When I was watching this week’s episode of Breaking Bad, a couple things stood out to me. Nothing big, they were just small details that continue to show how well made the show really is. So many shows don’t take the time to carry small things through one episode to the next, creating a real universe for the show to inhabit. For me, the best shows on television do this well. I’m sure there are viewers who don’t notice or care, but for me, it makes a huge difference. Attention to detail can easily move a show from good to special.
In Breaking Bad, I was happy to see the pizza that Walter had tossed onto the roof of the house in the previous episode show up again at the beginning of this week’s installment. I didn’t even expect to see it back on the show, but it was a nice carry over, reminding the audience of the action and emotions of the previous episode and bridging the two episodes, creating a more cohesive narrative.
There was another small, impressive detail in this scene: the new windshield on Walter’s car. He had previously been pulled over and cited for the broken windshield. It would have made sense for the glass just to have been replaced, but it was there on his car, complete with installation tape all along the sides. A small touch, but one that many shows wouldn’t have bothered with.
Throughout the season, we have seen just about all of the characters in this fictional Albuquerque wearing blue ribbons in support of the victims of the plane crash at the end of last season. Again, it’s a small touch that helps to flesh out the universe that this show takes place in. When I’m watching Breaking Bad, I really feel a connection to the show because all these details work together to create a realistic and deep world.
The last bit from this week’s episode that really made me smile came at the very end. Skyler, looking to hurt Walt, slept with her boss at work. She was kind enough to inform Walt of this in the kitchen, right before sitting down to dinner with their son and one of his friends. Keep in mind, Breaking Bad airs on AMC, a basic cable channel. It’s a little unheard of for shows outside of the premium stations to pull out the “F” word. In this instance, however, it was almost necessary to convey the spite that Skylar had in that moment. She looked over the dinner salad at Walt, and told him what happened. She didn’t make love to Ted. She didn’t sleep with Ted. No, skylar “fucked Ted.” Yes, the word was censored, but it was still there, and it was a powerful and brave choice, and boy howdy did it work.
These are just examples from one episode of one show that illustrate how important details can be when telling a story and creating a fictional universe. Have any shows caught your attention with their details?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Apr 06, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
Another detail I liked was that the school remembered Walter having had cancer, when he was asked to speak at the assembly a few weeks ago (GOD, that was awkward).
Or how about the new access cubby door Walter made from the basement when he fixed all of that wood rot?
A detail I really enjoyed was when Skyler first got suspicious of the 2nd cell phone last season. She heard it ring and saw no calls on the bill. I said Walt should say it’s an alarm, and the next week he said just that.
For what its worth, I watch the later showing of Breaking Bad (11PM Central Time), and “fucked” was not censored.