If I’m rating Season 1 of Breaking Bad honestly, I’d probably land around a 9/10. It’s an amazing start, but you can tell the show is still finding its full rhythm compared to the later seasons. Still, it does a lot of things extremely well.

Breaking Bad – Season 1 Review (My Pros & Cons)

Pros:

1. Walter White’s transformation is immediately interesting

Watching Walter White go from this miserable, defeated high school chemistry teacher into someone who decides to cook meth is just fascinating to watch. The diagnosis of lung cancer basically flips a switch in his brain, and suddenly he’s doing things he never would’ve imagined.

And what’s great is that the show doesn’t make him cool right away. He’s awkward, scared, and constantly messing up. It makes the transformation feel believable instead of forced.

Also, Bryan Cranston absolutely carries the entire season. The emotional breakdowns, the anger, the desperation, it all feels real.

2. Walter and Jesse’s chemistry is fantastic

The dynamic between Walter White and Jesse Pinkman is easily the best part of the season.

Walter is this extremely intelligent but emotionally unstable guy who thinks he’s above everyone, while Jesse is kind of a screw-up but still has a heart.

The way they bounce off each other creates a mix of dark humor, tension, and awkward moments that makes the show really entertaining.

Aaron Paul brings so much personality to Jesse that he instantly becomes one of the most memorable characters in the show.

3. The tension is already insanely good

Even though it’s only six episodes, the show already nails suspense.

Moments like:

• the RV cook

• dealing with Krazy-8

• hiding the bodies

• Walt trying to balance family life with crime

All of it creates this constant feeling that everything could collapse at any moment.

The show also doesn’t rush things, it lets scenes breathe and builds tension slowly.

4. The cinematography and style already feel unique

You can already tell the show has a distinct visual style.

The desert shots, weird camera angles, and long quiet moments make it feel different from most crime shows.

Vince Gilligan clearly had a very specific tone in mind, and even in the first season it feels cinematic instead of like a typical TV drama.

Cons

1. The pacing can feel slow sometimes

Season 1 is definitely slower compared to later seasons.

A lot of time is spent establishing characters and situations, which is important, but if someone goes into the show expecting nonstop action, they might feel like not enough happens early on.

Later seasons become much more intense.

2. Some side characters aren’t fully developed yet

Characters like:

• Skyler White

• Walter White Jr.

• Hank Schrader

don’t feel as complex yet as they eventually become.

They mostly serve as part of Walt’s home life in Season 1, and the show doesn’t explore them deeply until later seasons.

3. The season is very short

Season 1 only has six episodes, which honestly makes it feel more like a long prologue than a full season.

The story is just getting started when it ends.

Overall Thoughts

Season 1 of Breaking Bad is basically the foundation of the entire series. It’s not the most explosive season, but it sets up everything that makes the show legendary later on.

You get:

• the birth of Walter’s criminal life

• the start of the Walter/Jesse partnership

• the first signs that Walter might become something much darker

By the end of the season, you realize this isn’t just a story about a guy selling drugs, it’s about how power and desperation slowly corrupt someone.

So yeah, I’d personally give it a 9/10. It’s a slow burn, but it’s incredibly well written and sets the stage for one of the greatest TV shows ever made.