Breaking Bad - TV-MA

Morally ambiguous show is all about drugs.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-MA
  • Network: AMC
  • Cast: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul
  • Genre: Drama

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this show isn't intended for kids; its intense, morally ambiguous characters and storylines are a better fit for mature audiences. The main character is an essentially good person who's driven to extreme negative behavior (manufacturing methamphetamines and more) by depression and desperation. Plus, there's a good bit of swearing (though "f--k" is muted), some violence, and some sexual content (a woman is shown topless, but her breasts are blurred, etc.).

Families can talk about why it's interesting to explore what happens when good people go bad. Is Walt's behavior justified? How do you think you'd react in a similar situation? Do you think the media is the right forum to explore this kind of negative behavior? Why or why not?

Message

Social Behavior:

The main character is a terminally ill chemistry teacher who decides to make methamphetamines as a way to earn cash quick for his family -- understandable motives, but his methods are questionable at best. The main law enforcement agent also makes several racist comments about Mexicans.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

The show revolves around making and selling illegal drugs. Walt is touted by the dealers as an artist for his skill at making methamphetamines.

Violence

Some shooting and threats of shooting; other physical scuffles and attacks; at least one explosion. In one scene, in an attempt to defend himself, Walt creates phosphine gas and poisons his attackers; later, the consequences are shown, and Walt and Jesse must dispose of one of the bodies -- which turns into a disgusting, bloody mess.

Sex

In one scene, a bare-breasted woman leans out a window, but her breasts are blurred out. Walt and his wife have some intense sexual encounters, but nothing graphic is shown -- it's all implied.

Language

Audible language includes words like "ass" and "bitch," while "f--k" and "bulls--t" are muted. References to male anatomy, including "dick" and "prick." A character flips some others the bird.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Anne Louise Bannon

Walt White (Bryan Cranston) is a high school chemistry teacher working a second job to support his family: his pregnant wife, Skylar (Anna Gunn), and his teenage son, Walt Jr. (R.J. Mitte), who has cerebral palsy. Desperately hard up for money and constantly put down by those around him, Walt reaches the breaking point when he's diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He connects with former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to start making and selling methamphetamines in order to raise money for his struggling family.

Is it any good?

3
All of the characters in BREAKING BAD are flawed, and they all make mistakes and, sometimes, baffling choices. The line between good and bad isn't clear; in fact, nobody comes off looking particularly good here, particularly Walt's DEA agent brother-in-law (Dean Norris), who's a total jerk. Some episodes move a bit slowly, while others have more momentum -- sort of like Walt himself, as he tries to cope with the mess his life is becoming.

Cranston's phenomenal performance is the best thing about the show. Forget the spacey, clueless dad of Malcolm in the Middle. Walt may be tired and beaten down, but Cranston manages to bring enough dignity to the man that it's possible to believe him when he's acting like an idiot and being socially responsible at the same time (such as when he narrowly escapes the bad guys, then tells his drug dealing partner, "We have to clean this up").

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5


Posted on 02/12/08 by thebaloob123 Kid contributor, age 14

Okay...I'm Hooked...

FORGET THE REVEIWER! This is an amazing show! I love it so much! Bryan Cranston is amazing in this show! He is a phenominal perfomance! The show has some swearing and sh*t (I can't belive I had to cencore that) is not bleedped out. But the violence is pretty gross but nothing to wory about, the worst part is when a body is disolved in a bath tub and the floor breaks sending the spongey chunks of the gun to the ground. The drugs are used alot (as of episode 3 they have used: Meth, Pot, Crack, and I think Coke) The sexual content is nothing. So overall a 13 or 14+ on it.

Adult Reviews

There are 0 reviews.

There are no adult reviews.

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5


Posted on 02/12/08 by thebaloob123 Kid contributor, age 14

Okay...I'm Hooked...

FORGET THE REVEIWER! This is an amazing show! I love it so much! Bryan Cranston is amazing in this show! He is a phenominal perfomance! The show has some swearing and sh*t (I can't belive I had to cencore that) is not bleedped out. But the violence is pretty gross but nothing to wory about, the worst part is when a body is disolved in a bath tub and the floor breaks sending the spongey chunks of the gun to the ground. The drugs are used alot (as of episode 3 they have used: Meth, Pot, Crack, and I think Coke) The sexual content is nothing. So overall a 13 or 14+ on it.
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