Aspects of Identity: Breaking Bad

 

    This scene in Breaking Bad is the corner stone of the series, it is one of the reasons why the show is so popular. In this small 5 minute clip it demonstrates aspects of identity in a very emotional and tense situation which makes 95% of people who watch this show re-watch it. It is also a turning point in the plot of Breaking Bad as there are 4 characters who play a major role in the series. Some background information for this scene is that Walter is an overqualified chemist. He knows everything in the subject and was hired at a very prominent company. His genius was unmatched but he left the company due to feeling used and his son was born. He then became a chemistry teacher at a local school in New Mexico. He made minimum wage but his son was disabled with tourettes which made most of his savings deplenished. He struggled financially and then he got diagnosed with cancer. Fast forward a bit, Walter's brother in law is a DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) agent since they are in New Mexico where high amounts of drug traffic take place. Walter now works with one of his failing students in chemistry as a drug maker who makes methamphetamine. Hank Schrader, Walter's brother in law is investigating the drug traffic that he was responsible for which adds suspense and thrills for the audience. Walter is currently working with a Neo-Nazi group led by uncle Jack, who has connections in the criminal world as Walter is trying to become the leading drug maker in the state by eliminating his rivals. Walter as a person is very arrogant as he has very high ambitions, but his brother in law gets caught up in this as he was trying to investigate. Walter pleads to save his brother in law because he loves his family. He even started the life of crime because he wanted his family to prosper. That is the duality of the situation as someone he cares about is going to die. This scene emotionally shows class and ability, as he is someone from a lower class who wants to become a higher class in terms of finance, and ability since he wanted to do anything to save his brother in law. In hindsight, without the professional acting, cinematography, editing, and mise-en-scene, none of these aspects could have been portrayed beautifully and emotionally in this scene.