Usually the season premiere of a television series doesn’t necessitate a post at /Film—cue the “This is not /TV!” commentators—but Breaking Bad is an exception. Several of our staffers feel the AMC drama is the best series going, and one or two of us would gladly argue it ranks with the best ever. At 10 p.m. tonight EST, the third season will kick off, and without spoiling anything, it sees Walter White and Jesse Pinkman not so much picking up the pieces from last year’s explosive finale as staring at them in acceptance, anger, denial, refuged in the (de)humanizing emotional nooks the series consistently explores without compare.
Tonight’s episode, entitled “No Mas,” is directed by star Bryan Cranston, who previously directed last year’s premiere, “Seven Thirty-Seven,” and has the bizarre pleasure of introducing viewers to two of the most warped and relentless criminals the series, and Mr. W and Jesse P, have ever seen. I’m curious to hear how fans receive these reaper-like creations and the murderous aura that surrounds them.
Similar to last year, /Film will offer regular recaps and analysis for the duration of the season, and starting tonight, we welcome our readers’ insights, thoughts, and favorite Pinkman quotes in the comments. So far, nothing tops “Yeah science!” from season one. For a post by David Chen on the awesome participation of Brick director, Rian Johnson, in the third season, click here, and for Adam Quigley’s mini-review of the season two DVD, click here. Beware of spoilers in the comments.
For Hunter’s reviews/wrap-ups of the previous two episodes of Breaking Bad leading up to last Sunday’s divisive finale, click here for ep 11 (”Mandala”) and here for ep 12 (”Phoenix”).
Now that most everyone has caught up with the season finale of Breaking Bad, entitled “ABQ,” on their TiVo and what not, let’s take a look at what went…down. Actually, for the sake of disclosure, the mini-delay of this write-up is also due to the episode being a surprising disappointment in my eyes. For a series that is deftly founded on madcap realism, the natural awes of science, and the odds of consequence, I found “ABQ” to stretch way beyond the show’s established believability (and viewers’ trust therein).
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Our recap and mini-essay for last week’s Breaking Bad proved surprisingly popular. We’re glad to see so many /Film readers tuning in to this superb AMC series; it’s a show that frantically cooks up smart debate…as well as predictions for several main characters that are exceedingly bleak and exciting. Today, we discuss “Phoenix,” the 12th episode leading up to next Sunday’s whoa-insured finale. Beware of major spoilers below. Feel free to share your theories on the end of season two, or opinions on the show’s growing comparisons with The Wire, in the comments.
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Geez. Breaking Bad is breaking our innocent heart like the fourth grade. How about yours? With last Sunday’s episode, “Mandala,” the show tapped a pungent high too strong for /Film to ignore. Indeed, the latest ep in the best crystal meth drama outside of Wasilla, Alaska seemed to Ziploc the destinies of several main characters. Spoilers and tear drops ahead. If you’re a fan, please chime in below. If you’re not, what are you? A fan of Two and a Half Men? Do you know how much money that fat kid makes?!! Or, even worse, are you a fan of NBC’s Mark (competing time slot)? Update: Discussion over the ominous body bags has started in the comments.
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