Breaking Bad: Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot

Allow me to introduce you to Walter White, the two-job genius man, a man with a chronic cough a pregnant wife and a witty son. Walter White is the anti-vivacious, a man so trodden on and depressed that to pity him is only natural. And so, his steps toward becoming a meth-maker (?) are very believable, with the steps culminating in him finding out he has terminal lung cancer. You've probably heard of Breaking Bad, as every critic from here to Bangkok has written about it. Spoilers (and the review of the first episode) are down below, so I'll make my point and try to get a show, that is seemingly underwatched so much it should be a crime, some new viewers. Bryan Cranston, a fantastic actor who did a stand-out job as the father on Malcolm in the Middle plays Walter White, and does a (you guessed it) fantastic job. White's life is tough, and Cranston makes you feel his pain. It's a very intriguing show that's acted well by varying characters, and introduces some interesting moral questions.

Convinced?

-REVIEW-

The first episode begins with a very intriguing scene of chaos and mayhem as White is fleeing in an RV from police, somewhere in the desert outside Albuquerque. There are two dead guys in the back, and White and an unconscious guy next to him are wearing gas masks. White crashes, he gets out, dons a green shirt that he apparently dried by hanging up on the rearview mirror (not a bad idea as long as it stays on) and films a little video for his family. He addresses law-enforcement officials, saying it isn't an admission of guilt, then professes his love for his family. It's heart-breaking, and the frenetic pace is excellent. The scene ends with the pudgy (those clothes are so unflattering) White wearing no pants and holding a gun in the middle of the road. Naturally, it flashes back 3 weeks, and we get to see everything that led up to that point. I figured more than one episode would lead up to that scene, as that seemed like an arc or even season-ending season, but by episode's end I was proved wrong. The episode does a good job of introducing the players in the show, White, a contributor to some Nobel Prize effort, his pregnant wife, his handicapped son (who was hilarious in the veggie bacon scene, I hope that wasn't a one- time deal) his naggy sister-in-law and her husband Hank, a DEA agent. 

Of course the Hank conflict seems like it'll be a lot of fun to play out, as he's the cocky doucher and Walter will inevitably be dodging him as the show goes on. However, in this episode, Walter is examining the option of making a meth lab, so Hank comes in handy so Walter can see what a meth lab is like. At the lab, Walter sees his old (and failed) student fleeing the neighbour's house, and it's revealed that the student is Jesse Pinkman, a well-known meth dealer. Anyways, they team up and make a batch of meth. Of course, because Walter is a wiz chemist (the scene in his class revealing his love of chemistry was very well-done and nice to watch) the meth is great, and when they go to sell it, it attracts attention. Negative attention, ultimately. The kind of attention that gets two guys threatening Jesse and Walter with guns. The kind of attention where Walter has to do super agent-chemistry to kill the guys.

The pilot was very, very good and I'd been looking forwarding to starting this series for a while. The aforementioned realization of lung cancer has made Walter quite a bit bolder, as evidenced by his outburst at his second job at the car wash place, and when he attacked the kids that were teasing his son. And I guess the fact that his clock is ticking and he's one bad ass mofo means he gives good sex. The characterization is this episode worked very well, and I'm damned excited to watch the next episode. Which, in fact, this write-up is stopping me from doing. Look for my review tomorrow. In the meantime, it's time to plunk down on the couch and watch some quality TV. It's in short-supply these days.

Sidenote: The credits incorporating the chemical formula names is a cool touch, and a fun game to see if I can quickly and correctly identify the chemicals.

Looks like I'm Down to Plug Sites Tonight

This was gonna be a Site of the Night thing, but I don't think I have it in me to be tied down to profiling one site a night. I love the internet, and it's a serious business, so I'll probably profile sites that I think you need to read often.

So I'm a TV fan, without a doubt. Prior to that though, I was, and still am, a basketball-obsessed freak. And so, if you're looking for general awesomeness, SLAMonline is the best place to be.

The website and the mag are no chicken-and-egg question; the site exists because they defied the odds and brought a badass magazine to the public. From Scoop Jackson to Dave Zirin, from AI's blowout to LJ throwing down to start it out, SLAM has had some fantastic memories. The magazine has dealt with some tough stuff recently. I've had many qualms with it, and I've been very vocal about them, but for the first time in a while, everything SLAM is looking up. They got rid of the "continued on page..." thing they had going, which I know many magazines do, but it's just awful and annoying. It especially didn't work with this magazine, which uses tons of great action shots and themed backgrounds. Along with getting rid of that annoyance, they're using new design techniques that are gritty-looking, and the fresh toss-up brings new interest to SLAM. As well, it's been on a roll with the covers lately, which have been some damned creative offerings.

Though the magazine's relevance is dropping because of the internet's continued rise, the site is, in one word, awesome. Instead of just profiling players like in their magazine (which is a necessity with their publishing dead-lines, but still...) their impressive roster of incredible writers really shines in delivering a range of thoughtful articles. I will say however, that the site could benefit from more old-school sections, which are often guest-written and very well-done. 

