‘Breaking Bad’ Retro Recap: ‘Cancer Man’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

What’s truly been fascinating about the early episodes of Breaking Bad, is the sheer fact that they defy convention in how they explore the downward spiral of an individual. Because often times, when this exploration pops up in television and film, it’s a gradual slide into darkness. Wherein our fallen hero begins to question their world and their normally solid and stable life, before dipping their toes in the criminal underworld. Which in turn allows for them to struggle with the decision to commit to evil before they finally say, ‘to hell with it’ and embrace the darkness and enjoy their new life as a mastermind criminal that does whatever they want whenever they want.
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But this series, has instead opted to flip the script on that exploration. Since Walter White wasted no time in trying his hand at becoming a drug dealer. Which has forced him to learn the trade and its darker aspects on the fly, and that’s led to some harrowing and powerful moments for certain. The kind that have seen Walter do some horrible things in the name of financial security and family safety. And it just so happens that the next episode in this fascinating series, stayed true to this staggered and skewed look at the downward spiral of a good man, by finally taking the time to show us the stable and wonderful family life that both of these men have surrounding them, and that made ‘Cancer Man’ one fascinating story for certain.

Because seeing how stable their lives are or could be only makes you feel worse about the decisions they’ve made thus far. For these two guys really do have wonderful families that care about them and want to see them succeed. Take Jesse for instance, since his parents are well-to-do and encourage education and stability, and it is quite stunning to learn that he came from a home where every opportunity that could be afforded to a young man was at his fingertips, if he simply embraced what mom and dad expected of him. And for that matter, Walter’s family surrounds him with love and care as well, to the point where everyone steps up to help him get a proper treatment plan in place for the cancer that is currently surging through his system.

Which really leaves one to wonder, why on earth would these two fine men turn their backs on a stable life that so many people would give anything to have? And well, that’s what makes this episode so special, because it answers that question. Because Jesse makes it clear that he sees the life his parents lead as a boring waste of time. One devoid of joy or variety and that kind of view definitely motivates a man who wants a little more out of life to rebel and find new avenues that bring him joy. As for Walter, well his journey here, harkens back to the ‘Pilot’ episode for certain. Since a lot of his financial struggles here, while a guy like Ken can flaunt the fact that being a douchebag got him ahead in life, served to remind Walter that cooking Meth was an act designed to give life a great big middle finger; all for dealing him a garbage hand for following the rules and being good at every turn. 

A realization that motivates Walter to once again indulge his darker side at the end of this tale and that seems to signal that it won’t be long before he is cooking Meth with Jesse once again. Not only to indulge that sense of justice, but to pay for his forthcoming treatments. But in the here and the now this really was quite the intimate tale, since we received an incredible look at the wonderful lives that Jesse and Walter could enjoy if they leave the bad, behind. But the choices we make in life, are our own, and there are consequences that come from those choices, and that is a theme that continues to permeate this titular first season and learning what kind of life these men lead now, after they’ve made some bad choices… will only add to the gravity and the power of their journey into darkness. Until next time.  

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