Breaking Bad

2 0 0 8 – 2 0 1 3 (USA)
62 x 60 minute episodes

For most of its run, Breaking Bad was barely watched at all. And then, somewhere around season four, the mainstream started to take notice.

The story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) – a genial high school chemistry teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who starts cooking crystal meth to secure his family’s future following a terminal lung cancer diagnosis – is a bleak but hilarious crime epic.

To ensure that his pregnant wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), and disabled teenage son (RJ Mitte) have a financial future, Walter uses his chemistry background to create the world’s finest crystal methamphetamine.

To sell his signature “blue meth,” he teams up with Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), a former flunking student of his, who handles the street-level distribution.

The meth makes them very rich very quickly, but it attracts the attention of Walter’s DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) brother-in-law, Hank (Dean Norris).

As Walter and Jesse’s status in the drug world escalates, Walter becomes a dangerous criminal – adopting the ruthless underground alter ego “Heisenberg” –  and Jesse becomes a hot-headed salesman.

Hank is always hot on his tail, forcing Walter to devise new ways to cover his tracks.

As each season progresses, you find yourself thinking, “Right, I’m done with this guy!” but Cranston’s remarkable performance means that even at his most despicable – and he gets pretty low – you can always see his lethally pragmatic point of view.

Over its run, the series earned 16 Emmy Awards, including four Outstanding Lead Actor wins for Bryan Cranston, three for Aaron Paul, and two for Anna Gunn, concluding with a dominant sweep for Outstanding Drama Series.

Walter White (Heisenberg)
Bryan Cranston
Jesse Pinkman
Aaron Paul
Skyler White
Anna Gunn
Walter White, Jr./Flynn
RJ Mitte
DEA Agent Hank Schrader
Dean Norris
Saul Goodman
Bob Odenkirk
Gustavo “Gus” Fring
Giancarlo Esposito
Mike Ehrmantraut
Jonathan Banks
Jane Margolis 
Krysten Ritter
Marie Schrader
Betsy Brandt
Elliott Schwartz
Adam Godley
Gretchen Schwartz
Jessica Hecht
DEA Agent Steven Gomez
Steven Michael Quezada
Jack Welker (Uncle Jack)
Michael Bowen
Todd Alquist
Jesse Plemons
Kenny
Kevin Rankin
Juan Bolsa
Javier Grajeda
Skinny Pete
Charles Baker
Badger
Matt Jones
Tyrus Kitt
Ray Campbell
Andrea Cantillo
Emily Rios
Brock Cantillo
Ian Posada
Lydia Rodarte-Quayle
Laura Fraser
Mrs Pinkman
Tess Harper
Mr Pinkman
Michael Bofshever
Donald Margolis
John de Lancie
Ted Beneke
Christopher Cousins
Carmen Molina
Carmen Serano
Francesca
Tina Parker
Gale Boetticher
David Costabile
Tio Salamanca
Mark Margolis
Tuco Salamanca
Raymond Cruz
Leonel Salamanca
Daniel Moncada
Marco Salamanca
Luis Moncada
Don Eladio Vuente
Steven Bauer
Krazy-8 (Domingo Molina)
Max Arciniega
Frankie
Patrick Sane
Gaff
Maurice Compte
Declan
Louis Ferreira
Peter Schuler
Norbert Weisser