Dead Tree Alert: Breaking Bad, Breaking Best

By James Poniewozik | @poniewozik | June 11, 2010 | +

AMC

In the print issue of TIME on newsstands today, I have a piece on the amazing third season of Breaking Bad, which wraps up Sunday night. [Update: Oh, it's customary to link to the story, isn't it? Ahem.] I’ve been a broken record about this at the blog, but it’s really something that a show like this—which debuted as quite a good drama in its strike-shortened first season—could find yet a higher gear in its third. At the halfway point of the year, this is easily so far the best series to have aired on TV in 2010.

In the preview, I cover the third season in general and refer only very nebulously to the finale. But if you’re spoiler-averse in the extreme, you could avoid the last couple paragraphs of the review until Monday, just in case. And yes, I have seen the finale episode, which you should definitely watch because—well, I won’t say any more.

Related Topics: Breaking Bad, dead tree alert

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One beef I often have with Glee episodes is that they move too fast, go in too many directions, try to cram in too much at once. You might say that about “Goodbye,” the season 3 finale, but in this case that approach seemed about right. It’s an episode about graduation, and graduation is something that, no matter how much you plan for and anticipate it, still goes too fast. Graduating is something you do, but in the moment it feels like something that happens to you, suddenly and all at once, like going over a waterfall.

thebro88

I’m trying to get caught up on this show, but I’m sick of waiting for the DVDs to come on Netflix. Can any TunedInlanders point me to a place out there on the internets where I can catch-up on past seasons (e.g. Hulu or something)?
Got my first glimps when I saw a fraction of last weeks ep during the finals and was absolutely taken in by the writing/acting. Effective set design/lighting too.
beerbaron

You could try torrent sites but that of course requires a certain moral flexibility on your part. I was also going to say that because of the cinematography it’s really a show that should be seen on a television screen. But I was on a plane recently and popped the DVD into my laptop, and wow, I knew this show had great sound editing but it’s even more amazing on headphones.

It was like the first time I listened to Dark Side of the Moon through headphones, except I was slightly less stoned.
http://dreamlife613.wordpress.com dreamlife613

I just wanted to say I agree that BB is the best show of 2010 (so far). This show has some of the finest actors and actresses on TV. Also, I have really enjoyed the style of the individuals episodes, including the much-loathed Fly. While seasons 1 and 2 were more focused on Walt’s growth, season 3 has shown a more subdued Walt and allowed other characters to really shine. We’ve seen how far Jesse has come since joining forces with Walt in season 1. Credit to Aaron Paul for delivering some very emotional monologues. Hank was a character I wasn’t very fond of in the beginning, but I always respected him. He and Marie have been so much fun to watch this season and I have even greater respect for him after what Hank’s been through. I like what they’ve done with Skyler this season as well. The first 2 seasons where she was “in the dark” were quite frustrating because week after week we as the audience knew so much more than she did. Now that she’s in the loop it’ll be interesting to see where she ends up. Also, interesting that they’ve hardly mentioned Walt’s cancer this season. I know Walt’s not home-free with the cancer in remission. Will he get caught by the DEA, or will the cancer get to him first, hm? Sunday will be awesome. First the return of True Blood then Breaking Bad finale!
jwyze

Finale was a let down in my opinion…. James please be quick with tomorrow’s blog so I can vent without ruining it for those who haven’t seen it.