When Vince Gilligan pitched Breaking Bad to AMC, he reportedly described the show's entire arc in one sentence: he wanted to take Mr. Chips and turn him into Scarface. It's a strange comparison on its face. Mr. Chips is the gentle, beloved schoolteacher from the 1934 novel Goodbye, Mr. Chips. Scarface is Tony Montana, a … Continue reading The Evolution of Walter White: From Mr. Chips to Scarface
Antihero
The Evolution of Severus Snape: From Antagonist to Tragic Hero
There is a moment in the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone that nobody remembers, because it has nothing to do with Severus Snape. A baby is left on a doorstep. A scar is described. A nosey cat goes uncommented on by passing Muggles. But J.K. Rowling has said that by the … Continue reading The Evolution of Severus Snape: From Antagonist to Tragic Hero
The Character Couch – Travis Bickle
Welcome back to The Character Couch, where we put on our amateur psychology hats and spend some quality time with characters who probably could have used a real therapist at some point along the way. Today's subject arrived at the office alone, at night, and spent the first ten minutes of our session staring at … Continue reading The Character Couch – Travis Bickle
