Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on Netflix’s El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. So, Breaking Bad is in my top 5 series of all time and part of the reason why is because of the character of Jesse Pinkman, played brilliantly by Aaron Paul. Sure, he brought so much humor to the show (Magnets!), but he also tapped into something so real and heart-wrenching.
Jesse’s journey had so many ups and downs and his father-son-like relationship with Walter White had this incredible dynamic, but I always wanted more from the ending of the series. Even though we end with Jesse driving off, sensing that he is finally free, what happens next? Well, thankfully we got the El Camino movie to find out! Please note major spoilers have been left out for your convenience.
I thought that the movie was the perfect addition to this show. Jesse’s journey was necessary and important and it also brought us some cameos along the way, but they weren’t forced or over-the-top. There was something about them that just worked naturally. I loved filling in the blanks from some of the questions I had over the years, but the main focus was Jesse, which was really nice to see.
Throughout the series, we fell in love with the dynamic between Jesse and Walt, but sometimes other things happening with Walt’s family took up a lot of screen time. Not to say that they weren’t important or relevant, but I thought this focus on Jesse now was welcomed and earned. Jesse finally got his time to shine, while discovering what his next path would be and I thought that his performance was still so real and inspiring.
It can’t be easy returning to a character that you haven’t played in many years and yet Aaron Paul does it so well, making you truly believe that we are picking up with Jesse Pinkman exactly where we left him in the present.
There are a few beautiful moments with Jesse, where we get to witness some compelling flashbacks and I thought it truly gave the audience a chance to see Jesse’s journey come full circle. He has made so many mistakes along the way and there is always that “what if” question still lingering, but this movie allowed him to truly think about his past, while deciding what to do now in his present.
Every single action will impact his future, but Jesse continues to try and tap into his inner strength, which is beyond difficult to do after witnessing some of what he had to deal with, but he continues to fight and I think that he will always carry his past with him, but that doesn’t make him a failure in the present.
That just means that he is far beyond a character on a show. His character is so real and and remarkable. Aaron Paul brings a mind-blowing component to his character, presenting us with a captivating performance that will never be forgotten. So glad I took the time to watch this!
Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!
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