Watch Breaking Bad with Mumsnet: join the discussion and win an Xbox One

[AliceMumsnet]

Watch With Mumsnet, in association with Netflix, is back again this month – this time, with the critically-acclaimed series Breaking Bad, widely regarded as one of the most electrifying television shows ever to have come out of the US.

Breaking Bad follows Emmy award-winner Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a high school science teacher diagnosed with terminal lung cancer who, in order to support his family, teams up with a former student to manufacture and sell crystal meth. Millions tuned in to the epic finale last year; no surprise that Mumsnetters were among them.

Here’s what Mumsnetters had to say about Breaking Bad:

• "It's amazing - one of the most original dramas I've come across."

• "One of the best TV series ever … I loved it. The cast, the script, the acting...everything."

• "Now I've finished it, I realise it's almost as good as The Wire - so it's one of the best things I've ever watched on TV."

• "Just finished the last episode of Breaking Bad. It was intense. We've been watching at least one episode every night, sometimes three!"

With all five seasons available to watch on Netflix now, your viewing is sorted for the coming months (and, yes: we give you permission to binge-watch). Just come back to this thread and let us know what you think; everyone who joins the discussion will be entered into a competition to win an Xbox One console.

Note on spoilers: We want to hear your thoughts on everything, from plot twists to season finales and more - but if you’re talking anything that could reveal important plot details then please put Spoiler at the beginning of your post to warn others who may not have seen it.

Happy watching,
MNHQ

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We binge watched BB recently. I was hooked from episode 1 - I personally never found it too slow. I loved the complexity of the characters through all the series - nobody was purely good or purely evil. Astounding performances from every actor, even the secondary characters who were specific to each series. I fell out of love halfway through the final series (the train episode), but I think that was possibly meant to happen. Still watched to the end. There aren't really enough superlatives to decribe BB - I think it comes down to how consistantly well it was written and acted throughout. There were many times where we reached the end of an episode and just felt like we'd been through the mill for an hour. Brilliant.

Have watched it all and loved it. I don't understand how people say the first episodes are slow...

From the minute we see Walt in his comic underpants, I was hooked. And there was so much action in the first 2 episodes - the dealer in the cellar, the horrendous 'accident' with the bath. Not that I demand a lot of action - I love slow-moving, character-building episodes. And they are so beautifully made, every little detail has been thought about.

I miss it now, so much! Nothing else comes close.

I don't normally watch violent stuff, but this was so well written that I really enjoyed it. I did kind of wish it had stopped after the fourth season though. I found it interesting watching Walt's morals evaporate. Loved the inventive science bits.

I really really dislike breaking bad. I find the characters very one dimensional and never really warm up to any of the characters bar Walt Junior and Holly.

It's plot was far too far fetched in places and I feel that it has a lot of unnecessary grotesque violence in it that made me physically feel sick (and im usually not that squirmy).
I watched it all the way through as I thought it would get better as the series went on but unfortunately it didnt, and I was actually glad when I got to the end of season 5 and no longer had to put up with Walts nonsense.

Overall I found it horrific to watch,disliked the main storyline (becoming a drug manufacturer dealer) and found the characters dull.

We signed up to Netflix just to watch seasons 3 to 5 BB having watched the first two on DVD borrowed from a friend. I love the fact we can stop midway through an episode if we need to (with three children under three this is not uncommon!) and then next time we start up Netflix we have the option of just carrying on where we left off.

We are now totally addicted. I know people say The Wire is good but I couldn't understand a word of it. BB is excellent.

We watched all 5 seasons in about 4 weeks! It remains to be the best thing we've ever seen on tv. I found it pretty gruesome in parts and yes, violent, overall the acting was superb and the plot was hugely addictive. I wish we hadn't swallowed it whole, but we were so addicted, we watched it back to back. Loved Jessie, loathed Skylar and found Hank hilarious. Miss it badly, sniff.

We're now engrossed in House of Cards, also on Netflix. I'd highly recommend this if you're looking for something to fill the void. Completely different genre but fab acting and very addictive!

I've just started watching this.

On series 2 now, it's destroying my life lol as I'm getting very little done.
I like that I can squeeze in 20 mins of an episode and then come back to it

DH and I decided to take a look at Breaking Bad despite the fact that I hate anything to do with drugs. I watched and I'm hooked we've only seen the first 4 episodes and I realise that it going to take us months to watch them all as we can only manage 2 a week. So I glad I watched

I'm hooked. I don't like violence, or violent programs normally, but I'm addicted. Despite regularly announcing its too traumatic and I'm quitting, we just watches the finale of season 4. Neeeed to get my hands on 5 now!

