From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad Breaking Bad is an American television drama series cre-
ated and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced
in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of
Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school
chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung
cancer at the beginning of the series. He turns to a life
of crime, producing and selling methamphetamine with a
former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), with the aim
of securing his family’s financial future before he dies. [1]
Breaking Bad has received widespread critical acclaim,
particularly for its writing, cinematography, and the act-
Genre Serial drama
ing ability of its cast. The series has won six Emmy
Crime thriller
Black comedy Awards—including three consecutive wins for Lead Actor
in a Drama Series for Cranston, one win for Supporting
Created by Vince Gilligan Actor in a Drama Series for Paul, and two nominations for
Starring Bryan Cranston Outstanding Drama Series. Cranston has also been nom-
Anna Gunn inated twice for a Golden Globe Award for Best Perfor-
Aaron Paul mance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama.
Dean Norris
The series is broadcast in the United States and Cana-
Betsy Brandt
RJ Mitte da on the cable channel AMC, and is a production of Sony
Bob Odenkirk Pictures Television. It premiered on January 20, 2008, and
Giancarlo Esposito has completed its fourth season. On August 14, 2011, AMC
Jonathan Banks announced that Breaking Bad had been renewed for a fifth
Opening theme "Breaking Bad Theme" by and final season consisting of 16 episodes.[2]
Dave Porter
Composer(s) Dave Porter Production
Country of origin United States
Conception
Language(s) English
Spanish Breaking Bad was created by Vince Gilligan who spent
several years writing the FOX series The X-Files. Gilligan
No. of seasons 4 wanted to create a series in which the protagonist be-
No. of episodes 46 (List of episodes) came the antagonist. "Television is historically good at
keeping its characters in a self-imposed stasis so that
Production
shows can go on for years or even decades," he said.
Executive Vince Gilligan "When I realized this, the logical next step was to think,
producer(s) Mark Johnson how can I do a show in which the fundamental drive is
Michelle MacLaren toward change?"[3] He added that his goal with Walter
Location(s) Albuquerque, New Mexico White is to turn him from Mr. Chips into Scarface.[4][5][6]
He has said it is difficult to write for Walter White be-
Cinematography Michael Slovis
cause the character is so dark and morally questionable:
Running time 47 minutes "I’m going to miss the show when it’s over, but on some
level, it’ll be a relief to not have Walt in my head any-
Broadcast
more."[7] As the series has progressed, Gilligan and the
Original channel AMC writing staff of Breaking Bad have made Walter more and
more unsympathetic.[5] Gilligan said: "He’s going from
Original run January 20, 2008 (2008-01-20) –
present being a protagonist to an antagonist. We want to make
people question who they’re pulling for, and why."[4]
External links Cranston said by the fourth season: "I think Walt’s fig-
Website ured out it’s better to be a pursuer than the pursued. He’s
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Breaking Bad
well on his way to badass."[6] Gilligan defines the term deal as a plot device to plague the main protagonist Wal-
"breaking bad" as "to raise hell".[8] ter White with guilt. However, Gilligan said by the second
episode of the season, he was so impressed with Jesse’s
Development history character and Aaron Paul’s performance that "it became
The network originally ordered nine episodes for the pretty clear early on that would be a huge, colossal mis-
first season (including the pilot), but the 2007–2008 Writ- take, to kill off Jesse".[17]
ers Guild of America strike limited the production to sev-
en episodes.[9] The series is set and filmed in Albu- Crew
querque, New Mexico.[10] It is shot on 35 mm film.[11] Along with Gilligan, the show’s other executive producer
Breaking Bad reportedly costs $3 million per episode to is Mark Johnson. Michelle MacLaren initially joined the
produce, higher than the average cost for a basic cable crew as an episodic director for the second season and
program.[12] Vince Gilligan had indicated that he intend- rose to the position of executive producer for the fourth
ed to conclude Breaking Bad with the fifth season.[13] In season. Melissa Bernstein and Sam Catlin are co-execu-
early August 2011, negotiations began over a deal regard- tive producers for the show.
