Many shows have come to replicate some of the tactics Breaking Bad has employed, to varying degrees of success. I maintain that it has had the single greatest influence in the past few years of television seeking a more cinematic look and feel. This is evident from the first episode, from the first script according to its writers and actors, but it became more and more pronounced as it went on, which demonstrates that it’s a major priority for Vince Gilligan to uphold and advance this kind of aesthetic.
So more recently we’ve seen people like Martin Scorsese and Frank Darabont and David Fincher become more active on the TV scene in Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead and House of Cards. Shows strive to be even more movielike now than ever before, and Breaking Bad advanced this trend to a further extent than any other show, period. Previous shows may have moved the bar more, but where it’s at today is thanks to the huge push from Breaking Bad’s contributions to the medium.
Judging a show before it has even ended is tough. It’s like judging a person’s life before they’ve died—you can’t fully evaluate the effect a person had, for whatever psychological reason, until their personal story has officially ended. That’s why the death of a public figure comes with such an outpouring of appreciation for the works and contributions they made in their lifetime. Until that point, they could still have done more, and their passing means that their legacy is more visible. I think once Breaking Bad has ended, and years down the road, we’ll have a clearer picture of what it ultimately will mean to the history of television. But from my limited perspective, I’m confident it will be the benchmark for TV quality in the generations to come. It deserves to be recognized for this more. Until it is, to my mind it will continue to be underrated.
