Breaking bad was written and produced by Vince Gilligan and broadcast from 2008 to 2013. Over these 5 seasons, many blog personal pose the question that Breaking Bad doesn’t examine the extent to which American institutions are failing and the drug problems. That it is deceptive by only exploring Walter White’s (actor) problems rather than the drug problem as a whole, specifically the urban poor. The middle class focus left questioning if it is the greatest series of all time, as popularly reported.
The show squarely represents the target audience; forty-something, middle class, good living, conservative, suburban white America in the midst of an economic downturn, where the equilibrium (Todorov) of health and fortunes are pulled away from under them. Walter’s response conforms exactly to the American Dream; he personalises responsibility for other’s (bankers/corporations) actions, looks to himself to seek out opportunity, he becomes the entrepreneur, a manufacturer of a commodity much in demand.
The middle class however can relate to the problems as it almost mirrors them. I got thinking and decided this argument really excites me and can write a lot about this argument prompted from breaking bad. The wider drug problem isn’t explored, but it is interesting as there is a lot to argue, in the fact it narrates the story from the middle class perspective. While similar shows, the wire, solely focuses on the underclass being exploited by higher authoritative people in society. My research started by looking at academic reports scattered across the internet, and gathered arguments for and against the show being conservative. Additionally I looked at YouTube blogs, re-watched clips from the show to find examples to link with my dispute. This intermingled with my primary research of creating a questionnaire for my peers and family to fill in, really prepared me for this essay.
Breaking Bads drugs problem is conservative as it only focuses on protagonist Walter White’s problems rather than the whole countries problems, and more specific Albuquerque (the town it is set in.) It promotes that life is a series of individual decisions and that society has no say in affecting your life. It doesn’t systematically analyse American institutions which are thoroughly indulged within the show, it solely depicts a man’s life and doesn’t represent the American experience as a whole. As the target audience is middle class people, global audiences from all over the world watch breaking bad. So they don’t get a represented inquiry to how Americans live and ignores the majority of US population; urban poor. He is a down-on-luck high school teacher who, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, starts manufacturing crystal methamphetamine. After the first episode, the show could really represent the bankrupting impact of America’s health care system. Even after, they could really express the drug war and middle-class drug culture. Instead after the first episode it pivoted into something very different, and something “rooted deeply in a sort of masculine, individualist conservatism.” Later on in the series we find out that Walter did not cook meth to pay his medical bills, but because he didn’t want to accept from charity along with other reasons. The transformation of Walter White to Heisenberg stems from this idea. In his world accepting charity makes him less of a man and would rather die with cancer. This idea that he was forced into a life of crime does no justice to his evolution into Heisenberg. He had the choices to direct away from crime but even after he makes enough money to go into remission, he still continues his drug business. It reflects a classic conservatism ideology that (quote Gustavo Fring) “a man provides for his family…because he is a man.” When he advocates this, his facial expression is strained with anger as if it is the most important thing in society. Breaking bad replicates this as the close ups really illustrate the seriousness of this issue, the constant pan from Walter to Gustavo exaggerates that they are both men and both believe it. This entwined with the dark lighting just shows the severity of the message being portrayed, the silence post to the quote also displays how much Walt actually believes it. As Walt is the protagonist, his actions almost mirrors the audience. As he believes it, the audience feel pressured to as well. The image of the darkness upon his face, and the lighting used to create this, encapsulates Walt’s descent into darkness and immorality effortlessly. All this contributes to breaking bad being an individualist conservative show which almost ignores the real American experience.
Although it doesn’t scrutinize the failing American institutions, it almost attacks capitalism in America. It starts as an illumination of contemporary American middle class. He has a wife and children but once stricken with cancer the attack on capitalism ultimately starts. Worried about medical bills and leaving his family in debt he starts cooking meth. As he gets more money he gets sucked in and realises how America really operates. Greed is what fuels capitalism, when Walter grasps this he embraces greed utterly. He discovers how easy it is to sacrifice family and friends, just to be at the top and making masses of money. However no amount of money is enough for him and there is always more to be made, and other competitors to put out of business. When he finds out other drug gangs are selling good products in and around his area, he decided to try and kill and end their business. He sends his friend “Badger” into a gang stricken area to end their reign further showing his lack of compassion for his friends. Badger actually dies all for the reason to destroy competitors and have more business. Again further showing and attacking the effects of capitalism in America. Breaking bad is a parable of entrepreneurship, the basis of capitalism. An entrepreneur eventually becomes a corporation which is what Walter wants to become, and with that, loses all humanity. Throughout the series Walter would say he is making meth “for the family” reinforcing this conservative ideology, but in the last season it all changes. He finally explains that he did it all “for me…I was good at it…I was alive” demonstrating selfishness, another trait of being a capitalist. At this time his beard was rugged and greying with the stresses of life. The lighting around him is dark and almost portrays this darkness, ironically, was caused upon himself because of the greed he accompanied chasing his unconscious dream of capitalism. Again the close ups really explain how important his facial expressions are, sadness and almost regret. It all links in with this attack on capitalism that if you chase wealth, you will lose meaningful connection with the world and you will be devoid of any happiness. So through mise-en-scene and breaking bad as a whole, the idea of capitalism is attacked and a message is portrayed through it.
