For my second Netflix pick I want to go back seven years ago. The date was January 20, 2008, and many didn’t know it, but this would be the day when arguably the greatest drama television show ever first aired. This show was none other than Breaking Bad, the AMC drama that received an astounding 58 nominations during its run time of five years. Although the show won only 16 of these nominations, it is still very impressive for a show that was only on the air for five years.
Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is about the life of the not-so-ordinary high school chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston). In the show White is diagnosed with terminal and inoperable lung cancer. Realizing that he will die soon and leave his pregnant wife and son with nothing, he decides to turn his life around and get into a dangerous business. This decision comes about after he goes for a ride-along with his brother-in-law, a DEA agent, and watches them bust a meth lab. While on the ride-along he realizes how much money he could make in that kind of business.
Using his knowledge and chemistry background White gets himself into the meth-cooking business. He joins forces with his former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), who has been in the meth business for awhile. From cooking meth in an RV to getting their own official lab, this series follows the two on their journey as they become the best producers of meth in the whole state of New Mexico.
The show was created, written, and produced by mastermind Vince Gilligan. The cast is led by Cranston, yes, the same actor who played the dad in Malcolm in the Middle. He is supported by Paul, whose acting career was sparked by this great show. With only five seasons and 62 episodes, you will be stunned by just how great this show really is. After watching just a few episodes I am sure that you will be hooked.