Walt Breaking Bad

[Jumblebee]

Ok, so I have only seen the pilot of this and really didn't like it. DP has been watching and is near the finale so I've seen snippets.

Is Walt meant to be a likeable character? Apparently Skylar is meant to be an utter cow but from what I've seen I would say Skylar was NBU to want to LTB! And when Walt takes the baby and then phones her and calls her a stupid bitch, I was open mouthed thinking 'what?!'

Having very heated conversations with DP and he told me he wasn't talking to me anymore because I'm unreasonable

So any Breaking Bad fans, is Walt actually meant to be a likeable character and I need to watch the entire series? I know people rave on about how amazing it is and that it gets so much better, but I'm emotionally invested in Desperate Housewives at the moment and don't think I have room for another series (especially with stupid Walt!)

[susiedaisy]

I have just started watching it and have now got to series three. It does get a lot better and you do warm to the characters. I find Bryan Cranston very watchable and loved him in Malcolm in the middle so wanted to watch breaking bad because of him. But yes Walter White is a clever cunning man who goes off the rails. It's quite funny in places and you do end up rooting for Walt and Jesse even though they are making meth.

[Jumblebee]

I loved Malcolm in the Middle

Everyone I know says it gets better, but I'm just a stubborn old cow who doesn't like to admit she's wrong!

I tried to get my colleague to tell me what happens in the end and she said "one does not simply ruin the end of Breaking Bad" (I got it out of her though, in the end )

[PseudoBadger]

Well, you can't judge him on any one episode. He's a chameleon. Especially in that phone call example you give.
Watch it all.

[Jumblebee]

I know, I know, I shall have to commit to watching it all!

[susiedaisy]

Oooh yes no spoilers about the ending of BB.

[SavoyCabbage]

Wasn't he talking to her like that when he took the baby for a reason though? There was a purpose behind it that would be beneficial to her.

[Jumblebee]

I think it was because he was packing for them all to leave, Skylar found out something bad and went crazy and he ended up taking the baby. Sorry trying not to post any spoilers for anyone that hasn't watched the end (or had it told to them under duress).

I'm afraid I probably was beinbf unreasonable, but I won't admit that to DP

[OscarWinningActress]

Oh, you have to watch the whole thing. I didn't like it after watching the pilot and it took me a whole year to go back and start watching it properly. It's not really like anything else on TV. Basically, Skyler is 'breaking bad' too...who is breaking 'baddest'? And who gets to decide? Drug dealing, murder, theft, adultery, betrayal of family...

[HelenaQC]

Well, not to spoil anything, but the calling her a bitch on the phone is not all it seems. He does it for a reason.

But no.....he's not meant to be particularly "nice". He's Mr Average gone bad. That's the whole point of the show.

[BOFster]

You can't possibly form an accurate assessment from the odd episode: you have to watch it all. It is the most nuanced and sophisticated development of all the characters over time that you will ever see in a TV series.

[Mummyslittleduckie]

I think the only likeable character is Jesse. He did some bad things, but he's quite moral too.

[ZebraZeebra]

It is the most nuanced and sophisticated development of all the characters over time that you will ever see in a TV series....since the Sopranos, I can't help myself from adding!

Walt's a total anti hero. Thoroughly unlikeable without absolutely no scruples but doing everything he has to do to the nth degree...much more so than his criminal foes seem to expect him to do...to secure the future of his family.

I do think probably his criminal activity brings out a more...I can't think of the word but something like cold and calculating side to him that maybe was always there but buried living a life as a chemistry teacher. He definitely gets something out of the chess-game like approach of plotting and implementing his masterminded plans and his ego absolutely CANNOT STAND him not getting the credit for being the very best, even if it almost means his demise/getting caught.

It's a truly fascinating character study, very well played out and developed, and not matched aside from that of Tony Soprano - which IMHO was some of the very best genius writing for television.

[ZebraZeebra]

That was supposed to be quoting BOFster. Formatting gone wrong.

[MarshaBrady]

You have to watch from the beginning. How much you're meant to like him changes as his character does. And it's mostly about how much he changes from the start to the end.

So yep, watch it, it's good.

[GetHappy]

I loved Breaking Bad completed it all in less than 6 weeks!!

I hated Walt!

[SavoyCabbage]

I didn't hate him. I was happy for him in a way that he found a new lease of life with Heisenberg after finding out he was ill. He had always felt interior before, in relation to hank and those other two with the big company and the cars and the house. I can't remember their names.

[susiedaisy]

Can I just add that Hank is the oldest 43 year old I've ever seen

[Paisleychick]

I got as far as the part way through season 2 and stopped. Just decided it wasn't for me. I posted on here asking whether I should continue watching because Walt was just becoming this really horrible character and I got about a 50/50 split.