Breaking Bad

[falafel]

I don't think it would be cool, but I know people who are addicts. They all get burnt out and swear they're never going use again. They always do, and they always will until they die. I'm not talking about what I want to happen, but if you really want to examine Jesse's trajectory, you'll see that it's not a straight line...it's a series of ups and downs. The constant is that he always comes back down.

Maybe, but so many of those times he as dragged down by Walt or someone else. Jesse's story isn't exactly him returning to his addiction. In fact, I don't remember the last time he even used.

[Non Sequitur]

Not redeemed. Completely burned out. A hollow shell of a human being, especially after seeing his gf executed. He hated himself and the situation he was in as soon as he had to execute Gale (sp?) and it got worse and worse from there on out. Walt was OK with the moral calculus. Jesse never was. No way he would go back to that. Again, it goes completely against his trajectory.

But what is really bizarre is anyone thinking it would be really cool for a character to go through a living hell like that and then jump back in and embrace the evil. That goes way beyond pulling for Walt. That is sick.

I don't think it would be cool, but I know people who are addicts. They all get burnt out and swear they're never going use again. They always do, and they always will until they die. I'm not talking about what I want to happen, but if you really want to examine Jesse's trajectory, you'll see that it's not a straight line...it's a series of ups and downs. The constant is that he always comes back down.

[clackamascoug]

Are you a vegan, Clack? If not, STFU.

Easy skippy... we're just having fun here.

[clackamascoug]

hmm not feeling that. He may be a criminal but he's a two bit criminal. He was never comfortable with the life of big time crime and all the unintended consequences of that life.

People often start out as two-bit, and as they mature they figure out the angles and focus on being more professional in the chosen career path. Jesse chose his path long ago, and even if he has a good soul, he also is an addict that has killed people. How many of us have sat around and have said, "If I could do it over again, this is what I would do." Jesse is still young, and he has a PhD. (or at least a Masters) in criminal mastermind activity. Bugerking or a Call Center aint going to cut it for him, and like water that will find its way to the sea, Jesse will be back in business before his life is over. How could it be any other way? He's the best there is at his particular craft, and he proved it as his percentage went from 92% to 96% on the last batch. Without Walt. As Glen Fry said in Smuggles Blues - "The lure of easy money has a very strong appeal."

[Donuthole]

I finally got to see the finale last night. Overall, I thought it was great. I hate loose ends, and I thought they did a decent job of tying up most of them. I thought the scene with Elliot and Gretchen was brilliant. Learning that it was Skinny Pete and Badger holding the lasers was a great way to bid farewell to those two. I can't wait to see their Star Trek pie eating contest pilot episode when it comes out!

Regarding the final scene, I never got the feeling that Walt intended to kill Jesse. in fact, I think Jesse showing up complicated Walt's plan to take out the skinheads. I'm not sure if he planned to kill himself in the final shootout, but it wouldn't have surprised me. Him tackling Jesse was a bit of improvisation on his part, and he was fortunate that the thugs let him get close enough to take him down to the floor. It was a bit of a stretch that all of the skinheads were taken out by the machine gun flurry, but I'm willing to overlook that one detail.

Loved the episode and loved the show. Sad to see it go. Now on to The Walking Dead!

BTW, as stupid as it sounds, I'm proud of myself (lame, i know) for correctly guessing that the lasers were held by Skinny Pete and Badger.

[bluegoose]

I finally got to see the finale last night. Overall, I thought it was great. I hate loose ends, and I thought they did a decent job of tying up most of them. I thought the scene with Elliot and Gretchen was brilliant. Learning that it was Skinny Pete and Badger holding the lasers was a great way to bid farewell to those two. I can't wait to see their Star Trek pie eating contest pilot episode when it comes out!

Regarding the final scene, I never got the feeling that Walt intended to kill Jesse. in fact, I think Jesse showing up complicated Walt's plan to take out the skinheads. I'm not sure if he planned to kill himself in the final shootout, but it wouldn't have surprised me. Him tackling Jesse was a bit of improvisation on his part, and he was fortunate that the thugs let him get close enough to take him down to the floor. It was a bit of a stretch that all of the skinheads were taken out by the machine gun flurry, but I'm willing to overlook that one detail.

Loved the episode and loved the show. Sad to see it go. Now on to The Walking Dead!

[Jeff Lebowski]

Aside from the running dialog with JL, it's kind of interesting that Jesse made it out alive when he was supposed to be killed in the first season.

And...

I'm not any nuttier that people who trapse through the woods killing small animals. I'd like to see JL take out a deer this season with just handcuffs on. Guns are for cheaters.