ing the fifth and possible final season between the net- John Shiban was a writer and a consulting producer
work AMC and Sony Pictures Television, the production for the second and third seasons but then left the crew.
company of the series. AMC proposed a shortened fifth Writers George Mastras and Peter Gould began working
season (six to eight episodes, instead of 13) to cut costs, on the series as story editors for the first season and
but the producers declined. Sony then approached oth- became supervising producers for the fourth season.
er cable networks about possibly picking up the show if Thomas Schnauz joined the crew as a writer and co-pro-
a deal could not be made.[14] On August 14, 2011, a deal ducer for the third season and was also promoted to su-
was made where AMC renewed the series for a final 16 pervising producer for the fourth season.
episodes.[2] Karen Moore was the series on set producer for the
first two seasons. She left the crew after the second sea-
Casting son and was replaced by Stewart A. Lyons. Star Bryan
You’re going to see that underlying humanity, even Cranston has become increasingly involved behind the
when he’s making the most devious, terrible decisions, camera as the series has progressed. He began directing
and you need someone who has that humanity – deep episodes as of the second season and became a producer
down, bedrock humanity – so you say, watching this for the fourth season.
show, ’All right, I’ll go for this ride. I don’t like what he’s
doing, but I understand, and I’ll go with it for as far as it Cast and characters
goes.’ If you don’t have a guy who gives you that, despite
the greatest acting chops in the world, the show is not
going to succeed.
“
”
– Vince Gilligan, about Bryan Cranston[15]
Gilligan cast Bryan Cranston for the role of Walter White
based on having worked with him in a sixth season
episode of the science fiction television series The X-Files,
where Gilligan worked as a writer. Cranston played an
anti-Semitic redneck with a terminal illness who took
series protagonist Fox Mulder hostage. Gilligan said the
character had to be simultaneously loathsome and sym-
pathetic, and that "Bryan alone was the only actor who
Breaking Bad cast from left to right: Giancarlo Esposito, Bob
could do that, who could pull off that trick. And it is a
Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, Dean
trick. I have no idea how he does it."[7][15] AMC officials Norris, Betsy Brandt, Anna Gunn, RJ Mitte
were initially reluctant with the casting choice, having
known Cranston only as the over-the-top character Hal
Main article: List of Breaking Bad characters
on the comedy series Malcolm in the Middle, but they were
• Bryan Cranston as Walter White – a chemistry
persuaded after Gilligan screened the X-Files episode for
teacher diagnosed with terminal lung cancer who
them.[16] turns to making meth to secure his family’s finances.
Gilligan originally intended for Jesse Pinkman’s char- Cranston stated that, though he enjoyed doing
acter to be killed at the end of Breaking Bad’s first season. comedy, he decided "Okay, now I should really focus
Originally, Gilligan wanted Jesse to die in a botched drug on doing something else. But I think any good drama
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Breaking Bad
worth its weight always has a sprinkling of comedy • Betsy Brandt as Marie Schrader – Hank’s wife and
in it, because you can ease the tension to an audience Skyler’s kleptomaniac sister. Brandt described Marie
when it’s necessary, and then build it back up again. as "an unpleasant bitch", but also stated there was
Walt White has no clue he’s occasionally funny, but more to her than that. "I think we’re seeing more of
as an actor I recognize when there are comedic it now that she would be there for her family. But it’s
moments and opportunities. For instance in the pilot all about her. If she were an actor, it would be ’Blah,
when my brother-in-law is giving a toast at my Blah, Blah, My line.’ I really do love her, though. I
