Breaking bad, breaking out, breaking even

'Breaking Bad' is known for its grim and gritty outbursts of anger and violence.

In the chaotic story of a meth-dealing high school chemistry teacher, time seems to collapse, and we feel as though the lives of the characters are moving inevitably closer to their ends.

This warped perspective wends its way through virtually every aspect of the story, intensifying the meaning we attach to the characters' precarious lives.

Hoping to cultivate a deeper understanding of the series, 'Breaking Bad, Breaking Out, Breaking Even' offers a new way of approaching the program though its complex treatment of time.

With its grotesque portrayal of life on the brink of death, argues Gertrud Koch, we can best view 'Breaking Bad' as a black comedy between Chaplin's 'Monsieur Verdoux' and film noir.