Jesse Pinkman is pretty much the most sympathetic character in contemporary television. You start off laughing at him or finding him silly and irritating, like a caricature, then you end up caring so deeply about him that it feels as if he's a relative or someone you truly care for. This character is both masterfully written and acted - truly a masterpiece of characterization. Thank you so much for the spot-on analysis in the video!
@Daniela F Hated Skylar on both watches haha. Very flawed. She was at Walt's throat for being a criminal but she was okay doing crime for Ted. She was upset with Walt for his meth stuff, then she was very into laundering his money and then she was again upset with him haha.
@rias - That's very interesting... what about Skyler, does she get better? I know most people hated her (I didn't, I just found her deeply flawed, like most characters in BB).
@dennistmennace - Excellent comment and point! I totally agree. Druggies are often de-humanized and Jesse's character on the other hand, humanizes them.
Jessie is the most traumatized character i think I've ever seen. It's insane watching the series a second time and realizing how many times Jessie tried to just get away and it never worked for him. People failed Jessie.
It's amazing, I watched breaking bad through the eyes of Walter White. Then went on to watch the movie then Better Call Saul and decided to watch breaking bad again but this time through the eyes of Jessie and wow, just wow, it's changed the entire show completely, won't say how but just wow
@Planet Clownfish Brain It's sad that you think like that... You aren't manly for not crying. The fact that you call him weak EVEN after everything he went through just because he cries is very very sad and weak-minded lmaooo
The scene when Jesse sees Andrea murdered just tore a hole in my soul. The gut wrenching sound he makes as he screams just breaks me. Even knowing Aaron was acting doesn’t make it easier to watch. I felt like I was watching a puppy being tortured.
Andrea, as a character, deserved better. I know that's the point, her death was unnecessary and shocking and helped tell the story of how sick Jack/Todd were, but still. It would have been a silver lining for her to make it out alive.
@Slender Man 186 no lol this was MILES better than marvels performance thor saying no turned into a meme meanwhile jesse saying it feels so real its disturbing
Sometimes not having experience in acting can be a good thing and lead to incredibly genuine performances. Take Dazed and Confused as an example - pretty much the entire cast was local kids literally just picked up off the street. Harmony Korine's Kids is another example, although the kids in that movie were barely even acting.
I in no way disparage Aaron Paul he is an amazing actor however singing just like acting as not an amazing skill millions and millions of people can do it
Honestly as much as we praise Bryan Cranston's performance as Walter White, Breaking Bad would have never been the same without Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman.
He kept the show together for me. His brilliant humanity kept the show from being "terrible people do terrible things the end" for me, and kept it going for me
as a recovering addict, aaron's acting on this show made me weep and made my skin crawl in so many instances. it was like witnessing moments in my life from another person's POV. i am in awe someone could pull off those low moments (relapsing or trying a new drug, realizing you're all alone) with such genuine body language and pain. he is insanely talented.
to think aaron didnt take a SINGLE acting class before auditioning for the role is mind boggling. hes so effortlessly talented, he cant depict so much emotion in such little time in any scene.
I was instinctively drawn to the character of Jesse. It's was refreshing to see a male character who shows so many feelings. Aaron Paul is a terrific actor, you've pointed it out very clearly to us in your video. Loved this analysis!
I seriously will never understand how out of the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of films I've seen over the course of my life, one of the absolute greatest performances I've ever seen is from a guy who never took acting lessons.
I’m so thrilled to see how much people feel the same way as I do. Bryan was amazing but Jesse was so intense so sweet and he had that edge - he was perfect. Can you imagine anyone else in that role? I can’t. He and Bryan were so connected it was perfection. A cast like that doesn’t come around a lot.
Jesse didn't flunk out, we are just led to believe he did. A conversation in an El Camino flashback he says "You were on the stage when they handed it me" talking about his diploma.
@Jacob B With all the times Walt has said "apply yourself" makes me think he wasn't always as egotistical as we see him; he probably failed Jesse because he wasn't trying.
@my guy He was likely able to float by with other teachers who didn't have Walt's ego. He probably fail in school due to lack of effort, not lack of skill.
If it wasn't for Jesse I wouldn't have gotten past the first season of Breaking Bad. I was instantly intrigued because you can see in the first season that there's so much more to him that meets the eye. And by the second season I was so emotionally attached to his character that it pained me every time I'd see him struggle with addiction, heartbreak, lost and so much loneliness. For me he was the most compelling character to watch, as Walt changed for the worse and became more unsympathetic each season.
The character of Jesse Pinkman goes from a young, naive, yet hopeful man to a broken, hardened, and hopeless soul who starts to see his own humanity even through all of the heinous acts he's witnessed while working with Walter White. Aaron Paul delivers a truly iconic performance by showing his vulnerability and ability to do good, yet showing us the pain, rage, and darkness underneath it all and how he will probably never be okay even when he finally becomes free by the end of the series. The final scene of him driving off in the car, laughing yet crying and screaming always stuck with me because while Jesse was physically free, emotionally he's so destroyed that he'll Forever be haunted by the memories of his past.
Jesse, as I'm comparing it, is the child of the entire show. He's the youngest, the most energetic, the likeable one... but he's also the most manipulatable, punishable, and the most painful person to watch suffer. Every time he's happy or did something good, I can't help but feel happy with him and congratulate him like you would a child who pulled off something beautiful, something wonderful. But then, when the gutteral, visceral pain and anguish/rage/fear kicks in, it feels like I'm watching an abusive parent beat their child... on a much, much worse scale. Jesse doesn't deserve half of the punishment he gets in the entire show, and he fucking SELLS it. Great fucking job, Arron, you beautiful bitch. You created the best performance for a character I've seen.
I agree in some ways but Jesse did mostly bring a lot of the bad things upon himself by being an addict and a bit of an idiot. He was a kind soul though
You’re analysis of Jesse’s movement is interesting, but you’re forgetting one key thing. Jesse is using meth (and other drugs) for most of the first few seasons; basically until Jane dies. So Paul is not only moving frenetically to relay character, but to mimic the movements of a meth user. You can tell if Jesse is meant to be using or not based on his colours. All they characters had distinct colour palates. When Jesse is wearing bright colours (mainly red and yellow) he is using drugs. When he is wearing black and white he is off drugs.
