Breaking Bad [Season 04] (AMC, 2011)

[madali]

Breaking Bad [Season 04] (AMC, 2011)

We get nostalgic about different things. The way movies used to be, books, music, etc, and look fondly at the good old days. But one thing a person should not look with nostalgic-tinted glasses is TV shows.

TV shows have never been as good as they are today. People sometimes talk about how everything is a reality TV show, but there always has to be cheaply made programming to fill the slots, such as when there used to be millions of quiz shows, as they still exist on non-American countries, due to them being cheaper to develop. But in general, TV is best that there has ever been. Even the best TV shows back then used to be formulaic and episodic, with the show rarely taking any risk.

Now you have a show like "Breaking Bad" that has been excellent for four seasons straight. Like most previous seasons, it starts off a bit slow, and there is a tinge of concern, that it might have lost its steam. But half-way through, it started to really get good, with Gas being one of the best evil drug lords ever written. Gas is calm, collective, neat, smart, but can be brutal. The best thing about the show, of course, is Walt's continuous descent into darkness, and the things he resorts to keep alive. Watching Gas, you know he wasn't doing what he did because of the money. To lead a double life, he lived in an simple house, run a chain of fast food restaurants, and kept an average car. Why make millions if you don't use them? Because it probably isn't about the money. So it is with Walt. He doesn't really care about the money.He excuses everything by saying he is doing it for his family, but we know it's not true.

Gas did it because he enjoyed it. And Walt does it for the same reason. Perfect finale to the season, looking forward where it will lead Walt Whiteman.

4/5

[kaytee]

The finale was really one of the best I have ever seen on TV. Will be interesting to see where Walt and Jesse go on from here in the last season.

[ayaa1977]

Breaking Bad has been and still is, in my humble opinion, the best drama in TV. Everyone I talk TV with probably hears this statement from me once or twice. This season in particular, and especially in its season premiere and the last 5 episodes of it, really transcended TV in many aspects.  I remember I discussed it with KT at the beginning of the season and how he was not really impressed by the episodes that followed the first. My reply was that he should have faith, because this show always stews and simmers in the middle, building up toward a finale that often takes your breath away.

I can’t stress enough how much you guys (apart from KT and Mad) are missing out on watching some of the best storytelling that’s out there. There are a lot to love and adore about this show, be it the acting by Bryan Cranston as “Walter White” who is transforming and pulled to the dark side triggered by cancer as an excuse to become a drug lord, Aaron Paul as his sidekick “Jesse” who is not aware who much this partnership and allegiance to Walter has screwed  him over and over and still is. His wife “Skyler” played by Anna Gunn, who is having her own breaking bad transformation in this season, and of course one of the most remarkable villain of all time “Gus Fring” played by Giancarlo Esposito who gave a performance that is worthy of an Oscar, and if he does not get his dues next years on the Emmy’s award, I would be so pissed.

Of course the acting is not everything about it. This season had it all, strong writing, tight storytelling, great score and soundtracks, and some of the most cinematic scenes I have ever seen on TV in my life. Episode 10 “Salud” takes us to Mexico were we can see why Gus is one of the most calculating and brilliant masterminds. As for Episode 11 “Crawl Space”, it was a “Coenisque” all around. It takes many of the Coens tricks and present them in the best light; never distracting and always in the service of the storytelling. It closes with one of the most striking closing scene with Walter lying in his house’s crawl space while the camera is pulling away and he is laughing hysterically like the Joker in Batman. Of course the crown jewel is the finale “Face Off” with its breathtaking nailbiting suspense on a level you will be hard-pressed to find even in films. The climax ends up with one of the most shocking TV shot ever, and of course the episode closes with a shot that that explains so much without a word uttered about Walt, his relation with Jesse, and perhaps a hint of what is coming next season, and even though it left us wanting so much more, this episode could have been a perfect series finale as well.

Season 5 would be the last one, sixteen episode in total, and it really could not come soon enough. As for this one, if it doesn’t sweep the Emmy’s, Golden Globes, and every other TV award, then these folks who are handing the trophies should be circled and treated to some of Gus finest tequila.
My Rating 5/5

[kaytee]

As for this one, if it doesn’t sweep the Emmy’s, Golden Globes, and every other TV award, then these folks who are handing the trophies should be circled and treated to some of Gus finest tequila.

LOL, that is true. And also  everyone should stay away from Zafiro Anejo Tequila which translates as Vintage Sapphire.

[madali]

I'm glad Kaytee is finally on board with this excellent show. We've had some excellent shows recently, "Mad Men", "Dexter", but none of them have been as consistant as "Breaking Bad".

Favorite part of the season: Gus "Leave in peace. Or fight me. AND DIE"

[madali]

Also, we get more and more hints of Walter finally embracing his new role. "I am not in danger, I AM THE DANGER". fuuuuuck

[fizz]

I've just been hearing nothing but consistently (that's the key word here) good things about the show. This and the fact that show ends next season has me intrigued. I'll be (hopefully) picking it up...soon.

[shariqq]

I'll (hopefully) pick it up after it ends next season, if it really does.

[kaytee]

I'm glad Kaytee is finally on board with this excellent show. We've had some excellent shows recently, "Mad Men", "Dexter", but none of them have been as consistant as "Breaking Bad".

Favorite part of the season: Gus "Leave in peace. Or fight me. AND DIE"

Ive always been into TV shows and watch them religiously every week, shows that I still watch are Office, Parks and Rec, The Good Wife, Community, House, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Fringe, Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, An Idiot Abroad, Luther, Homeland (Excellent Pilot), Happy Endings, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Its Always Sunny in Philly, Suits, The League and Treme.

I watched the first seasons of Mad Men and Dexter but they didnt really get me intrigued to watch on.

[kaytee]

Also, we get more and more hints of Walter finally embracing his new role. "I am not in danger, I AM THE DANGER". fuuuuuck

The closing shot of season surely proves that.

[madali]

Its Always Sunny is another show that is also excellent after 7 seasons! Best comedy show ever!

[ayaa1977]

KT, Homeland is as you said one fucking promising show. It is like 24 without the ticking clock and the superhero protagonist. The two leads played by Claire Danes and Damian Lewis are marvelous, and so is the supporting cast. As for The Good Wife it is one of the best procedural dramas because just like House it is not really about the case of the week, those are a just the foil and the gateway for the viewers to be sucked into a show that gives us very human and very interesting characters and relationships. As for Dexter, I think it's a waste of time trying to convince you to hub on the wagon. The fourth season to me was the best, the fifth was fine but not nearly as good, but this season that just started is shaping up to become as good as, finger crossed, the fourth. You have two serial killers: Edward James Olmos (commander Adama himself) and mild mannered Colin Hanks as his protege. Also Mos Dif is in it as an ex-con preacher with whom Dexter finds a connection. I must say, three episodes in and I am fully invested in the storylines which surprisingly is free of the frivolous unnecessary office drama that bugged some of previous seasons.

[fizz]

Reading this thread makes me realise my 24 hours aren't equal to any of yours....(and this after not sleeping more than 6 hours, even on weekends!).

[ayaa1977]

Reading this thread makes me realise my 24 hours aren't equal to any of yours....(and this after not sleeping more than 6 hours, even on weekends!).

Lol@Fizz. Believe when I say, TV now is way more rewarding than films.

[madali]

Films are more productive use of our time though.