Analysis & Parallels

obviously jesse pinkman is adhd coded in everything he does but one thing i want to draw particular attention to is his really intense reaction to being called stupid. he can handle walt insulting him about his worth as a person, his addiction, his life choices, all day long, but the only times he actually physically attacks walt during a conversation are when his intelligence is insulted. the only two physical fights they ever have are in season 2, whenwalt says “you are just a pathetic junkie, too stupid to follow basic, rudimentary instructions!” and jesse punches him, and in season 4 when walt says “go to mexico and screw up like i know you will and wind up in a barrel somewhere!” the value his parents clearly place on academic achievement, plus jesses obvious lack of it especially as a child, make his intelligence an extremely big and obvious point of insecurity for him. it’s why it hits so hard when in 5x02 jesse calls himself stupid after finding the ricin walt planted. its an extremely common neurodivergent experience to be assumed as unintelligent because you learn and process information differently, and to develop very severe insecurities about it because of that. and jesse is a person who wears his heart so clearly on his sleeve that it’s all too easy for walt to push that button whenever he wants to point jesse in a particular direction. so yeah jesse pinkman has adhd clown spotted at circus etc.

breaking bad is so annoying literally because people are like "oh yeah its so good it's one of the most well written shows ever" and you're like yeah right sure it is. and then you watch it and god dammit it really is that good.