I've done some research on the representation of complex trauma and PTSD in fictional media and I think Aaron's work as Jesse is an absolute standout in the category. From the hyperemotional state he was in from Seasons 3 to 5A as he faces all these horrific events in quick succession to finally losing all that surface emotion that made him feel so human in El Camino because the 24/7 trauma/torture from the Nazis was finally enough to break him. It's incredible, incredible work.
As an actor, I love these videos. People underestimate Aaron Paul but he matched Bryan Cranston. Incredible performance and incredible to dive that deep and make it real on screen
In my opinion Jesse was always the hero of the story. Jesse always took Walt's abuse and punishment for his actions and still supported him until he crossed a line. And even then he was completely lost he didn't intentionally get to Hank and snitch on him he was manipulated in a time of desperation.
@Harambe well duh that’s Jesse’s own view of himself. No one is saying that he’s an angel, pretty much all of his actions and emotions that he shows throughout the course of the show tells he’s not a bad guy.
@Herzy so we’re just gonna ignore the fact those heroes who don’t kill they’re enemies end up killing hundreds more indirectly from the enemy they didn’t kill?
@Harambe I see that this is why I said in my opinion. But the year of actual slave labor and torture I feel works as his kinda redemption arc and even before that he had told Walter he'd never do what he said again(something he stuck true to when Walt told him to shoot him.) I just feel he's the one who realized what he did and reset his life in the correct way
@Herzy you're probably thinking of one of those marvel heroes, yeah theyre arent pure good too, they destroy cities while chasing bad guys and cause mass panic
@Yamila Sure, lets make this about sex because your armor needs a new buffing I guess. Skyler's character was specifically written so that the audience wouldn't like her. You can defend that character's honor all you like but you are accomplishing nothing really. I'll take author's intent on this one. Maybe you will join us here in the real world where a woman can be fairly criticized just as harshly as a man.
Even though Jesse made so many bad choices, Aaron’s performance made me care for him so much - I just wanted to crawl through the screen and take him far, far away from Walt and his entire situation. I wish we had gotten to see more of how he found his own peace in Alaska in the El Camino movie. He truly deserves that.
Jesse and Walter relationship is the most complex thing that we ever had in series,you cannot really describe it what exactly is it,its such a mix of emotions and all kind of feelings,just pure brilliance.
My favorite Jesse moment is when he tearfully asks Walt to stop playing him and just ask him to leave, when they're in the desert and end up in a pain stricken embrace. I'm glad I subscribed to this channel
Jesse didn’t want that embrace. He hated Walt at that point. Walt just took the liberty of embracing Jesse as if there was any chance that Jesse would ever want anything to do with him again.
Aaron’s style of acting has to be the most difficult style of all. You’re asking SO much of your body, voice, mental state. Like, notice that Bryan and Giancarlo also had the scene where they see someone get shot in front of them…..but their cry scene is more still and monotonous. The audio even cuts out so that their voices aint a issue. Aaron gets no cinema tricks and just has to destroy his voice, throw his body into it like he is trying to get to her, bangs himself against the car. Magnificent. This is why everyone was always so happy he won all those Emmy’s, doing this style so perfectly needs to awarded at all times.
Jesse is one of those characters who on the outside sounds and acts like a bad person with anger issues but on the inside he is a scared harmless individual who is kind and just wants to live happily
The question I have is how does an actor with this much potential and range go unnoticed and unbooked for so long before the show? This kind of talent can’t just pop up out of nowhere
I think a part of it was that Vince Gilligan and the other BB directors were able to fully bring out Aaron Paul's potential and put him in the right mindset.
OMG. I just binged the show a few months ago. I didn't realize they originally intended to kill him off in season 1. That seems so crazy because he was one of the only characters I was actually rooting for.
That emotional rawness and intensity are so appropriate and important for Jesse's character. The way he trusts people and is so horrified when they betray him. Jesse is an addict. Someone who feels emotion like that, super intensely and overwhelmingly (often a symptom of borderline personality disorder), its so easy to turn to drugs to try to cope with it all. It just makes a lot of sense to me that someone as highly emotional and empathetic as Jesse would end up having a problem with drugs. Such a complicated character. Very loveable
I finished watching breaking bad last week...oof. Words cannot express what emotions I felt when todd stepped up to the house, then they show us that jesse is being forced to watch. Those cries and the look on his face- such good acting. It felt so real
@onehitwonder yeah my bad. I binged the show very fast. No idea where jake came from lmfao. I also tend to confuse todd with jesse because I watched bojack horseman first and realized Aaron voices todd as well. Jesse and todd both wear hoodies and beanies too qwq
One thing I loved about the Aaron Paul performance was the total transformation from apathetic, lazy clown to competent professional. Such a contrast between his early interactions with his friends vs when he hired them to pick up equipment for his final lab iteration w/ Walt. I loved the arc.
Great analysis as always, but it's funny that at 2:32 you say he flunked out of school, seeing as Walt makes the same assumption during the flashback scene in El Camino, offending Jesse, who actually did graduate high school.
I think, against Bryan Cranston's ground breaking performance, sometimes Aaron Paul's goes unnoticed. But his performance in Breaking Bad is still one of the most phenomenal pieces of acting EVER done.
Let us remind ourselves that this is the same guy who played Todd Chavez, the loveable twenty-something who causes shenanigans wherever he goes, in Bojack Horseman
I think Jesse’s relationship with Jane was when the writers decided to have the watcher gain emotional attachment to Jesse. When Jane dies, it basically sets you up to always side with Jesse no matter what
I've been binging pretty much every Breaking Bad theory out there. I particularly enjoy seeing you come out with videos because I know your takes will be fresh, and great. Keep it up
Yes! I always thought Patrick’s performance as Howard was under appreciated. You know you hate the guy as a viewer but in reality he really doesn’t do much wrong as a boss and he genuinely tries to help Kim and Jimmy. Him putting Kim in doc review and being impatient with her early in the series and not standing up for Jimmy against Chuck are pretty much the only questionable things I can think of. He does attempt repeatedly to amend for these mistakes and he is consistently targeted as a punching bag. I think this comes down to how Patrick sells the character to us. A lesser actor would have either made him come across as disingenuous or unrealistically desperate.
I was in a play about prison inmates where I literally was kinda trying to imitate Jesse. Chip on my shoulder, smarter than people give me credit for, the anger that builds up, but still the empathy. I never said "bitch," but I was definitely trying to recreate Aaron Paul's body language and vocal cadence. I even had fake tribal tattoos.
