Breaking Bad

July 1, 2017

This entry in the "Cultural History of Television" series is a stunning dissection of Breaking Bad, the critically acclaimed AMC TV series following Walter White's (Bryan Cranston) path from schoolteacher to drug lord. Stache's debut is both a close reading of the series and a delight for fans as she analyzes the marketing and fandom while also highlighting intense Internet speculation over promotional posters as one example of audience engagement. Stache delves into whether Walter is an antihero or outright villain, illustrates how binge watching on Netflix increased the viewer numbers, and takes a close look at the supporting cast in relation to the main character. Finally, the author concludes with a self-proclaimed "opinionated compendium" of episode synopses. Never losing her witty voice, she guides readers through a well-researched discussion of what made this a landmark series. VERDICT Stache manages a scholarly take on a television show about the meth trade and turns it into a fast, fun read, making this a essential for fans of the show.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2017
Although its last episode aired in 2013, enthusiasm continues unabated for Breaking Bad, the TV show about a dying high-school chemistry teacher who begins to cook meth. Stache's book has three parts, the first on Walter White and his alter ego Heisenberg; the next, on the show's cultural significance; and the last on the role each character plays in Walter White's life. Stache posits that Walt is neither antihero or villain but a wholly new kind of character. He's deeply flawed and ultimately evil, but he earns viewers' loyalty and admiration. Walt's bad choices are distinct from those of his partner, Jesse, whom viewers also love, but who has more redeeming qualities. Stache offers a plausible explanation of why most viewers hate Walt's wife, Skyler, suggesting that the writing did not do her character justice in early episodes. With its notes and bibliography and an opinionated compendium on each episode, the book should make any fan appreciate its exploration of the much-loved series as part of the larger culture in which it exists. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)