What else left but an ode to one of the greatest shows on Television: Breaking Bad

I just binged watched the ENTIRE #BreakingBad series. I know I am not the only one. Thousands of other audience members like myself decided to give themselves backaches in front of their screen (woohoo Netflix!) and breathed fictional blue meth for countless hours, days before and after the show's series finale. As a new die hard Breaking Bad fan, I cannot help but feel so unbelievably guilty for not watching this before. Hell, since I'm unloading here, I actually watched the first episode over a year ago and didn't keep going. Not because it was bad, absolutely not, I just forgot, didn't have the time, you know the story. Thank God I came to my senses, and thank God for peer and social pressure! In a way, I wish I was part of the original band wagon; the same way I was for the show Scrubs for example. Perhaps, in that alternate universe, I would have gone to a Breaking Bad series finale party, and watching the last episode would have felt differently, maybe more nostalgic in a way. But when I really think about it, having had the the ability to watch everything continuously, and by continuously I mean I-almost-gave-myself-UTIs-not-going-to-the-bathroom-I-wanted-to-keep-on-watching-continuously, was absolutely incredible. I can't even begin to think of the anxiety original fans must have felt over the last 5 years waiting for their DVRs to fill up on Sunday night. Luckily, I got to enjoy every next chapter of this insane adventure by just waiting for the 14 or so seconds to countdown on my Netflix account at the end of each episode.

Unlike other shows, and perhaps because I binged watched all at once in the span of 1.5 - 2 weeks, I truly felt the darkness these characters were living in. It's almost as if I equated whatever dilemmas or qualms I had in my life and brought them into that similar intense and somber world. Even though the story-line is as FAR away from your regular day to day (hopefully for you), you somehow related back and felt so close to everything going on.This darkness I speak of, is a really strange feeling; and even though this darkness in question is no "unicorns & rainbows", it was okay by my standards. Mostly, because the fact that a television show was able create this sensation, it made it all worth it. Worth it in such a fabulous way, especially as a producer.  I was discussing my Breaking Bad feelings with one of my fellow producing friends yesterday, and we both agreed, if I could make something half as good as Breaking Bad in my lifetime as a producer, man! I'll die happy. The brilliance in direction, writing, acting, production design (did you see that insane purple in the Schrader house!?!), the cinematography, the makeup, it is pure artistic genius. I may have even bumped a certain celebrity on my fiance-approved (right hunny?) laminated top 5 fantasy list to make room for Aaron Paul. And any of my friends will tell you, I don't say that often.

Of course to play devil's advocate, I wanted to present the very minuscule problems I had in some of the episodes. And if you are reading this Vince Gilligan, Bryan Cranston and other associated producers (dream on, Sarah!) just skip to the next paragraph - I love you don't hate me. Nothing is perfect. Just like any human being on this planet, no one is flawless. Same thing for a television show or a movie. Imperfections leave room for more discussion, meaning more Breaking Badness and that's okay with me! So here are the 3 (only 3 among the 4390259827984242 amazing things about this show) things I merely slightly on such a small dosage disliked: a) I do feel like that plane crash was a little far fetched. b) The episode "Fly" was a little rampant for my taste (but forgiven because you get to see lots of Aaron Paul eye-candy). c) I wished I would have found out more about that mysterious romantic? connection you see in between Walt & Gretchen (AKA forever in my mind Susan, the lesbian wife of Ross' ex on Friends). THAT'S IT!

****Spoiler Alert****
What is so satisfying about the last season of Breaking Bad is how everything single loose end is tied. I have never seen any show do such an amazing job at this before. Jesse finds out Walt poisoned Brock, Walt Jr. finds out the truth, Hank finally handcuffs Heisenberg, Todd gets killed (Hellz YES!), Lydia will die of Ricin poisoning, Ricin is finally being put to good use, Walt's family will get its money (the original goal), the whole world finds out Walt is Heisenberg, Saul gets away by starting a new life, Gomez & Schrader's bodies will be found, Jesse is free (and most likely will be taking care of Brock), and Walt finally dies in peace.
***More Spoilers***
Hank's death was also part of tying the loose ends. But it was by far the most intense moment for me in the entire series. There were several episodes were I thought he was finished, but the character lived on all through the 5 seasons. And for him to die the way he did was just a stab in my heart. At that moment, I felt for the entire family and for their tragic loss. Even though I saw Hank as a villain of some sort, his death was very difficulty to take. And I know why! Because I couldn't help but root for Walt despite his monstrous actions (crazy what good writing can make you feel), I felt the traumatic pain he portrayed on his face when Hank got shot. For me, that was the most intense of scenes and therefore the best episode of the entire series. Way more powerful than the finale on some levels. I really felt like I needed a moment to recuperate, almost a moment of silence for DEA Agent Schrader. At that moment, you knew it was all over for Walt.
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END OF SPOILERS

If you have time on your hands, or contemplating starting a new show, I beg of you! Consider Breaking Bad. I usually don't obsess over hour long dramas but man this is worth every minute. As I just mentioned, I have become obsessed with everything Breaking Bad. Since I watched the finale, I've been glued to my computer watching every YouTube video I can find. From "Talking Bad", to late night interviews of cast members, Emmy acceptance speeches, you name it. PS -Do yourself a favor and watch Jimmy Fallon's Joking Bad if you haven't already.

One of the questions that everyone keeps asking Vince Gilligan is "What do you hope the legacy of Breaking Bad is". He usually answers by comparing his love for 60+ years old Twilight zone and how unborn children will still be watching it in the future. He knows that may not be the case with Breaking Bad in 60+ years, but here is what I think the legacy is: Because of my profound affinity for the show, I have been trying to find every excuse in the book to talk about it. My fiance [who has not watched it yet] wants to kill me, as I've joked multiple times that if all goes to hell his PhD science background could go to good. (I AM SO KIDDING by the way). Every time I see an old looking trailer in someone's driveway, I automatically assume meth has been cooked there. I have already naturally integrated in my daily life new vocabulary like "fat stacks", great expressions like "I am the one who knocks" or attributed "Heisenberg" as an adjective. I am also guilty of yelling "Yo" and "bitch" WAY too often these days. And without fail, I ask EVERYONE I meet if they have seen Breaking Bad in hope that they have or with luck started watching it so we can discuss. And I know I am not the only one doing this (see the article in my previous post as an example). The pretty large portion of american and other fans around the world are now swarming in this awesome Breaking Bad culture, and that for me is the ultimate legacy.