Jesse is one of my favourite characters ever! Maybe I just haven't watched enough tv, but for a male character in the 2000s it was amazing to see him be allowed to have so much emotional vulnerability. Its so important to show that no matter your gender identity you are allowed to show your full emotions, and to be see that displayed in a show is incredible. In all his scenes I could feel every one of his words, and I can't begin to imagine what the show would be like if Jesse didn't make it past season one
My favourite part about this is that his maturity shows through his movement like at the start he moves like crazy but in el Camino he is still and ready especially in the cowboy duel at the end
Amazing video! Aaron Paul's performance as Jesse is breathtaking. I remember watching a table reading of the episode "Blood money", and even in just the reading you can tell he's pouring every emotion his character is feeling into the performance. It makes me think that even in the moments we didn't get to see, he was putting everything he felt into his character.
Truly an inspirational video. As someone with alexithymia, there is a lot on the emotional side that I am either unaware of or unable to identify in others. So much of what you described are things I felt while watching the show, but never took actual notice and understanding of. Hearing you describe and breakdown, in such great detail, all of the emotions Jesse portrayed in each and every scene.. just simply mind blowing. I now appreciate his raw talent so much more than I did before watching your video. Thank you.
After watching this video and reflecting back on BrBa, I’m now viewing Jesse from another perspective. Jesse is the Unknown Variable opposite to Walt’s Calculated Mindset. He’s the underdog that unexpectedly applied himself to learn and excel within a year. Though Jesse can act immature and doubts himself at times, he perseveres and see every situation through.
Even just seeing a 1 second clip of the scene where Jesse is making the wooden box with so much pride hurts. The juxtaposition to where he actually was during that flashback is powerful.
Analysing things like this is always interesting, although i think some people are just naturally good actors, and Aaron Paul probably doesn’t even realise he’s doing most of these things, he just does them.
i feel like aaron’s character is so loved as jesse pinkman is because he is such a relatable character to a lot of people in this generation, with so much stress it’s like seeing yourself on screen, beautiful writing an acting.
jesse is one of my favorite characters of all time, and aaron definitely gives one of the best performances ever. he’s one of the biggest reasons i rewatch this series so much. it’s always so fun noticing new micro expressions and subtleties of his performance i might’ve missed the first time thank you for the great video! always excited to see more
I honestly don't think Walter's descent into the criminal underworld would work without Jesse. Walter was already scraping by just barely with Jesse and unless they planned on making people like Mike and Gus less threatening it would have come off as really unreasonable for a simple Chemistry Teacher to survive the show for five seasons. Along with that Jesse is huge for showing his progression, as bad as Walt was I only started really hating him when he started hurting Jesse through things like letting Jane die, poisoning Brock, and giving him over to the Nazi dealers. Not knocking Bryan Cranston or anything he did a spectacular job, but it's hard to imagine the writing of the show without him and some of his best moments imo are when he had Jesse to compare and contrast to.
I don't comment often but it was a really well made video. Aaron Paul really did pour his entire soul into the Jessie character and you made me appriciate his talent even more. Thank you!
The best part about his performance is that I'm pretty sure all the subtle things you mentioned weren't written in the script. They seem like choices Aaron made for the character. That's why it was so satisfying to see him win 3 Emmy awards. He was truly the most likable character in the show, especially because his two loves died.
There’s a table read of one of the episodes, I’ve seen it here on KZclip, and what you say is absolutely spot on: “Aaron Paul always dares to go all in, in every scene”. During that table read Hanks actor literally just reads what is on the page, sat at that table Aaron *is* Jesse, he feels what Jesse would be feeling, he cries and is so great, so moving that he makes Anna Gunn cry too. Aaron Paul really does give it all, at all times. He gave stunning performances every time he was on screen. I couldn’t believe he had never been formally trained, I know he had superb writing to work with and excellent tutors available within the cast, but he was absolutely incredible.
By far my favorite character in the show. So much more relatable than Walter. I find myself more mad at Walt than sympathetic, whereas I’m constantly praying that Jesse makes it out ok and hoping the best for him. I feel like he’s me in some ways, and it makes the show that much more intense. And his acting… best performance I’ve ever seen in any show or movie imo… great video btw!
i love this video! i wanted to add onto the part of jesse looking up, especially when confronted with overwhelming emotions. he is a vulnerable guy who cries a lot, but he still lives in a world where thats not The Ideal Manly Attitude. so i think him looking up conveys him trying to contain his overflowing tears. consciously or unconsciously
I don't know how you gained the insight that you have on acting and techniques or where you learned to so succinctly express your analysis of multiple seasons of a character, it is truly impressive. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and making the shows a more interesting experience whether its the first viewing or a rewatching a show again.
I talked with my brother about this after I recently finishing the series (I know, I'm late to the party but it was still fun none-the-less). My brother was about the same age as Jesse when the show came out, he dressed and acted like him almost down to a T. And I think a lot of people that watched the show in real time, either were like Jesse or felt themselves as such. So Jesse almost puts you, or someone you know, into the show. At least that's how I felt in the beginning and it makes you like and trust Jesse almost instantly. I never really questioned if this kid was good or not. He wasn't there to hurt anyone, just make some money (whether it was $100 or $100,000). I was really happy I didn't watch it in real time, not knowing if Jesse lived or died. I have way too much anxiety for that. Thankfully, he was the only character's fate I really knew about so the show was still intense for me. Aaron Paul did a fantastic job with such a raw, pained, tortured, and lovable character.
I've rewatched this show, So. Many. Times. And I hadn't picked up on how he looks to the sky for answers during certain moments. Your mention of it has elevated my appreciation of this performance even more than it was already
Na cena que o Jessie invade o escritório do Saul, não só o Aaron Paul mas o Bob fizeram essa cena ser uma explosão. Quando Saul diz : no no i beber wanted any of this! Eu acreditei nele. Fortemente, acreditei nele. Vi que era a mais pura verdade mesmo sendo apenas uma encenação.
Utterly mind blowing. This was difficult to watch actually. Really distilling what was going into all of these performances. Thank you for this. Human beings are incredible.
Not only have these videos given me a greater appreciation for acting, it has made me more conscious of social cues from those in my every day life. Even myself
Fabulous! Thank you so much. I'm still learning about the show and I had a good feeling about the character of Jesse. But I didn't realize what an amazing performance the relatively young actor give in his first real role. How inspiring!
