Breaking Bad - Season 04

"Season 4 of Breaking Bad is where the show transitions from 'great' to 'legendary.' It’s a relentless, suffocating thrill ride that masterfully ups the ante in every conceivable way. If you thought the tension couldn't get any higher after Season 3, you're in for a shock. The central conflict revolves around the inevitable war between Walter White and the calculated, terrifying Gus Fring. The writing this season is flawless; every episode builds tension with agonizing precision. The pacing is deliberate, allowing characters to breathe and evolve in dark, unexpected ways. Bryan Cranston’s performance as Walter White reaches new, desperate lows, showcasing his full descent into narcissism and criminality, while Giancarlo Esposito’s portrayal of Gus Fring solidifies him as one of TV’s greatest villains. The 'Box Cutter' premier is instantly iconic, but the entire season is filled with unforgettable moments of psychological warfare and shocking violence. The visual storytelling is superb, creating a bleak and atmospheric experience that perfectly matches the moral decay of its characters. This season is gripping, heartbreaking, and a perfect example of serialized drama executed at the highest level. A flawless 5/5 stars.

My addiction to this series is no different from the addiction of the methamphetamine users who are the consumers that main character Walter White supplies. Take a lifelong nerdy high school chemistry teacher, make him go off the deep end when he is given two years to live, throw every crazy unimaginable problem someone who cooks meth can have at him and you have something so suspensefull you can't tear your eyes away. Lead actor Bryan Cranston's wrinkled face and perpetually horror stricken expression supplies the backdrop to some truely gruesome yet fascinating situations. This character wallows in deception and immorality, lying continually to those he loves, never giving a moments thought to what he is actually doing to contribute to the misery of the addicts he is supplying. Any thoughts of right and wrong are strangely lacking in this man. And yet, his friends and family continue to see him as a good and decent fellow. His wife finally must accept that he is a constant liar and up to no good but gets sucked into his greed. All the acting is great in this. From Walter's wife Skylar, who starts out as naive and moral and quickly succumbs to join her husband in his persuit of money, to DEA agent Hank, who although good at his job is obnoxious consistently in his forced, crude insulting humor, to his wife Marie who has amusing episodes of kleptomania, each character is fleshed out and interesting. Sleazy shyster Saul Goodman (s'all good man) provides comic relief. Son Walt Jr. provides the one character that remains pure, in contrast to his parents. Never have I seen anything that threw at the characters so many horrific dangerous situations simultaneously. Danger comes at Walter from every possible place. His life becomes a juggling act of lies, violence, drug cartel murderers, and greed. While it was baffling to see this lifelong good guy turn into such a cold violent monster so easily, it was fun to see him squeek by continually as he walked the criminal tightrope between life, prison, and death. There were lots of glaring instances of ridiculous improbability at the end of the last episode which unfortunately I can't reveal here or it would spoil it for people who haven't yet seen it. These instances were disappointing to me, as up until then this show had been pretty believable, without too many loose ends. One concerns reporting to work at a drug lab in plain view of lots and lots of people and not expecting to get caught as well as leaving your car parked in front of it every day. Season Five begins next month. Hopefully you will be caught up with all the Season Four episodes by then because each episode is a continuation of the last. As for me, I can't wait to see where this picks up. Will Walter continue his drug making? How will he get it sold? What will happen to his partner? This is the best TV dramatic serial of all time in my opinion.

If there was ever a show to make me a TV enthusiast, Breaking Bad is it. I rarely set aside time for television shows, preferring the relatively concise artistic potential of film. But Breaking Bad has forced me to "break" this habit and surrender myself to its deep characters, nail-biting drama, and stunningly artistic presentation. I cannot recommend it highly enough. However, be warned: when watching this show you may at times exhibit what I like to call the "Breaking Bad Syndrome" -- awe-induced heart palpitations which may lead to sleep deprivation or temporary blindness (as you search the ground for your eyeballs, which just popped out of your head). Walter White is, in my opinion, one of the greatest fictional character portrayals of all time. The transformation he undergoes across all 4 (and soon to be 5) seasons is epic, moving, and at times very dark. Television has the privilege of being able to develop its characters across many seasons and the writers of Breaking Bad take full advantage, expertly constructing Walt and his companions with the precision of a surgeon. The sub-plots of each episode are individually engrossing, but Breaking Bad always keeps its primary focus on the long-term development of its story and characters, and rightfully so. While this makes for a "slow-burn" at times, the payoff is always worth it, and you'll be watching through your fingers as the plot-lines and characters converge in stirring climaxes. Breaking Bad refrains from desensitizing its audience with constant action, but slowly gets under your skin so that when it hits you, it hits you hard. What is most intriguing is the moral ambiguity shrouding the characters and their actions. The distinction between hero and villain becomes progressively blurred, making for a conflicted but engaging audience relationship with the characters. Despite this, the writers reserve a special ability to also make us sympathize with every character, even if we held hostile feelings just an episode ago. And the characters are as well acted as they are drawn. Obvious credit goes to Bryan Cranston, but he is matched at nearly every turn by his co-stars, especially Aaron Paul as his younger partner. Giancarlo Esposito also fashions a memorable and charismatic semi-villain in drug lord Gustavo Fring. The depth the actors give their characters causes the show to feel very real, despite the slight absurdity of some of the situations it presents. Breaking Bad's genius lies in this perfect balance of pop absurdity and chilling realism, which ends up leaving the viewer emotionally spent but hopelessly addicted. By tangling us up in the escalating internal conflicts of its characters, the show induces an emotional "high" that is irresistible. Somewhat inconceivably the show manages to form a very personal connection with the viewer, despite how far removed the story may be from our individual lives. So what of Season 4? Personally I did not find it quite as affecting as Seasons 2 & 3 -- it didn't have quite as many of those Breaking Bad "moments" -- but it is still, without a doubt, 5 stars. The episodes work together as one big build towards the climax, which does not fail to deliver. To be fair, the final twist of Season 4 stretched the plot's plausibility a little too much for my taste, but I forgive a show that consistently does so many other things exceptionally well. I could go on about how beautifully it is shot, the subtle metaphors, the tragic "American" themes, but I'll save you the time: pick up this show and experience the phenomenon that is... Breaking Bad.

