jesse was ready to go into business because Badger's not exactly the greatest partner. Walter is unwilling to accept charity from his old chemistry partner and needs money for chemotherapy.
Hank is given some good moments to show he's not just a caricature of a human being. He is obviously very good at his job, rare in a show like this (For a counter-example, look at how awful Miami Metro is at their job on Dexter). Marie is kind of a weakness right now in that, for example, I could care less that she has a stealing problem. (Unfortunately, I never really care much about what she does). Also, a credit for RJ Mitte as Flynn who has made a believable disabled person (mostly because he is disabled, but he's also a good actor.)
This season also has less non-pivotal episodes than I remember. Technically they are all pivotal, but I mean episodes were something big happens that dictates Walter's going downhill or something big happens to change Walt or Jesse's direction. Debatably, there's only two transitional episodes that are less pivotal - episodes 4 and 5 that lead to the re-partnership of Walt and Jesse. But they are also pivotal in showing a realistic portrait of why they decided to start working together so really every episode moves the story along in some way. Only The Wire was better at doing that.
So, to summarize, the first season is probably a lot better than you remember, has no standalone episodes (almost every series has one - not that a standalone episode is a bad thing), and is darkly hilarious. I encourage everyone to do the same as me and re-watch the series.
Walter White Kill Count: 2 (Emilio, Krazy-8)
Walter White Badass Count: 4 (Quitting car wash, "This is not meth," Beating up asshole making fun of son at store; Destroying Ken Wins car)
Audience View of Walter White: Sympathetic man who decides to start living his life
Playlist (Best of Breaking Bad Season 1 songs)
1. "Out of Time Man" - Mick Harvey
2. "Didn't I" - Darondo
3. "Uh" - Fujiya & Miyagi
4. "Scoobidoo Love" - Paul Rothman
5. "Catch Yer Own Train" - The Silver Seas
6. "The Hole" - Glen Phillips
7. "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" - Gnarls Barkley
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