Romano Dias knew he was in trouble immediately after consuming a large quantity of what he believed to be a fruit-flavored health drink. He was right to worry: The liquid in his glass turned out to be pure crystal meth.
This past Saturday, a group of Breaking Bad rubberneckers turned up for a mock funeral that mourned the AMC series' protagonist, Walter White. Pitched as a fundraiser for the homeless, the ceremony was held at a real cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where inconsiderate shitbags loitered on grave markers of real dead people, including one of a child who didn't live to see his third birthday. For fuck's sake.
Go ahead and add "Breaking Bad superfan" to the list of things you and Sir Anthony Hopkins have in common.
While the rest of the world grieves for the loss of Breaking Bad, one group of die-hard fans has taken a more literal approach to mourning the show's demise.
There was never any doubt that Breaking Bad cared about its viewers. The show's most impressive feat to me was its devotion to clarity, no matter how complicated its character dynamics or intricate its plot developments. Breaking Bad explained everything and then re-explained it. Jumps in logic were extremely rare and when they were employed—Jesse's a-ha ricin moment from earlier this season, in which he deduced way too much given way too little information, and wielded his hunch like a weapon—they sent the plot forward with too much velocity to upset anyone but nitpickers.
If the internet is an echo chamber, then it's my turn to say it — Breaking Bad is the best TV show currently — if not ever — on the air. And it's not just me. Ask the six million plus waiting to exhale after tonight's finale. Ask the viewers who call 911 when the cable goes out. Ask the people who wait outside Aaron Paul's house just to talk to him, which he happily does. Ask the fans who donated $1.8 million to charity, just for the chance to watch the finale in an LA cemetery.
Conan's Breaking Badapalooza took place last night, and it was as methamphantastic as advertised.
The final season of Breaking Bad, now down to two "really messy" remaining installments, has incited some curious behavior. Before the season premiered, Irish fans showed up at Aaron Paul's house, as if that were a reasonable thing to do. When the Cable went out before a new episode was supposed to air in one Connecticut town, local residents called 911 instead of Cablevision. And this seems like a peculiar promotion: An Albuquerque rehab center is honoring Vince Gilligan's AMC series' finale—with two free scholarships.
There is a lot to like in Jimmy Fallon's highly anticipated parody of AMC's Breaking Bad, whether you're a fan of Breaking Bad, a fan of Late Night, or just a fan of jokes.
If the Internet has one discernible talent, it's the uncanny ability to take two seemingly disparate things and mash them together in a way that just make sense.
