Favourite TV Shows #3: Breaking Bad

I've already stated how much I enjoy American dramas, and this is another one. On top of that, it's great to see a comedic actor being recognised for a dramatic role. In this case, it's the dad from Malcolm in the Middle.

Bryan Cranston plays Walter White, a struggling high-school chemistry teacher in Albuquerque. After being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, Walter tries to secure his family's financial future by making crystal meth with the help of his former student Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul. Soon, Walter finds himself having to make his product while contending with the competitive elements of the criminal underworld, not to mention trying to keep his double life a secret from his family, especially his DEA agent brother-in-law Hank Schrader, played by Dean Norris.

Once again, the characters are memorable. Bob Odenkirk plays Saul Goodman, a sleazy lawyer who gets people off the hook by any means necessary. Working under him is 'Private Investigator' Mike, played by Jonathan Banks, who serves as an enforcer for the affable kingpin Gus Fring. Saul ended up being so popular that he got his own spin-off with Better Call Saul. It's good, but it's no Breaking Bad.

The show excels at mixing the gritty and heartbreaking elements with some of the funniest black comedy around. The bathtub incident in the first series is the classic example of that. Ultimately, it is about moral consequence, and how good and bad are not clearly cut.