On sublimity: Breaking Bad

There are several kinds of stories. Some are built around a central plot, while some revolve around the time and life of the central character.  There are some that have a metaphor or an idea at its core and characters and plot structure fall in place around it. 

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Breaking Bad by Vince Gilligan is perfection beyond words could describe as it has got all three in one. There is a compelling plot, incredible character metamorphosis, and most importantly the series is replete with metaphors that evoke life, death and the dark times in between. 

I watched Breaking Bad in 2014 partly because of my fear of missing out on what’s trending and partly for my affinity towards stories that are more humane and offer boundless ways to explore the human experience.

The sublime series, that was aired perhaps a decade ago, continues to bewilder and charm even today. With a story that consists of polar opposites in its offering – from shades of drama, a murky murder mystery to a gangster noir film, fans worldwide were kept on tenterhooks throughout the five seasons. The pertinent question is what exactly is the thing that worked well for Breaking Bad garnering it international acclaim like no other series in its genre?

THE DESCENT OF THE GOOD

Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) eventual fall into the trappings of the world of crime is arguably the best ever character development in any series. A meek teacher turning to the world of crime is perhaps an idea that invokes a grand tragedy. Very Shakespearean in its essence, White’s gradual descent is symbolic of the archetype of the good turning evil for personal motives. The diagnosis of terminal lung cancer in Walter White sets the narrative afloat. It is a moment of epiphany as well as the catharsis that propels the narrative further. 

With cancer, looms an uncertain future. Just like any family man would do, instinctual as it is, White too drifts into the abyss of darkness. Providing a secure future for his wife and kids is his immediate concern. Perhaps this is the moment where the conflict between the two takes place – morality and self-interest.  This, in my opinion, is what makes White relatable to many of the audience. It is a universal sentiment to fight for the interests of the family or community. 

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However, just as the narrative is filled with several twists and turns, White’s character too is a complex one. For the viewer, white took to making batches of methamphetamine to horde money so that his family has a secure future.

The beauty of the series lies in the fact that it skilfully blurs White’s motives, to the point that the viewer is dubious as to what end is White’s dangerous pursuit.

White has been shown as a dejected man, who has lost billions from the sale of Grey Matter, a man whose life is haywire with no control over his job or his family. White is what any millennial would call a failure. This aspect of his life makes the viewer even root for his nefarious ways.

THE CHARACTERS

Breaking Bad has an assortment of characters. White’s accomplice who leads him to the world of drugs, Jesse Pinkman, opens a whole new dimension. Pinkman can be called the fulcrum of the narrative. From being the one to introduce White to the seemingly dark world of methamphetamine production and distribution, Pinkman’s trajectory makes him the moral arc of the story. 

Pinkman is aware of travails of the world and perhaps is too lazy to tread the path of honesty. His vile and decadent life has rightfully earned him the scorn of his family. What strikes about his character is the fact that he feels intensely, he is aware there is no window of hope in whatever he has chosen for himself. 

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The uncanny camaraderie between White and Pinkman is the one that is united by tragedy and a shared sense of failure. There are many more characters in the series that reflect the human condition eloquently and with the brusqueness of the real world.

CAPTIVATING VISUALS

Breaking Bad is set in the quaint town Albuquerque of New Mexico. Deft cinematography has transformed the location into a character in itself. The hues and tones in every scene merge with the inner turmoil of the characters and their trepidations. Every shade in the palate speaks for the character and blends perfectly with the plot development. 

The music the various shots and angles, panoramic views, overhead shots, and the vast expansive landscapes add to the unsettling story as it unfolds. The story which is laden with motifs, themes, metaphors, and oblique symbolism is propelled further with its technical brilliance.

In all Breaking Bad is sublime. A brilliant story with its heart and mind at the right place!