The best television dramas of all time don't TELL you what is good or bad, or WHO is good or bad - they let people be people, and then you form your own opinions of the characters. From the Sopranos, to the Wire, to the Shield, and now Breaking Bad. And honestly, I think this may surpass them all, even the Sopranos. Meet Walter White. Well, if you're already on Season 4, I assume you know his story. From dorky chemistry teacher/car wash worker to million-dollar methamphetamine cook, the transformation is unbelievable, yet believable at the same time. You know his story, how he got here, and it all seems to fit. The writers have made it clear for a long time that Breaking Bad was similar to Scarface - that Walt is comparable to the transformation of Mr. Chips to Scarface, and this season shows that perfectly. Walt has and still believes coming into season 4 that he is doing this all for his family. But is he? How far will he go? And is this all for money, or something else? We get to see many ethical dilemmas and inner moral battles in most of the characters this season - Walt, Skyler, Jesse, Mike, Hank, Marie and even maybe a small glimpse into the past of chicken man and meth king-pin - Gustavo Fring. Each episode gets more and more dark (did you think it was possible?), and Walt continues to surprise the audience with strange decisions and a terrifying look into the path he is going down. If you look back at season 1 episode 1, before the meth and cancer, that angry, tortured individual was already inside of him. That results in the question: was Walt ever even really that good of a guy? He hasn't changed as much as you may think, but his anguish, pain, and stress is amplified by about 200x. And as expected, the end of each episode is usually a major cliff-hanger, and you'll be begging for more. The acting is nothing but simply perfect. Bryan Cranston as Walt will make you laugh, cry, or even get angry with him. Giancarlo Esposito as Gus becomes a huge player this season, and he should be up for an Emmy. The glazed, empty, evil look in his eyes is terrifying, and there aren't many boundaries he won't cross to get what he wants. This is definitely the darkest, thought-provoking, best acted show on television at the moment, and maybe ever. If you haven't watched it, start from the beginning and follow Walt's odd and morally perplexing adventure into the life of a meth cook.

Here we have season 4 of the great BREAKING BAD on blu ray and it is indeed a gift for fans. Not only is season 4 the best so far but the video and audio presentation with the blu ray is spectacular. The black/white ratio is perfect and colors are vibrant and pop when necessary and subdued when in need. The picture always has superb clarity and detail. The beautiful outdoor shots which are a big part of this show look amazing. Flesh tone is always realistic. And the audio is perfection. From hearing a pin drop to a gun shot the sound is always strong, clear and direct. Dialogue is prominent and comes from the speakers strong and central. The surround speakers are put to amazing use with this season. Each episode here varies from dialogue driven scenes to powerful dramatic action scenes and the DTS 5.1 audio makes it even better. This is one show where the blu ray provides a far superior viewing experience to the dvd. And that is saying a lot for the dvd also looks excellent. BREAKING BAD is an amazing show with an overall plotline that crosses over so many different emotions and varying subject matter. And the acting is excellent. The entire cast from Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn just to mention a few continue to meet the high level of expertise this series demands. It is surely one of the best drama series to ever be on television. And the season 4 blu ray comes with amazing bonus features. There are over 15 hours of them from an extended version of the amazing season finale, interviews, deleted scenes, alternate takes and a gag reel. The list goes on and on. Bottom line, BREAKING BAD season 4 is a must for fans and the entire series is a must for fans of high quality television. There is no waste in the extras. It is a feast of information and background on this amazing series. As I said, every season of this series is exceptional and highly recommended but with season 4 the show reached new highs. And the blu ray is the best way to view it.