birthday party. We originally had beers set up, and I know no one else does, but I do. Some actors, they
said, ’Wait a minute. What if Dean takes the beer out always want their characters to be likable. And I do
of my hand and doesn’t even think twice of it? The not roll like that."[22]
guy who he’s celebrating now doesn’t have his own • RJ Mitte as Walter White, Jr. – Walter and Skyler’s
drink for his own toast, and he’s left with a gun and son, has cerebral palsy. He begins lashing out after
he doesn’t really know what to do with the gun.’ It’s Walter’s cancer announcement. Like Walter Jr., Mitte
not big, it’s just little subtleties that people can find has cerebral palsy, although his is a more mild
humorous."[18] form.[23] Mitte stated he had to regress from his
• Anna Gunn as Skyler White – Walter’s devoted, yet therapy to portray the character, staying up late into
nosy wife who was pregnant with her and Walt’s the night to blur his speech and learned to walk on
second child prior to his diagnosis. Gunn sees Skyler crutches so his walking wouldn’t look fake.[24]
as "grounded, tough, smart and driven". "She has • Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman (recurring season 2,
run the White household, she has devoted herself to main cast season 3–) – a crooked strip mall lawyer
Walt and to the raising of Walt, Jr. But I think that who represents Walt and Jesse. Odenkirk based his
she has plans beyond taking care of the household character off film producer Robert Evans. "I thought
that she would like to pursue, and one of those about Robert Evans because I’ve listened to The Kid
happens to be the eBay scheme that’s introduced Stays in the Picture on CD. He’s constantly switching
early on, and the other thing is that she’s a writer. up his cadence and his delivery. He emphasizes
And I think that’s her biggest dream – I think she interesting words. He has loads of attitude in almost
really deep down yearns to be an artist and to be every line that he says. So when I rehearse the
creative and productive."[19] scenes alone I do my impersonation of Robert Evans
• Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman – Walter’s former to find those moments and turns. Then I go out and I
student and drug dealer who partners up with Walt do Saul."[25]
and makes high-level meth. Paul sees Jesse as a • Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo "Gus" Fring (recurring
funny kid. "He’s just this lost soul – I don’t think he’s season 2, main cast season 3–4) – a high level drug
a bad kid, he just got mixed in the wrong crowd. He distributor who as a cover is a fast food chain owner.
has decided to do something he knows, and he’s been Esposito stated for the third season, he incorporated
cooking meth for some time now, so it’s taken over his yoga training in his performance. "Gus is the
his world a little bit. And it’s interesting because coolest cucumber that ever walked the Earth. I think
when you meet Jesse’s parents, you can tell they’re about Eddie Olmos way back in Miami Vice. He was
an upper-middle-class, very proper family. He like dead – he was hardly breathing. I thought, how
doesn’t come from an abusive, alcoholic background. is this guy just standing in this fire and doing
But maybe he just didn’t relate to his father, maybe nothing? Gus has totally allowed me that level of
his father was too strict and too proper for Jesse." flexibility and relaxation – not because he has
Paul compared the character’s relationship to Walt ultimate power and he knows he can take someone’s
to The Odd Couple.[20] life. He’s just confident."[26]
• Dean Norris as Hank Schrader – Walter’s DEA agent • Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut (recurring
brother-in-law. Hank has been described as the season 2, main cast season 3–) – a cleaner and hitman
"comic relief". Norris, who has played several cops who works for Gus. The character of Mike has been
before in film and television, stated "Having played compared to Harvey Keitel’s performance in Pulp
so many cops, I’ve talked with a lot of technical Fiction, which Banks stated he isn’t trying to be like.
