The making of a tragedy

Martha Hagan

What makes Breaking Bad work?

Vince Gilligan,
BB creator &
writer.

Mr. Chips
to Scarface

BB has won 65 combined Emmys, Golden Globes,

Saturns, and SAGs (IMDb, 2014, Wiki, 2014)

Classic elements of tragedy take Breaking

Bad from the ordinary to the sublime.
Analysis of Breaking Bad reveals three elements
dominate: Plot, character delineation, and
emotional release (Fergussen, 1962).
The Critical Process behind Media Literacy
model is used to develop these themes ( Campbell,
2013).
For a dramatic tragedy to succeed, the plot has to
have whats called unity of action all action
revolves around one idea (Fergussen, 1962).

1. Description
The one action of Breaking Bad is the
protagonist, Walter Whites need to provide
financial security for his family after he is
diagnosed with Stage III lung cancer and given
two years to live (IMDb, 2014).

Walter Whites Life

Plot Line: Hank, Walters DEA brother-inlaw pursues Jesse Pinkman, to get to
Heisenberg

2. Analysis: Plot & Character

Reversals

3. Interpretation: Character
Delineation

Tragic characters have to be good and they

have to be true to life but bigger than life
Walters transformation from a mild and meek
and good husband to a ruthlessly brilliant
drug mastermind takes the audience on a
roller-coaster journey.
The theme of reversals is universal and keeps
the audience engaged with Walters efforts to
keep his two worlds separate yet together.
All characters in Walters world are changed.

When characters experience a reversal we

react with pity and fear

4. Evaluation
Why do we find pleasure in watching
others suffer, engage in conflict, and
experience horrific events?

When emotional tension builds we seek

release, this is called catharsis
Tragic characters hold secrets that lead to
betrayal and loss (Fergussen, 1962).
Walter recognizes his failures in the end.

5. Engagement
Watching Breaking Bad is a study in how
tragedy is constructed.
Millions watched the drama unfold.
If you are interested in modern day television
dramatic tragedy, at its best, this show
delivers.

Conclusion
To recap, the tragic elements present in Breaking
Bad are unity of plot, character development, and
emotional engagement.
Vince Gilligan, his fellow writers, the cast, the
cinematographers, audio and special effects teams,
all combined their expertise to bring a truly
exceptional television program to vivid and
memorable life.
Application of the Critical Process adds to our
understand of dramatic television programming.

Sources Cited
American Movie Channel Breaking Bad. (2014). Retrieved at
http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad
Campbell, R., C.R. Martin, B. Fabos. (2013). Media essentials, a brief
introduction, 2nd ed. NY: Bedford/St. Martins
Fergussen, F. (1962). Aristotles Poetics. Translated by S.H. Butcher. New York:
Hill and Wang.
Harnick, C. (2013). 'Breaking Bad' Ratings Are Huge, Finale Breaks 10 Million
Mark. Huffington Post. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-ratingsfinale_n_4018093.html.
IMDb. (2014). Internet Movie Database. Breaking Bad (2008-2013). Retrieved from
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/episodes?year=2009&ref_=tt_eps_yr_2009 .
Wikipedia http
://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Breaking_
Bad