Breaking Bad and El Camino stay true to original five seasons

Ally Bearman '20, staff writer

After 5 seasons of a drama/action tv show, ‘Breaking Bad’, main character Jesse Pinkman experiences another chapter in his drug-dealing life in ‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’. The netflix original follows the story of previously imprisoned Jesse after he escapes and kills the entire gang who had been keeping him captive. Jesse, being the most wanted man in America for his crimes, is attempting to leave New Mexico without being caught. Though the movie is easy to follow, I wouldn’t suggest it for someone that hasn’t seen the series beforehand.

To start off, I love the way that Vince Gilligan directed the film. Though the series is not a Netflix original, the movie is and picks up on the same kind of theme and vibe of the tv show. The story is based around consequence for action, and there are numerous since Jesse deals with the making and distributing of Crystal Meth. His partner Walter White, presumed dead at the start of the movie, was the one who originally produced the drugs with Jesse in the first place. Part of the plot is Jesse’s grief for his partner’s death, and the help he receives from his longtime friends; Skinny Pete and Badger. 

I also liked how the movie did a good job on continuing the story in the most effective way possible. The season 5 finale ends with a cliffhanger, and the movie carries on from the exact moment. There weren’t any new plot points, it was just a great way to receive closure on the show’s unknown mysteries. There will be no new season following the movie, so it provides closure and a feeling of comfort for viewers that have stuck through the entire series. I won’t spoil the ending, but it was something that needed to happen and will lead to happy new beginnings for characters. 

Overall, the only criticism I have is that some scenes were unrealistic to Jesse’s character and were only placed for dramatic affect. Aside from that, it was a well-thought out movie that did a great job of telling the story in less than a few hours. I would recommend this movie to anyone who has seen all 5 seasons.