The ‘Breaking Bad’ series finale has come and gone. What are the reactions of fans and reviews from critics witnessing the much anticipated end of the saga of Walter White who evolved from chemistry teacher to meth kingpin? And what of his student turned associate, Jesse Pinkman? And his wife, Skyler? And so many other characters, plots and subplots?
For those who have not seen it, yes, there are spoilers here although this is not a breath-by-breath, footstep-by-footstep recap. Such recaps are out there by the tens of thousands. One would need a great deal of discipline and luck to not stumble over a “Breaking Bad finale” recap out here in the wild Web.
But as we know, the series on AMC, created by Vince Gilligan, with Bryan Cranston as the anti-hero Walter White is now over. It was Gilligan who famously described the character as “Mr. Chips becomes Scarface.” And it was the creator himself who wrote and directed the final episode, “Felina.” And yes, it was the inevitable conclusion of the fascinating, absorbing yet horrifying evolution of a man, seemingly resourceful and well-meaning in his desperation to help his family, who slowly and irreversibly became corrupted over time, transforming into a character he himself would never have imagined.
And what an ending. Full of revenge and death as a drama driven by greed, money, and an illicit drug would have to be. Inevitable, most will conclude. Final and satisfying. There were no lose ends or ambiguity. When the hour was over, Walter White was no more.
The series, popular as it was — more and more leading up to its conclusion in its final season — had to end. How did the ending satisfy the fans and the critics?
On Twitter the “Breaking Bad” finale was a trending topic for hours, with multiple hashtags and countless Tweets #BreakingBad and BreakingBadFinale and #BreakingBadFinale were among them.
The critics have come out with mostly rave reviews, with a few exceptions. Here’s just a sampling.
L.A. Times: “…It contained the Holy Grail of all storytelling: an Actual Moment of Truth….”
New York Times: “…Perhaps the best thing about the finale of “Breaking Bad” is that it actually ended.”
The Washington Post: “…There just isn’t a weak season of “Breaking Bad.” There’s just superior work, a sprint toward evil that turned into a marathon….”
Slate: “…Walt did it. He found what he was looking for. That’s what we’ll remember.”
The Atlantic: “..It was solid, and satisfying, if not terribly exciting….”
Vogue: “…I would be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed at how tinny and mechanical these final few minutes were. While not terrible, they didn’t soar….”
USA Today: “…Tense, witty, violent, oddly tender and, in its own strange way, as close to a “happy” ending as a story this dark could hope….”
Variety: “…the “Breaking Bad” finale — perhaps appropriately — got the chemistry just right….”
There was no backlash this time, not from critics or from fans as there was with “The Sopranos” or with “Lost.” It was a collective moment of accepting the inevitable. The program and its anti-hero were no more. The talk now is just how prominent “Breaking Bad” and its ending will be in television history. Time will tell, as they say. Meanwhile, see the cast’s farewell video below.
Pictures: PR Photos
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/m8TGKNu-5HE/
Denise Richards Zoe Saldana Katharine McPhee Emmy Rossum Kelly Carlson Brittany Murphy