NO SPOILERS With any great TV show that continues for a few seasons, one begins to wonder whether it will start to lose it's zap. I can tell you that Breaking Bad still has all of it's zap, and remains, for me, one of the best TV shows of all time. I don't make that comment lightly; I have seen a lot of good shows, only a few of which I would call terrific, and I don't often give five stars. The pattern for this season is familiar. Having resolved the cliff hanger at the end of the last season, there is a bit of catching their breath, or is it cleaning up the wreckage, or even more correctly building a grim "bottom" upon which to build the new story of the fourth season. Things are REALLY bad, and really broken. Broken Bad. For me, it was at this point, in the ultra-grim second episode, that it was clear what the only possible solution could be. I think this was deliberate, that they set the agenda, and indeed the outcome, of this season, early on. But it seemed quite impossible to get there. How could they get there? How WOULD they get there? DO they indeed get there? I won't answer these questions, because therein lies the joy, and the jolt, of watching this show. I can tell you that after the grim second episode, it's like getting into a train that begins to accelerate on shaky tracks, and going faster and faster. Minute by minute, it seems like it is going to jump the tracks. At times, it seems like it already has jumped those tracks. Eventually, the metaphorical train rushes, unstoppable, to the inevitable end of the season, and what a season climax it is. What happens seems impossible, and I think it is, but they had lot of fun doing the impossible. If you're interested in the fun they had doing it, they have a documentary on just the season finale for your enjoyment after you finish the episodes, on the last disc of the DVD set. Because this is one memorable season finale, with imagery you won't soon forget, and it's worth learning more about it.

The fact that I am reviewing a DVD that hasn't been produced yet for a series year that hasn't been completed yet should be a solid indicator that I am a big fan of this show. Season 4 is every bit as good as the previous three seasons, and my only criticism is that Season 5 will apparently be the last for the series. This is sad news for me -- I've been spending each week anticipating with pleasure what new bad decision the series characters will make. They seem to have an inexhaustible repertoire, especially, of course, Walt. I don't want to discuss the show in too much detail, since that would lead to spoilers, so instead I will make a few bold predictions. I have the feeling that the show is going to end badly for almost everybody, and if someone comes out alive and whole at the end, it will just be due to good luck. Walt is almost certainly a dead man, as he himself remarked in a recent episode. Most likely, as the series ends, he will either die of cancer or finally fall victim to one of his numerous criminal enemies. Jesse will either die of an overdose or get rubbed out (my money is on the former), and his surviving business partners, Skinny Pete and Badger will wind up in jail. Hank will either get too close to Gus' operation and have a fatal accident, or, he might just keel over and die from a heart attack. Marie and Skyler will most likely end up in jail, the former for renewed binges of shoplifting, the latter for accounting fraud, although Sky is crafty enough to get out of town with the cash before that happens, so maybe it won't turn out all bad for her. Meanwhile, Gus will either wind up sipping tequila on a Caribbean island, or in a hole in the desert. I can't see him getting put in the slammer as he's too smart for that. Maybe he'll go back to Chile, as he seems to have something of a criminal past there. Mike, like any good soldier, will either follow Gus into exile or wind up in the same hole in the desert. Finally Saul will almost certainly end up behind bars, or murdered by an irate client, or perhaps both if he happens to land in the wrong prison. Like I said, it looks bad for almost everybody, but that's what keeps me watching. As one of the few major characters not involved in some sort of criminal activity, Walter Jr. will probably go on to college and become a chemist, like his dad, in preparation for the spinoff series, Breaking Bad, Part 2. Won't that be a trip?

This item arrived quickly via Amazon Prime. The picture quality of this Blu-ray is fantastic. Fine detail is plentiful and colors are quite vivid. The audio is clear as crystal, and I noticed no technical issues with the overall presentation of this season on Blu-ray. The acting is very strong in this season, particularly from Giancarlo Esposito who plays the main antagonist Gustavo Fring. While there still seems to be a bit too much time focused on Walt's family, the overall narrative is still immensely strong. This fourth season continues the journey of Walter White, the former high school chemistry teacher who turned to drug manufacturing in order to provide a financial nest egg for his family after his diagnosis of lung cancer. As the season begins, Hank is still recovering from the cartel's assassination attempt and begins to suspect Gus Fring is involved in drug smuggling, Jessie slides deep into depression and drug use following his murder of Gale, Walt is trying to keep Gus from killing both him and Jessie, and Skyler is trying to find ways to launder Walt's illegal earnings. All in all, the acting and presentation of this season is immense. As I said in the review for season 1, there is a reason that this show has been regarded as one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of television. It's a frightful and engaging journey into a world of violence, money and mistrust, told from the perspective of a once timid and fearful man fighting to finally gain the respect and authority he's been denied his entire life. It's a solid season, and one that looks and sounds all the better on Blu-ray.