The concept
This show is about turning a protagonist into an antagonist. This is pretty ground-breaking. In all other works of fiction I can think of, it's pretty clear who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. Or, at least, there's the one main character whom you always root for. And it's obvious - it's the first character you're introduced to and you get attached and you aren't asked to question that attachment. Many times, antagonists "break good," but I really can't think of a time when a protagonist has gotten so bad that he's no longer the protagonist. And that's why Breaking Bad is revolutionary.
Walter White is likable at the beginning. I mean, he does kill a guy in the first episode, but at the beginning it's all fairly excusable: self-defense... he's doing it for his family... he had no choice... and the like. And he has cancer! We're never asked to root against someone who has cancer! He starts out doing the wrong things for the right reasons and since we know his reasons, we can forgive him for a while. And then we begin to forgive more and more... But if this show is going to do what it set out to do - and it will, believe me - we will all hate Walt without reservation by the end.
How is this going to happen in four more episodes for those who still can't help but pull for him? Well, if he killed Jesse that would do it because everyone loves Jesse and Walt's one redeemable quality is that he loves Jesse, too. So, in summary: things are not looking good for Jesse. As if we didn't already know that... but I was really hoping he'd make it out alright.
Walt's motivation
Walt made enough money to care for his family long, long ago. Clearly his motives have changed and he's become obsessed with making more money and building a larger empire. Why?
He wants to succeed at something before he dies.
He's a genius-level chemist and he could've been a big deal - could've worked for Gray Matter and made important discoveries... and a lot of money. Instead, he's a high school chemistry teacher. This is all he has left. He can make the best darn meth anyone's ever seen and make a fortune while he's at it. He can have a reputation - as the infamous Heisenberg. That's his obsession - not so much the money as the legacy.
Theme: Justice
One of the major themes is justice. Not through the law, but through karma. People have what's coming to them. Actions have consequences. What does this mean? Well, it means Walt will die in the end, but we all knew that already. But it could shed some light on how he will die. Probably not of cancer, I mean. This idea could bode well for Jesse, but let's remember - he's no angel either. Breaking Bad has showed for a long time that crime pays and it pays well - but the more lasting message has to be that in the end, it really doesn't.
Theme: Family
Walt claims that everything he does, he does for his family. Even Tuco is shown caring for his elderly uncle, Hector Salamanca. Then Tuco's cousins, "The Cousins," vow revenge on Hank for killing Tuco. Quotes that reflect this theme include: "Family. You can't give up on them, ever. What else is there?" (Jane's father) and "La familia es todo" ("Family is all" - Hector Salamanca).
Symbols: Teddy bear and plane crash - AND CRAZY FORESHADOWING
The plane crash was foreshadowed from the first moment of the season two premiere using one of Breaking Bad's most favored storytelling techniques: a flash-forward. The flash-forward was of a plastic eyeball floating in Walt's pool - everything in black and white until... a pink teddy bear is revealed, under water, missing an eye. This flash forward was used four times throughout season two: the beginnings of episodes 2.01, 2.04, 2.10 and 2.13. The titles of the episodes reveal even more: "Seven-Thirty-Seven Down Over ABQ." And that's exactly what happens in the episode ABQ: a Boeing 737 crashes into another, smaller plane over Albuquerque.
This happens because Jesse's girlfriend Jane dies of an overdose (an event Walt could have prevented) and her father, an air traffic controller, returns to work too soon afterward and is not focused, and well. Crash. Debris rains down over the city, and the teddy bear lands in Walt's pool.
Clean-up crews remove the bear, but the eyeball is left behind and Walt finds it later. There are several times when he picks it up and stares at it and his guilt is tangible. "The pink teddy bear continues to accuse." I can't say it any better than that. Walt makes excuses for his role in the crash, but the plastic eyeball is there to remind him, and us - this is your fault.
Hank's elevator scenes
There are several small scenes in which Hank is either coming to or leaving the DEA building and rides in the elevator - often alone, or with Marie in one case. They're filmed in a very particular way as to make it obvious that these elevator rides are significant to understanding Hank's character. We always see, from the outside of the elevator, the doors close fully - Hank is composed, normal. Then we cut to the inside. Hank is having some sort of anxiety attack, or crying, or otherwise very decidedly not composed. Then we cut back and see the doors open fully. Hank is back to normal. No sign of anything out of the ordinary.
But we know. We've seen what's going on inside his head.
Of course in film there aren't a lot of options of how to show a character's thoughts. But this is really great way of doing it. Hank seems to always be putting on an act - at work, at home, wherever. He's the tough guy. He's almost unhealthily self-confident. But that would be too one-dimensional for the awesome show that is Breaking Bad. Hank's human - he has emotions. He just closes himself off - much like the doors of the elevator. But he always composes himself just in time; no one is ever allowed to see.
Hank's elevator scenes
There are several small scenes in which Hank is either coming to or leaving the DEA building and rides in the elevator - often alone, or with Marie in one case. They're filmed in a very particular way as to make it obvious that these elevator rides are significant to understanding Hank's character. We always see, from the outside of the elevator, the doors close fully - Hank is composed, normal. Then we cut to the inside. Hank is having some sort of anxiety attack, or crying, or otherwise very decidedly not composed. Then we cut back and see the doors open fully. Hank is back to normal. No sign of anything out of the ordinary.
But we know. We've seen what's going on inside his head.
Of course in film there aren't a lot of options of how to show a character's thoughts. But this is really great way of doing it. Hank seems to always be putting on an act - at work, at home, wherever. He's the tough guy. He's almost unhealthily self-confident. But that would be too one-dimensional for the awesome show that is Breaking Bad. Hank's human - he has emotions. He just closes himself off - much like the doors of the elevator. But he always composes himself just in time; no one is ever allowed to see.
My Skyler theory
Skyler figures out that Walt is up to no good pretty early on. They're separated for a while, but the point is: she sticks with him. Why? What's wrong with her?
Well, I think Skyler's loyalty represents us: the viewing audience. We've been with Walt for a while (five seasons for us, 17 or so years for her) and it's really hard to let all that history go and abandon him. We've grown attached. We remember him as he used to be and just know there's something of that left. When Skyler finally leaves his side for good, I bet we will, too.
I just want to know when all of this will happen! THERE'S ONLY FOUR. EPISODES. LEFT.
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