advisers, so I’ve been able to pick up a lot. Banks said this on the matter: "I immediately tried to
Coincidentally, one of my best friends growing up is put it out of my mind, quite honestly. His cleaner
a cop in Chicago, and one of my other best friends ain’t my cleaner. But throughout this world, you
out in LA is a sheriff. So I get to see all the would suspect there had been a great many cleaners,
components of that culture. It’s fun now to play cops whether government-run or individual
with a little more humor to them, though. They’re a contractors."[27]
little more interesting than just the hardcore
guys."[21]
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Breaking Bad
Themes and symbols feels responsible for."[30] Fans and critics have compared
the appearance of the teddy bear’s face to the image of
one character’s face in the fourth season finale.[31]
Moral consequences
In an interview with The New York Times, creator Vince
Gilligan said the larger lesson of the series is that "actions
Overview
have consequences".[7] He elaborated on the show’s phi- See also: List of Breaking Bad episodes
losophy:
“ If religion is a reaction of man, and nothing ” Season one (2008)
more, it seems to me that it represents a hu- Main article: Breaking Bad (season 1)
man desire for wrongdoers to be punished. I The first season was originally intended to be nine
hate the idea of Idi Amin living in Saudi Arabia episodes, but due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of
for the last 25 years of his life. That galls me to America strike only seven episodes were filmed.[9] The
no end. I feel some sort of need for biblical first season premiered on January 20, 2008, and conclud-
atonement, or justice, or something. I like to ed on March 9, 2008. The complete first season was re-
believe there is some comeuppance, that kar- leased on Region 1 DVD on February 24, 2009[32] and Re-
ma kicks in at some point, even if it takes gion A Blu-ray on March 16, 2010.[33]
years or decades to happen. My girlfriend says A struggling high school chemistry teacher, Walter
this great thing that’s become my philosophy White (Cranston), is diagnosed with incurable, advanced
as well. ’I want to believe there’s a heaven. But lung cancer. On a ride along with his DEA agent brother-
I can’t not believe there’s a hell.’ in-law Hank (Dean Norris), Walter sees a former student
of his, Jesse Pinkman (Paul), fleeing the scene of a meth
In a piece examining the show in comparison to The So- lab. He later contacts Jesse and devises a scheme to be-
pranos, Mad Men and The Wire, Chuck Klosterman said that come partners in an attempt to combine their skills to
Breaking Bad is "built on the uncomfortable premise that manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. Walter
there’s an irrefutable difference between what’s right says he wants to provide financial stability for his preg-
and what’s wrong, and it’s the only one where the char- nant wife, Skyler (Gunn) and disabled son, and to pay
acters have real control over how they choose to live." for his expensive cancer treatment. During Walter and
Klosterman added that the central question of Breaking Jesse’s first days of selling Albuquerque’s finest meth,
Bad is "What makes a man "bad" — his actions, his mo- they encounter a series of problems with local drug deal-
tives, or his conscious decision to be a bad person?" ers.
Klosterman concluded that, in the world of Breaking Bad,
"goodness and badness are simply complicated choices, Season two (2009)
no different than anything else."[3] Main article: Breaking Bad (season 2)
Ross Douthat of The New York Times, in a response to On May 7, 2008, AMC announced that Breaking Bad was
Klosterman’s piece, compared Breaking Bad and The Sopra- renewed for a second, 13-episode season.[34] Production
nos, stating that both series are "morality plays" that are began in July 2008 and the season premiered on March
"both interested in moral agency". Ross went on to say 8, 2009 and concluded on May 31, 2009.[35] The complete
that Walter White and Tony Soprano "represent mirror- second season was released on Region 1 DVD and Region
image takes on the problem of evil, damnation and free A Blu-ray on March 16, 2010.[32]
will". Walter as a man who "deliberately abandons the Walter continues to find himself facing insurmount-
light for the darkness" while Tony is "someone born and able medical bills from his cancer treatment. Despite
raised in darkness" who turns down "opportunity after having several bad experiences while producing meth
opportunity to claw his way upward to the light."[28] with Jesse, Walter agrees to rejoin his partner. The two
begin producing meth but run into multiple problems.