Are you a vegan, Clack? If not, STFU.

[Jeff Lebowski]

How long did it took for Jesse to relapse into drugs after he went straight.? How many times did he leave the drug business and then get back into it? It's sweet to think that Jesse is redeemed, but that's a fantasy.

Not redeemed. Completely burned out. A hollow shell of a human being, especially after seeing his gf executed. He hated himself and the situation he was in as soon as he had to execute Gale (sp?) and it got worse and worse from there on out. Walt was OK with the moral calculus. Jesse never was. No way he would go back to that. Again, it goes completely against his trajectory.

But what is really bizarre is anyone thinking it would be really cool for a character to go through a living hell like that and then jump back in and embrace the evil. That goes way beyond pulling for Walt. That is sick.

[clackamascoug]

Aside from the running dialog with JL, it's kind of interesting that Jesse made it out alive when he was supposed to be killed in the first season.

And...

I'm not any nuttier that people who trapse through the woods killing small animals. I'd like to see JL take out a deer this season with just handcuffs on. Guns are for cheaters.

[jay santos]

He's going to get people yelling "Yeah, bitch!" at him for the rest of his life.

Did that final yeah bitch Gilligan was pimping ever happen? I thought we were still waiting for it going into the finale.

edit: a few seconds late

[Donuthole]

I don't know about that. Remember the first episode, Jesse asks Mr. White why he was doing it. Walt responded by asking why Jesse does it. "Money." That's why he became a criminal. But by the end of the series, Jesse had fundamentally changed. He rejected the money he made from cooking with Walt. He couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Money was his motivation before, but its not anymore.

On another note, I'm not sure what is going to happen to Aaron Paul going forward. He's an incredible actor, but he is so recognizable as Jesse, it might be hard for people to see him in any other roles. He's going to get people yelling "Yeah, bitch!" at him for the rest of his life.

I don't know what major roles he will land, but I predict a few cameo appearances in film to deliver a variation of his catch phrase (or to have that line said directly to him). Speaking of which, did we ever figure out what the huge "bitch" was that he pimped before this season? I was totally expecting a "freedom, bitch!" as he drove through the gate the other night, and was somewhat disappointed when nary a bitch was offered.

[Non Sequitur]

lol. Have we been watching the same series? That runs completely counter to the trajectory for Jesse for the last couple of seasons.

How long did it took for Jesse to relapse into drugs after he went straight.? How many times did he leave the drug business and then get back into it? It's sweet to think that Jesse is redeemed, but that's a fantasy.

[jay santos]

I actually agree with Clack. As much as I like the idea of redemption, the truth is that it's usually just a notion. Jesse is Jesse. He's always been a criminal and he's become pretty good at it. He grew to hate Walt, not because he was morally outraged, but because Walt destroyed things that Jesse loved. Jesse is not going to take a job in a call center and is never going to join Kiwanis. He's a criminal, and he'll always be a criminal.

hmm not feeling that. He may be a criminal but he's a two bit criminal. He was never comfortable with the life of big time crime and all the unintended consequences of that life.

[falafel]

I actually agree with Clack. As much as I like the idea of redemption, the truth is that it's usually just a notion. Jesse is Jesse. He's always been a criminal and he's become pretty good at it. He grew to hate Walt, not because he was morally outraged, but because Walt destroyed things that Jesse loved. Jesse is not going to take a job in a call center and is never going to join Kiwanis. He's a criminal, and he'll always be a criminal.

I don't know about that. Remember the first episode, Jesse asks Mr. White why he was doing it. Walt responded by asking why Jesse does it. "Money." That's why he became a criminal. But by the end of the series, Jesse had fundamentally changed. He rejected the money he made from cooking with Walt. He couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Money was his motivation before, but its not anymore.

On another note, I'm not sure what is going to happen to Aaron Paul going forward. He's an incredible actor, but he is so recognizable as Jesse, it might be hard for people to see him in any other roles. He's going to get people yelling "Yeah, bitch!" at him for the rest of his life.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I actually agree with Clack. As much as I like the idea of redemption, the truth is that it's usually just a notion. Jesse is Jesse. He's always been a criminal and he's become pretty good at it. He grew to hate Walt, not because he was morally outraged, but because Walt destroyed things that Jesse loved. Jesse is not going to take a job in a call center and is never going to join Kiwanis. He's a criminal, and he'll always be a criminal.

lol. Have we been watching the same series? That runs completely counter to the trajectory for Jesse for the last couple of seasons.