Last night it was possible to watch two extraordinary performances about people with cancer that left you feeling exhilarated.
First, in week six of HBO’s In Treatment, Gabriel Byrne’s patient April, played with exquisitely modulated emotions by Alison Pill, is becoming more angry and yet more resourceful as her illness progresses. Now April feels betrayed by Byrne’s Dr. Paul Weston for calling her mother (for whom she has mixed feelings: rage and contempt) when April was admitted to a hospital. April’s keeping her illness a secret from her mother as much as possible, but in the process, she’s turned Paul’s therapy-session office into her only haven. Her heartbreaking words to him at the end of this session, as she gathered her chemo-weakened limbs on his sofa? "Can you help me up?"
After that, on AMC’s Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston continues to collaborate with show creator Vince Gilligan in creating a portrait of the cancer victim as a metaphor for severe middle-age crisis. Having been told recently that his cancer is in remission, Cranston’s Walt found the news leaves him suddenly without purpose: He’d gotten used to getting-ready-to-die as his reason to live. This week, the news that his doctors want to try an expensive surgery to shrink a tumor sent him into a frenzied attempt to sell the 38 pounds of meth. He’s neglecting his family again, which only makes things worse for his marriage. And Bad has been amazingly good this season about filling in the emotional life of Walt’s wife Skyler, with Anna Gunn fine-crafting every worry, doubt, and guilty feeling of betrayal her character is experiencing. (And how about Skyler’s subplot at the office? Between her Marilyn Monroe birthday-party impersonation, and calling her boss on possible embezzlement, this role has become a rich one indeed for Gunn.)
Plus, another terrific appearance by Bob Odenkirk as shady Saul the lawyer.
A grim night of television? No: a great one.
Did you watch either of these shows? Both? What do you think?
Still haven’t gotten into In Treatment, but Breaking Bad is seriously one of the ABSOLUTE BEST shows on tv! Some of the best action, humor, emotion, everything! And it is so original and unexpected. I’ll be so sad when the season is over, but it has been a great ride this season!
It’s a shame Alison Pill will most likely be overlooked for Emmy consideration because she’s not a major star. Gabriel Byrne, Dianne Wiest, and John Mahoney are shoo-ins for noms, and Hope Davis could sneak in on name recognition alone. But Pill’s performance has been the most memorable this season.
They are my 2 shows to watch every week! I agree with you on all counts. I had withdrawal ‘cuz no In Treatment last week (Alzheimer’s Project on HBO) – so I am back on the couch with Paul Weston this week! Awaiting Oliver, Martin, and Gina tonight! Breaking Bad is edgy, hilarious, dire, all at once. Love the new Skyler story lines too. Yes, Walt is getting to like “breaking bad” and if all is right w/ his world, he no longer knows how to function. Glad you wrote them up together, they are my faves.
I love Breaking Bad and was happy that Bryan Cranston won the Emmy last year. But now that I’ve caught some of In Treatment, I think that Gabriel Byrne deserves an Emmy as well. I guess they’ll have to fight for it!
These two shows give me hope for TV…
I gave Breaking Bad a chance a month ago and now I am hooked.
Judging by the lack of comments here, I suspect I was not alone in being resistant to its subversive nature but wish others would discover this creative, disturbing and, yes, entertaining show.
It can be painful to watch. But if you do, you can’t take your eyes off Bryan Cranston’s character who gives new meaning to the word complex.
As a doomed man trying to take care of his family, he has forgotten to take care of the living while he is still living, forcing his wife to seek comfort elsewhere. Anna Gunn has indeed become the most realistic wife and office worker on TV, strong, vulnerable, principled, scared.
But it all comes back to Cranston, who brings dignity to desperation.
(Also, his exchanges with his junkie, no-account partner provide unlikely but great comic relief and has given us another character that is Breaking Bad on different level.)
I have a reason to turn my TV on for Sunday nights: In Treatment and Breaking Bad. I am hoping and praying that both series will earn Emmy nominations for best series, writing, actor (Cranston and Byrne), supporting actress (Anna Gunn for BB, Wiest, Pill, and possibly Davis for IT), and supporting actor (Aaron Paul for BB, Mahoney and–possibly–Aaron Shaw for IT, although I know the Academy hates honoring talented child actors). Toss in a couple of directing nods for BB, a guest actor nod for Glynn Turman, and you have an Emmy awards ceremony worth caring about.
I sincerely hope that the network television studios get wise to this sort of high-quality drama, otherwise they will eventually become as irrelevant to the television industry as the Republican party is to American politics in 2009.
Breaking Bad is easily the finest television series of the decade. It simply takes more chances than anything the Sopranos and the increasingly mannered Mad Men ever dreamed of.
If there was Emmy justice, it would gain nominations for Series, Cranston, Aaron Paul (who has managed to outshine even Cranston this season), Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, and the writing and directing.
The directing has been increasingly astonishing with each passing episode, with a painterly attention that puts most movies to shame.
Last night’s Breaking Bad was insane. This show just keeps better and better.
The writing on Breaking Bad continues to astound, particularly the mix of humor and honest to goodness tension and drama. The fact that Skylar isn’t a doting, nagging wife, but a human being contemplating a betrayal of her own feels groundbreaking. What a stupendous show. So complete is Bryan Cranston’s transformation into Walt that I caught a repeat of Malcolm in the Middle the other day and wanted to yell, “RUN!” to Reiss, Dewey and Malcolm when Hal came on the screen.
I am so glad to read this post and couldn’t agree more on the Breaking Bad praise, this is hands down the most riveting hour of television every single week. Bryan Cranston is amazing, but lately I have just been shocked by how good Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman) is! Wow! I truly hope more people start watching this show. I know it’s good when I find myself rewinding my DVR constantly to rewatch some of the amazing scenes.
Breaking Bad is awesome
I hope they sweep up the emmys.
(Allison pill is also amazing in In treatment)
hopeful emmy predictions
Bryan Cranston best actor
Aaron Paul best supporting
Anna Gunn best actress
Allison pill best supporting actress
Krysten Ritter best guest actress
Bob Odenkirk best guest actor