Breaking Bad is a show that thrives when it embraces elements of a high-octane thrill ride. Every action sequence in the series thus far has been perfectly choreographed, and the narrative twists and turns employed by the show’s writers have always provided for some of the most compelling television currently hitting the small screen.
Midway through the third season, Breaking Bad has tossed aside their old formula for success. During the season’s 10th episode, the writers backed away from their penchant for big thrills and showed their true prowess of the craft in an episode titled, “Fly.”
There is no action in “Fly.” There are no plot twists or surprises. In fact, the two main characters Walt (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse (Aaron Paul) barely leave their meth-lab. The episode mostly consists of one long conversation between Cranston and Paul that occurs while they’re trying to catch a fly that has infiltrated their lab. Walt’s pursuit of the rogue insect borders on madness. The actual threat posed by the presence of the fly is minimal, but Walt asserts that order must be kept by destroying the winged intruder. Jesse confusedly aids in this pursuit, helping his clearly maniacal partner in his quest for control.
With “Fly,” Breaking Bad’s writers have boiled down the essence of Walt’s character up to this point in the series. Walt craves power and control, and the fly’s presence in their working environment denies him both. His resultant mania to catch the fly is the ultimate expression of his frustration and stress with factors in his personal life. His inability to kill the fly is akin to his inability to control many elements of his own life.
Acting and dialogue drive the episode – and both find themselves in top form. The pacing of the conversation is impeccable. Revelatory bits of information about Walt and Jesse are tactfully peeled away, giving the conversation an air of reality. Cranston and Paul’s chemistry is near perfect, each actor bouncing off the other in perfect harmony with the feelings and thoughts of their characters. There’s an intensity these two bring to their performances in this episode that remains unmatched throughout the rest of the series.
There’s always a risk when a show decides to take on an episode in this manner. The “chamber-piece” format may alienate fans of the show who crave a revved up narrative full of twists and turns. This episode’s success relies on the deep, complex characters that the show has crafted up to this point. Every word in Walt and Jesse’s conversation is filled with rich subtext asking further thought and exploration. The tone of the episode is contemplative and metaphorical – something representative of larger ideas. While some may find “Fly” off-putting, astute viewers attempting to key into the arcs and emotions of the characters will not be disappointed.
No comments:
Post a Comment