As a devoted fan of Breaking Bad, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of gratitude towards the universe for the 2007 writers’ strike that ultimately led to Aaron Paul’s character, Jesse Pinkman, being spared from an untimely demise. With his captivating performance and the perfect blend of talent and chemistry with Bryan Cranston, Jesse became one of the show’s most beloved characters, and his survival was instrumental in crafting some of the most memorable moments on the series.
In simpler terms, some people think that the first season of “Breaking Bad” is not as engaging as the later seasons because it has a lower rating on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the other seasons (86% vs. 95% or higher). However, dedicated fans might argue against this viewpoint.
As a devoted fan, I’m glad to share that the initial season of the AMC series is remarkably brief, which means with a bit of perseverance, you can quickly move past it and savor the more substantial content. In just seven episodes, Season 1 powerfully communicates an enlightening message about human resilience and seizing life’s opportunities. The following seasons (Seasons 2-4) nearly double that episode count with 13 episodes each, and Season 5 stands out with a whopping 16 episodes. This gives fans ample material to explore before the story reaches its conclusion.
Season 1 Lays a Strong Foundation for the Crime Drama
Breaking Bad can be likened to an impressive structure such as the Eiffel Tower, and while some may criticize its first season, it lays a strong foundation. To begin with, the reasons for the protagonist’s actions are clearly set up. We discover that life isn’t going smoothly for Walter White, our central character, who is struggling as a high school chemistry teacher and is barely able to get by financially. His recent diagnosis of stage-three lung cancer has added significantly to his woes.
Walt’s tumultuous emotions eventually push him towards a dark path, as he starts to explore alternate uses for his Chemistry skills instead of teaching it to resistant students. He decides to produce methamphetamine, believing that when he earns $737,000 in profits, he will be able to quit since the money would suffice to cover all his family’s expenses upon his death.
Trying to manufacture meth could be Walter’s method of trying to match the supposed advantage that others seem to have due to luck, but it’s interesting how straightforward schemes can take such unexpected and disastrous turns.
At the close of the season, Walt finds himself involved with a ruthless drug kingpin who has a twisted psyche. To make matters worse, he’s enlisted one of his ex-pupils, who lacks brains but is well-versed in the art of transporting drugs around Albuquerque. With these relationships, he is now deeply entrenched in the drug world, and extricating himself won’t be straightforward.
As it turns out, Hank Schrader, Walt’s brother-in-law who happens to be a sharp DEA agent, will eventually uncover the truth. Will Walter have escaped by then? With his decision to forego cancer treatment, things are about to get interesting as the crime drama unfolds in a chain of suspenseful, progressively violent, and mind-bending episodes.
The 2007 – 08 Writers Guild of America Strike Pushed the Writing Team to Shorten the Season
Initially, the opening chapter of the tale didn’t seem as impactful due to fewer installments, but as per Vince Gilligan, the series length wasn’t a creative choice. The issue was that AMC initially commissioned nine episodes for the first season, but the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike limited the frequency of the writing team’s meetings, resulting in seven episodes being produced instead.
Fans can take comfort in the fact that a change of events occurred for the best concerning one of the show’s beloved characters; it appears that creator Vince Gilligan originally intended to write off Jesse Pinkman as a dramatic climax at the end of the season. Another character, Hank Schrader, was also considered for elimination, but Gilligan primarily focused on Jesse due to initial perceptions that he was the most vulnerable among them. With the writer’s strike and limited time available, there wouldn’t have been enough room to develop a fitting lead-up to Jesse’s demise, so this idea had to be scrapped.
Jesse Was Saved Thanks to Aaron Paul’s Performance
At a gathering of actors in 2011, Gilligan revealed that although the Writer’s Strike played a major role, Aaron Paul’s acting performance was also significant in persuading him and his team to retain Jesse’s character.
1) “It quickly became evident to everyone that Paul’s skill was exceptional, making him delightful to collaborate with. It was soon understood that the decision to eliminate Jesse would have been an enormous, catastrophic blunder.
Due to these two elements coming together, the character chose to remain, which ultimately proved to be a brilliant decision, as Jesse emerged as one of the most outstanding characters on Breaking Bad. Hank also made a significant impact, eventually taking over as the main character after Walter’s transformation into an antagonist.
Season 1’s Length Had a Positive Impact on Future Storylines
Peter Gould, who eventually teamed up with Gilligan to create Better Call Saul, thinks that the show’s shorter season length was instrumental in its success. He suggests that if they had been given episodes 8 and 9, they might have pursued a creative direction that could have compromised the show’s quality, potentially leading to its cancellation. In the original plan, the crime drama would have been excessively fast-paced, which may have deprived it of the gradual development it ultimately benefited from.
Jesse’s demise would have denied us the chance to witness the remarkable alliance that blossomed throughout the series. So, who would Walt have joined forces with instead? It’s challenging to find someone as daring and yet cautious enough to match Walt’s meticulousness. Fans can attest that Jesse is a far cry from the stereotypical dim-witted sidekicks in most crime dramas. He might not be sly, but he possesses a genuine humanity, unlike the ruthless villains who delight in violence.
It’s intriguing that Aaron Paul often wondered about the longevity of his character. Bryan Cranston loved to playfully taunt him about this. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Paul shared this detail.
Cranston asked, “Hey, have you checked the next script?” To which I replied, “Nope, did you get yours?” He responded with a simple “Oh.” Then he gave me a big hug. I asked, “What was that for?” He said something like, “Well, it had to come to an end at some point, but at least you’re going out in style.” I was puzzled and asked, “What do you mean?” He suggested, “Give it a read and call me if you want to discuss it.” Then he walked away.
This situation reminds me of the dynamic between Walter White and Jesse Pinkman during their amicable periods, a dynamic that viewers will forever appreciate due to the way events unfolded. Let’s be grateful for the 2007 writer’s strike, which may have paved the way for such an outcome, and let’s praise Vince Gilligan for his open-mindedness, even when some of his characters on the show were not.
Breaking Bad is available to stream in the US on Netflix.
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2024-09-08 21:31