Breaking Bad

[Commando]

I didn't like Natural Born Killers either, but not because there were no sympathetic characters. It was because there were no interesting characters. I remember the movie Kalifornia. Not a great movie but Brad Pitt was fantastic in it. He was a vile character that wasn't the least bit sympathetic, but he was fascinating. Kind of like the shark in jaws. Not the least bit sympathetic, but you can't help but admire how bad-ass it is.

Hmm. Interesting take. I have had this experience, too; take Pulp Fiction. Now the protagonist role is kind of done in shifts due to the non-sequitur () nature of the movie. Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, and Bruce Willis' respective characters are all pretty reprehensible, but we submerge into the plot and tag along for a second because we still identify with them in some small way. Quentin Tarantino is a master of humanizing his scary or morally bankrupt characters through witty dialogue and by arguing about foot rubs, dancing in a 50s themed diner on a date, or relishing a fast food shake or 'tasty burger.' Was I hurt when Travolta gets shot up? Not in the least, because it wasn't out-of-character comeuppance for a hitman if that makes sense. That doesn't mean he wasn't a sympathetic character or I didn't relate to him, but he was still a hitman that got shot- bfd. Bringing it back to BB, if Walt gets hurt or shot, it will sting a bit more because we've taken this journey with him and, while he was certainly way more sympathetic than Vincent Vega, it will be comeuppance. Even if you don't think Walt is redeemable, which is obviously very debatable since it's being widely debated even here, he's still very very human. If it was otherwise the show would not be very popular.

[Flystripper]

I don't know if we have talked about this, but I predict the Saul spinoff is going to suck.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I don't know if we have talked about this, but I predict the Saul spinoff is going to suck.

Couldn't agree more. I think that is a terrible idea.

I hope I am wrong.

[UVACoug]

A couple scenes that show clumsy vs bad ass and what I love about Walt

1. In the "say my name" scene, Walt has it all planned out. He's thought through everything five moves in advance like a chess match, and he's got it all covered. It goes exactly the way he wants. He starts out bluffing a little, he's never been in this situation, and he thinks he's covered all the angles but he doesn't know for sure till it happens, but as things unfold and he realizes he's nailed it, he starts to get a little cocky and improvises with the "say my name". You take that journey with Walt from the uneasiness to the payoff. Nothing about it is necessarily good or virtuous, but the writing and acting is so compelling that you just have to celebrate with Walt when he nails it.

2. In the scene where he sends Mike to Belize. He goes in with a plan and it goes bad. Mike doesn't respond how he wants him to. Walt doesn't know what to do. He panics. He gets angry. He kills Mike, but the whole thing is done clumsily and unprofessional. As a viewer, you're relating to him and sympathizing with him, but you're saying "no oh no don't do this no Walt", but it's real and when it's done you're thinking "oh shit that sucked ok bounce back now what do we do?" He's totally not the bad ass Godfather type in this scene. So human and so sympathetic.

Ummm ... no.

[scottie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Breaking_Bad_episodes

U.S. viewers from season 1 thru 5a was about 1-2.5 mill per episode, 5b has been ~5 mill per; I wonder if that was part of the strategy for the long gap between 5a and b -- people catching up on Netflix!

[Commando]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...g_Bad_episodes

U.S. viewers from season 1 thru 5a was about 1-2.5 mill per episode, 5b has been ~5 mill per; I wonder if that was part of the strategy for the long gap between 5a and b -- people catching up on Netflix!

There are um... interesting people who just started watching now.

*and by now I mean 5b without catching up.

[Tim]

There are um... interesting people who just started watching now.

*and by now I mean 5b without catching up.

I'd imagine those numbers only refer to TV viewership, not streaming views.

[Art Vandelay]

I hadn't given it much thought until someone mentioned it above in one of their endgame theories; but I'm curious how Junior finds out where his car, and limitless supply of breakfast cereal came from. It has to come from either Jesse or Marie. He will undoubtedly flash his hurt, puppy-dog eyes while asking, then yelling, "Is it true, dad?"

[Commando]

I hadn't given it much thought until someone mentioned it above in one of their endgame theories; but I'm curious how Junior finds out where his car, and limitless supply of breakfast cereal came from. It has to come from either Jesse or Marie. He will undoubtedly flash his hurt, puppy-dog eyes while asking, then yelling, "Is it true, dad?"

My favorite prediction yet.

[Jeff Lebowski]

My favorite prediction yet.

Ha. That was funny. Nicely done, AV.

[clackamascoug]

To me Jr. has been by far the weakest link in the show. Between the gratuitous handicap part, and his poor acting, the character was all but written out by season 4.
And... I can't even tell you the babies name.

[UVACoug]

To me Jr. has been by far the weakest link in the show. Between the gratuitous handicap part, and his poor acting, the character was all but written out by season 4.
And... I can't even tell you the babies name.

He's really pretty bad. I think killing him would be a great way to memorialize him though ... finally give him something meaningful to do. I can see it happening. I think Walt loses everything before the end, including his wife and kids.

[falafel]

To me Jr. has been by far the weakest link in the show. Between the gratuitous handicap part, and his poor acting, the character was all but written out by season 4.
And... I can't even tell you the babies name.

You know the kid is actually handicapped though, right?

[old_gregg]

You know the kid is actually handicapped though, right?

[clackamascoug]

You know the kid is actually handicapped though, right?

Everyone is handicapped in their own way. Do you know that RJ Mitte doesn't use crutches in real life? He had to learn to use the crutches and slur his speech on purpose. He's got a mild form of CP and is acting handicapped for the part. But that's not the point.

Gilligan in his effort to make WW look sympathetic from the beginning took the easy route by playing the Cancer Card and the Handicapped Kid Card, and then having Walter do what he did under the pretense of "for the family." My point is that I thought the Junior role was by far the weakest of the series, and they pushed him to the curb as much as possible because of it.