Pink teddy bear Jesse’s friend Badger (Matt L. Jones) is arrested while
A recurring motif in the second, third, and fourth seasons selling meth in a sting operation. Walter hires a lawyer,
is the image of a damaged teddy bear and its missing Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), to help Badger. Walter
eye that was the result of a catastrophic accident at the and Jesse drive a recreational vehicle into the desert and
end of the second season. Vince Gilligan called the acci- produce meth for four days. Later, Combo, another one
dent an attempt to visualize "all the terrible grief that of Jesse’s friends and distributors, is killed by a rival gang
Walt has wrought upon his loved ones".[29] Of the eye’s for selling meth on their territory. Saul suggests the two
appearance in the third season, The A.V. Club said that find a new distribution model. Saul finds them a new
"the pink teddy bear continues to accuse". Critic Myles business partner, Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), who is
McNutt has called it a "a symbol of the damage [Walter] willing to pay $1.2 million for the 38 pounds of meth they
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Breaking Bad
produced. Walter hastily delivers the product to Gus, but looking for tangible evidence to file charges. Gus realizes
misses his daughter’s birth. Skyler confronts Walter Walter’s close ties with Hank could jeopardize his entire
about his frequent absences and excuses. She begins to operation. Gus fires Walter and threatens to kill his en-
piece together his secret life, and demands the two sepa- tire family. Jesse and Walter put their differences aside
rate. and agree to murder Gus. Using former cartel enforcer
Hector Salamanca to detonate a bomb, Walter success-
Season three (2010) fully kills Gus and his henchman. He and Jesse proceed
Main article: Breaking Bad (season 3) to destroy the meth lab and Walt declares to his wife, "I
On April 2, 2009, AMC announced that Breaking Bad was won."
renewed for a third, 13-episode season.[36] It premiered
on March 21, 2010, and concluded on June 13, 2010. The Season five (2012)
complete third season was released on Region 1 DVD and On August 14, 2011, AMC announced that Breaking Bad
Region A Blu-ray on June 7, 2011.[37] was renewed for a fifth and final season consisting of 16
Walter wishes to reunite his family, but Skyler is still episodes. The episodes are expected to be filmed together
suspicious of Walter’s second life. Walter believes he can but may be split into two seasons, with the final schedul-
mend the tension between them by confessing to her ing decision to be made at a later date.[2] Anna Gunn stat-
that he has been producing meth. Skyler is appalled by ed while attending the 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards
the confession and demands a formal divorce. Mean- that production on the first eight episodes would begin in
while, Gus offers to pay Walter three million dollars for January 2012, with production on the final eight episodes
three months of his service. He even offers to provide beginning in winter 2013, and that the season will be split
Walter with a state-of-the-art production facility and a into two mini-seasons.[43]
brilliant lab assistant, Gale (David Costabile). Jesse is con-
tinuing to produce and sell meth by himself. Hank is
working with the DEA to investigate Jesse and is slowly
Reception
gathering evidence to make an arrest. Jesse threatens to
report Walter to the police if he is arrested, but Walter Critical reception
offers him Gale’s position at the lab. After obtaining the Breaking Bad has received widespread critical acclaim and
position, Jesse begins stealing meth from the lab and sell- has been praised by some critics as the greatest television
ing it in secret on the side. Walter aids Jesse in escaping drama of all time.[3][44] On the review aggregator website
from Gus’s wrath. Gus begins to lose trust in Walter and Metacritic, the first season scored 74/100,[45] the second
asks Gale to take over the lab. He orders his henchmen season scored 85/100,[46] the third season scored 89/
to kill Walter and Jesse. After he is abducted by Mike and 100[47] and the fourth season scored 96/100.[48] The
Victor, Walter instructs Jesse to kill Gale in order to be- American Film Institute listed Breaking Bad as one of the
come the organization’s only chemist. top ten television series of 2010 and 2011.[49][50]
For the first season, the series saw a mostly positive
Season four (2011) reception. New York Post critic Linda Stasi praised the se-
Main article: Breaking Bad (season 4) ries, particularly the acting of Cranston and Paul, stating
On June 14, 2010, AMC announced Breaking Bad was re- "Cranston and Paul are so good, it’s astounding. I’d say
newed for a fourth, 13-episode season.[38] Production be- the two have created great chemistry, but I’m ashamed
