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Reviews
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
A slightly heightened sense of closure, but that's really it
MINOR Spoilers: I understand the amount of 10/10s this movie is getting - the adoration and following for Breaking Bad is almost unparalleled, and I count myself among one of its biggest fans. However, I think that love for the parent show has caused many viewers to see this movie through rose tinted glasses. It was... fine. It was nice to return to ABQ and the Gilliganverse, and fun seeing some old characters. However, anybody with any common sense would always know how Jesse's story was going to end. Unfortunately, that means creating a whole two hour movie to manoeuvre us to that end game, and, honestly, there's very little in the way of plot here. As fan service and as a love letter to BB diehards, the movie is quite lovely, and the final scene undoubtedly offers a sense of closure. But as a movie in its own right, it struggles to justify itself enormously. I would estimate that 40 - 50% of the movie is made up of flashbacks, which are a perfectly fine (if - a little tacky?) way to revisit long lost characters. But the need to invest such a large portion of the movie in the past suggests that there just isn't enough story to tell. The scenes that do take place in the present are better, and (as always) beautifully shot, directed, and acted. But each scene seems to linger on for just a little bit too long, giving the impression of stalling until we see the inevitable conclusion. The creation of a brand new set of never-before-seen antagonists from Jesse's past to create some semblance of conflict (including the film's first, last and VERY polarising action scene) seems only to exist to pad out the film's midsection, which begs the question of why the movie is so long at all if there is not enough original content to fill it. I realise I'm focusing entirely on the negatives here, and that is largely because Breaking Bad has doctored me to expect nothing but the best from anything Vince Gilligan touches. This, unfortunately, is his first real mis-step. I'm glad I watched it, and can appreciate all that was good about it. But I doubt I will have any desire to watch it again.
The Walking Dead: Lines We Cross (2019)
Solid, with a few niggles
Overall, a very solid opener. The writing and organic chemistry between characters has continued to improve over Angela Kang's leadership, and the show is much more refreshing for it. Characters actually feel like real people rather than script-spewing robots, the stakes feel real, and the plotting makes sense. This is not to say the episode is without its problems: the dialogue between Michonne and Aaron felt like it came straight from the pen of Scott Gimple - there is absolutely no need, at this point, to raise the question of whether the group's morals are correct - this has been done a billion times, and Aaron's delivery in particular felt forced. Some of the editing was also very peculiar - the scene at the end of the episode where the group extinguish the fire seemed to transition from night to day in the blink of an eye. I understand that they likely WERE tackling the blaze through the night, but the cut was so jarring and immediate that it tarnished an otherwise nice set piece. Also - the scene in which we were introduced to Dante was bizarre for all the wrong reasons. He was written to be unlikeable, obviously, but it really asks you to suspend your disbelief that of a person of his character could of survived this long in the apocalypse. Aside from those gripes, however, I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the season!
Breaking Bad: Down (2009)
Underrated
I never think of this episode as an all time great, but having recently re-watched it, the performances of Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn here are masterful. Jesse's storyline gets the spotlight, and while Aaron Paul is excellent, watching Skyler's foundations of trust in Walt slowly fizzle away is truly captivating. Specifically, the scene towards the end of the episode in which Skyler confronts Walt about his shadiness is fantastically acted by both; raw and brilliantly written - the energy they create together is mesmerising. You will never see this episode high up in any 'Best of Breaking Bad' lists - it is, in essence, a table setting episode, necessary and slow burning. But it's in these episodes that actors as talented as Cranston and Gunn really shine to create a vivid and devastating picture of what would truly happen behind closed doors in such a scenario. The scene directly afterwards, where Walt channels his frustration towards Jesse, culminating in their first violent altercation, is exhilarating from Cranston's intensity. These interactions are Breaking Bad's bread and butter, and it is a shame that they often miss out on the recognition they deserve