Color Symbolism In Amc's Breaking Bad

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AMC’s Breaking Bad is hailed by some as one of the best TV series of all time. The show’s amazing plot twists, engaging characters, and unconventional camerawork have earned many awards. However, it is the incredible attention to detail, and color symbolism that makes the series so captivating. “We always try to think of the color that a character is dressed in, in the sense that it represents on some level their state of mind,” said Gilligan in an interview with Vulture. Each character in the show has a signature color, but as their story advances, the colors change. Breaking Bad chronicles the life of Walter White, a brilliant high school chemistry teacher, who is given two years to live after being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Walt has a wife, Skyler, a disabled son, Walt Jr, and a baby on the way. Fearing for his family’s financial future, Walter decides to make as much money as he can in his two years by partnering up with his former student, Jesse Pinkman, to manufacture …show more content…

It represents volatility, murder, aggression, and even love. For this reason, it is the main color of Jesse Pinkman, Walt’s partner in crime. Jesse is an angsty high school dropout with no future. He is in constant moral conflict and Walt’s business forces him to intimidate customers and murder competitors. The life he has chosen causes him to lose everyone he cares for. Jesse’s last name, Pinkman, is another symbolic one. It is not just his identifying color like many characters. It is a mix of red and white, which represents Jesse and Walt’s symbiotic relationship. The two love and care for each other like a father and son, yet their relationship is volatile and often strained. Breaking Bad’s story is fascinating enough by itself; but Vince Gilligan’s ardent attention to detail through colors makes it an unforgettable TV show that will be hard to top. The show includes a depth of detail that has not typically been seen in a TV

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