‘Fly, the tenth episode of thirteen in the third series of Breaking Bad, as of writing is my favourite Breaking Bad episode. But as noted by many, it probably shouldn’t be anyone’s. In the context of what the show is so lovingly devoted toward, it doesn’t seem in fitting with the violent, criminally charged outlook the show plays to the tune to. And that’s almost exactly why it’s brilliant.
The episode focuses mainly within Walt and Jesse’s laboratory and an apparent contaminant that proves dangerous, this being a lone fly. It is a minor issue for most and to Walt when he notices it, but his method and want to rid the laboratory of the fly becomes more and more ridiculous. He becomes more and more devoted to an insect than the production of his famed blue methamphedamine. But why?
Let’s look at the bigger picture. Breaking Bad is a show about just that; no longer conforming to the role of a good samaritan due to societal standards. Walter White, and indeed others, slowly or quickly become mere outlines of who they are when met by the audience as they become more and more desperate to break bad. However, whilst many others follow suite, it’s Walter White’s transformation into the meth-making Heisenberg we care for.
Heisenberg is a character who is obsessed with power. He is motivated by being powerful, by being on top. We see him unhinge and declare his anger to those who undermine him, in large or small retrospect. He gets angry at Hank when he decides for Walt.Jr how much he should drink, he disobeys a police officer when forced to stand down, etc, etc. This is shown brilliantly by this episode. His overinsurance of the fly’s importance shows just how little shit he will take. This fly represents the things he let get on top of him.
We can only infer what happened in the prior 50 years of his life. We know little; he was a talented chemist on the verge of great scientific success but settled for teaching uninterested high schoolers. In the mere 20 or so minutes we catch of him before he bursts into the anti-heroic character we begrudgingly love, we see him as a shy, boring, reserved teacher who takes shit from anyone. He’s mocked and undermined in his own birthday. And due to the in-media-res, we can only assume this is regular.
This insect is a lot more than a contamination. It’s a representation of his ultimate want to subvert who he once was. Whilst it’s no secret, I think it’s often glossed over that all of this was what Walt wanted. He wanted to break bad. He wants to rid of the chains that hold us all back. It’s everyone’s dark horse of a desire to be the villain.
I love this episode because it is what the show is. It’s reflective of the entire series until this point.
Thank you for reading. any criticisms are ones I wanna hear so shout about it.
Submitted May 28, 2019 at 05:47PM by Hawkogaa http://bit.ly/2QuwCBX
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