Despite its stellar reviews (currently number 1 rated show on Netflix) I had no interest in watching Breaking Bad. But, so many of my teen boy students referenced the show that I thought I should watch.
Big warning: the show is about a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a meth cook and dealer. I have no interest in movies/shows about drugs because I am one of those increasingly rare people who never even tried pot and I was a former criminal prosecutor so I didn't want to see any show that glamorized drug selling or use. The reality of both is not glamourous.
Smaller warning: the show contains graphic violence, some nudity, and the type of language that one would expect in a show about drugs.
Given the reality of today's world, most teen boys in the 16-18 year range will likely have seen and heard it all before so while I'm not encouraging that you watch the show with your teen boy, I will say that if he is already watching the show, there are a lot of lessons that can be conveyed.
The strangest lesson from a show with such a seedy premise concerns craftsmanship and commitment to excellence. Walter White, the anti-hero, protagonist of the show, dedicates himself to the craft of cooking meth. He produces the highest quality product on the market. This leads to his "success" as a meth cook. Watching him hone his craft is motivating in the same way that watching any master craftsman in action can be. This lesson must be conveyed to teen boys.
The other positive lesson relates to business. Mr. White becomes an astute businessman as he builds his drug dealing empire. Sales, marketing, distribution, and management lessons are all contained throughout the show.
The bigger and better lessons involve the end results. I don't want to spoil the show. But, bad things eventually happen to pretty much all the bad people. I have written elsewhere about the "cost of doing business" (See the blog in Career Counseling Connecticut). In the case of drug dealers and other bad actors, the cost usually is prison or death.
How does all of this related to teen boys? Many have a desire to be rebellious. Showing the end results of rebellion can be sobering.
Big warning: the show is about a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a meth cook and dealer. I have no interest in movies/shows about drugs because I am one of those increasingly rare people who never even tried pot and I was a former criminal prosecutor so I didn't want to see any show that glamorized drug selling or use. The reality of both is not glamourous.
Smaller warning: the show contains graphic violence, some nudity, and the type of language that one would expect in a show about drugs.
Given the reality of today's world, most teen boys in the 16-18 year range will likely have seen and heard it all before so while I'm not encouraging that you watch the show with your teen boy, I will say that if he is already watching the show, there are a lot of lessons that can be conveyed.
The strangest lesson from a show with such a seedy premise concerns craftsmanship and commitment to excellence. Walter White, the anti-hero, protagonist of the show, dedicates himself to the craft of cooking meth. He produces the highest quality product on the market. This leads to his "success" as a meth cook. Watching him hone his craft is motivating in the same way that watching any master craftsman in action can be. This lesson must be conveyed to teen boys.
The other positive lesson relates to business. Mr. White becomes an astute businessman as he builds his drug dealing empire. Sales, marketing, distribution, and management lessons are all contained throughout the show.
The bigger and better lessons involve the end results. I don't want to spoil the show. But, bad things eventually happen to pretty much all the bad people. I have written elsewhere about the "cost of doing business" (See the blog in Career Counseling Connecticut). In the case of drug dealers and other bad actors, the cost usually is prison or death.
How does all of this related to teen boys? Many have a desire to be rebellious. Showing the end results of rebellion can be sobering.