BOOK REVIEW: Breaking Bad 101: The Complete Critical Companion

Courtesy of Abrams Books

Breaking Bad, which aired on AMC from 2008-2013 and continues to exist for your binge-viewing pleasure on Netflix, is among the most beloved, critically-acclaimed series in television history. However, no one knew quite what to make of the quirky series at first. That’s understandable, considering the final shot before the opening credits features Bryan Cranston – at the time, best known as the dad from Malcolm in the Middle – standing in the middle of the desert in his tighty-whities, aiming a gun at approaching sirens.

Was this a dark comedy? A bleak drama? A thriller so tense that it made your stomach hurt? Once the series found its legs in the second season (its first was abbreviated by the Writer’s Guild strike that year), it turns out the answer to all three of those questions was yes.

Few series can juggle jarring tonal shifts, pitch-black humor, an ongoing sense of dreadful inevitability and a protagonist who slowly transforms from a cancer-stricken high school chemistry teacher into a cold, murderous meth kingpin. However, thanks to a staggeringly talented crew of writers, directors and actors (led by creator Vince Gilligan and star Cranston), Breaking Bad executed its dark premise so brilliantly that we’ll be talking about it for decades to come.

A vital part of that conversation is now in print form, thanks to esteemed television critic Alan Sepinwall and his new book Breaking Bad 101: The Complete Critical Companion. One of the pioneers of the modern television recap – a vital, tougher-than-it-seems combination of summary and analysis – Sepinwall has emerged as one of the most important pop culture writers of the internet era. (Full disclosure: as someone who also makes a living as a writer and pop culture scholar, he’s one of my biggest influences.)

The gorgeously designed hardcover is a Breaking Bad fan’s dream. Sepinwall packs it full of interesting information about the series, fun bits of trivia and conversations with key members of the cast and crew. Most important, however, are the completely revised and updated recaps of all 62 episodes.

Scratch that. The word “recap” is a disservice to Sepinwall’s work. The entries are more like in-depth essays that highlight the strengths (and occasional weaknesses) of the story’s installments. His writing frequently reveals new insights that make you love the show’s thematic complexity while also smacking your forehead because of all the aspects you didn’t catch. There’s also a funny, compelling introduction by Damon Lindelof (co-creator of Lost and The Leftovers) establishing the book’s tone and context, while explaining the series’ place in television’s Golden Age.

If that’s not enough, Sepinwall also chronicles his harrowing experience writing about “Ozymandias,” the show’s most iconic episode (and quite possibly the greatest episode of television, period), from a hospital bed, high on pain meds only hours after he almost died from a ruptured appendix. That speaks volumes about the author’s dedication to his craft, as well as the addictive nature of Breaking Bad itself.

Whether you’ve been thinking about a Breaking Bad rewatch or looking for a reason to experience it for the first time, I highly recommend picking up Breaking Bad 101 and using it as a roadmap for your journey. Be careful, though: the book is just as addictive as the series it examines.

Grade: A