The site underwent a shake-up a little while ago, and seems to improve daily. With "The Wire", which provides instant updates regarding the NBA, their very personal and witty All-Star Coverage, the Line of the Night and their much improved video section, SLAMonline is the number one place to be for basketball fans. 

So...I'll be expecting my check for this in a few days. Boredom is killing me.

Read another Blog

So...I've come to the conclusion that if I write a bazillion blogs, eventually people will read them...Oh wait, I'm the only one stupid enough to systematically read through every blog entry on a blogger's page. That's a tidbit, in case you're wondering what I've been doing these last few hours when I should be working. I'm reading Seriocity, a blog by a very interesting TV writer. It's fun to read, because she knows stuff, spells TV TeeVee, is sarcastic and humorous and...I left her a comment plugging my blog about Heroes, before I realized she HATES Heroes. 

So, that's my first blatant blog-plug. I'm sure she'd welcome even more viewers, and so whenever (inevitably?) people stumble onto my blog, they'll go to her blog. Wait...does that mean I lose readers? I haven't figured out, or really looked for that thing people have on the side where they link to other blogs, but I'll do that soon.

I didn't really intend for this blog to be all about her blog, but that's how it is I guess. I have two other blog ideas that are on the horizon, but I don't want to do them yet. It doesn't feel...organic. But, I guess she's deserving. That blog is very interesting (though I'm a soulless bastard and skip over the music stuff). 

I'll do my TV thoughts on shows to watch, and not watch, soon. I know you're all eagerly awaiting it. In the meantime, don't choke on food and avoid being trampled by bison.

20-Plus Random TV Thoughts

Well...I stopped posting. You stopped reading (does it count if you never started) I stopped caring over the hiatus, and it all culminated in me missing an episode last Monday. Missing. An. Episode. I guess that says something about my commitment.

Anyways, I've decided to branch out, because I'm a rabid fan of all sorts of TV, so I'm going to broaden my focus on this blog. Everyone says the more specific the blog the more readers you get, but I don't care. Expect more articles about a variety of TV things, including my favourites among current TV shows and a breakdown of every channel's current schedule. But, to tip-off this new era, I bring you 20-plus random TV thoughts...

1.) Cable TV > Network TV.

2.) NBC is a mess.

3.) Heroes sucks.

4.) Neil Patrick Harris is the man. 

5.) A few procedurals are okay, but when every show's title is preceded by CSI, something is wrong.

6.) Lost is a phenomenal show, as is Dexter.

7.) Squirming and blushing at embarrassing situations every Thursday night has become so routine it was weird enduring it on Super Bowl Sunday.

8.) I'm convinced I could make the CW awesome. As opposed to bogged down with teeny garbage. But I guess that's the demographic they're targeting.

9.) If I could see a list of Canadian TV ratings my life would be so much better.

10.) I wanna watch BSG, Breaking Bad and the Shield.

11.) Eastbound & Down needs to be watched if only to see if Will and Danny McBride can do what they do on the big screen, on the small screen.

12.) I'm excited for the Cleveland Show.

13.) I got tired of reality TV around the time the millionth Survivor season and the 20th Fear Factor season were on.

14.) The first War at home episode was awesome. They should have stopped there.

15.) House's formulaic episode plot is so annoying. Though it must be easy to write:

[Shoot a really dramatic scene where some man/woman has something really weird   happen to them.]

[Show intro.]

[Have helper doctors suggest medical conditions that are Latin swear words.]

[House broods.]

[Settle on a diagnosis that means goat testicles, do tests, nearly kill patient, doctors yell,   lots of beeping.]

[Throw in scenes where the patients house/apartment is broken into so people think  our show about rich people who went to school for a really long time are hip and                              dangerous.]

[Throw in sex banter between House and hot Cuddy wearing tight clothes.]

[Eureka! House figures it out! Apparently he knew all along!]

[Collect Emmys.]

16.) Jeremy Piven gives Samuel L. Jackson competition for best on-screen swearing ability.

17.) I'm convinced Pride and Glory would make a good TV show.

18.) Someone should adapt the Zits comic into a goofy TV show.

19.) Has there ever been a hilarious show about teachers? Considering everyone has a bazillion funny stories about teachers, wouldn't this be the easiest show to write, and ridiculously relatable for people?

20.) No commercials. No cliffhangers. No waiting. Bonus features. Watching TV on DVD is grrreat.

21.) So is British TV.

22.) And Maclean's magazine TV articles. Their blog of them should focus less on old stuff and more on current stuff.

23.) Gotham Central needs to be a TV show. ASAP. Honestly I can't see why they didn't go through with it in 2003. 6 years later the idea seems even more appealing. Marrying everyone's two favourite things, procedurals and Batman? Can you say CASH COW?