Will’s arc with a soundtrack.
The Hidden Genius.
Song: No Surprises by Radiohead
At the introduction of this scene we see Will as just another janitor. Soon as he starts solving an advanced math problem on a hallway chalkboard meant to stump grad students, then flees when caught the audience sees the hidden genius behind the janitor. The song No Surprises is chosen here as it pours out the disheartened feelings of carrying all the restless energy and the turmoil bottled up nowhere to express. Its raw in nature and exactly suited for this scene to show the potential locked up in Will’s locked up mind.
The Bar Confrontation.
Song: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
Will here is shown as using his intelligence as his weapon along with truckloads of swag behind. Chopping off the ego of the bullies that too in front of Skyler. In this scene he flaunts his wit and smartness in such that all present there crave for such brainly powers. The song choice is apt and literally made for this scene. The notes, the drums , the vocals so metal and so hard it resembles with all the suppressed energy beneath Will’s heart.
Been read by Sean.
Song: The Drugs Don’t Work by The Verve
This is the point where Sean is introduced to our protagonist. He displayed tendencies of shunning off anyone who tried to get to know more of him. So after cycling through therapists Will easily manipulates, Sean simply sits with him in silence, refusing to be provoked or impressed. Sean as therapist is shown well aware of his patient’s defence mechanism. Will had arrived at the point of subtle introspection. Sean’s act of just sitting with Will maintaining silence played a huge role. The Drugs Don’t Work aptly describe this scene. The song translates Will’s deep wounds and the atrocities in his heart.
Get Tanay’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Breaking The Facade.
Song: Fix You by Coldplay.
This is the infamous park bench scene where Sean quietly tears down Will’s intellectual arrogance, telling him that knowing about the world through books means nothing next to actually living it. This was one of the first real crack in Will’s armor — someone sees past his defenses instead of being intimidated by them. Sean by explaining him tries to convey that Will has to start living with his pain rather than just rejecting by overpowering it with sheer intellectual qualities that he was gifted with. Fix You by Coldplay carries that healing energy that Will is craving at that point. All that sense of a hollow heart paired with a bright brain and sought of a blocked point of view the whole world slowly transforms into a better image of all. That’s why Fix You by Coldplay for this scene.
The Love Stage.
Song: What Is Love by Haddaway.
Love and attached are one of the prominent things Will always chose to ran away from all his life. So at this point of the proposal his fear of intimacy pops in. The choice of song for this might be little sarcastic by nature but it’s pretty direct and so on point. What is love ? , Will doesn’t know it.
He has always rejected care and affection as it affected his way of life. That is the main reason Will is so scared of Skyler’s indirect permission to seek entrance into his own personal space.
Embracing the Will within.
Song: Kun Faya Kun by Mohit Chauhan/AR Rehman.
This scene is like the final nail in the coffin. Will bursts into the arms of Sean crying his heart out. Finally expressing at all that grief hidden beneath truckloads of childhood trauma and truckloads of mental blocks.
The expression of his grief is so pivotal because he embraces instead of deflecting it with intellect or humor. Sean goes on with the line,”It’s not your fault” to Will. He repeats the line to Will over and over until his anger dissolves into grief, and he finally breaks down sobbing in Sean’s arms.
Will’s actual real self literally pours out into Sean’s arms. The song chosen is spiritual and real. Real is the best word for Kun Faya Kun. It touches every corner of anyone’s heart no matter how hollow it may. The songs brings out all the guilt,grief or love one has hidden in the deep drains within.
All the will set free.
Song: Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve
The final scene of Will’s story. It is just of the character likes it ; quiet, simple and deeply emotional. Our protagonist has grown emotionally and is now ready to conquer. He is shown travelling towards Chicago by saying the words,”I had to go see about a girl.” He didn’t know will Chicago workout or no but for the first time he is willing to take the risk. Will is displayed free from all the wordly cages that he created also which were never breached before. The car racing ahead symbolizes the same. Racing towards all those goals and the love that Will once ran away from. A perfect end to a chapter that was now going to get a new beginning.
- Tanay Virkar
