Popular water-cooler drama about an unremarkable and uncharismatic chemistry teacher, Walter, who discovers new passion in his life after he learns he has terminal cancer. Now that they?ve launched their drug business, the... more »re?s no turning back for Walt and his young partner, Jesse. Using Walt?s knowledge of chemistry to cook up high-grade methamphetamine to pay for Walt?s cancer treatments, the pair is thrust into a netherworld of murder, mayhem and the twin threats of exposure and arrest. Amid suspicions about her husband?s fidelity, Walt?s wife Skyler faces an unexpected pregnancy and a grim financial outlook that forces her back to work for a boss she once threatened to sue for sexual harassment. The prospect of leaving his family penniless catapults Walt headlong into the deal to end all deals, elevating his reputation in the eyes of criminals and cops alike, but bringing him and Jesse to the brink of disaster while potentially making them rich beyond anything they could have dreamed up.« less
Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and others at their best. This series has a great plotline diving into life in ways you had no idea existed. A must watch but not for the weary of hearts!
Jefferson N. from BLAIRSVILLE, GA Reviewed on 8/5/2012...
In the second season of Breaking Bad, things get off to a bad start. A drug dealer that feels Walt and Jesse are screwing around with him takes them out to his ranch across the border and intends to find out their meth secret...even if he has to kill them. And even when they get out of this predicament, things are not going their way. Walt's wife feels he has a secret other life and wants out of their marriage, Jesse is messed up on Meth himself, and the drug gangs are starting to circle and want Walt to either work for them.... or die.
While I feel this is a really good show, this season just about ruined it for me. The drama got really draggy on the one hand, but Walt's degeneration from a good man trying to help his family to a scumbag trying to get all he can seemed rushed. Jesse's all over the place...Yes, he's on meth, but his it's like they sometimes just can't decide what to do with his character and bounce around a lot with it. It's not bad, just a lot weaker than the first and third seasons, in my opinion.
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Brandy B. (MaMa-Jo-Yo) from COMMERCE CITY, CO Reviewed on 1/11/2011...
A must see !!! *****
0 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
As Good as The Shield and The Sopranos
William Martin | 11/16/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'll try to keep this short. If you've read the other reviews, you know the premise of the show. It has received many accolades and some awards. But you know what, there are many really good shows out there now, and it can be hard to keep up with all of them. So if you are still undecided as to whether this show is worth an investment of your time and money, I hope this helps.
If are an avid fan of the Sopranos and The Shield, you will love Breaking Bad.
Do you remember how both of those shows would, at their very best, leave you staring at the screen, with your heart pounding, saying to yourself "Holy S---"? Well, there are moments like that in Breaking Bad. Like the Sopranos, it effectively mixes dark comedy and violence. Like The Shield, it has episodes and plotlines that are incredibly intense. And like both of those shows, it features a protagonist leading a double life. The performance of Bryan Cranston, like those of James Gandolfini and Micheal Chiklis is one of the finest ever seen on televison. Your move."
Surpasses the first in every way
Laura A. Oliver | Wisconsin | 06/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Now that everything was established in the short first season (writers strike) the second season gets things really going.
I will not spoil but I will say this show is now falling into history. It's one of the greatest shows of all time and will most likely only get better from here."
Too ugly a subject for HBO & Showtime.
Cattywampus | 06/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"HBO & Showtime passed on this idea -- everybody except AMC.
The current meth epidemic started as "crank" which bikers kept in their crank case and which helped them stay awake, and it was also used by truckers. I actually took some when I was hitchhiking across the country one time and riding with truckers and didn't think anything about it. It did not produce euphoria, just inability to sleep. Also soldiers in the blitzkrieg style of war used it, so Hitler et al. thought it was God's gift.
Now there's nothing good about amphetamines. We might as well have the return of smallpox. (I read somewhere that 30% of smallpox victims who survived were blind. In addition to all the ugliness of death and disfiguration.)
So the creators of this show evidently said, What should we juxtapose with the ugliness of meth? How about a person whom the viewers identify with because he's like Manuel on "Fawlty Towers" -- John Cleese said in an interview that the character the viewers identify with most is Manuel and the character they perceive as having the least control is also Manuel. (Character they perceived as having the most control was Sybil Fawlty, and also they liked her the least.) The dad in the movie "Parenthood" (Steve Martin's character) said, "My whole life is 'hafta.'" That kind of character.
So this is what you have. The lead character is a high school teacher, works part-time at a car wash, is pushed around by his wife and boss and treated with no respect by his extended family, has no respect for himself and in general "has given up on life" according to the show's creator, and then on top of that he gets terminal cancer. On the one hand you want him to be cured and to move away and have a job and family whom he actually loves, and for decades wake up in the morning saying, "I am so happy! Why am I so lucky?" And on the other hand, this person is about as evil as anyone could be, because he decides to manufacture crystal meth.
The creator of the show, Vince Gilligan, actually said they found the actor Bryan Cranston when they were doing a story on "X-Files" and said who can we get whom the audience will still like after he does all these dastardly things. He said they auditioned a lot of actors, but Bryan Cranston was a revelation.
So the lead character decides to cook meth because he is going to die in a year or two anyway and he wants to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars for his family. His wife is pregnant and he wants her to stay home with the baby. She had a low salary when she did work, as a bookkeeper. They also have a teenager. He has cerebral palsy and needs to go to college and get a job where he works with his mind. He is always going to need a lot of money for medical care and special equipment.
Also the lead character is willing to try a treatment for his inoperable, terminal cancer which his wife finds for him, but it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars which his insurance will not pay for.
