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Breaking Bad is one of the greatest TV shows ever made. But it's not just that. It also become a cultural phenomenon. This Vince Gilligan's show takes us into the world of a high school chemistry teacher. We then become a witness to his descent into the criminal underworld after he’s diagnosed with cancer.
Bryan Cranston’s Walter White became the face of Breaking Bad. But it was Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul, who gave the show its heart and soul. Jesse was Walter's sidekick. But he became an emotional channel for the show who made us care when things got dark.
Aaron Paul’s portrayal of Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad is iconic. We saw him evolve from being a goofball to a drug dealer. And it won't be wrong to say that he is one of the most tragically complex characters on television.
Aaron Paul had opened up in an interview with Time about just how personally taxing stepping into Jesse's shoes really was. The emotional toll of living in Jesse’s headspace wasn’t something he could just shrug off at the end of a long shooting day.
Let's know a bit more.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.
Breaking Bad: Jesse Pinkman was the broken heart of the show
Jesse Pinkman first came off like a typical good for nothing in Breaking Bad. He was loud and impulsive. Always sporting a baggy jeans. But Jesse was someone who was always battling guilt and loneliness underneath all that attitude. He had a desperate need for connection.
He was the guy who never really had a chance at a normal life. Jesse never really lost his sense of right and wrong even as he got deeper into the drug trade. He is one of the most human characters on TV because of his moral struggles. And also how his own choices led him to his downfall.
The most heartbreaking thing about him in Breaking Bad was that he was still just a kid who wanted someone who believed in him. He was always searching for love and validation in a world that kept letting him down. Be it in Mr. White or in Jane or Andrea.
He was reckless and made some terrible decisions. But it was always tied to some deeper hurt he hadn’t figured out how to heal. He was the show's bleeding heart and Aaron Paul brought every ounce of that pain to life.
Breaking Bad: Aaron Paul on the emotional toll of playing Jesse Pinkman
It was devastating for us to watch Jesse Pinkman’s spiral on Breaking Bad. We cried with him and felt his heartbreak. But it was even more challenging for Aaron Paul to live it every day on set.
In an interview with Time, Aaron opened up about how intense the experience really was. He said:
"Anyone that’s a fan of Breaking Bad knows that all of these characters went through hell and back—especially Pinkman. It was a life-changing role for me, and there were a lot of ups and downs with this guy. In the first couple seasons, I tried to stay within that skin and stay as focused as possible. But [co-star] Bryan [Cranston] taught me that it’s okay to wash the makeup off at the end of the day and just be yourself. It was a bit of a struggle for all of us—it was an emotional toll. Playing Jesse was like revisiting an old friend."
It was a role that changed his life forever. But it also came with its own emotional bruises.
When asked about how he evolved as an actor post-Breaking Bad, Aaron said:
"Just rewatch the show and you can instantly find out: I am definitely a better actor from when I began. But when you are working with material coming from Vince Gilligan, it’s nearly impossible to not spread your wings. I’ve never taken an acting class: it was just trial and error, learning from my mistakes, forcing yourself to believe these situations that the characters are in. Sometimes you just get lost in these moments: You really feel like it’s actually happening. Some actors think of really sad things that have happened in their life to stir up genuine emotion. I don’t want to mess with that—it feels too torturous. I try to separate myself completely from these roles that I play and just create all of these new moments."
Aaron Paul’s portrayal of Jesse Pinkman left a lasting impression on fans as well as pop culture. Jesse’s pain felt raw to us. But it was Aaron who had to dig into that darkness day after day.
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