Chemistry in motion

Bryan Cranston can identify with his character in Breaking Bad. 'There are things that are good but ultimately he's depressed.' Photo / Supplied

Drug caper Breaking Bad takes a darker and more menacing turn this season - and with it, chemistry teacher-turned-crystal meth maker Walter White grows more unhinged.

Instead of getting round in his undies, or "tighty whiteys" as actor Bryan Cranston calls them, which was one of the lasting hilarious images from the first series, this time around his actions are more intense and unpredictable, he looks more gaunt, and wears dark sunglasses and a pork pie hat.

It's a look more in keeping with his drug alias name, Heisenberg - aptly named after the guy who came up with the Uncertainty Principle - than plain old unassuming Walt.

"That's the image that prevails in the second season," says Cranston, previously best known as Hal, the father from Malcolm In the Middle.

"The first season was an introduction to what this man's decision is, and the second season explores the ramifications of his decision. What are the problems? Is there anything good about what he has decided to do? And mostly, there's not."

During the first seven-show run, which screened on C4 last year, Walt was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. In order to ensure his family - pregnant wife Skylar and teenage son Walt jnr, who has cerebral palsy - are financially secure he decides to produce and sell methamphetamine in cahoots with former student Jesse Pinkman.

But now Walt is in a far more desperate situation, with a drug king on his tail and his family life being turbulent.

"For a smart man he does very stupid things. He thought he could control it because he comes from the world of science where everything makes sense. But now he's gone into this world of crime where there are no rules. You're dealing with people who make up the rules as they go along and then they change it if it doesn't work. They're influenced by drugs and alcohol and they love to kill," says Cranston.

"He thought he would be able to just apply what he knows to this new business: make it, sell it, get out, die and leave his family some money. That was his plan, but he didn't prepare properly."

To be fair to Walt, nothing could prepare you for coming face to face with ruthless and nasty drug lord Tuco. It's during a drug deal with this psychopathic thug, when Tuco turns on one of his own henchmen and kicks him to death, that Walt and Jesse realise there is no going back and they are in the drug trade up to their necks.

"He woefully underestimated what he was getting into," bellows Cranston.

For the last two years Cranston has won an Emmy award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his portrayal of Walt - and the show was also nominated for best drama series this year (losing out to Mad Men).

So why is it a hit show?

"It's relatable," he says. "This is a man I understand. And I know people like him. It's not a bad life, though. He loves his wife, and kid, and he's got another baby coming.

"There are things that are good but ultimately he's depressed and I think a lot of people go through that. He's imploded and now he's paying for it," says Cranston from the set of the show in the hot and sweaty Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he's filming.

Cranston believes the fascinating storylines and intriguing character development in the show thrive in what he calls the current "golden age of television".

"There is more compelling storytelling going on in television than there are in feature films these days because the television medium allows the storytelling to take its time. But in a feature you have to get to it, have a middle, and at the end you bring it to a close.

"On our show, at the end of each episode we probably ask more questions than give answers. It opens up whole new avenues, and we go deeper into the characteristics of a person and give them more idiosyncrasies and problems, and you can unveil more about them."

The other quality Breaking Bad has that makes it stand out is how it can't be pigeon-holed.

"When you see season three, it's different from season two, which is different from the first. It keeps everyone on their toes."

Lowdown

What: Breaking Bad
Who: Bryan Cranston, actor
When: Mondays, 8.30pm, C4