Breaking Bad

[CardiacCoug]

When has he said there is nothing redeemable about him? I haven't heard that, and I don't think he's said it. What he's doing is responding to people who are rooting for Walt to pull it off somehow. Walt is evil, but even evil people aren't bad in everything they do. Hitler (Godwin's law alert!) was reputedly nice to his secretaries.

Good points.

I'll put it this way: I don't think Gilligan is genuinely perplexed by the fact that a lot of people are still cheering for Walt. From my perspective, he continues to have Walt do things that make him sympathetic (offering his fortune for Hank, calling Skyler) and unsympathetic (giving up Jesse and telling him about his girlfriend's death) at the same time.

[UVACoug]

Why does he turn on Jesse?

I think it is a mixture of feeling betrayed and also being afraid of what Jesse will do to him if he lets him live. He never thought that Jesse would rat him out ... and now that he has, Walt has no idea what other lengths Jesse will go to to get revenge. At least Walt could predict what Hank would do. Jesse is a loose cannon and Walt can't deal with that.

[Pheidippides]

Good points.

I'll put it this way: I don't think Gilligan is genuinely perplexed by the fact that a lot of people are still cheering for Walt. From my perspective, he continues to have Walt do things that make him sympathetic (offering his fortune for Hank, calling Skyler) and unsympathetic (giving up Jesse and telling him about his girlfriend's death) at the same time.

I'll give you that he's not perplexed about it; he just thinks they're idiots. (As do I).

I don't buy the theory that Walt comes back to save Jesse. I think he thinks Jesse is dead - how does he know that Jesse is in slavery? Speaking of which, how brutal was that scene when Creepy Boy Scout goes down to get the brutalized Jesse and then chains him up? Guess we figured out what that visit to Brock's house does for plot advancement!

This episode was the most disturbing to me yet. And I liked it. And I'm disturbed that I liked it. That one was tough to watch, and I skipped the second watch-through that I usually do when my wife starts watching it off of DVR. I can't imagine things get better.

[PaloAltoCougar]

A stupid question, but was the minivan that Walt rode off in at the end the same vehicle Jesse walked away from a couple episodes ago?

[CardiacCoug]

I don't buy the theory that Walt comes back to save Jesse. I think he thinks Jesse is dead - how does he know that Jesse is in slavery? Speaking of which, how brutal was that scene when Creepy Boy Scout goes down to get the brutalized Jesse and then chains him up? Guess we figured out what that visit to Brock's house does for plot advancement!

Yeah, that was really disturbing.

See, Todd and his skinhead buddies -- now those are "bad dudes". Vince called Walt a "bad dude" (direct quote) but he's nowhere close to as bad as those guys.

[Art Vandelay]

I thought the phone call was as obvious as Hank's was to Marie last week. It was completely an act for the police. Skyler realizes this about 1/2 way through. When she pauses and says, "I'm sorry" she means it. Not the battered wife apologizing for what he was claiming, but as a woman who realized she will never see her husband again.

Of a series full of killers, drug dealers, drug users, and other low lifes, I think Todd is the most sociopathic of the bunch. He is legitimately frightening.

[UVACoug]

A stupid question, but was the minivan that Walt rode off in at the end the same vehicle Jesse walked away from a couple episodes ago?

Yes ... I believe it was.

[UVACoug]

Yeah, that was really disturbing.

See, Todd and his skinhead buddies -- now those are "bad dudes". Now Vince called Walt a "bad dude" (direct quote) but he's nowhere close to as bad as those guys.

That's because those guys are cartoons. They aren't really characters. They didn't kill Walt out of respect for Todd. How is that any less redeemable than some of the stuff you are praising Walt for?

[CardiacCoug]

A stupid question, but was the minivan that Walt rode off in at the end the same vehicle Jesse walked away from a couple episodes ago?

Yeah, pretty sure it was the same van. Walt is headed to New Hampshire I guess.

[Commando]

I think it is a mixture of feeling betrayed and also being afraid of what Jesse will do to him if he lets him live. He never thought that Jesse would rat him out ... and now that he has, Walt has no idea what other lengths Jesse will go to to get revenge. At least Walt could predict what Hank would do. Jesse is a loose cannon and Walt can't deal with that.

I think he feels extremely betrayed. Jesse tried to betray him in the most profound of ways- soaks his house in gasoline to burn down his house, threatens him on the phone about getting him where he lives, works with Hank to lure him in.... I think at that moment he could also assign Hank's death to Jesse; at least in his own mind. That would explain the last cruel admission before they take Jesse away. Other than that, this is the thing I need to reconcile about this show a little better. Walt's treatment of Jesse seems a touch out of step with the rest of everything. I need resolution!

[Jeff Lebowski]

That was wildly, overtly, obviously protective move of a phone call, every "mean" thing he said done in a voice he's never made before and punctuated with silent, agonized weeping. Maybe you were playing Candy Crush and just listening to the episode.

NS, commando is being an asshole with that last sentence, but I think he is right about the call.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Yeah, that was really disturbing.

See, Todd and his skinhead buddies -- now those are "bad dudes". Vince called Walt a "bad dude" (direct quote) but he's nowhere close to as bad as those guys.

What the hell, man? He left a barrell of cash for Walt. Classy!

[Pheidippides]

Yeah, that was really disturbing.

See, Todd and his skinhead buddies -- now those are "bad dudes". Vince called Walt a "bad dude" (direct quote) but he's nowhere close to as bad as those guys.

But I'm guessing that those skinhead buddies were never high school chemistry teachers either.

Of a series full of killers, drug dealers, drug users, and other low lifes, I think Todd is the most sociopathic of the bunch. He is legitimately frightening.

Frankly, I think he's the one who should get the Emmy. Holy crap, is he terrifying!

Yeah, pretty sure it was the same van. Walt is headed to New Hampshire I guess.

I'm not assuming he is going to New Hampshire so much as he has a car with those tags. Maybe he goes, maybe not. The name of the next episode is Granite State - somehow I think it has to do with more than NH. Maybe it's a reference to the hard and unyielding position he is in.

[Commando]

NS, commando is being an asshole with that last sentence, but I think he is right about the call.

Furthermore, if he wasn't sure there were police listening in, I'm sure that call was to arrange transfer of custody of Holly. That much was obvious from the little diaper changing exchange where Walt looks sad and resigned, giving his daughter a heartbreaking hug goodbye. Cranston- wow.

[CardiacCoug]

Furthermore, if he wasn't sure there were police listening in, I'm sure that call was to arrange transfer of custody of Holly. That much was obvious from the little diaper changing exchange where Walt looks sad and resigned, giving his daughter a heartbreaking hug goodbye. Cranston- wow.

Yep, how about the reason Walt took his daughter has nothing to do with power or control or sticking it to Skyler.

Maybe he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her forever and wanted to spend a few final hours with her.