this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2025
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258
Vince Gilligan’s "Breaking Bad" is one of the most interesting critiques of American urbanism in contemporary television (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by kwero@sh.itjust.works to c/fuckcars@lemmy.world
23 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

He could have glamorized Albuquerque or chosen a nicer (and less representative) part of the country as a setting. But, no, he tells his tales of moral decay within a distinctly American spatial order: strip malls, arterial roads, parking lots, cul-de-sacs, and isolated single-use zones.

People watched Breaking Bad and kept saying how they hope they never ever have to go to Albuquerque

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[–] AdamEatsAss@lemmy.world 63 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Wasn't the primary reason for filming in Albuquerque due to a tax break for filming in New Mexico? But it does do a great job of demonstrating how the "American dream" suburb is just as crime ridden as a large metropolitan city.

[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah. There are a few states like New Mexico and Georgia that have a lot of tax incentives for filming.

[–] dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de 39 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Whenever I see cop videos in rural America I realise I’d be fucked. They get stopped for walking suspiciously and I like to go for walks with no purpose other than to enjoy nature and do some walking.

[–] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)
[–] Leg@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Had a similar encounter when I was a kid. Went for a walk in my neighborhood one night, got a bit lost, found my way, then got pulled over 30 seconds away from my house for walking suspiciously. Let me off with a warning and watched me enter my home to make sure I wasn't bullshitting, so at least I didn't get hauled away for a reprogramming.

[–] 1hitsong@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

A warning for what?

"Don't let me see you walking outside your house again. You've been warned! 👮"

[–] BreakerSwitch@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Back in June in North Carolina a family was charged with MANSLAUGHTER after their 7 year old was hit by a car while walking to a store a mile away with his 10 year old brother. The 76 year old driver is facing no charges. Don't impede careless drivers by being near the street in these great united states!

[–] felixwhynot@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Probably depends where you would live, ig

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 36 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

FYI, that cul-de-sac is from Pluribus, and it was built specifically for the show

[–] comfy@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Maybe we can pitch a TV show and use the budget to build ~~housing~~ a realistic neighborhood set.

[–] zwerg@feddit.org 20 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That picture looks like a frame from Pluribus. Did he use the same location for both?

[–] gdog05@lemmy.world 22 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

They both take place in Albuquerque, yeah. Pluribus mostly takes place in the wealthier outskirts.

[–] zwerg@feddit.org 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I mean, that specific cul de sac

[–] brewery@feddit.uk 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I thought the exact same thing! Must be the same location

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That cul-de-sac was built for specifically for Pluribus, so that they don't end up with the Breaking Bad situation where people throw pizzas on the roof of the house that was used as Walter and Skylers house in the show. It wasn't in Breaking Bad.

[–] brewery@feddit.uk 5 points 3 weeks ago

I think we're both correct and the og picture has included a photo of the pluribus set by accident. I've been trying to find a similar shot in breaking bad but nothing comes close, especially the view from the house to the street and beyond. All shots I can find (without rewatching the whole series) show the house itself.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It just looked like generic US to me.

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 weeks ago

Except for the occasional ristras.

[–] Flamekebab@piefed.social 16 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

My gods, it looks even bleaker in the photos.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 17 points 3 weeks ago

It looks even bleaker in person

[–] PearOfJudes@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

idk I kind of thought the tv series was shot pretty beautifully

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 10 points 3 weeks ago

They did a great job of emphasizing how beautiful the natural scenery is. It's not an ugly state; we just built ugly structures.

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 weeks ago

He could have glamorized Albuquerque

That's not all that easy to do. I have deep roots near there and it's undeniably grim. I can't think of any low-desert city that's not depressing.