"Breaking Bad" Pilot(2008)

All of the characters in this gripping show are complex and flawed (many very deeply), and they all make mistakes and sometimes baffling choices. In Breaking Bad, the line between "good" and "bad" isn't clear; in fact, nobody comes off looking particularly good here, including Walt's DEA agent brother-in-law, Hank (Dean Norris), who's brusque and often insensitive. But Cranston's award-winning performance is one of the best things about the show. Forget the spacey, clueless dad of Malcolm in the Middle: Here he transforms into one of the most iconic anti-heroes in recent TV history. The rest of the ensemble, particularly Paul, Giancarlo Esposito, and Gunn, match Cranston's prowess. The show has tight direction and the writing is intelligent, even as it deals with amoral characters.

"Breaking Bad" Pilot(2008)

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