Some argue that Breaking Bad glorifies drugs like Ryan who runs a blog on YouTube and advocated that Breaking Bad “makes me want to cook crystal meth and even try crystal meth”. This has been a genuine criticism of the show but I think glorify is an exaggeration. It doesn’t make meth attractive but it does normalize the idea of meth for a broad segment of society that might otherwise have no knowledge of that dark and dangerous world. So although Ryan has seen Breaking Bad, he still wants to indulge in meth. This illustrates that maybe Breaking Bad doesn’t show the dangers and the disillusioned young audience feel excited to try drugs if they haven’t already. There are arguments against this as in most cases meth and other drugs within the show really exaggerate the hideous side effects of doing them. In this instance the younger audience see past this and focus on things such as the profit and pleasure you can have through drugs. The secondary audience who are maybe watching it with their parents might also feel pressured to do drugs. As the show has numerous plot narratives they might not understand the drug analysis within and feel confused to try them. Although Ewing is a prosecutor in a town where meth is the greatest narcotics problem he is still an avid fan who can’t help himself from watching. He says he “refuses to watch any show that glorifies that lifestyle”. So even though he is against those kind of shows he still watches it. Breaking Bad has that effect on the audience, which is why it is so popular. This is because in Albuquerque today the series had pumped $70 million into the area’s economy which has generated Breaking Bad shops, restaurants and a lot of tourism. This portrays that the show glorified drugs. A reason for this is the town is selling $1 blue novelty meth bags which was so popular amongst the people living there. Coupled with this is a Lego manufacturer made a “meth lab” product. Although it caused uproar on many social media sites it still sold out further showing signs of meth being glorified. Not only in the show, but transcribes into the real world of the audience. Another reason for it being so popular is Walter White who is a false villain. The transformation from his normal character to Heisenberg (drug kingpin) shows glorification. He was a “nerdy” science teacher but transmutes into a well-known man respected by many. This in a way portrays that drugs are a good thing as he has changed into a respected man.
However that respect may be given to him by many drug related characters, the most important people who don’t respect him is his family. During his time in the drug business his wife left him and he alienated and injured his relationship with his son. Walter may have won his sons love materialistically, through buying him a new car, but it was only temporarily. The show really demonstrates the dangers of drugs and most definitely doesn’t glorify drugs. At the start of the series Breaking Bad automatically shows the danger of drugs when Walt had already killed someone before any money was even involved. And even when he has loads of money the mise-en-scene undermines the usual connotations of money. At the start of the episode titled “crawl space” the establishment shot of this scene is their kitchen and living room shown in an uncharacteristic deep shadow. This creates an immediate unease and impending doom that maybe Walt has created through his drugs business. As he descends into the crawl space and begins searching for his drug money, the lighting progressively becomes of a higher contrast, until the shadow on his face are pitch black. Bright light shines down on him through the entrance to the crawl space; the stark, narrow beam of light seems to imply Walt’s dwindling chance of redemption after entering the business. The camera at this point is shaking and the slow movement up feels unnatural, considering his state of mind. This shows what drugs and manufacturing drugs can do, he is unconnected from the world and has lost almost everything in his life. He constantly witnesses killings and even kills people himself. This certainly shows that drugs are not glorified in Breaking Bad. As the audience is middle-class and well educated they should realise Walt’s un-easing despair and spiralling doom since he entered the drug business.
To conclude I believe Breaking Bad is the greatest series of all time (what I think my question will be, whether it is the greatest show of all time). This is because although it has its critics, it portrays a meaningful attack on capitalism and to an extent demonstrates the deadly side effects of drugs, not only physically but mentally. It does show conservatism and it really doesn’t show the bankrupting health system (in particular) in America. With this is mind is does use the failing institutions to base its attack on capitalism.