Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you today! I’m back talking about one of my favorite TV shows, “Breaking Bad.” Last night was the season finale and I must say it was awesome!
I have to admit when I first started watching the show I thought it was going to be one that glorified drug use. I was a little skeptical about whether I was going to enjoy it or not.
“Breaking Bad” is the story of Walter White, a chemistry teacher diagnosed with cancer. He needs big money to pay for his cancer treatments, so he starts manufacturing Meth. Since he’s a chemistry teacher, he knows about chemical reactions, which means he knows how to cook it. His product ends up being 99% pure. With that kind of purity, his product becomes a hot commodity in the drug world.
In the beginning, Walt is just a “nice guy” who has been screwed over. He has been screwed over by his former business partners and by the insurance company that won’t cover his cancer treatment. Walt is a victim. We identify with him and want him to win. We want him to win even when he turns into Heisenberg. The reason for that is because we’ve all been victimized in some way and we want to seek revenge on our tormentors. When Walt transforms into Heisenberg, he becomes victorious, beating the bullies of society. So, even though he’s a bad dude, we still like him. This is a story of what can happen when horrible circumstances force people to make choices they wouldn’t normally make.
This show is probably one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. It depicts the story of Walter White’s transformation from mild-mannered high school teacher to drug king pin. It’s the story of the destruction of his family.
I think it’s an accurate portrayal of what the drug trade is really like. There’s nothing glamorous about it. It’s violent and scary. Drugs destroy families and lives. If the DEA doesn’t catch you, your competition will kill you.
It’s a tragic tale. Walt has to say good-bye to his family and disappear. In the end, he has no one. I don’t want to spoil the ending for anyone who had to DVR the show last night, so that’s all I’m going to say about the end.
I know this show is violent, but I wonder if it wouldn’t be a bad idea for high school students to watch it. It shows the unglamorous side of meth addiction, the sores, the repetitive behavior, and the rotted teeth in all their glory.
It also depicts a realistic portrayal of what a Meth dealer’s life is like. The constant war over territory, the constant anxiety about being caught, and the lies that have to be told to protect your cover. It’s an incredibly stressful situation.
“Breaking Bad” does illustrate the “big bucks” that a drug dealer can make. However, it doesn’t glorify it. It depicts the difficulty a dealer faces when he needs to get the money laundered and what does happen when the DEA catches a dealer. All that money he made goes straight to the government not his family. The show illustrates that the drug trade is a no win situation for anyone, whether you’re a user or a pusher. Everyone loses in the long run.
So there you have it. I will miss this show. It was quite an education and I would recommend getting the DVDs and watching the show with your teens. It’s an excellent way to educate them about the realities of both drug use and the drug trade.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my post! I’d love to hear from you so if you’d like to leave a comment about your thoughts on the show, please do! I’d love to read them!
I’d like to thank Television without Pity.com for the use of this photo. For more pictures click the link below:
Well done, Lisa.
Thanks for stopping by, Rick and for your kind words!
I haven’t watched the show, but your post is compelling enough for me to consider doing so. Thanks, Lisa.
It can be pretty graphic Kai, but it’s very educational. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, Lisa, never thought you’d be a Breaking Bad groupie! My hubby likes the show, but has only seen the first season. Yes, drugs can tear a family apart – believe me I’ve experienced it first hand. There’s no glamor, no glory, just tears and anger. Glad the show isn’t glorifying those who live in the drug world! Cheers!
Thanks for stopping by Sharon. I know I was surprised that I was drawn into the show too! But the element that really appealed to me is the fact that Walt was such a family guy. His first concern was for his family and that’s what drove him to do what he did. I guess I’m drawn to complex characters and complex plots. 🙂