Season 1
Season 1The first season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad premiered on January 20, 2008 and concluded on March 9, 2008. It consisted of seven episodes, each running approximately 47 minutes in length, except the pilot episode which runs approximately 57 minutes. AMC broadcast the first season on Sundays at 10:00 pm in the United States. There were nine episodes planned for the first season but this was cut short by the writer's strike.
Walter White (Bryan Cranston) leads a mundane life as a high school chemistry teacher, living with his pregnant wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn) and his son, Walter Jr. (RJ Mitte), who has cerebral palsy. The series begins with Walter's 50th birthday. His life is complicated when he is diagnosed with stage-three terminal lung cancer. Walter decides to enter the illegal drug trade to develop a sufficient inheritance for his family before he succumbs to his cancer. He uses his chemistry knowledge to cook remarkably potent methamphetamine (crystal meth) with one of his former students, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul).
The two attempt to sell their product to a drug distributor, "Krazy-8", who believes that Walter is an undercover cop and attempts to kill him. Walter and Jesse manage to defend themselves, by kidnapping and killing Krazy-8 and his accomplice. Walter, deeply disturbed by the ordeal, breaks his ties with Jesse. Upon returning home, Walter and his family discuss long-term plans towards dealing with his cancer. While Walter originally wishes to slowly succumb to his cancer rather than suffering the side-effects of chemotherapy, his family eventually convince him to undergo treatment.
Walter is offered financial assistance from his brother-in-law, Hank (Dean Norris), who is a DEA agent, and from his wealthy friend Elliot, but turns down both offers. Instead, Walter decides to return to producing crystal meth, and tells his family that the money he earns is actually from Elliot. Walter then convinces Jesse that they should start selling their product to Tuco (Raymond Cruz), a powerful but psychopathic drug distributor. The two begin to expand their operations by stealing a large drum of methylamine, thereby allowing them to produce large quantities of methamphetamine for Tuco. Walter begins to come to terms with his secret lifestyle, and creates the pseudonym "Heisenberg" to conceal his identity.
© 2012 Taylor Hatfield
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