Mise en scene analysis - Setting, Costume and Props (Breaking Bad)

In the TV programme ‘Breaking Bad’ it is about an average Chemistry teacher and a drop out young man who end up getting into the drug business, where the chemistry teacher uses his knowledge to make the most pure methylene drug. There are two main settings in this programme shown throughout the series, one is of their neighbourhood, the use of this specific placing of the two main characters can project some feelings toward the viewers; it gives the idea that they are normal civilised individuals living it a perfectly established neighbourhood, so makes it surprising for these men to be involved in drugs, it also seems that the town is quite isolated in vast barren land, leading to the idea of quite confined spaces where it may be risky to be involved in the drug manufacturing business as you may be easily caught, this keeps the tension high throughout the series as you never know how close they will be into getting caught. The second main setting is of a lab of some sort, either a lab being purely for meth or a school lab or even a lab in a caravan, the use of this setting clearly indicates what the programme is about as we are constantly reminded that this is about the manufacturing of illegal drugs, the use of a quite mechanised and developed lab gives the idea that this is serious and dangerous business and not just a small one, they are manufacturing mass amounts.

‘Walter White’ and ‘Jesse’ are the main characters in the programme. Walter is the Chemistry teacher and overall the boss in the production of meth. The costume choice in for Walter is quite casual and normal for a middle aged man, the shirt and formal trousers makes him seem educated but also makes him look quite serious with his high worn trousers, also this type attire is quite stereotypical in which a teacher would wear. On the other hand Jesse is the opposite, his outfit makes him seem uneducated and quite rough due to his baggy clothing, again very stereotypical in which you would see a person involved in bad business, it reflects his behaviour as an undisciplined individual.

The use of props may reflect a person’s personality and what they do. In this case, the first shot shows bowls of snacks and knocked over beers, these props indicate that these characters are quite laid back and maybe uncaring to the world around them, they live life in the moment and don’t worry about the consequences. The second shot shows typical scientific equipment and gas masks, these provide the information of what they do and their business, it also expresses that it is dangerous through all the protective clothing. The final shot shows ‘Walter’ holding a gun, throughout the programme there are many aspects of weaponry, this connotes death and danger and the seriousness of a situation, it emphasises that the business they are involved in is not safe and that it causes a lot of trouble from opposing groups (Other drug lords), again this keeps the programme high in tension and anticipation as the viewer is always lead to think of possible outcomes.