gan in January 2011,[39] the season premiered on July 17, to say such a cheap thing."[51] Robert Bianco of USA Today
2011 and concluded on October 9, 2011.[40] Originally, mi- also praised Cranston and Paul, exclaiming "There is hu-
ni episodes of four minutes in length were to be produced mor in the show, mostly in Walt’s efforts to impose schol-
before the premiere of the fourth season,[41] but these arly logic on the business and on his idiot apprentice, a
did not come to fruition.[42] role Paul plays very well. But even their scenes lean to-
Jesse follows Walter’s instructions and murders Gale. ward the suspenseful, as the duo learns that killing some-
Gus decides to discipline the two by enforcing stricter one, even in self-defense, is ugly, messy work."[52]
policies at the lab. He also tries to break Walter and The second season saw critical acclaim. Entertainment
Jesse’s friendship by assigning them to separate work de- Weekly critic Ken Tucker stated "Bad is a superlatively
tails. While Walter works in the meth lab, Jesse escorts fresh metaphor for a middle-age crisis: It took cancer and
Mike (Jonathan Banks), one of Gus’s enforcers, to retrieve lawbreaking to jolt Walt out of his suburban stupor, to
payments and provide back-up. Walter and Jesse become experience life again—to take chances, risk danger, do
increasingly distant and hostile to each other. Mean- things he didn’t think himself capable of doing. None
while, Hank, who has been recovering from his last en- of this would work, of course, without Emmy winner
gagement with the cartel, finds evidence linking Gale to Cranston’s ferocious, funny selflessness as an actor. For
Gus. He believes Gus is a major drug distributor and starts all its bleakness and darkness, there’s a glowing exhila-
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Breaking Bad
ration about this series: It’s a feel-good show about feel- knocks" line as one of the best television lines of 2011.[63]
ing really bad."[53] San Francisco Chronicle’s Tim Goodman The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette listed it as the best series of
claimed "The first three episodes of Season 2 that AMC 2011 while noting that, "Breaking Bad is that rare TV se-
sent out continue that level of achievement with no evi- ries that has never made a seriously damaging story-
dent missteps. In fact, it looks as if Gilligan’s bold vision telling misstep."[64] The A.V. Club’s review of the finale,
for Breaking Bad, now duly rewarded against all odds, has summed it up as a "fantastically fitting end for a season
invigorated everyone involved in the project. You can that ran in slow motion, starting and continuing with so
sense its maturity and rising ambition in each many crises begging for resolution week after week. Now
episode."[54] Horror novelist Stephen King lauded the se- the decks are cleared, but that doesn’t mean anybody is
ries, comparing it to the likes of Twin Peaks and Blue Vel- home free. Nothing’s ever easy on Breaking Bad." The re-
vet.[55] viewer continued to exalt the season, and proclaimed,
"What a season of television — truly something none of
us could ever have expected, or claimed we deserved."[65]
Best-selling author Noah Charney called it "the best show
on television" and compared it to great works of litera-
ture for its three-dimensional characters and combina-
tion of action, drama, and dark comedy.[66]
Awards and nominations
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by
Breaking Bad
The series has won numerous awards and nominations,
including six Emmy Awards and Cranston winning the
From left to right: Josh Sapan (AMC president/CEO), Aaron Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Paul (Jesse Pinkman), Vince Gilligan (creator), Bryan Cranston Series three consecutive years.[67] and two consecutive
(Walter White) and Charles Collier (President, General Manag- Outstanding Drama Series nominations. Overall, the
er) show has won 16 industry awards and been nominated
for a further 40.[68]
The third season also saw critical acclaim. Time pro-
claimed "It’s a drama that has chosen the slow burn over
the flashy explosion, and it’s all the hotter for that
Online promotion
choice."[56] Newsday stated Breaking Bad was still TV’s best An online customizable video was used to promote sea-
series and it stayed true to itself.[57] Tim Goodman son one. Users would receive a webcam message from
praised the writing, acting, and cinematography, point- Walt urging them to live their life to the fullest, at the
ing out the "visual adventurousness" of the series. Good- end of which he would score their name from a list.[69] A
man went on to call the show’s visuals as "a combination fictional charity website was set up for Walter White in
of staggering beauty - the directors make use of numer- season two by Walter Jr.[70] The website’s donation but-
ous wide-angle landscape portraits — and transfixing ton links to the National Cancer Coalition.
