Dear Mister Cranston,

I've just finished a marathon of watching 'BREAKING BAD' – from episode one of the First Season – to the last eight episodes of the Sixth Season. A total of two weeks (addictive) viewing. I have never watched anything like it. Brilliant! Your performance as Walter White was the best acting I have seen – ever.

I know there is so much smoke blowing and sickening bullshit in this business, and I've sort of lost belief in anything really. But this work of yours is spectacular – absolutely stunning. What is extraordinary, is the sheer power of everyone in the entire production. What was it? Five or six years in the making? How the producers (yourself being one of them), the writers, directors, cinematographers... every department – casting etc... managed to keep the discipline and control from beginning to the end is awesome.

From what started as a black comedy, descended into a labyrinth of blood, destruction and hell. It was like a great Jacobean, Shakespearian or Greek Tragedy.

If you ever get a chance to – would you pass on my admiration to everyone – Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Aaron Paul, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Steven Michael Quezada – everyone – everyone gave master classes of performance... The list is endless.

Thank you. That kind of work/artistry is rare, and when, once in a while, it occurs, as in this epic work, it restores confidence. You and all the cast are the best actors I've ever seen. That may sound like a good lung full of smoke blowing. But it is not. It's almost midnight out here in Malibu, and I felt compelled to write this email.

Congratulations and my deepest respect. You are truly a great, great actor.

Best regards,

Tony Hopkins

One person needed a happy ending, although I suppose you could argue Walt's was.

If I'd seen Malcolm in the Middle, would I have found that funnier?

Hey, it might have just been a bit shit for all I knew.

Plus MitM was great and seeing Hal again is always welcome.

I've not read any of this thread, so forgive me if this has already come up. But through the entire 5 series nobody actually mentions Hank's missus' growing infatuation with purple stuff, do they?

Ooo, is it??

And I'm done.

Just finished it. Ended like I thought it would.

Walt was basically a cunt most of the way through the show with the exception of the telephone call to Skyler in the penultimate episode. Some great writing and acting in that little scene.

And direction. Following this is proving pretty tricky; giving The Bridge a go currently but really nothing's in the same league.

JMW wrote:

And direction. Following this is proving pretty tricky; giving The Bridge a go currently but really nothing's in the same league.

Got two episode left of season one (The Bridge), will finish today.  A different kettle of fish, but rather good imo.  Might finally get round to watching Generation Kill next.

For the first few eipsodes I couldn't shake the mental image of Data in a Swedish holodeck crime simulation, but I like her now.

Having just watched all this I've now just read all of this thread.

Interesting reading everyone's thoughts, especially earlier on when you didn't know what was coming.

One thing that stands out is that most people seem to think Walt's ending was some kind of redemption while Jesse had a happy ending of sorts. I saw it pretty much the other way round. Walt's ending is him being in control and checking out on his own terms, which was what he was selfishly aiming for all along. Jesse on the other hand is by now so far gone not dying is probably the worst outcome for him. It's a great reversal in effect - the guy who gets killed wins and the guy who lives loses. Jesse's final shot driving away and just screaming, compared to Walt dying calmly in the lab says it all.

Anyway, top stuff overall. Amazing characterisation and direction in particular. The plotting was a too contrived at times, but was willing to go with it for the most part, and was kind of exhausted at the end.