A warning: some people would not consider watching this show because it's all drugs and violence. But to me, it's about as dramatic as you can get. The meth epidemic is about as welcome as the Black Plague dropping by for a visit in the Middle Ages. But on the other hand, you really want this character to escape and have a happy ending."
The best thing on TV these days
Mac Bender | 10/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I watch A LOT of TV and I can honestly say there has never been a show that was so riveting and so gripping from beginning to end as Breaking Bad. This show is a masterpiece through and through.
During the first season, we come to see how Bryan Cranston's character (acted brilliantly, by the way) could not be any more desperate. And just when you think things couldn't get more low, in comes season two with more problems and more desperation.
I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen this season, but my God, if you haven't seen it, get this DVD collection it will be so worth your time."
The Second Season Breaks All Expectations
Reconnecting To My Childhood | 12/31/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm glad they are finally giving this amazingly filmed show a Blu-Ray release for it's second season and they are going back to release the first season on Blu-Ray as well. The second season of this AMC series starts right where the first dramatic season left off. From there it winds down a dark path where you can't see what's coming while still managing to up the stakes and get you more involved with the characters with each passing episode. While I wasn't quite prepared for where this season ended I have high hopes for the third season that will premiere this winter and highly recommend the first and second seasons to fans of well made television and certainly for fans of this series to rewatch it and notice things they've missed in first viewing. This 3-disc Blu-Ray set will contain the following episodes from season 2 of Breaking Bad (No Spoiler's):
Seven Thirty-Seven Walt and Jesse try to end their deal with Tuco. Meanwhile, Hank attempts to repair Marie and Skyler's relationship.
Grilled With Walt and Jesse trapped with Tuco, Marie and Hank comfort Skyler over his disappearance.
Bit by a Dead Bee Walt and Jesse's become short on cash when they try to cover their tracks. Meanwhile, the DEA has a lead that could get them straight to Walt and Jesse.
Down Walt attempts to reconnect with his family, while Jesse struggles to rebuild his life.
Breakage Hank suffers from the aftermath of his encounter with Tuco. Meanwhile, Jesse hires a crew to get their product out on the streets.
Peekaboo Walt's secret is in jeopardy when Skyler thanks Gretchen for paying for his treatment. Jesse tries to please Walt by 'manning up' and getting back some money that was lifted from one of their new crew, but he runs into complications.
Negro Y Azul Rumors fly about Jesse's recent actions as he and Walt discuss expanding their business into new territories. Hank struggles to fit in with his new co-workers in El Paso. Skyler pursues a new job opportunity that reconnects her with a former colleague. Jesse gets to know his landlord, Jane
Better Call Saul When Badger finds himself in trouble with the law, Walt and Jesse seek the legal advice of a shady attorney, Saul Goodman. The DEA believe they may have finally caught up with the elusive 'Heisenberg.' Hank returns to Albuquerque, but his troubled mental state and demeanor cause Marie to worry.
4 Days Out Walt interrupts Jesse's weekend plans to inform his partner they'll have to cook for four days straight, or risk losing their batch of methylamine. Out in the desert things get heated between them when they wind up stranded.
Over With Walt's disease in remission, the Whites throw a party for all those who've supported him through the ordeal, but the mood is ruined when Walt and Hank argue. Skyler is worried about Walt's emotional state as Walt tries various home improvement projects to occupy himself. Jane continues her relationship with Jesse but keeps this secret from her father.
Mandala Saul suggests a new business partner for Walt. Skyler discovers something shocking at work. Jesse tells Jane about his 'job'. When an unreliable Jesse isn't there at a crucial moment, Walt must choose between an important moment in his familie's life or possibly scoring a big deal.
Phoenix Skyler deals with newly developed family dynamic. Walter Jr. launches a new website to raise money for the family. Jane convinces Jesse to stand up to Walt. Walt makes a decision, or lack thereof, that sends him further down a path of darkness.
ABQ Skyler's frustration with Walt's secrecy boils over; Jesse heads further down a path of self-destruction, and only Walt is willing to help him; and a grief-stricken Donald experiences more tragedy. Walt's recent poor decisions have a much larger negative affect on others than he could ever have anticipated.
'Seven Thirty-Seven' is an amazing season opener that leaves one anxiously awaiting the rest of the season. 'Grilled' provides a level of tension and excitement so high it leaves one wondering how the rest of the season will follow. While it does level out excitement-wise from there each episode is amazingly well crafted and dramatic from beginning to end. Other stand out episodes for me this season were '4 Days Out' and 'Mandala'. ABQ is also an incredibly well done season finale that leaves things in total chaos and wide open for the third season. Truly though, every episode stands out as excellently entertaining television making.
Special Features Announced For This Blu-Ray Release Include:
The Writer's Lab- An Interactive Guide to the Elements of an Episode. (Blu-Ray Exclusive)
Cast and Crew Commentaries (The First Season Commentaries were very informative and entertaining)
Inside Breaking Bad- 13 Featurettes About the Making of Each Episode.
11 Behind The Scenes Featurettes
6 Breaking Bad Original Webisodes
Walt's Warning Featurette
As Well As Cop Talk With Dean Norris, Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, "Negro Y Azul" Music Video, "Better Call Saul" Commercial, Vince Gilligan's Photo Gallery, a Season 1 Recap and a Season 3 Sneak Peak.
This set is well worth the money with the amount of in depth bonus features you are getting along with the full season of 13 episodes as opposed to the first season set, which on account of the writer's strike, only had seven. These episodes are truly great televsion making and will certainly look great in High Definition. I highly recommend this set to any fan of well made television drama and obviously fans of this series. Thanks for your time. "