Some things make no sense. Like TV schedules, and what TV schedulers and commissioning editors thinks we might actually like. TV drama Breaking Bad is now in its Second Season in the States, and has won a heap of Emmys. What happens here? First, it goes out on the admittedly wonderful FX. And nobody watches it or writes about it. Then - joy! - Five USA buys up Series One and Two. And screens them at 11pm. Not to worry. We can all record TV now, but what is sad is that this absolute gem of a show isn't being raved about along the same lines as The Wire, The Sopranos, Mad Men and the like.
For the uninitiated, Breaking Bad's two seasons have followed painfully meek chemistry teacher Walter White, played by the superb Bryan Cranston (Hal, the dad, in under-rated comedy Malcolm in the Middle). Walter beavers away in dull New Mexico suburbia with his pregnant wife Skylar and teenage son Walt Jnr. Then the shit hits the fan: Walter is diagnosed with stage-three cancer and given two years to live. His world caves in.
But then Walter comes up with a plan. To make sure that his family are looked after after his demise - and in the face of hideous medical bills - Walter decides to use his chemistry skills to build a nest egg for them.
Teaming up with a former-student, now a low-level meth dealer, called Jesse Pinkman (the great Aaron Paul), Walt decides his financial salvation lies in the dangerous world of drugs. Walt's knowledge of chemistry allows him to cook the finest, purest blue meth New Mexico has ever seen. Walt's got the chemistry; Jesse has the street smarts and the connections, and a handy RV mobile motorhome in which they can cook up their drugs out in the desert. We'll say no more here: WATCH IT. IF YOU CAN'T WATCH IT, PRE-ORDER SERIES ONE ON DVD. IT IS SIMPLY SUPERB.
Watch this video on the making of Breaking Bad: tiny, tiny minor spoiler alert!
MORE ENTERTAINMENT
Bookmark this post with: