1. The making of a tragedy Martha Hagan

3. What makes Breaking Bad work? Vince Gilligan, BB creator & writer. Mr. Chips to Scarface

4. BB has won 65 combined Emmy’s, Golden Globes, Saturns, and SAG’s ( IMDb, 2014, Wiki, 2014 )

5. Classic elements of tragedy take Breaking Bad from the ordinary to the sublime. Analysis of Breaking Bad reveals three elements dominate: Plot, character delineation, and emotional release ( Fergussen, 1962 ). The Critical Process behind Media Literacy model is used to develop these themes ( Campbell, 2013 ). For a dramatic tragedy to succeed, the plot has to have what’s called “unity of action” all action revolves around one idea ( Fergussen, 1962 ).

6. 1. Description The “one action” of Breaking Bad is the protagonist, Walter White’s need to provide financial security for his family after he is diagnosed with Stage III lung cancer and given two years to live ( IMDb, 2014 ).

7. Walter White’s Life

8. Plot Line: Hank, Walter’s DEA brother-in- law pursues Jesse Pinkman, to get to Heisenberg

9. 2. Analysis: Plot & Character Reversals

10. 3. Interpretation: Character Delineation

11. Tragic characters have to be good and they have to be true to life but bigger than life Walter’s transformation from a mild and meek and “good” husband to a ruthlessly brilliant drug mastermind takes the audience on a roller-coaster journey. The theme of reversals is universal and keeps the audience engaged with Walter’s efforts to keep his two world’s separate yet together. All characters in Walter’s world are changed.

12. When characters experience a reversal we react with pity and fear

13. 4. Evaluation Why do we find pleasure in watching others suffer, engage in conflict, and experience horrific events?

14. When emotional tension builds we seek release, this is called catharsis Tragic characters hold secrets that lead to betrayal and loss (Fergussen, 1962). Walter recognizes his failures in the end.

15. 5. Engagement Watching Breaking Bad is a study in how tragedy is constructed. Millions watched the drama unfold. If you are interested in modern day television dramatic tragedy, at its best, this show delivers.

16. Conclusion To recap, the tragic elements present in Breaking Bad are unity of plot, character development, and emotional engagement. Vince Gilligan, his fellow writers, the cast, the cinematographers, audio and special effects teams, all combined their expertise to bring a truly exceptional television program to vivid and memorable life. Application of the Critical Process adds to our understand of dramatic television programming.

18. Sources Cited American Movie Channel Breaking Bad. (2014). Retrieved at http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad Campbell, R., C.R. Martin, B. Fabos. (2013). Media essentials, a brief introduction, 2nd ed. NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s Fergussen, F. (1962). Aristotle’s Poetics. Translated by S.H. Butcher. New York: Hill and Wang. Harnick, C. (2013). 'Breaking Bad' Ratings Are Huge, Finale Breaks 10 Million Mark. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-ratings- finale_n_4018093.html. IMDb. (2014). Internet Movie Database. Breaking Bad (2008-2013). Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/episodes?year=2009&ref_=tt_eps_yr_2009. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/episodes?year=2009&ref_=tt_eps_yr_2009 Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Break ing_Bad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Break ing_Bad