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If there's a pilot episode that not only launches a series but cements its place in television history, this is it. Breaking Bad begins in silence and ends in triumph, fusing despair, brilliance, and narrative coldness into a true moral collapse. Gilligan doesn't play around: opening with Walter White naked, armed, and stranded in the desert doesn't just shatter shallow expectations - it throws us headfirst into a moral dilemma.

Bryan Cranston commands every frame with an agonizing metamorphosis: from a mild-mannered chemistry teacher to a dark, inexorable anti-hero. The terminal diagnosis and the ensuing existential crisis obliterate the old Walter, giving rise to a cold, calculating force - one who can cook meth in the desert and still earn our loyalty. It's precisely this ethical dilemma, this razor-thin line between crime and familial sacrifice, that highlights both the brutality and the humanity of his transformation.

After years of hearing that Breaking Bad was the greatest series of all time, my skepticism vanished in minutes. The pilot delivers unrelenting tension, characters forged under extreme pressure, and a breakneck pace. From the very first episode, I knew I wouldn't be able to walk away from what comes next. I can't wait for the next chapter. 10/10 - a spectacular opening to a show that will, without a doubt, be unforgettable.

The Old Guard 2, despite staying within the action and fantasy genre, loses its way when attempting to expand upon what was started in the first film. The sequel fails by following a predictable path. The introduction of new elements, such as the character Discord (Uma Thurman), who does not belong to the original work, results in an attempt at innovation that shifts the focus away from what made the first film compelling.

The narrative falls into a predictable and emotionally uninspired script, with mechanical dialogues and action scenes that lose their impact. Discord, the villain, although having potential, is not sufficiently explored, and her motivation ends up being shallow, making her an antagonist without the necessary strength to engage. The cliffhanger, attempting to build anticipation, fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion.

The film also fails to leverage the potential of the action-fantasy genre, missing the opportunity to deeply explore the existential dilemma of immortality. Instead, it excessively focuses on disconnected action scenes with little character development, hindering the emotional impact.

In the end, The Old Guard 2 fails to maintain the level of its predecessor. With a predictable script and a lackluster take on the original material, the film loses what could have been a rich and introspective experience.

Although it still has some interesting moments, the film lacks a deeper focus on the relationships and the central dilemma of its characters. For these reasons, 5/10. Despite the action, it fails to capture the essence that the first film established.

The Old Guard, although it fits into the action and fantasy genre, is elevated by a deeper reflection on the curse of eternity. Some would say that the curse is living too little, but here we discover that the evil lies in living an "eternity." What is commonly discussed in philosophical provocations, we understand in this film that passing through generations and generations and facing the departure of those we love may be one of the greatest pains that a human being can endure in their existence.

Charlize Theron, in the role of Andy, delivers a performance that transcends the conventional. She immortalizes the pain of a character marked by eternity, giving her the necessary complexity to add weight to the philosophical proposal of the plot. Her performance, full of vulnerability and strength, elevates the story and makes it so that, although the development of the characters was not as deep as it could have been, the narrative finds its center.

The film, with its immense potential to explore the complexities of immortality, loses its way by giving more space to the action scenes than to the reflection on the experience of living eternally. This weakens the action-fantasy genre, which could have been more visceral and introspective. The soundtrack? A completely unfortunate choice. I don't know what the director was thinking, but contemporary pop music in action scenes really doesn't make sense. It's almost as if the film was trying to sell itself as something modern, but the effect is the opposite.

I place this film in the group of those that were greatly underestimated, especially in light of the opportunity to explore the philosophical provocation that the plot offers us. It leads us to reflect and question our existence and how, many times, we make life a little less precious than it truly is.

In the end, The Old Guard is not merely an action film, but a silent invitation to reflection: "Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever." The true lesson, behind the struggles and the eternal quest for redemption, is that each moment of life must be lived with the awareness of its finiteness, and that death, far from being the end, is a constant reminder of the fragility that defines us. My rating, cautious yet fair: 7.