Breaking Bad (2008 13) was one of the most celebrated shows of a period that was widely recognised for its innovation and excellence in serial television fiction. This is the first book-length, single-authored study to examine Breaking Bad in detail across each of its five seasons. Each chapter offers close readings of pivotal scenes, key storylines, and numerous crucial stylistic arrangements, with evocative descriptions making clear an appreciative view of the series' artistry. What it reveals is how Breaking Bad's design and significance as a television serial both originate from, and across the show's many seasons take shape around, a set of dramatic stakes related to the characters' desires for dignity. It is an interpretation of ambition that sheds light not only on the achievements of Breaking Bad in particular, but also on central dimensions of serial television drama as an art form.".