Breaking Down Breaking Bad: Unpeeling the Layers of Television's Greatest Drama

by Eric San Juan

Few television shows have won critical acclaim on the level of Breaking Bad, perhaps because few series are as worth deep examination as Breaking Bad.Something about Walter White’s struggle with his inner demons resonated with us. The idea that his foray into meth production was not merely a dalliance with darkness, but was actually a full-blown awakening intrigued us. And most of all, the idea that we came to have no respect for the protagonist of our favorite show utterly fascinated us.We couldn’t look away.Breaking Down Breaking Bad attempts to poke into the dark corners of Walter White’s mind, explore the traits that make this show special, and revels in the joy of what is arguably the best drama ever to appear on television. In doing so, it also peels back the layers of what makes characters like Jesse Pinkman tick, explores why we were so drawn to characters like Gus Fring and Mike Ehrmantraut, and relives some of the greatest moments of this already legendary show.Because the show may be gone, but the conversation about it certainly isn’t.Eric San Juan is the coauthor of A Year of Hitchcock (Scarecrow Press 2009) and Hitchcock’s Villains (Scarecrow Press 2013), as well as Geek Wisdom (Quirk Books 2011) and other books. Before Breaking Bad came along, he thought Deadwood was the greatest thing since sliced bread. He still thinks it’s pretty damn good.

Genres: Nonfiction

102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2013

Reviews

[Joe Mrozek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read on the analysis of the characters that exist in the world of Breaking Bad. The order of the chapters was a bit strange in my opinion, but I can also see the motivation behind it. Overall, I really enjoyed it

[Andrew Sammut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really nothing special, however, it's been a while since I completed the series and this capped it off very well with details I had forgotten about and character facts that I found to be interesting such as how Jesse was meant to die at the end of the first season. It's a brilliant thing that Aaron Paul did such a great job at portraying Jesse because I doubt I would have withstood the show without him in it! I'd recommend to anybody who, much like me, misses the show and wants to trigger trapped memories and perhaps some nostalgia... It's not written as terribly as some of the other reviews I've read say but there are some typos which didn't bode well with me. The cover art is magnificent and the layout of this short yet concise book is ideal for readers like me who don't always have a long attention span and need to read in brief and frequent moments.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're an obsessive fan of Breaking Bad -- and is any fan of Breaking Bad not an obsessive one? -- this little book is a quick treat, consisting of summaries with commentary of each respective season, along with character analyses and more random pieces, like a top ten list of best lines from the show. San Juan doesn't just recap what's happening, but comments on the character dynamics, background drama motivating characters that viewers are aware of when they watch the show, but haven't necessarily articulated for themselves. The author's picks demonstrate how powerful this show could be -- not needing long, epic speeches but using its bench of phenomenal acting talent to create explosive scenes with just a line or two and genuine talent. ("Perhaps your best course of action would be.... to tread lightly . This is of great interest to BB fans.

[Ruthie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really terrible writing.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly entertaining read about the best TV series ever.

[Jo An Chewning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did this author not have an editor?

I read this book from start to finish even though I was repeatedly greatly disturbed by all the grammar and usage errors scattered throughout it. An editor worth a tuppence would have seen and corrected this author’s misuse of the English language before the book went to print.

[kylajaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the glaring grammatical errors (and the flub of the all-important episode title "Gliding Over All"), this book is a decent read. It will neatly fill its niche in the market until the 500-page Breaking Bad tome "Wanna Cook?" arrives in May. I don't know about you other superfans, but BB is a show I continue to believe MUST be talked about. It is like the Beatles in terms of the amount of material you could write on the one subject. I wish I went to one of those super-hip liberal arts schools that is inevitably introducing a Breaking Bad curriculum to its students as I type this. This book is a very rudimentary introduction to the philosophy of Breaking Bad. But it also whets the appetite for what else is out there. Like Walter White, I just need more, more, more... But especially when it comes to books that are designed to unmask his complex layers and motivations.

[Kix]

Read this after Watching Breaking Bad

Absolutely enjoyed this book. I read it right after finishing the series. The author provides some good insights to the shows character except he hardly mentions Saul anywhere. But very much readable. And to add, you can borrow the book for free on a Kindle device.

[Sarah Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read that tells it like it is.

I had so much fun reading this book. It wasn't overpowering or excruciatingly long. It was just right. It's exactly what I was looking for in an after breaking bad book. Something that told the story over again while analyzing bits and pieces we may have overlooked. Good character analysis. It was just pure fun.

[Cheryl Poole-Musgrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fast read after a very tense final season of Breaking Bad. It breaks down the bad boys of Breaking Bad quite well. I downloaded a few other books about BB but this one was my pick to diffuse from such a stunning series. I recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read recapping the show and the highlights, best scenes, lines, etc. I loved the show and it is a nice little reference book to character names, who played who, etc. I did have two questions that weren't answered in the show and both were alluded to in the book.

[Jim George · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea, kind of a weak attempt to decipher Breaking Bad. Oh well; I bought the DVDs, I bought a long sleeve Breaking Bad t-shirt, I bought a Breaking Bad calendar, and now I own a copy of Breaking Down Breaking Bad.

[Jessica Neal smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Great book. Goes over everything in the series. Great to read if you are going through Breaking Bad withdrawal! Loved it!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read. interesting points and loved being reminded about how great this show was!

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

One word: Awful

[Jim Trela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good refreshing review of a powerful dramatic TV series.