Some of my favourite moments on BB were not even part of the plot, or throwaway lines.

spoiler

Such as Skinny Pete's hidden musical talent, or the Star trek plot conversation

spoiler

It's the little things that make the show.

So envious of those just starting to watch it! It's nothing short of a masterpiece, completely superb.

Love love love breaking bad. My dh and I watched the entire box set on Netflix in a week but then had to wait a whole agonising week for the final episode to be released. Well done Netflix for brining this to the uk and so quickly too. We hardly watch proper telly anymore. Well and truly worth wasting your time on

I've only watched the first episode but my husband assures me that season 1 is a slow burner and that it is well worth it. I will start again and see how I go

I've watched the pilot - I bought the box set in the summer.

I joined Netflix purely to watch Breaking Bad! After the first episode I was underwhelmed, but decided to stick with it, mainly as people told me to. I then watched all of the remaining episodes over a couple of weeks and they were the only thing keeping me sane whilst feeding my newborn twins. I loved the series -was probably addicted to it for a while! - and felt bereft when it was over, although I thought the ending was perfect. Through the last season I watched Talking Bad between each episode, just to make it all last longer. Anyone feeling empty after they have got to the end - may I recommend Orange is the New Black which is my new obsession, I'm just waiting for season 2!

We signed up to Netflix just to watch Breaking Bad after hearing such positive reviews. I'm so glad we did as I loved it from beginning to end. Yes it was gruesome in parts but I felt it portrayed the gritty reality of the drug world well, albeit with sensationalised plot twists and turns - it is a TV show after all. Seeing how the story arch unfolded made compelling viewing, all the way to its satisfying conclusion.

I don't think I would have coped if I'd had to watch in weekly installments! It's been great to watch episodes back to back and view it on demand. Thank you Netflix!

We loved this series. It took a couple of episodes for the characters to settle down and feel likeable but I am so glad we stuck with it.

I was pleased when Netflix put them online. It meant we could gorge on Walt all over again.

I began watching it shortly after the birth of DD2 to while away the hours of breastfeeding. I know some have found it a slow burner but I was hooked from the first episode - the black humour really tickled me! Unfortunately DH also got hooked so I ended up having to wait for him to watch each new episode! We still finished all 5 series within a month though, bingeing on 2-3 eps a night, we hardly watched anything else! Thank goodness for netflix

I love watching tv series' because of the long shifts I do I love box sets and have netflix for the very reason that I can't usually watch things when they air on TV.

I have watched many series' from prison break, orange is the new black, fringe, lie to me, the 4400 right up to 6 seasons of the Big Bang theory (oh my god I heart Sheldon cooper!!)

I tried watching breaking bad a couple of years ago due to the hype but after the first 2 episodes I thought it was pants and thought people who raved about it obviously hadn't watched a half decent tv series in their life!!!

As I've just finished the bridge and am currently wondering what to plump for next I shall give BB another go!!!

Mumsnet I'm holding you personally responsible for any time I waste watching BB that I feel I will never get back lol!!

Will report back after I've watched the first 5 episodes!!

I love, love, love breaking bad. Been working our way through on Netflix, with only a few episodes left to go. We've been hooked from the beginning.
I love Jesse. I went from feeling sorry for Walt to absolutely despising him. So many great characters - Gus, Hank, Saul. I will be sad when its over.

For anyone totally obsessed, then the Breaking Bad Insider podcast is well worth a listen. Vince Gilligan and various cast and crew discuss each episode, and although it gets a bit repetitive there are some great stories. It's also good to hear from the women on the creative team, as the show seems to get a lot of flack for being male dominated.

Just to throw the cat amongst the pigeons:

I've watched series one twice on Netflix and series 2 once. I can't get into this.

I find the story repetitive and I just don't care about the characters that much. Where are all the women characters as well??

Happy to be a minority in this case but I am really not buying into Breaking Bad. (Which is a shame because I love to get excited about a good show!)

Best Series ever...... i loved this crazy dude lol

My husband and I are on season right now. I can't wait to see what happens. I love the humor in the whole series! It's so nice to have such a serious show with actual humor in it. I never found any of it slow or hard to get into.

We recently signed up to Netflix, partly to watch series like this that we missed out on. Have to admit everyone I know who has watched Breaking Bad has totally raved about it.

From what I've read I'm not sure it's my thing. Hence why I missed it before. But then I think, can so many people, including some good friends, be wrong?

So right now we're Breaking Bad virgins but considering diving into the first series.