The point of the house being ugly is that Walter is actually rebelling from his banal, middle class suburban life. He actually wants to be a drug dealer, because it’s cool and powerful, but he’s justifying doing it for his family.

Anonymous wrote:I assumed it was set in the early 2000s. They all have flip phones.

2008 was really the early days of smartphones (certainly pre-iPhone)—were they that prevalent then?
Also Walt used burner phones do those were always cheap, disposable tech..

I assumed it was set in the early 2000s. They all have flip phones.

Interesting thread. Breaking bad began 2008, Sklyer and Walt had probably been married at least 15 years at that point, so I guess the decor fits mid-90’s. Also, they are struggling financially (even before Walt’s cancer diagnosis). The home, in general, seems to fit the mold of a lower middle class family living in ABQ.

What about their cars? Walt drives what is possibly the ugliest car ever, a Pontiac Aztek. I always saw Walt as driving something a little more vanilla (the Aztek was so ugly it was almost flashy), but I can totally see a middle aged high school science teacher seeing the new Pontiac Aztek and think “cool, I need one of those!”
And Skyler drove a 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, complete with the faux wood panels. This car is having a moment: I’m in CT and vintage Wagoneers are so hot with rich yuppie families (fully restored and with the “classic vehicle” plates, stand-up paddle board on the roof rack in summer, ski rack in winter). When the show debuted a 17 year old Jeep was probably viewed as appropriate for the Whites...

I always thought the house was very basic, but also cozy and homey. It was a house for people living within their means (until Walt became a drug kingpin). Nice pool, too! I would trade my overpriced DCUM house for their house and life in NM in a heartbeat.

I think the house was pretty normal for the circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you OP.

+1

I hate to sound like a cliche, but so much of the DC area community is out of touch with other parts of the country. It struck me as right on target for the time frame (2008-10), location, and economic status of the family. (Think as well about how it contrasted with Hank and Marie's house. They were dual earners without kids in the same town.)

OP here. I agree. The friend I was having this argument with is very well to do, McLean person. She hated the show because of that house. She really couldn't get past it and argued how one trip to Home Goods would have made the difference for Walter and Skyler. "You don't need a lot of money for that" she kept saying. "Who lives like that?"

People trying to get by on a teacher’s salary while also raising a child with significant special needs. Your friend is offensively out of touch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you OP.

+1

I hate to sound like a cliche, but so much of the DC area community is out of touch with other parts of the country. It struck me as right on target for the time frame (2008-10), location, and economic status of the family. (Think as well about how it contrasted with Hank and Marie's house. They were dual earners without kids in the same town.)

OP here. I agree. The friend I was having this argument with is very well to do, McLean person. She hated the show because of that house. She really couldn't get past it and argued how one trip to Home Goods would have made the difference for Walter and Skyler. "You don't need a lot of money for that" she kept saying. "Who lives like that?"

It looked like the house I grew up in. Typical middle class (not DC middle class) home. He was a teacher for God's sake. I'm impressed they could afford a house.

Ugly as sin but was grounded in reality. I grew up in a home like that. Middle class, parents too busy to care about decor. Just wanted a place to live in the suburbs with good schools. Most of the middle class is like this.

I think it’s realistic for a house decorated in the late 1990’s.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you OP.

+1

I hate to sound like a cliche, but so much of the DC area community is out of touch with other parts of the country. It struck me as right on target for the time frame (2008-10), location, and economic status of the family. (Think as well about how it contrasted with Hank and Marie's house. They were dual earners without kids in the same town.)

Yeah I think it's a pretty common interior. Ugly as sin is right. It was also drab, depressing and very brown. Which sort of summed up Skyler and Walter's lives. I think a lot of people decorate around the time they get married (25ish) and then never redecorate again. I have so many aunts and uncles whose homes are just plain and utilitarian like that. Their house was outdated by like 15 years.

I agree with you OP.

I have heard lots of comments on how that house was "ugly as sin" from many viewers of the show. A friend said it was unrealistic that a couple would have a house that was decorated like that and that it doesn't cost a lot to have a slightly more modern looking decor. so she just couldn't get past that aspect Personally, I think many people have homes like that and it was done purposefully by the creators. What are your thoughts? Did the home detract? Add to the value? Did you feel neutral about it? One thing we know for sure is every detail of that show was meticulously planned and I believe that the way Walter and Skyler's home was set up was purposeful--it shows middle America--one that isn't shopping at HomeGoods and keeping up with Pinterest.