Breaking Bad

[Jeff Lebowski]

I've thought of this as well. I could definitely see an ending similar to The Shield. Walt much like Vic, could finally beat the system only to find he no longer can do anything he enjoys- no Flynn, Holly, Hank (no one would miss the whine and nag sisters, Skyler and Marie), or for Walt worst of all, no more relationship with Jesse. His power becomes his prison.

You think Walt values his relationship with Jesse above everything? That is hard to believe. He seems to have been simply using and manipulating him for a long time now.

I think the Scarface clip a few episodes back was a teaser. "Everybody dies in this movie".

[jay santos]

You think Walt values his relationship with Jesse above everything? That is hard to believe. He seems to have been simply using and manipulating him for a long time now.

I think the Scarface clip a few episodes back was a teaser. "Everybody dies in this movie".

Yep. Everything's going to crash. He's still building his empire, but even as his empire is building up, the foundation is cracking and it's going to all fall hard. There's no way this ends with him on top, managing a stable business and preserving any relationships.

[Art Vandelay]

You think Walt values his relationship with Jesse above everything? That is hard to believe. He seems to have been simply using and manipulating him for a long time now.

I think the Scarface clip a few episodes back was a teaser. "Everybody dies in this movie".

No he values his ego and money above everything. I think he currently values his (overbearing and manipulative) paternal relationship with Jesse above any of the others currently in his life.

My point is, he wants his empire. Perhaps he will finally get it to find life isn't that great when no one visits, or compliments (he seems obsessed, with being thanked) the throne. Right now his whole focus is the pursuit, with the warped belief he is making everyone else's life better and they will one day come to realize that.

[jay santos]

No he values his ego and money above everything. I think he currently values his (overbearing and manipulative) paternal relationship with Jesse above any of the others currently in his life.

My point is, he wants his empire. Perhaps he will finally get it to find life isn't that great when no one visits, or compliments (he seems obsessed, with being thanked) the throne. Right now his whole focus is the pursuit, with the warped belief he is making everyone else's life better and they will one day come to realize that.

I've been curious about his relationship with Jesse from the beginning. At the beginning I hated Jesse, and thought Walt was stupid to invite in a careless, out-of-control, youth like that. Jesse's matured and his character has definitely grown on me, but then I thought Walt was was stupid for offering him a 50% cut. Jesse would have been happy with a 20% cut.

I think Walt gets value from his relationship with Jesse, but it was always a manipulative thing not a pure friendship. A ruler needs subjects. He also knows he needs Jesse as an outlet, someone to talk to, and bounce ideas off of, but not in a true friend or partner relationship, just in a way that gives him confidence and assurance knowing he's not alone.

[wuapinmon]

I've been curious about his relationship with Jesse from the beginning. At the beginning I hated Jesse, and thought Walt was stupid to invite in a careless, out-of-control, youth like that. Jesse's matured and his character has definitely grown on me, but then I thought Walt was was stupid for offering him a 50% cut. Jesse would have been happy with a 20% cut.

I think Walt gets value from his relationship with Jesse, but it was always a manipulative thing not a pure friendship. A ruler needs subjects. He also knows he needs Jesse as an outlet, someone to talk to, and bounce ideas off of, but not in a true friend or partner relationship, just in a way that gives him confidence and assurance knowing he's not alone.

Remember that Walt has known Jesse for years, not just during the show.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Remember that Walt has known Jesse for years, not just during the show.

What's your point? His relationship with Jesse prior to their encounter in Season 1 seemed to be no different than the many other students Walt taught in HS.

[jay santos]

Remember that Walt has known Jesse for years, not just during the show.

?

They vaguely remembered each other from class. Right?

[PaloAltoCougar]

A very minor point, but I laughed at the beginning of last night's episode as Walt, Mike and Jesse were driving toward, and were maybe 200 yards away from, the other gang's leaders who were parked in the middle of a vast expanse of NM desert. "Over there", Jesse said, pointing out the absurdly obvious, since there wasn't anyone or anything else within thirty miles.

That odd comment aside, that was probably the best opener of the series.

"You're gawdam right I am." Muy macho.

[old_gregg]

by the way, someone needs to remix destiny's child's "say my name" with this episode.

[SteelBlue]

Anyone have ideas about what Mike was watching on tv? I haven't had time to go back and rewatch.

[wuapinmon]

?

They vaguely remembered each other from class. Right?

What's your point? His relationship with Jesse prior to their encounter in Season 1 seemed to be no different than the many other students Walt taught in HS.

I saw his relationship as paternalistic, and Jesse's continued use of "Mr. White" shows that there was a measure of respect there, deference to age.

[jay santos]

"You're gawdam right I am." Muy macho.

That line is right up there with the best all time alpha male TV/movie quotes. Gave me chills.

[Art Vandelay]

Anyone have ideas about what Mike was watching on tv? I haven't had time to go back and rewatch.

I will have to go back and check. But I think it may have been The Public Enemy, one of Cagney's classic roles.

[Art Vandelay]

One of things that BB so good, is Gilligan's ability to make the audience (or at least me) think one thing is going to happen, in typical Hollywood fashion, only to have it turn out to later show it was a red herring.

A couple examples from the most recent show:
* The bug in Hank's office wasn't discovered, but instead led Walt to letting Mike know he had finally been caught.
* I assumed Walt would be running from Mike, and possibly Jesse/Skyler/Sal/the Roomba, on his 52nd birthday.
* Expecting a big shootout or chase after he awkwardly shot Mike in the stomach -great acting by Cranston here, going back to the look and craziness he showed so many times in the first couple seasons - only to have a beautifully framed shot of Mike watching the sunset. I loved the line, "shut the f*** up, and let me die in peace"

[Jeff Lebowski]

One of things that BB so good, is Gilligan's ability to make the audience (or at least me) think one thing is going to happen, in typical Hollywood fashion, only to have it turn out to later show it was a red herring.

A couple examples from the most recent show:
* The bug in Hank's office wasn't discovered, but instead led Walt to letting Mike know he had finally been caught.
* I assumed Walt would be running from Mike, and possibly Jesse/Skyler/Sal/the Roomba, on his 52nd birthday.
* Expecting a big shootout or chase after he awkwardly shot Mike in the stomach -great acting by Cranston here, going back to the look and craziness he showed so many times in the first couple seasons - only to have a beautifully framed shot of Mike watching the sunset. I loved the line, "shut the f*** up, and let me die in peace"

Definitely agree on the last point. For Walt to rescue Mike and then finish him off like that was a great touch of irony. Not that long ago that Walt was totally at the mercy of Mike.

Another great episode. Remarkable how the writers keep hitting all the right notes.