I didn't realize that, however praised, his performance was still underrated. He owned the character, he's one of those actors that just deserve to be part of Cinema history for that one role.
On Point. Thank you! I'm writing a gritty, dark TV show in the moment and want him as an lead actor. It will probably not happen, but having him as Jesse in mind helps writing the character and scenes.
Amazing observation. We, the viewers, notice these mostly subconciouly, but getting them laid in front of us via narration, underlined with video examples, makes it even better. Breaking Bad is a fantastic show. The writing and the acting are phenomenal and they all play off of eachother. Thanks for sharing your observations.
I just now rewatched the S3E12 where jesse goes to avenge tomas' death on the streets but walt saves him by killing those guys by himself. The build up to this scene from jesse sniffing in the blue meth and getting out of his car hiding gun in his pocket the walking towards the guys itself gives the goosebumps. Then his reaction of disbelief and relief, satisfaction all mixed together while watching walt kill thise men is purest emotion there. I could relate to the narration of this video more closely having watched this scene. Brilliant performance.
The scene where Andrea is shot, Aaron Paul's acting will always be at the top for most genuine looking and sounding pain I've ever seen on television. Of all the drama shows I've watched, none compare to the emotion Aaron Paul portrayed in that one scene.
can i just say also that aaron paul is ALSO an incredible voice actor (bojack horseman!!) and that he really clearly thinks about his characters and how they would act and react and respond to things. Idk i literally think he’s a genius and id watch anything with him in it tbh
Jesse is my favorite character in BB and without him the show wouldnt be what it is today. Vince is such a Genius for noticing that before the character even got fully explored and changing the script
What's crazy is that I don't even think Aaron Paul had any formal acting training before auditioning. Also I would highly suggest watching Bojack Horseman. Aaron plays Todd Chavez who starts off as kind of a wacky friend but gets an arc of his own. Fantastic show and his performance is great as well
Thank you, you are doing really good work, there is hardly any video that you made that i could not enjoy. full of insight, deeper understanding and moral lessons to be learnt, with your help i can better appreciate the series
I've always had like, a secret passion for acting. Not acting myself, just playing closer attention to actors, more than the average individual. And now I've found your channel and am watching every single video 😂
Watching the breakdown of scenes, you can really see the Bryan Cranston influence. They are both incredibly physical actors, Aaron got better as the show went on, and he came out a really well-rounded actor, just like Bryan or Bob Odenkirk, brilliant at drama and comedy.
They definitely deserved all their emmy wins. Bryan Cranston is a genius but very few young actors are as good as Aaron. He's both hilarious and heartbreaking
Jesse Pinkman is pretty much the most sympathetic character in contemporary television. You start off laughing at him or finding him silly and irritating, like a caricature, then you end up caring so deeply about him that it feels as if he's a relative or someone you truly care for. This character is both masterfully written and acted - truly a masterpiece of characterization. Thank you so much for the spot-on analysis in the video!
@Daniela F Hated Skylar on both watches haha. Very flawed. She was at Walt's throat for being a criminal but she was okay doing crime for Ted. She was upset with Walt for his meth stuff, then she was very into laundering his money and then she was again upset with him haha.
@rias - That's very interesting... what about Skyler, does she get better? I know most people hated her (I didn't, I just found her deeply flawed, like most characters in BB).
So true Jesse becomes such a character you really feel for and feel everything he is going through. Masterful
@Simon.M me too. I loved him. Then he killed Adriana and I never cared about any of them ever again. Ever. I never thought they would do that to Ade.
@dennistmennace - Excellent comment and point! I totally agree. Druggies are often de-humanized and Jesse's character on the other hand, humanizes them.
Jessie is the most traumatized character i think I've ever seen. It's insane watching the series a second time and realizing how many times Jessie tried to just get away and it never worked for him. People failed Jessie.
It's amazing, I watched breaking bad through the eyes of Walter White. Then went on to watch the movie then Better Call Saul and decided to watch breaking bad again but this time through the eyes of Jessie and wow, just wow, it's changed the entire show completely, won't say how but just wow
@Eden Feledrum sho ancestry nose
@Planet Clownfish Brainlmaooo
@Planet Clownfish Brain nice bait lol your pfp makes too much sense
@Planet Clownfish Brain It's sad that you think like that... You aren't manly for not crying. The fact that you call him weak EVEN after everything he went through just because he cries is very very sad and weak-minded lmaooo
The scene when Jesse sees Andrea murdered just tore a hole in my soul. The gut wrenching sound he makes as he screams just breaks me. Even knowing Aaron was acting doesn’t make it easier to watch. I felt like I was watching a puppy being tortured.
Andrea, as a character, deserved better. I know that's the point, her death was unnecessary and shocking and helped tell the story of how sick Jack/Todd were, but still. It would have been a silver lining for her to make it out alive.
@Slender Man 186 no lol this was MILES better than marvels performance thor saying no turned into a meme meanwhile jesse saying it feels so real its disturbing
@FeedCabb AAAHHHHH!!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!!!
@Castillo Galicia Ricardo it’s todays method acting. They’re more dedicated to the craft
What??? I thought we all liked watching that
That fact that Aaron Paul never took any acting classes is astonishing.
@Omar Hesham he didn’t take classes but he had roles in big love and others before this. It wasn’t his first job.
Sometimes not having experience in acting can be a good thing and lead to incredibly genuine performances. Take Dazed and Confused as an example - pretty much the entire cast was local kids literally just picked up off the street. Harmony Korine's Kids is another example, although the kids in that movie were barely even acting.
I in no way disparage Aaron Paul he is an amazing actor however singing just like acting as not an amazing skill millions and millions of people can do it
I had no idea he hadn't-- this made my jaw drop
It’s what happens when you have excellent talent and have the best actors and directors on set guiding you
Honestly as much as we praise Bryan Cranston's performance as Walter White, Breaking Bad would have never been the same without Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman.
@Cali B Def. In two of my personal favorite scenes, Jesse telling that kid to live a good life, and Gale’s death, Jesse was the star
@XolBurn Animations I think Jesse was the heart of the series
@English With Kristin oh okay, didn't notice that.
*Jesse
These videos really make you understand why acting is such an incredibly difficult skill to master.
