In this age of peak TV, it’s nearly impossible to keep up with all the worthy shows, especially when a pilot fails to do a series justice. For every great pilot, there are nine underwhelming ones that don’t quite pull you into the second episode. In part it’s due to all the setup required of an introductory episode — there are worlds to build, characters to craft, and narratives to spark. One show that certainly didn’t have a problem setting up all those dominos with aplomb was the peak of peak TV: “Breaking Bad.”
To help break down just what makes that “Breaking Bad” pilot work so well is a new video essay from Lessons From A Screenplay. “ ‘Breaking Bad’ – Crafting a TV Pilot” parses apart the elements of a pilot to find out exactly what makes Bryan Cranston’s defining show tick. The answer, as you might have guessed, is everything.
READ MORE: Video Essay Makes The Case For ‘Ozymandis’ As The Best Episode of ‘Breaking Bad’
Vince Gilligan’s show was great from the get go. The teaser was striking and weird and hilarious and haunting. In seconds we meet Walter White, learn his desperation, and understand the gravity of his situation. From there, we backtrack into what is more or less a formulaic structure, but one executed with control and skill. The acts are clearly defined, the stakes are established, and, most importantly, Walter’s logic is made clear — because, if nothing else is certain, “Breaking Bad” wouldn’t work if we didn’t understand our anti-hero.
As noted in the 11-minute video essay, Lajos Egri once wrote, “A pivotal character must not merely desire something. He must want it so badly that he will destroy or be destroyed in an effort to attain his goal.” This, in essence, is Walter White. And we learn everything we need to know to understand this in one great episode.
Check out the excellent, informative “ ‘Breaking Bad’ – Crafting a TV Pilot” above and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below.