weirdness."[58] After the finale aired, The A.V. Club said For season two, there was a viral marketing campaign
that season three was "one of television’s finest dramatic in which users could experience meeting Walt from a
accomplishments. And what makes it so exciting — what first-person perspective.[71] Beginning with season two,
makes the recognition of the current golden age so press- series editor Kelley Dixon posted podcasts for each
ing — is that the season has not been, as [another review- episode on the official Breaking Bad website, where she
er] put it in another context, ’television good.’ The heart- would discuss the episode along with guests that includ-
in-the-throat quality of this season comes as much from ed the show’s writers, directors, actors, and series cre-
the writers’ exhilarating disregard for television conven- ator Vince Gilligan.[72]
tions as from the events portrayed."[59] Season three promotion included an interactive role-
Season four won unanimous universal acclaim. The playing comic designed by Nicholas Fortugno called "The
Boston Globe referred to the show as a "taut exercise in Interrogation", located on AMC’s Breaking Bad website; in
withheld disaster" and declared the show "riveting".[60] the game, users play Walter White’s brother-in-law, Drug
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette labelled the series "smart and Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Hank Schrad-
thought provoking that elevates the artistic achieve- er, as he interrogates a suspect in a murder and gun-
ments of the medium".[61] Season four was listed by running scheme.[73] Also released prior to season three
many critics as one of the best seasons of television in was the Breaking Bad Criminal Aptitude Test, a personali-
2011.[62] Time listed Walter White’s "I am the one who ty quiz that compared the user to various criminal char-
6
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Breaking Bad
acter types featured in the series.[74] Season three pro- watch?v=9572UEEa530. Retrieved November 17,
motion also featured an elaborate website devoted to Bob 2010.
Odenkirk’s character Saul Goodman. The site includes le- [9] ^ "AMC Breaking Bad With Bryan Cranston". IGN.
gal advice, fashion tips and customer testimonials.[75] June 20, 2007. http://tv.ign.com/articles/798/
Promotion for season four included an interactive 798109p1.html. Retrieved January 16, 2008.
role-playing comic, in which the user acts as Jesse [10] "Series ’Breaking Bad’ to Begin Production at
Pinkman as he tries to recover his savings, which he had Albuquerque Studios". Albuquerque Studios. August
entrusted to a local money launderer who has disap- 23, 2007. Archived from the original on October 14,
peared along with the money; the game also features 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/
the characters of Badger and Saul Goodman.[76] Also 20071014052137/http://abqstudios.com/
launched in season four was an Interactive Case File, a news.aspx?ID=151. Retrieved August 23, 2007.
digitized version of the file Hank refers to while investi- [11] Gilligan, Vince (August 2, 2011) (Audio
gating Gale Boetticher’s murder. The file includes crime commentary). Breaking Bad Insider 403 (Podcast).
scene photos, police reports and a virtual copy of Gale’s Breaking Bad Insider Podcast. Event occurs at
lab notebook.[77] 7:17–7:50.
[12] "AMC, Sony make ’Bad’ budget work". Variety. June
References 13, 2010. http://www.variety.com/article/
VR1118020572?refCatId=14. Retrieved June 13,
[1] "No. 93: Bryan Cranston". Esquire. September 18, 2010.
2007. http://www.esquire.com/features/ [13] Rhodes, Joe (July 15, 2011). "Shattering All Vestiges
esquire-100/cranston1007. Retrieved September of Innocence". The New York Times.
18, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/arts/
[2] ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 14, 2011). "AMC & Sony television/breaking-bad-returns-and-walter-
TV Reach Deal For 16-Episode Final Order Of whites-descent-continues.html. Retrieved
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Breaking_Bad&oldid=474814857"
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