Breaking Bad is one of the few mainstream shows that includes a disabled character portrayed positively—much less one actually played by a disabled actor. Considering that the show started in 2008, that’s an even bigger achievement. Granted, they use a lot of r-bombs. However, that was acceptable in general society at the time—I won’t dock them for being of the time, but I will praise them for being ahead of the time.
In episode one when Walter and Walt Jr arrive at school, Walter doesn’t make a fuss about helping Walt Jr out of the car. It’s treated as normal, everyday life that it would take him longer—it’s not something to be made fun of or to pity him for. Later in the episode, they’re clothes shopping, and some kids are mocking Walt Jr for using crutches. The show makes it clear that this is abhorrent, and Walter even knocks the guy over, stands on his leg, and says, “Having a little trouble walking?” This is the deepest that Walt Jr’s disability plays into the plot, and it’s great that it was included in the pilot. They were saying outright, “This actor is our guy, and anyone who bullies him doesn’t deserve to watch this show.”
In episode five Walt Jr and two of his friends are trying to buy alcohol, and the friends make Walt Jr ask someone to do it. He asks why he has to, and one of the friends responds, “Give me the crutches, and I’ll go do it.” They are leveraging off pity, and the two friends sprint away while he can’t and, thus, gets caught. Thankfully, the show portrays the behaviour of these friends as poor. Later, during the intervention, Walt Jr picks up his crutches and says, “This here, all the shit I’ve been through, and you’re scared of a little chemotherapy?” It’s unclear whether this is meant to refer to the challenges of being disabled or the challenge of ableism, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt as the show has thus far shown the ableism as the problem.
Comments