Breaking Bad

One of the most acclaimed series of all-time returns this summer for a highly anticipated final season.  Before that time however, fans can catch up on Breaking Bad with the release of its penultimate season on DVD.  With brilliant writing and a cast decorated with Emmy wins, the series will undoubtedly become (if it hasn't already) a classic that defines the careers of all those involved.

For those who shamefully haven't checked out the show, Breaking Bad revolves around the life of Walter White (Bryan Cranston, TV's Malcome in the Middle).  Walter is a high school science teacher recently diagnosed with cancer whose treatments are placing a heavy financial strain on his family.  With a pregnant wife and a disabled teenage son to care for, Walter begins producing meth with former student and current drug dealer Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul, Cable's Big Love).  By these extreme means, Walter hopes to avoid leaving his family in a mess of debt.

Fast forwarding to season five, the recent death of a local drug kingpin dramatically opens up the drug trade in the area.  Walter and Jesse team up with enforcer Mike (Jonathan Banks, TV's Wiseguy) to produce meth in vast amounts.  No longer having a permanent lab to cook in, the team operates under the guise of a fumigation business in order to cook in a different location each time.  Jesse begins to have second thoughts about the business while Walter greedily makes money hand over fist.

Over the course of Breaking Bad, viewers have witnessed the metamorphosis of Walter White from a loving father and husband to the ruthless leader of a drug ring seemingly void of any morals.  I can’t think of any other cable or television show with such enthralling character progression.  Besides Walter, the most interesting storyline has been the slow build of his DEA agent brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris, TV’s Under the Dome).  Hank’s character started as a wise-cracking, immature agent and has turned into a man determined to bring down the drug kingpin.  Creator and writer Vince Gilligan has planted the seeds for a high intensity final season that, if the previous seasons are any indication, will not be a letdown.

Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season is the gold-standard of what other series should be releasing.  There are cast and crew commentaries on every single episode with all the major stars.  We are treated to uncensored episodes, deleted scenes, extended scenes, and even a gag reel.  Heck, they even throw in Chris Hardwick’s All-Star Celebrity Bowling where a team representing Breaking Bad take on a team from Nerdist.  Now this is what a season release should be!  I highly urge fans of the program to purchase this, binge on the content, and sit on the edge of their seat waiting for the season six premiere on August 11th.