Part of what makes "Breaking Bad" such a powerful and compelling series is the fact that it manages to bring the cinematic to the small screen. With its clever camerawork, its sweeping vistas, and its powerful characters, this phenomenal show continues to push the boundaries of the possible within the realm of television.
Interesting Camerawork
Certainly, one of the things that really sets "Breaking Bad" apart is the fact that it uses a number of fascinating camera angles and other types of camera work. Usually, as we have seen, most TV shows utilize a limited number of camera angles and shots to make up their scenes. "Breaking Bad," on the other hand, likes to play with various camera angles to disorient its viewers and to heighten the sense of confusion that is such a key part of the show's emotional impact. As a result, we feel that we have entered into a world that is different from, yet frighteningly similar to, our own.
Compelling Characters
Certainly, television shows have had no shortage of compelling and fascinating characters, but "Breaking Bad" takes this to an all-new level. Here we see a normal man plunged into an unpleasant and untenable situation and then forced to take actions that any of us would balk at, and yet we cannot help identifying with him. Like many notable films, "Breaking Bad" straddles the line between the moral and the immoral, between the right and the wrong, forcing us to reconsider the moral codes that so often structure our life and the way we look at our interactions with others.
High Production Values
Finally, we come to what is arguably one of the most cinematic aspects of the show: its high production values. From the sets to the costumes, this is a world that is fully realized and fully funded, so that we never get distracted by something as banal as a bad set. As a result of these high production values, this is a world and these are characters that we really enjoy watching.
Clearly, "Breaking Bad" goes beyond television to attain new levels of aesthetic and artistic maturity. As it moves into its final season, we can wait with excitement and anticipation to see what new ways this most revolutionary of TV shows will continue to push the boundaries, blurring the boundaries between TV and the movies that we see in the theater.
