The Film
"All I have left to give you is this."
It's been five long seasons -- seriously, AMC dragged 62 episodes of Breaking Bad across five years. Now, we've come to the end of one of the best television shows of all-time. Don't think so? Maybe you need to watch Breaking Bad: The Final Season.
Now, it's important to note that this may be "The Final Season," but it's not Season Five in its entirety. Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season put the first eight episodes on Blu-ray back in June. Like AMC's broadcast run, this season is being broken up into two separate Blu-ray releases, both of which are well worth the purchase price.
[From here, the review is going to have some spoilers, people. If you haven't watched the season yet (say what??), jump ahead to find out about the picture, the sound and the extras.]
Season Five is where Breaking Bad comes to a bloody, sometimes unbelievable end. A handful of fans didn't appreciate the show's ending -- or maybe they did appreciate it, but still called it out for being a bit unrealistic. That said, this is the show that gave us a two-headed turtle, at least one death by Stevia, and a whole lot of hydrofluoric acid.
For some characters, this season was a lot bloodier than others. After all, Walter White (Bryan Cranston) had to get his affairs in order. His cancer returned and tensions were at an all-time high, with his family and his colleagues-in-crime. Of course, not even cancer could beat the chem-teacher-turned-meth-kingpin. If Walter was going out, it would be on his own terms. However, he still needed to confront Hank (Dean Norris), "handle" Jesse (Aaron Paul), and lose all of his money. I'm not even scratching the surface of what happened this season because if you haven't seen this half (or the first), it shouldn't be completely spoiled. If you have, Breaking Bad: The Final Season is probably etched into your brain and will ruin pretty much every other TV show finale to follow.
The Picture
Breaking Bad isn't the best-looking TV show. There are some darker moments that are a bit blah, especially when inside the White residence (although their bedroom has some surprisingly warm colors). However, it's safe to say that this 1.78:1 transfer is true to the show's original broadcast, with the Blu-ray taking it up a slight notch. As mentioned, some of the colors can be dim, but they are also pretty spot-on, with impressive black levels. Outdoor shots offer the best and brightest colors, with lush grass, deep brown desert shots and a bit of a pop on Lydia's blue coat. Closeups offer the strongest imagery in these episodes, even when Walt is digging a hole in the middle of the desert in the middle of the night. Fans will really appreciate this Blu-ray, as it will allow them to dissect even more details than ever before.
The Sound
The image may offer a nice step up, but the audio is even more impressive. Sony has given the show a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which it uses wisely. Dialogue is always clear, the soundtrack is bold, and those gunshots ring through the entire soundfield, with great directionality. It's a real treat.
The Extras
That said, this set has a pretty hearty collection of extras, especially considering that there are only two discs (well, technically three). Every single episode comes with a pair of EPK promos from AMC, as well as its own commentary. There's also one table read, separate confessions from Walt and Jesse, a hilarious "alternate" ending, and a nifty short that replays a pivotal scene from "Blood Money" three different ways to show "The Layers of a Sound Mix."
Also worth noting is a completely separate Blu-ray that looks like it was a bit of an afterthought. It's the Mythbusters: Breaking Bad Special, which is included inside the set inside a paper sleeve. Originally broacast back in August, the one-hour episode dissected a few of the show's key moments, including the powers of mercury fulminate and whether or not hydrofluoric acid could eat through a bathtub. It's a must-see for fans of the show and not just because it includes show creator Vince Gilligan and star Aaron Paul.
Final Thoughts
Breaking Bad went out on a super-high note -- the kind you can only get from the purest, bluest little crystals. The bummer of Breaking Bad: The Final Season is that it's not the whole final season, but just the last half. So if you thought it was cheesy that AMC broke up the season during its broadcast run, you'll probably wince at this release upon first glance. That said, it's going to be fleeting. Between the quality of the episodes, the AV and the extras, Sony has cooked up a little nice set for fans of the series.
Product Details
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