Key Takeaways:
• Bryan Cranston is known for his portrayals of complicated, damaged characters.
• Cranston’s characters, Walter White and Michael Desiato, are compared for their similarities and differing circumstances.
• The luxury of time significantly affects these characters’ narratives and choices.
• Breaking Bad and Your Honor both offer captivating performances by Cranston and are available on Netflix U.S.
Bryan Cranston: The Face Behind The Damaged Characters
Best known for his role as Walter White in the popular AMC series Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston has made a name for himself by playing complicated, damaged characters. This trend continued in 2020 when Cranston took on the role of Michael Desiato, a judge caught in a moral dilemma in the Showtime series Your Honor.
Power of Time: Walter White vs. Michael Desiato
In comparing these two significant characters, a key element that differentiates them is the concept of time. Walter White, a teacher turned meth manufacturer, had the luxury of time on his side. In contrast, Michael Desiato faced an unforgiving countdown, leading to strikingly different paths for these characters.
Damaged for the Family’s Sake
Cranston’s characters, both White and Desiato, found themselves entangled in illegal activities, driven by their need to protect their families. Walter White’s cancer diagnosis pushed him into manufacturing meth, choosing to descend into a life of crime over treatment. In contrast, Desiato, driven by retribution for his son’s victim in a hit-and-run case, finds himself enmeshed in a dangerous path leading to incarceration.
Time: The Defining Factor
While both characters engaged in illicit activities, Walter White’s actions were a choice, unconstrained by time. He opted for criminality over a cure, becoming engrossed in the power and ego attached to his alter ego, Heisenberg.
In contrast, Michael Desiato was caught up in a whirl of vengeance with little time to pause or rethink his actions. His urgency and desperation starkly contrasted with White’s measured, voluntary descent into crime.
Public Reception of the Shows
Breaking Bad captivated audiences globally, garnering an impressive 9.5/10 on IMDB and 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. While Your Honor may not have matched in terms of ratings, scoring 7.6/10 on IMDB, the portrayal of Michael Desiato by Bryan Cranston held its own, demonstrating the actor’s versatility in depicting broken, complex characters.
The Art of Damaged Characters
Cranston’s love for playing damaged characters comes from the empathetic connection it facilitates with the audiences. The complexity of such characters offers viewers the chance to invest themselves emotionally, making the narrative all the more fascinating. Cranston’s extraordinary performances continue to captivate viewers, carving a unique space in the world of complex, damaged characters.
In conclusion, both Walter White and Michael Desiato, despite their varied circumstances shaped by the luxury of time, offer enthralling narratives. Bryan Cranston’s powerful depiction of these complicated roles keeps the audience engaged and sympathizing with their difficult choices. Both Breaking Bad and Your Honor are available to stream on Netflix in the U.S. for those who wish to dive into these riveting tales.