@Kimbley no it wasn't??
@Pangloss6413 well it seemed to be close to his own wheelhouse
And why having a good director is so important
Yep it's just something that you have to born with but acting is never that easy
@Michael Dąbrowski he knows the ways
Aaron Paul made Jesse something truly special and the reason I am fascinated by Breaking Bad so much. Such a human character
He truly made the show for me
He kept the show together for me. His brilliant humanity kept the show from being "terrible people do terrible things the end" for me, and kept it going for me
Who's Aaron Paul? I thought Jesse Pinkman was a real person.
Made me realize why his scenes after being prisoned was just too crushing. He literally lost his character.
@Evan Davies yeah... i mean when Jesse crying I'm crying too
the crасkhouse scene, the hospital monologue to Walt, Gale, Andrea etc. every time
@Evan Davies same
@Evan Davies fr Aaron plays Jesse as if he’s nothing but a slave nothing more no will no anger just sadness an emptiness
@Tony D for me it's the scene where walt finds him in the crackhouse, that fucks me up every single time I see it
The scene where he's forced to watch as those assholes kill Andrea is the saddest scene in the entire show.
as a recovering addict, aaron's acting on this show made me weep and made my skin crawl in so many instances. it was like witnessing moments in my life from another person's POV. i am in awe someone could pull off those low moments (relapsing or trying a new drug, realizing you're all alone) with such genuine body language and pain. he is insanely talented.
It’s such a good commentary on the company that recovering addicts keep too.
Misery truly does love company… looking at you Walt…
Right? This might be my favorite depiction of an addict trying desperately to recover.
to think aaron didnt take a SINGLE acting class before auditioning for the role is mind boggling. hes so effortlessly talented, he cant depict so much emotion in such little time in any scene.
@Sir Bibton i think they meant can
@Sir Bibton Exaclty
Why can't he?
I was instinctively drawn to the character of Jesse. It's was refreshing to see a male character who shows so many feelings. Aaron Paul is a terrific actor, you've pointed it out very clearly to us in your video. Loved this analysis!
@BlazingTRS every hard ass on the Internet that sits typing comfortably from their rooms always thinks that lol
@Planet Clownfish Brain you think if you were in jesse's postion that you would be all stoic and collected?
@Planet Clownfish Brain I think you should change your name in only Clown.
He was a cry baby. No talent in that.
I seriously will never understand how out of the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of films I've seen over the course of my life, one of the absolute greatest performances I've ever seen is from a guy who never took acting lessons.
@Herzy They have different type of roles. Not comparable.
Aaron paul is not better than Bryan, just as Bryan isnnot better than Aaron.
I’m so thrilled to see how much people feel the same way as I do. Bryan was amazing but Jesse was so intense so sweet and he had that edge - he was perfect. Can you imagine anyone else in that role? I can’t. He and Bryan were so connected it was perfection. A cast like that doesn’t come around a lot.
@Herzy no one said that
He’s not better than Cranston but I’m with you
Jesse didn't flunk out, we are just led to believe he did. A conversation in an El Camino flashback he says "You were on the stage when they handed it me" talking about his diploma.
@NCR Soldier I mean, he did apply himself at the end and made Walt proud.
@Jacob B With all the times Walt has said "apply yourself" makes me think he wasn't always as egotistical as we see him; he probably failed Jesse because he wasn't trying.
@my guy He was likely able to float by with other teachers who didn't have Walt's ego. He probably fail in school due to lack of effort, not lack of skill.
@The Crimson Samurai all love but I really doubt that lol
If it wasn't for Jesse I wouldn't have gotten past the first season of Breaking Bad. I was instantly intrigued because you can see in the first season that there's so much more to him that meets the eye. And by the second season I was so emotionally attached to his character that it pained me every time I'd see him struggle with addiction, heartbreak, lost and so much loneliness. For me he was the most compelling character to watch, as Walt changed for the worse and became more unsympathetic each season.
truth
The character of Jesse Pinkman goes from a young, naive, yet hopeful man to a broken, hardened, and hopeless soul who starts to see his own humanity even through all of the heinous acts he's witnessed while working with Walter White. Aaron Paul delivers a truly iconic performance by showing his vulnerability and ability to do good, yet showing us the pain, rage, and darkness underneath it all and how he will probably never be okay even when he finally becomes free by the end of the series. The final scene of him driving off in the car, laughing yet crying and screaming always stuck with me because while Jesse was physically free, emotionally he's so destroyed that he'll Forever be haunted by the memories of his past.
I love this comment so much. So deep and accurate!!
Fr.
Jesse, as I'm comparing it, is the child of the entire show. He's the youngest, the most energetic, the likeable one... but he's also the most manipulatable, punishable, and the most painful person to watch suffer. Every time he's happy or did something good, I can't help but feel happy with him and congratulate him like you would a child who pulled off something beautiful, something wonderful. But then, when the gutteral, visceral pain and anguish/rage/fear kicks in, it feels like I'm watching an abusive parent beat their child... on a much, much worse scale. Jesse doesn't deserve half of the punishment he gets in the entire show, and he fucking SELLS it.
Great fucking job, Arron, you beautiful bitch. You created the best performance for a character I've seen.
I agree in some ways but Jesse did mostly bring a lot of the bad things upon himself by being an addict and a bit of an idiot. He was a kind soul though
spot on
You’re analysis of Jesse’s movement is interesting, but you’re forgetting one key thing. Jesse is using meth (and other drugs) for most of the first few seasons; basically until Jane dies.
So Paul is not only moving frenetically to relay character, but to mimic the movements of a meth user.
You can tell if Jesse is meant to be using or not based on his colours. All they characters had distinct colour palates. When Jesse is wearing bright colours (mainly red and yellow) he is using drugs. When he is wearing black and white he is off drugs.
though jesse also wears mostly black through the last seasons as he becomes more and more depressed
I've done some research on the representation of complex trauma and PTSD in fictional media and I think Aaron's work as Jesse is an absolute standout in the category. From the hyperemotional state he was in from Seasons 3 to 5A as he faces all these horrific events in quick succession to finally losing all that surface emotion that made him feel so human in El Camino because the 24/7 trauma/torture from the Nazis was finally enough to break him. It's incredible, incredible work.
As an actor, I love these videos. People underestimate Aaron Paul but he matched Bryan Cranston. Incredible performance and incredible to dive that deep and make it real on screen
I'm also an actour. Everyday i act like everything is going to be fine.
