While Breaking Bad might not have many ties to gaming, aside from the subject matter being surrounded by controversy akin to Grand Theft Auto, it is very important. We weren’t planning to branch out to film content with Sunday Spotlight, but given that this might be the best example of storytelling ever crafted, and that we’ll have plenty of EGX content coming up tomorrow and beyond, we thought it was time to shine the spotlight on something a little different, without spoiling anything beyond the first moments of the show.
It all ends tonight, or rather tomorrow for us in the UK, when the final episode of Breaking Bad arrives on Netflix. We’ll finally have the conclusion to the masterfully crafted story of Walter White.
If you’re not aware of the premise, then essentially Mr. White is a high school chemistry teacher who gets the worst possible news regarding his health – he has terminal lung cancer. Now’s where he realises that if he won’t be around in a year’s time, he’ll have to work out a way for his family to be comfortable with no worry of debt.
So after a ride-along to a meth lab sting with his DEA brother-in-law, Hank, Walter realises that he can use his knowledge of chemistry to cook crystal meth. This leads him to a certain Jesse Pinkman, marvellously portrayed by breakout star Aaron Paul, who will also be appearing in the new Need For Speed movie.
Bryan Cranston’s varied acting – from high school teacher Walter White to meth kingpin Heisenberg – is ultimately the main point to take from Breaking Bad. This, combined with an incredible supporting cast and unbelievable writing with twists and turns has cemented the show’s place in history as perhaps the best form of storytelling ever, and proof that television is the go-to medium for character development and plot progression.
Even the camerawork, cinematography and directing is above and beyond most of what you’ll see on the big screen: there’s use of timelapses to break apart the action; suspense created through faux reveals and closing shots; the show’s signature point of view shots, where cameras are attached to items or placed under them; and the meth cooking montages put perfectly to a musical number.
I’m no film critic, but it’s easy to see that Breaking Bad rarely falters, if at all. For me, it’s perhaps the best thing I’ve ever experienced, with the journey I’ve taken over the last few years surely sticking with me forever, so I’m extremely sad to see it end but, at the same time, I can’t wait to be blown away by the conclusion.
If you haven’t watched the show, and you do decide to, then you’ll find that while most episodes are excellent, the recent episode – Ozymandias – is a masterclass in production; 47 perfect minutes which the show has been leading up to since episode one’s opening dialogue discussing the matter of change. Even if you’re not really a fan, then it’s worth sticking through five seasons just to see this, which currently still holds an IMDB rating of 10/10 even after tens of thousands of unique votes.
No, Breaking Bad wouldn’t work as a game, a film or even a book, but it’s found its place at the top of small screen programming and it’s utterly essential to watch. You can do that on Netflix, and from 9am tomorrow the complete series will be on there, so there’s really no excuse.
Anyway, there’s also a good chance you’re a viewer of Breaking Bad, and if that’s the case: are you ready? I’m certainly not.
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When will books, film of games get their Ozymandias moment?
Of course Ozymandias would be nothing without the ~60 episodes leading up to it, but wow!
I can’t wait for tomorrow & will be taking a break from being online until after I’ve watched it so as not to have spoiled by morons, but at the same time as not being able to wait I think I’ll be incredibly sad that it’s all over.
Alex C
I thought Granite State was the pinacle of the whole thing so far. What a ride.
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Not seen it yet. Double bill tomorrow :)
Adam Garrett
I didn’t really feel affected at all by Breaking Bad or Ozymandias at all. For me, it’s no where even close to Game of Thrones red wedding moment or that tv series in general.
cc_star
Tried watching GoT, never really got going until final episodes of each series. Found it, 8 episodes of not much & 2 episodes that just about made previous 8 hours worthwhile.
Overall, overrated & left bemused at the level of hype.
I suppose horses for courses & stuff.
Adam Garrett
Yeah the first season is a little slow. Unfortunately though the first 3-4 seasons of breaking bad are slow so I have more trouble convincing friends to watch that than GoT.
tactical20
It’s by far the best TV show I’ve ever seen, and I’ve watch all of The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, Homeland, etc..
It’s sad tonight’s episode is the last, but it’s better to end with perfection, rather than drag it out and end badly. I absolutely love Breaking Bad and will be re-watching the whole lot regularly for years and years to come.
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I’ve just re-watched it all over the preceeding 2 months, to coincide with tomorrow’s final episode.
If anything, I found it even better second time around and would place it above previous pinnacles Sopranos & The Wire
rosswilson17
In my opinion the best tv show i have ever seem by far. Its funny how many websites that rarely cover tv shows talking about it as it draws to a close. I suppose that just shows how universally acclaimed is it.
tactical20
Was featured on Newsnight the other night and the ‘experts’ were saying it was akin to Shakespeare!
tonycawley
Funny I’ve never seen a single minute of it. Watched all 6 seasons of the sopranos in the past year and I think that’s put me off telly for life because I know nothing can be anywhere near as good, not for me at least. It has ruined TV by how good it is.
HunterGatherer
It’s ALMOST as good as Sopranos. I really don’t get the Netflix sponsorship here, as you can get it elsewhere too…
https://play.google.com/store/tv/show/Breaking_Bad?id=hqgy8T_v7tg
for example…
It’s also rather funny this current obsession with the show, as it never made it past season 1 on UK television. Season 1 was shown on FX on sunday evenings, and they never showed any subsequent seasons.
Blair Inglis
Netflix is £5.99, that’s almost £2 per episode!
blackredyellow
Fantastic and gripping. The way they evolved Walter’s character was perfect. It overshadows everything else I’ve ever watched on TV.
yiddo
By far the greatest TV show of all time. Gonna really, really miss it when it ends :(
KeRaSh
I never really cared for Breaking Bad. Read about it on numerous occasions but that didn’t convince me. Now everyone is going nuts about this show like they did with Game of Thrones.
I think this is another “Lost” experience for me. I never understood the hype about that show either and when the final episode aired I thought it was a perfect time to get into it and after a few episodes I was hooked.
Might grab the first season of this and give it a shot.
Shadow-King
Please just rent netflix for a month or two watch it that way. Super affordable TV at £5.99 p/m. Plus you could watch other awesome shows exclusive to netflix.
Tuffcub
Watched it for 15 minutes. Wasn’t gripped. Turned it off.
Nocure-fd
IRL, I am a chemist with a shaved head and a goatee. So I must warn that my opinion is highly biased:
The only other show that comes anywhere close to Breaking Bad, is The Wire. When I first saw Breaking bad, I watched the first three episodes and wasn’t really drawn in. Then there was a wet weekend and a friend had loaned me up to season 3. By the time I got to the end of season 1 (only 7 episodes) I was gripped.
If you tried a few episodes before and didn’t get on with it. I highly recomend giving it another go.
I have the last show now. Can’t watch it till later, but it’s already giving me goose bumps :P