MovieChat Forums > Breaking Bad (2008) Discussion > Jesse should have been younger

Jesse should have been younger

posted 2 years ago by Sidha108 (2676)
5 replies | jump to latest

Aaron Paul gives an incredible performance as Jesse, but the character seems like it would be a better fit for a younger actor in his early 20s. He appears to be a bit too old to be treated like the "kid"/apprentice by older characters. This is especially apparent in the episodes where he travels with Mike and some with Walt (notably "Fly" comes to mind) where the story seems to highlight Jesse being a young adult and learning life lessons. Aaron Paul being in his late 20s/early 30s makes these scenes seem a little less believable.

[–] Ace_Spade (9546) 2 years ago

Jesse hadn't really done a lot, though. He was a slacker character who sold enough drugs to keep himself in Funyun money. He probably spent half his time baked. He was in a state of arrested development and definitely needed to learn life lessons.

Maybe this is beside the point, but I always thought he was younger than that. I know Aaron Paul was in his late 20s, but I thought Jesse was meant to be early-mid 20s.

[–] kirbyredd (61) 2 years ago

In the episode "Crawl Space", when the cartel doctor is caring for Gus and Mike, Jesse sees the medical supplies etc, and see that Gus has spare blood for each of them if they should ever need a transfusion.

The doctor then gves Jesse a rundown of his health and at some point mentions Jesse is 25 years old.

[–] Ace_Spade (9546) 2 years ago

You clever cuss! Well-remembered, kirbyredd. Early-mid 20s is right after all (and I still say a fairly immature mid-20s).

[–] blindfolded (1618) 2 years ago

If Jesse is 25, I think Aaron Paul did an incredibly believable job portraying a 25 year old. Especially given the bulk of the series is set within a year, and filming the series took 5.

[–] kirbyredd (61) 2 years ago

I agree.

He was around 28-34 over the span of the series in real life.

He's one of those guys who always "looks young", like Michael J. Fox being 22 in the first Back to the Future movie playing a 17 year old.