"Breaking Bad," Good Acting

I've been keeping up with AMC's "Breaking Bad," and I still find it a little forced. About Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a man with lung cancer making crystal meth to pay for his treatment, the series telegraphs all its messages about middle-class struggles and masculinity. This week's episode also included a Big Statement about unemployment and why a punk like Jesse Pinkman winds up dealing drugs with Walt.

But I watched an advance of next week's hour, which premieres on Sunday, and I was really blown away by the work of some of the supporting actors. Dean Norris is hysterical as the DEA agent brother-in-law, and newcomer RJ Mitte is a revelation as the kid with cerebral palsy. With a few subtle expressions, Mitte (pictured above, right) shows all of his character's pain and bravery as he deals with his father's diagnosis. I'd love to see more of him on the show. (By the way, Mitte really has cerebral palsy.)

And Anna Gunn, as the dying Walt’s wife, Skyler, finally gets a chance to fully inhabit her character. She is heartbreakingly good during an intervention scene when the family tries to persuade Walt to undergo treatment. During the scene, as tensions rise and honest drama erupts, I decided I wanted to keep watching the show despite its obviousness. Check it out.