Its just like the show funny enough. People underestimate Jesse but by the end of it he's widely recognized as Walt's equal
I want to be an actor when i grow up :)
I’m an actor too well trying to be
In my opinion Jesse was always the hero of the story. Jesse always took Walt's abuse and punishment for his actions and still supported him until he crossed a line. And even then he was completely lost he didn't intentionally get to Hank and snitch on him he was manipulated in a time of desperation.
@Harambe well duh that’s Jesse’s own view of himself. No one is saying that he’s an angel, pretty much all of his actions and emotions that he shows throughout the course of the show tells he’s not a bad guy.
@Herzy so we’re just gonna ignore the fact those heroes who don’t kill they’re enemies end up killing hundreds more indirectly from the enemy they didn’t kill?
@Herzy compare that to walt though
@Harambe I see that this is why I said in my opinion. But the year of actual slave labor and torture I feel works as his kinda redemption arc and even before that he had told Walter he'd never do what he said again(something he stuck true to when Walt told him to shoot him.) I just feel he's the one who realized what he did and reset his life in the correct way
@Herzy you're probably thinking of one of those marvel heroes, yeah theyre arent pure good too, they destroy cities while chasing bad guys and cause mass panic
Wow this was an eye opening analysis! I loved the show but didn't realize what an incredible actor aaron paul is
@Yamila Sure, lets make this about sex because your armor needs a new buffing I guess. Skyler's character was specifically written so that the audience wouldn't like her. You can defend that character's honor all you like but you are accomplishing nothing really. I'll take author's intent on this one. Maybe you will join us here in the real world where a woman can be fairly criticized just as harshly as a man.
@15thobserver *disproportionate amount of hate towards a female character because she "interfered" with the goals of the main toxic character
@Yamila *fair criticism of an extremely unlikable character.
@Zero_Point_Energy Anna Gunn is fantastic and super underrated (mostly because of the unfair hate her character received)
@Zero_Point_Energy everyone just aces their role tbh
Even though Jesse made so many bad choices, Aaron’s performance made me care for him so much - I just wanted to crawl through the screen and take him far, far away from Walt and his entire situation. I wish we had gotten to see more of how he found his own peace in Alaska in the El Camino movie. He truly deserves that.
Jesse and Walter relationship is the most complex thing that we ever had in series,you cannot really describe it what exactly is it,its such a mix of emotions and all kind of feelings,just pure brilliance.
My favorite Jesse moment is when he tearfully asks Walt to stop playing him and just ask him to leave, when they're in the desert and end up in a pain stricken embrace. I'm glad I subscribed to this channel
I like that scene also jesse needed to Say those words to Walt
right
As is everything Walt does, it was an attempt to appeal himself to Jesse
Jesse didn’t want that embrace. He hated Walt at that point. Walt just took the liberty of embracing Jesse as if there was any chance that Jesse would ever want anything to do with him again.
Aaron’s style of acting has to be the most difficult style of all. You’re asking SO much of your body, voice, mental state.
Like, notice that Bryan and Giancarlo also had the scene where they see someone get shot in front of them…..but their cry scene is more still and monotonous. The audio even cuts out so that their voices aint a issue. Aaron gets no cinema tricks and just has to destroy his voice, throw his body into it like he is trying to get to her, bangs himself against the car. Magnificent.
This is why everyone was always so happy he won all those Emmy’s, doing this style so perfectly needs to awarded at all times.
Jesse is one of those characters who on the outside sounds and acts like a bad person with anger issues but on the inside he is a scared harmless individual who is kind and just wants to live happily
The question I have is how does an actor with this much potential and range go unnoticed and unbooked for so long before the show? This kind of talent can’t just pop up out of nowhere
A bad script, direction, or role can easily mask great talent especially if the actor doesn't self advocate for their skills.
I think a part of it was that Vince Gilligan and the other BB directors were able to fully bring out Aaron Paul's potential and put him in the right mindset.
My favourite character arc of Jesse is the evolution of his voicemail recording.
Aaron poured his soul into the role.
OMG. I just binged the show a few months ago. I didn't realize they originally intended to kill him off in season 1. That seems so crazy because he was one of the only characters I was actually rooting for.
That emotional rawness and intensity are so appropriate and important for Jesse's character. The way he trusts people and is so horrified when they betray him. Jesse is an addict. Someone who feels emotion like that, super intensely and overwhelmingly (often a symptom of borderline personality disorder), its so easy to turn to drugs to try to cope with it all. It just makes a lot of sense to me that someone as highly emotional and empathetic as Jesse would end up having a problem with drugs. Such a complicated character. Very loveable
I finished watching breaking bad last week...oof.
Words cannot express what emotions I felt when todd stepped up to the house, then they show us that jesse is being forced to watch.
Those cries and the look on his face- such good acting. It felt so real
@SaeBro same. Everytime my partner mentioned todd while we were watching BB i was like oh yeah! Oh wait. Oh yeah :(
@onehitwonder yeah my bad. I binged the show very fast. No idea where jake came from lmfao.
I also tend to confuse todd with jesse because I watched bojack horseman first and realized Aaron voices todd as well.
Jesse and todd both wear hoodies and beanies too qwq
Who is Jake??? I think you meant todd
One thing I loved about the Aaron Paul performance was the total transformation from apathetic, lazy clown to competent professional. Such a contrast between his early interactions with his friends vs when he hired them to pick up equipment for his final lab iteration w/ Walt. I loved the arc.
To me, he’s always been the standout performance and you can tell the amount of effort he puts into each episode
Great analysis as always, but it's funny that at 2:32 you say he flunked out of school, seeing as Walt makes the same assumption during the flashback scene in El Camino, offending Jesse, who actually did graduate high school.
I think, against Bryan Cranston's ground breaking performance, sometimes Aaron Paul's goes unnoticed. But his performance in Breaking Bad is still one of the most phenomenal pieces of acting EVER done.
Let us remind ourselves that this is the same guy who played Todd Chavez, the loveable twenty-something who causes shenanigans wherever he goes, in Bojack Horseman
"I like getting my picture taken. It's proof that I exist!"
