Breaking Bad: Season 1

Here we have the first season of BREAKING BAD. It is amazing to realize that it is only 7 episodes for the character, plot and drama development is so thorough and realistic another show would need at least double the episodes to achieve it. The basic plot is a teacher who finds out he is dying of cancer and thru unexpected situations gets the opportunity to make a great deal of money thru manufacturing meth. He does so to make money for his family to be able to live on after he dies. But the show is about so much more than this. Every character is addicted to something and the introduction into the dark world of drugs is terrifyingly realistic. This is honestly one of the best shows ever to air on television. It tells a story that may be too dark for some to handle but the superb acting, writing and directing make it all work. These characters are all believable, necessary and the intertwining of their lives is seamless.The show also succesfully combines deep psychological profiles of each character mixed with the heavy, often disturbing drama. And the plot always serves a purpose, is realistic no matter how heavy, and is in no way gratuituous. And with this show we also get one of the best duos ever in Walt and Jesse. When Jesse, Aaron Paul, a former student of Walt, Bryan Cranston, joins him in the making of meth a perfect chemistry is formed. BREAKING BAD also provides the occasional comic break that helps alleviate the heavy drama. This series is a must for its great acting, superb writing and directing and totally unique premise. If it sounds like any other series you have seen believe me when I say it is not. The blu ray of course adds a dimension to the series over that of the dvd. There are many dark scenes but the detail and clarity still shines thru and the scenes with color and specifically the lovely scenery shots pop off the screen. Audio is superb. This is a series that is dialogue driven but when the action sequences happen nothing is held back. This series is superb and I highly recommend it.

I did not start watching AMC's "Breaking Bad" until after the second season had already aired. Having played catch-up and seen Seasons 1-3 in their entirety, I do not hesitate when I tell people that this is simply the best show on television right now, bar none.But most people spend these reviews talking about how great the series is, so I'll skip the warm-and-fuzzies and talk directly about the Season 1 DVD set that you are probably trying to decide whether to buy or not. Here's my recommendation: Buy it.First off, the box and cases. The box art is terrific, with the iconic Walt-White-in-tightie-whities stuck right onto the front. The box (which doesn't take up more than 3/4 an inch of shelf space, if even that) contains two plastic disc cases -- the first holds Episodes 1-6, and the second holds Episode 7 along with the Bonus Features. While I would avoid getting the box (which is something in between paper and cardboard) wet, the plastic cases hold up pretty well... I've dropped them several times and they've never so much as cracked on me.The picture quality is terrific. AMC is known for shooting their scripted television almost cinematically, so if you're a full-screen fanatic, get the heck out of here because widescreen is the only way to watch these. Blu-Ray babies: Sorry, the colors don't necessarily pop, but this isn't the kind of show that necessarily would benefit from that anyway.And finally, the bonus features. Audio commentaries are attached to both the pilot episode and Episode 6 ("Crazy Handful of Nothin'"), and feature showrunner Vince Gilligan, along with cast and occasionally crew. Most of the time, it can be pretty entertaining. The second disc has a Making Of feature for those of you who like that sort of thing; the real meat of the behind-the-scenes, though, comes from their 'Inside Breaking Bad' video compilation, in which each video is dedicated to a different aspect of the show (one video deals with Bryan Cranston shaving his head for the role, while another deals with the aforementioned tightie-whities). Also on the disc is a photo gallery and a segment of AMC's interview program called "Shootout," when Cranston, Gilligan, and producer Mark Johnson appeared to promote the show. And last but certainly not least, the Bonus Features include screen tests of actors Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Betsy Brandt, and Dean Norris; really cool stuff if, again, you are into that sort of thing.Overall, a terrific box set for the show's first season, cut short by the writers' strike a few years ago. Season 2's boxset is even better, and I recommend that as soon as you buy this set, you hop on over and buy that one as well.I hope this review was informative, and I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did.The picture

Hey, I make joke in my headline! Seriously, I can't imagine anyone reading yet one more raving review of this series and suddenly being convinced that it's worth the time, but I will say it emphatically... absolutely, one of the (if not THE) best TV series ever produced. I came to the show late (only a few months back) as I have such a disdain for so much TV. Only a relative handful of programs win my respect, and I think perhaps none more so than "Breaking Bad".The premise is simple- so much so that it's the reason I wasn't interested sooner. How could a series built on a chemistry teacher turned drug maker/dealer sustain or rise above anything but some silly, stereotypical, profanity-laced, overly-violent drudge that is so much a part of our entertainment media.What I learned by about the 3rd or 4th episode is that it is written by people fully aware of the pitfalls and predictability of modern television; they have, instead created characters with such depth, and plot twists so complex, that I had become sucked in like some drug addict, suffering the joys and anguish and yet demanding more. Characters are multifaceted, and you are expected to hate them and root for them at the same time. This is such an amazing achievement in writing and acting... the acting, of course, is first rate.TV is really reaching a magnificent period. Of course, network and cable are being dragged down by those bored enough to obsess over "reality" television and obnoxious crime stories. Beautiful actors and actresses under 35 adorn most of the roles (being beautiful, smart, and fearless is also "reality" in the TV world of crime), all of which make shows like "Breaking Bad", "Mad Men" and a smattering of HBO shows, exceptional.Again, among the best, "Breaking Bad" rises to the top.