This slideshow is presented to you by Rachel Cassar, Michael Kean, Clementine Zawadzki and Tim Heal as part of an assessment for TV Cultures.

1. CRIME DRAMA SERIES:
BREAKING BAD

2. MEET AND GREET
JESSE PINKMAN AND WALTER
WHITE

3. LET‟S TALK GENRE
Seemingly impossible to constrict the long-form serial narrative
Breaking Bad down to one genre
Thick crime drama filled with
killings, suspense and mystery
that leads you to the edge of a
cliff
Laugh out loud comedy mixed with
black humour and characters that
don‟t fit the generic serious „crime‟
mould
Breaking Bad is a complex narrative series. Complex television employs a range of serial
techniques, with the underlying assumption that a series is a cumulative narrative that builds
over time – with the imagined audience searching for clues, hints or hidden meanings - rather
than resetting back to a steady-state equilibrium at the end of every episode.

4. MEET THE CREATOR
"Television is historically good at
keeping its characters in a self-imposed
stasis so that shows can go on for years
or even decades. When I realized this,
the logical next step was to think, how
can I do a show in which the
fundamental drive is toward change?”
- Vince Gilligan (Klosterman, 2011)
The narrative thrust behind Breaking Bad is much more forward
moving, with minor insights and flashbacks peppered throughout the
series revealing key aspects of a character‟s history rather than
creating deep mysteries for viewers to attempt to piece together.

5. „PHOENIX‟ EPISODE:
SERIES 2 EPISODE 12
Both Bryan Cranston
(Walter White) and Vince
Gilligan have noted
today‟s excerpt as one of
their favourite scenes as it
is one of the most pivotal
to the Breaking Bad plot
(Breaking Bad Wiki, 2011).
Also IMBD users have
rated it in the top 10 most
crucial moments in
Breaking Bad history.

6. THREE DIMENSIONS TO WALTER
WHITE
WALTER THE
FAMILY MAN
WALTER THE
BREADWINNER
WALTER THE
LIAR

7. THEMES
O Life and death are prominent themes
O The episode‟s title „Phoenix‟ foreshadows the events that follow and
culminate in this scene
O “To rise from the ashes of the phoenix” is to experience a rebirth or
renewal - communicated through the birth of Walt‟s daughter and the
death of Jane
O A juxtaposition of innocence and purity
O Walt plays God and deals fates hand

8. IMAGERY
O The colours red and yellow are reflected in the landscape
O The building is yellow, as are Jane and Jesse‟s sheets
O Red steps lead to a tattered torn doorway, as red cloth covers broken
windows
O „Yellow‟ suggests caution, prompting the viewer to expect something
O „Red‟ indicates anger, self-loathing, passion, addiction, power and death

9. SCENE ANALYSIS
O A long shot of Walt approaching Jesse‟s front door
O Wind whistles in the background with no response from Jane or Jesse -
this gives the viewer a feeling of desertion
O This shot could be an early signpost for Jane‟s passing
O „Red‟ is again shown in the red brick archway
O The archway could have a religious connotation
O „Red‟ candle symbolises an inflammatory presence, but also represents
vitality, courage and determination
O The genre of „crime drama‟ is shown through Walt dressing in black from
head to toe

10. SCENE ANALYSIS
O Shots appear to be handheld, which makes the viewer feel a part of the
scene, and communicates a feeling of uncertainty
O Has the nature of a traditionally action-less scene, but the slightly shaky
movement builds anticipation - this is emphasised when the camera follows
Walt to the back of the house

11. SCENE ANALYSIS
O The scene purposely does not reveal Jesse‟s state on the other side of
the door until Walt is aware of it himself
O Our first shot is a POV shot of Jesse and Jane lying in bed from Walt‟s
perspective
O Walt‟s reaction indicates something‟s wrong
O A somber low score plays, yet it‟s almost peaceful
O Walter reacts despairingly to their view
O A shadow cast down his face from overhead lighting - this creates a
hopeless feeling

12. SCENE ANALYSIS
O Jane and Jesse‟s home is unkempt - their poor living conditions as „junkies‟
is reinforced to the viewer
O Walter‟s voice saying “Jesse” becomes prominent against the peaceful
music
O A shadow remains across Walt‟s face as he tries to wake-up Jesse
O The melancholic mood of the scene provokes the viewer to question Walt‟s
character
O Walt appears antagonistic in this scene

13. SCENE ANALYSIS
O As Walt tries to wake Jesse, he nudges Jane onto her back – reminding
us of Walt talking about his baby needing to be on her side to spit up.
O Walt sees the syringe which confirms their drug addiction
O Walt‟s disappointment may indicate contempt, and therefore motive
O Highlighting his flaws could be used to further detach viewers from this
character
O Walt places the syringe down, cutting back to a long-to-mid shot
O A disturbing moment of silence, as Jane begins to choke

14. SCENE ANALYSIS
O Jane is dressed in a purple top - this makes her appear more
sympathetic
O Jane‟s youthful appearance conveys the „life‟ in her, juxtaposing with
Walter‟s aged face.
O An overhead shot, almost like a view from God, gives us a wide and
omnipresent view of the scene.

15. SCENE ANALYSIS
O We are put inside Walter‟s mentality as he pauses before helping Jane
O A side shot with Jane at the foreground is out of focus - this may symbolise
how far away Walt is from her situation, despite being by her side
O The angle may represent an out of body experience, perhaps Jane‟s dying
spirit is judging Walter‟s disregard for her life
O An overhead shot of Walt is a reminder that “He” is watching, and he is
being watched

16. SCENE ANALYSIS
O Jane‟s eyes in a MCU as she passes away, this is a final goodbye to Walt,
perhaps introducing guilt and betrayal, whilst also forcing Walt to face the
eyes of his “victim”
O The final shot is a close up, as Walt composes himself. His face is still half
in shadow as he takes a deep breath and opens his eyes looking up
O This questionably sinister glance puts caution to the viewer of his character

17. In the broad scope of Breaking Bad, where does „Phoenix‟
leave the imagined audience?
Considering that we
do not know how the
entire situation will
play out exemplifies
the show being
shrouded in mystery.
Will Jesse find out
the truth behind
Jane‟s death, and if
he does what does
this mean for his
relationship with
Walter?
This
exemplifies
why the show is
so THRILLING
to watch.
Genre aside, this episode is pivotal for character development:
Why did Walter
White allow
Jane to die
before his
eyes?
Did Walt kill her because she
attempted to take a cut of the money
that he and Jessie had cooked so
much for?
Or did he see her as a threat to the
welfare of his surrogate meth son
who was being thrown into oblivion
through excessive heroine use?

18. REFERENCES
Bowman, D (2009) „Phoenix‟, A.V. Club, viewed September 7 2013, available
at http://www.avclub.com/articles/phoenix,28398/
Klosterman, C (2011) „Bad decisions‟, Grantland, viewed September 7
2013, available at http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6763000/bad-
decisions
Reed, J (2013), „Desert Island: How Breaking Bad became the next
Lost‟, Crikey, viewed September 7 2013, available at
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/wiresandlights/2013/08/27/desert-island-how-
breaking-bad-became-the-next-lost/
Romano, A (2011), „TV‟s most dangerous show‟, The Daily Beast, viewed
September 7 2013, available at
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/06/26/breaking-bad-the-finest-
hour-on-television.html
Surette, T (2010), „Breaking Bad: Genre Bender‟, TV.COM, viewed
September 7 2013, available at http://www.tv.com/news/breaking-bad-genre-
bender-23082/