5. Breathtaking Cinematography
Maybe I've been missing the boat on other programs which can exude feature film like cinematography, but for my money, I've never seen a series that sets the bar so high in terms of how well it's shot. From the desert landscapes to the bright lights of Albuquerque, NM at nightfall, the sheer brilliance of primarily Michael Slovis's work here can't be underestimated as one of the reasons Breaking Bad is a true classic. Usually I've only looked forward to new episodes of favorite programs due to the characters and story-lines involved (or maybe special effects), but I can't say I've looked ahead to new episodes with the enthusiasm geared partially towards the types of eye-popping cinematography you'll see on this show throughout the entire run. When has a desert ever looked so welcoming? When has the corner of a diner, in a more run-down part of a city ever looked so alive?
Case in point, Breaking Bad excels where most TV shows do not in how beautiful each and every shot looks. There's just something about the unique camera angles, the long-shots, the close-ups, that suck you into this chaotic world and perhaps make you wish you were there, in the moment. This aspect will indeed be missed by myself, and I'm certain there must be others out there who can attest to the same level of respect for any of the cinematographers involved with capturing the pulse of the show's mise-en-scene. Let's take a look at another underestimated piece to what helps Walter White and the gang enthrall us from week to week...