5 elements that set 'Breaking Bad' apart as one of the greatest shows ever [Pulse Editor's Opinion]

Besides ‘13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi’, another great production that glued my eyes to the screen was ‘Breaking Bad’.

At first glance, it’s a story about drugs—but beneath the surface, it’s a vivid portrayal of ambition, desperation, and the consequences of choices in the real world.

While some shows are carried by fiction, ’Breaking Bad’ earned its cult-like following through realism, emotional complexity, and meticulous storytelling.

Here are five reasons why it remains a high standard in television show history.

1. Walter White’s transformation is as realistic as human behaviour is

Walter White’s character isn’t just entertaining, it’s psychologically accurate. The show explores how ordinary people, when pushed to the edge, can turn into something they never imagined.

Played by Bryan Cranston, White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer finds himself trapped between poverty, pride, and the fear of leaving his family including his son who has special needs with nothing.

This is not a far-fetched idea; financial desperation has driven real people to crime, especially in broken systems where honest work doesn’t pay enough.

Walt’s transformation into Heisenberg is unsettling because it feels believable. It doesn't happen overnight, it happens in stages: small decisions that slowly justify bigger, darker ones.

The way he manipulates people and starts enjoying power mirrors real-world cases of moral corruption. The show doesn't make him a hero or a villain, it holds up a mirror to society and shows how easy it is for someone to break bad when the system fails them.

2. The supporting characters feel like people you know

Another aspect that sets 'Breaking Bad' apart is how real the supporting characters feel. Jesse Pinkman, for example, isn’t your stereotypical junkie.

He’s layered, vulnerable, and deeply affected by the violence and manipulation around him. You get to see his trauma, his feelings, guilt, and struggle with addiction, not in a glorified or exaggerated way, but in a raw, authentic manner that reflects real-life battles faced by many young people.

Take Hank Schrader, Walt’s brother-in-law. At first, he’s loud, joking, and seems like your typical Drugh Enforcement Agent. But as the series progresses, you see a different side: one that deals with, self-doubt, and the crushing weight of family betrayal.

His evolution is handled with care, showing how real people cope with stress and trauma beyond their job titles.

Even Skyler, Walt’s wife, is written with a shade. Her decisions, often controversial to fans, reflect the real moral conflict faced by people unknowingly pulled into crime. Her emotional turmoil, especially when trying to protect her children, is raw and relatable.

No one in this show is perfect. And that’s the point. Every character is a reflection of real human behaviour, shaped by circumstances, fear, and survival.

3. Little fictional gimmicks

‘Breaking Bad’ It doesn’t rely on outlandish plot twists, fantasy worlds, or last-minute saves. Instead, it delivers a story that’s fully grounded in reality—with a start, a middle, and an end that all make sense.

The writers had a clear plan from the beginning. Unlike many shows that drag on season after season until they lose meaning, 'Breaking Bad' stuck to its standard.

Everything that happens, from Walt’s cancer diagnosis to the final showdown, is intricately linked. Even minor details—like a ricin cigarette or a car wash—come back later with major impact.

That kind of careful plotting mirrors real-life cause and effect, where small actions can snowball into life-changing consequences.

More importantly, the pacing respects your intelligence. It doesn’t rush through events or spoon-feed the audience. It allows you to absorb what’s happening, make your own moral judgments, and sit with the discomfort that real life brings.

4. Crime is not glorified

Unlike many shows or movies that glamorise drug dealing and crime, Breaking Bad exposes the ugly, brutal, and often irreversible reality of it.

Yes, there are moments of high tension and clever tactics, but underneath that, the show is a reminder that crime doesn’t come without cost, physically, emotionally, and morally.

The meth business in 'Breaking Bad' isn’t portrayed as cool or exciting for long. From users with rotting teeth and destroyed families to drug lords living in paranoia and isolation, every aspect of the operation is shown with disturbing honesty.

Jesse, in particular, is constantly haunted by what he’s seen and done—something you rarely see in crime shows that prefer to gloss over emotional consequences.

The violence in 'Breaking Bad' is also deliberately uncomfortable. Deaths aren’t stylised with background music—they’re raw, sudden, and often devastating.

This was inventible when Gustavo Fring, the meth kingpin died a very chilly death.

5. Debate of morality comes to play

'Breaking Bad' is more than a crime drama, it’s a psychological and moral journey that challenges you to question your own values. What makes someone a good person? Is it their intentions or their actions?

When does doing the wrong thing for the right reason become inexcusable?

Walt keeps insisting that everything he does is for his family’s sake but as the series progresses, it becomes clear that his decisions are often about pride, power, and control.

And that mirrors real life. How many people in leadership, politics, or business hide their greed or corruption behind noble excuses?

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Pulse as its publisher.