I think Jesse’s relationship with Jane was when the writers decided to have the watcher gain emotional attachment to Jesse. When Jane dies, it basically sets you up to always side with Jesse no matter what
I've been binging pretty much every Breaking Bad theory out there. I particularly enjoy seeing you come out with videos because I know your takes will be fresh, and great. Keep it up
Could you do an essay on Howard Hamlin next or Patrick Fabian's performance as Howard? I really love these videos. Thanks
Yes! I always thought Patrick’s performance as Howard was under appreciated. You know you hate the guy as a viewer but in reality he really doesn’t do much wrong as a boss and he genuinely tries to help Kim and Jimmy. Him putting Kim in doc review and being impatient with her early in the series and not standing up for Jimmy against Chuck are pretty much the only questionable things I can think of. He does attempt repeatedly to amend for these mistakes and he is consistently targeted as a punching bag. I think this comes down to how Patrick sells the character to us. A lesser actor would have either made him come across as disingenuous or unrealistically desperate.
Rhea Seehorn...Kim Wexler..
I was in a play about prison inmates where I literally was kinda trying to imitate Jesse. Chip on my shoulder, smarter than people give me credit for, the anger that builds up, but still the empathy. I never said "bitch," but I was definitely trying to recreate Aaron Paul's body language and vocal cadence. I even had fake tribal tattoos.
Jesse is one of my favourite characters ever! Maybe I just haven't watched enough tv, but for a male character in the 2000s it was amazing to see him be allowed to have so much emotional vulnerability. Its so important to show that no matter your gender identity you are allowed to show your full emotions, and to be see that displayed in a show is incredible. In all his scenes I could feel every one of his words, and I can't begin to imagine what the show would be like if Jesse didn't make it past season one
My favourite part about this is that his maturity shows through his movement like at the start he moves like crazy but in el Camino he is still and ready especially in the cowboy duel at the end
imagine being such a good actor your character literally becomes a main one
Amazing video! Aaron Paul's performance as Jesse is breathtaking. I remember watching a table reading of the episode "Blood money", and even in just the reading you can tell he's pouring every emotion his character is feeling into the performance. It makes me think that even in the moments we didn't get to see, he was putting everything he felt into his character.
Truly an inspirational video. As someone with alexithymia, there is a lot on the emotional side that I am either unaware of or unable to identify in others. So much of what you described are things I felt while watching the show, but never took actual notice and understanding of. Hearing you describe and breakdown, in such great detail, all of the emotions Jesse portrayed in each and every scene.. just simply mind blowing. I now appreciate his raw talent so much more than I did before watching your video. Thank you.
Don't feel bad! I think these details are really subtle, you wouldn't notice them on a normal watch
After watching this video and reflecting back on BrBa, I’m now viewing Jesse from another perspective. Jesse is the Unknown Variable opposite to Walt’s Calculated Mindset. He’s the underdog that unexpectedly applied himself to learn and excel within a year. Though Jesse can act immature and doubts himself at times, he perseveres and see every situation through.
He really nailed it. He wasn’t cut out for this world, whereas Walter was too cut out for it.
Aaron Paul’s acting is what Nic Cage thinks his own acting is.
Best comment on this video 😂
I can't even imagine how different this show would've been if they killed off Jesse. I've never been so heartbroken by any other TV character.
Even just seeing a 1 second clip of the scene where Jesse is making the wooden box with so much pride hurts. The juxtaposition to where he actually was during that flashback is powerful.
The raw emotion this man can bring to the surface... It's one of the most intense characters I've ever seen in TV history.
It seems so simple but watching Walt devolve while Jesse evolves made for one of the most heart wrenching stories ever
He did perfect the role, he *is* the role. Although I cannot see Aaron act outside Jesse Pinkman and I've seen all his roles
I believe he was in an Episode of "The X-Files" back in the 90's.
Bojack horsemen he's great in it as Todd
It’s perfect for him… kinda how mike is for Johnathan Banks
I like him in westworld, he’s much more reserved and mature
Bojack horseman!?
Aaron Paul is really an absolutely fantastic actor. His emotional scenes have me… every. single. time.
Analysing things like this is always interesting, although i think some people are just naturally good actors, and Aaron Paul probably doesn’t even realise he’s doing most of these things, he just does them.
i feel like aaron’s character is so loved as jesse pinkman is because he is such a relatable character to a lot of people in this generation, with so much stress it’s like seeing yourself on screen, beautiful writing an acting.
No one on this planet could have played Jesse Pinkman better than Aaron Paul. He is the glue that keeps the show to the standard of perfection.
jesse is one of my favorite characters of all time, and aaron definitely gives one of the best performances ever. he’s one of the biggest reasons i rewatch this series so much. it’s always so fun noticing new micro expressions and subtleties of his performance i might’ve missed the first time
thank you for the great video! always excited to see more
I didn't know I could like Jesse Pinkman even more than I already do 😭
I honestly don't think Walter's descent into the criminal underworld would work without Jesse. Walter was already scraping by just barely with Jesse and unless they planned on making people like Mike and Gus less threatening it would have come off as really unreasonable for a simple Chemistry Teacher to survive the show for five seasons. Along with that Jesse is huge for showing his progression, as bad as Walt was I only started really hating him when he started hurting Jesse through things like letting Jane die, poisoning Brock, and giving him over to the Nazi dealers. Not knocking Bryan Cranston or anything he did a spectacular job, but it's hard to imagine the writing of the show without him and some of his best moments imo are when he had Jesse to compare and contrast to.
I don't comment often but it was a really well made video. Aaron Paul really did pour his entire soul into the Jessie character and you made me appriciate his talent even more. Thank you!
Jesse is the whole reason I watched the show low key, I loved his character
The best part about his performance is that I'm pretty sure all the subtle things you mentioned weren't written in the script. They seem like choices Aaron made for the character. That's why it was so satisfying to see him win 3 Emmy awards. He was truly the most likable character in the show, especially because his two loves died.
I finished breaking bad for HIM... So much love for the character and the guy who played it.
There’s a table read of one of the episodes, I’ve seen it here on KZclip, and what you say is absolutely spot on: “Aaron Paul always dares to go all in, in every scene”. During that table read Hanks actor literally just reads what is on the page, sat at that table Aaron *is* Jesse, he feels what Jesse would be feeling, he cries and is so great, so moving that he makes Anna Gunn cry too.
Aaron Paul really does give it all, at all times. He gave stunning performances every time he was on screen. I couldn’t believe he had never been formally trained, I know he had superb writing to work with and excellent tutors available within the cast, but he was absolutely incredible.
