Now Is The Best Time To Rewatch AMC’s 5-Part Crime Masterpiece

Some TV shows are not just masterpieces on their own, but carry a legacy that surpasses the series. This may be through a groundbreaking TV show changing the TV landscape, or by making some of its actors into household names. Many of the greatest crime shows of the 2010s and earlier have been getting increased attention for this.

The best crime TV shows of all time often become iconic for highlighting social issues as well as telling a compelling story. The Shield drew attention to corruption in law enforcement, while The Wire made viewers consider the social aspect of criminal behavior and how addressing societal inequality can often have a direct impact on reducing crime.

Breaking Bad was more than a crime thriller, as it was often a dark comedy at times. In addition to the show’s twists, shocking scenes, and stunning focus on the way in which medical bankruptcy can drive regular people to desperation, Breaking Bad is remembered for another significant thing. That is the performance of the previously-underrated Bryan Cranston.

Where Breaking Bad’s Main Actors Are Now

Bryan Cranston has been fighting for a Malcolm in the Middle reboot to happen for over 20 years, and at last the iconic sitcom family has returned to the screen with virtually all the original cast members onboard, including Cranston, who is reprising his role as Hal. There is no better time to rewatch Breaking Bad than now, to really appreciate Cranston’s acting journey.

In an unusual move, Giancarlo Esposito is playing a drug lord once more, in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen TV series, which has been described as a Breaking Bad replacement, though the characters are less similar than they might seem. Aaron Paul has occasionally reprised his role as Jesse, but has three movies in a stage of production, and voiced Powerplex in Invincible.

Breaking Bad‘s legacy continued with Better Call Saul, which raised the profile of Bob Odenkirk and introduced Rhea Seehorn to a wider audience. Odenkirk has most recently appeared in The Bear, action movies Nobody 2 and Normal, and a troubled remake of The Room, while Seehorn has collaborated with Vince Gilligan again, playing the lead character in the disturbing sci-fi drama Pluribus.

Why Breaking Bad Will Always Remain A Timeless Masterpiece

Breaking Bad has a simple premise, with Vince Gilligan famously saying that he wanted to “turn Mr. Chips into Scarface.” Not only did he achieve that, but gave us some of the best antihero characters of all time. Few Breaking Bad characters are entirely good or bad, and the fact that the show involved flawed human beings kept it grounded even as the plot grew wilder.

The writers have an incredible achievement in creating a show that has virtually no plot holes. While the first season was slower than some reviewers liked, others enjoyed the slow-burn tension, and even as the series picked up the pace, the writing never felt rushed. This has led to Breaking Bad including some of the greatest TV episodes of all time.

Another reason Breaking Bad feels so timeless is its biting social commentary on issues like the medical insurance industry. The show might be fictional, but the sense of desperation conveyed through the struggling White family contrasted with the Schwartz family reflects the real-world struggles of many. So, as long as medical bankruptcy is allowed to continue, Breaking Bad will never feel out of date.

Breaking Bad‘s most iconic scenes highlight the talent of the cast, as the show discovered and revealed the versatility of actors like Bryan Cranston. Still, Cranston is far from the only phenomenal actor in the show, with both Aaron Paul and Jesse Plemons getting recognition, and making Breaking Bad a perfect show to rewatch and recognize how far they have come.

Release Date

2008 – 2013-00-00

Showrunner

Vince Gilligan