Season 3 of Breaking Bad is a new chapter of Vince Gilligan’s tour de force by adding depth and intensity to the already emotionally devastated audience coming off the shocking plane crash of Season 2. At which point, there is a level of tension and guilt surrounding every character that is unbearable. Here, in season 3, the story progresses from being a meth business story to a psychological journey that tussles with morality, greed, and guilt.

Directed by – Vince Gilligan

Genre – Crime, Drama, Thriller, Neo-Western.

Seasons – 5

Staring

• Bryan Cranston
• Aaron Paul
• Anna Gunn
• Dean Norris
• Bob Odenkirk

Release Date – 21 March 2010

Episodes – 13

Walter White’s New World & His Decisions

Walter is at a point in the series where he is complicated to fathom. Is he doing this for his family or am I now the motive of greed? Walt’s decisions and reckless acts are impacting season 3, altering Walt from a family man into a manipulative criminal mastermind. Their relationship only deteriorates further with Skyler and the audience is presented with a metamorphosed Walter White into the dark descent he is embracing.

Jesse Pinkman’s emotional breakdown and quest for redemption

Season 3 takes Jesse on the most emotional journey of his life.  Following Jane’s death, Jesse is consumed with guilt, and his depression is shattering his life. Jesse’s journey is about a traumatized victim who attempts to escape and reside within his pain while looking for something meaningful to replace it. The relationship Jesse had with his life eventually becomes precarious, but there is a difference between loyalty, betrayal, and the idea that we can’t live without one another.

Gus Fring Introduction, cold calculative villain.

The main focus of this season is the character of Gustavo Fring, who appears to be composed and refined and a corporate entity; it soon becomes clear he is a callous drug lord. Gus provides a whole new perspective and game to the show as his association with Walt and Jesse is both a “golden ticket” and a “loathsome peril” for both Walt and Jesse. The troubled relationships and mind games between Gus and Walt made season 3 enjoyable.

The Cousins – A terrifying figure

The Cousins (Salamanca Twins) would be considered another heavy-hitter this season. These two mute assassins bring a cold-blooded fear like no other. Their unyielding resolve for their hit on Walt and their brutal, animalistic methods add a justifiable dark bone of malevolence to the show. Their characterization embodies that Breaking Bad is one of those shows that is not only a typical crime-drama show, but it also is a psychological thriller.

Skyler White’s Point of View and Fear

Skyler’s character becomes even more complex in season 3. Her suspicion becomes evidence that Walt is engaging in illegal activity. Skyler’s desperation to protect her family, her abandoning Walt and then her acquiescence to his blackmail also provide an emotionally-laden element. One begins to understand that Walt’s transformation directly impacts not just himself, but everyone around him.

Hank Schrader’s Investigation and Fear

Hank, an agent for the DEA, gets both the peak and the nadir of his career in this season. His growing fixation with taking down the meth business and his anxiety regarding the same contributes to him having a breakdown. The confrontation between Hank and the cousins is one of the greatest action sequences in the series and is arguably the most memorable moment in Season 3.

Walt and Jesse’s relationship: a dynamic of loyalty and manipulation

Season 3 takes the relationship of both Walt and Jesse to a whole new level. Walt refers to Jesse as his ‘partner’ but uses Jesse for his own gain. Walt is like a father to Jesse but also like a poison that expands the guilt and suffering he is under.  The poisonous and dysfunctional relationship is the root of the series and shown to the audience how loyalty and manipulation can come together.

Imagery and Cinematography A Silent Character

The imagery and cinematography has always been described as doing things at a whole other level and when we reach Season 3, we now start to develop a standard for the imagery. The images using landscape wide shots, a single shot with no dialogue, intense close-ups, and everything in between speak volumes in relation to symbolic imagery. Whether it is after the plane crash, or the Cousins’ silent walk across the landscape. Each image is a story.

Final Episodes Spins of Tension

The last episodes are an emotional rollercoaster. For Walt and Jesse, survival depends on their instinct and their willingness to consider the unthinkable. Gale’s introduction, then Walt-Jesse’s deadly plan with him, makes the show more sinister. The season reaches its climax in a startling, disgusting turn, which only generates more anticipation for season 4.

From this point forward, Walt’s transformation is visible; he is no longer just a ‘family man’ but a ‘kingpin’. Jesse’s guilt and loyalty, Gus’s calm vindictiveness, Skyler’s apprehensiveness, and Hank’s collapse all make season 3 a masterpiece….

FAQ

Where can you watch the American Series Breaking Bad, Season -3?

Breaking Bad (Season 3) is now streaming on Netflix.