One of the most sad characters in the history of cinema.
I've always loved this character since I was like 13. So much easier to root for him than a monster like Gus, or a narcissist like Waltuh
By far my favorite character in the show. So much more relatable than Walter. I find myself more mad at Walt than sympathetic, whereas I’m constantly praying that Jesse makes it out ok and hoping the best for him. I feel like he’s me in some ways, and it makes the show that much more intense. And his acting… best performance I’ve ever seen in any show or movie imo… great video btw!
i love this video! i wanted to add onto the part of jesse looking up, especially when confronted with overwhelming emotions. he is a vulnerable guy who cries a lot, but he still lives in a world where thats not The Ideal Manly Attitude. so i think him looking up conveys him trying to contain his overflowing tears. consciously or unconsciously
I don't know how you gained the insight that you have on acting and techniques or where you learned to so succinctly express your analysis of multiple seasons of a character, it is truly impressive.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and making the shows a more interesting experience whether its the first viewing or a rewatching a show again.
From the creator wanting to kill off Jesse in the first season of Breaking Bad to Jesse having his own movie in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Would love a part II to this video where you talk about how these display of emotions made him the suave, & calculated character in El Camino.
I talked with my brother about this after I recently finishing the series (I know, I'm late to the party but it was still fun none-the-less). My brother was about the same age as Jesse when the show came out, he dressed and acted like him almost down to a T. And I think a lot of people that watched the show in real time, either were like Jesse or felt themselves as such. So Jesse almost puts you, or someone you know, into the show. At least that's how I felt in the beginning and it makes you like and trust Jesse almost instantly. I never really questioned if this kid was good or not. He wasn't there to hurt anyone, just make some money (whether it was $100 or $100,000). I was really happy I didn't watch it in real time, not knowing if Jesse lived or died. I have way too much anxiety for that. Thankfully, he was the only character's fate I really knew about so the show was still intense for me. Aaron Paul did a fantastic job with such a raw, pained, tortured, and lovable character.
I've rewatched this show, So. Many. Times. And I hadn't picked up on how he looks to the sky for answers during certain moments. Your mention of it has elevated my appreciation of this performance even more than it was already
Na cena que o Jessie invade o escritório do Saul, não só o Aaron Paul mas o Bob fizeram essa cena ser uma explosão. Quando Saul diz : no no i beber wanted any of this!
Eu acreditei nele. Fortemente, acreditei nele. Vi que era a mais pura verdade mesmo sendo apenas uma encenação.
Aaron (along with the others) took the great writing and elevated the art to another level
Utterly mind blowing. This was difficult to watch actually. Really distilling what was going into all of these performances. Thank you for this. Human beings are incredible.
Not only have these videos given me a greater appreciation for acting, it has made me more conscious of social cues from those in my every day life. Even myself
Fabulous! Thank you so much. I'm still learning about the show and I had a good feeling about the character of Jesse. But I didn't realize what an amazing performance the relatively young actor give in his first real role. How inspiring!
I didn't realize that, however praised, his performance was still underrated. He owned the character, he's one of those actors that just deserve to be part of Cinema history for that one role.
On Point. Thank you!
I'm writing a gritty, dark TV show in the moment and want him as an lead actor. It will probably not happen, but having him as Jesse in mind helps writing the character and scenes.
How is this guy not a major movie star right now??!! His acting is superb!!
Amazing observation. We, the viewers, notice these mostly subconciouly, but getting them laid in front of us via narration, underlined with video examples, makes it even better. Breaking Bad is a fantastic show. The writing and the acting are phenomenal and they all play off of eachother. Thanks for sharing your observations.
I just now rewatched the S3E12 where jesse goes to avenge tomas' death on the streets but walt saves him by killing those guys by himself.
The build up to this scene from jesse sniffing in the blue meth and getting out of his car hiding gun in his pocket the walking towards the guys itself gives the goosebumps. Then his reaction of disbelief and relief, satisfaction all mixed together while watching walt kill thise men is purest emotion there. I could relate to the narration of this video more closely having watched this scene. Brilliant performance.
The scene where Andrea is shot, Aaron Paul's acting will always be at the top for most genuine looking and sounding pain I've ever seen on television. Of all the drama shows I've watched, none compare to the emotion Aaron Paul portrayed in that one scene.
11:57 that scene puts chills down my spine and tears in my eyes. It feels like you're in the room and can fee everything
13:06 when I saw that I almost burst into tears of happiness for jesse then it turns back into the bad emotions while he's locked up in the lab
Only subbed recently, love your videos man! Especially your Breaking Bad ones, keep up the great work
can i just say also that aaron paul is ALSO an incredible voice actor (bojack horseman!!) and that he really clearly thinks about his characters and how they would act and react and respond to things. Idk i literally think he’s a genius and id watch anything with him in it tbh
Jesse is the heart of the show. I don't think Breaking Bad would be nearly as successful without him.
As a stoic myself who leans towards Walt, watching BB again shocks me to feel how traumatizing Jesse went through...
Jesse is my favorite character in BB and without him the show wouldnt be what it is today. Vince is such a Genius for noticing that before the character even got fully explored and changing the script
What's crazy is that I don't even think Aaron Paul had any formal acting training before auditioning. Also I would highly suggest watching Bojack Horseman. Aaron plays Todd Chavez who starts off as kind of a wacky friend but gets an arc of his own. Fantastic show and his performance is great as well
"As the character became not just the heartbeat of the series, but the moral guiding voice"
Truer words...
Thank you, you are doing really good work, there is hardly any video that you made that i could not enjoy. full of insight, deeper understanding and moral lessons to be learnt, with your help i can better appreciate the series
I am 53 years old and in all my years I can say IMO that Breaking Bad is THE Greatest television show I have ever seen in my life.
I've always had like, a secret passion for acting. Not acting myself, just playing closer attention to actors, more than the average individual. And now I've found your channel and am watching every single video 😂
Watching the breakdown of scenes, you can really see the Bryan Cranston influence. They are both incredibly physical actors, Aaron got better as the show went on, and he came out a really well-rounded actor, just like Bryan or Bob Odenkirk, brilliant at drama and comedy.
They definitely deserved all their emmy wins. Bryan Cranston is a genius but very few young actors are as good as Aaron. He's both hilarious and heartbreaking