Breaking Bad

[Art Vandelay]

This summer my sons have discovered Malcolm in the Middle. They DVR 2 or 3 episodes a night, then watch them during the day. It is jarring to come home for lunch and seen a lovable bumbling Heisenberg Hal. I had the same feeling when I rewatched the first season of BB. The writers did an excellent job of making Walt a likeable person who gradually has descended the highway to hell.

I think there is zero chance Walt kills Skyler. Jesse, Hank, Lydia, and to a lesser extent Marie are all on the board, if he feels their actions will harm Skyler and the kids longterm.

I don't think it is a coincidence that Lydia made Walt swear on his kids's life...TWICE

[MarkGrace]

This summer my sons have discovered Malcolm in the Middle. They DVR 2 or 3 episodes a night, then watch them during the day. It is jarring to come home for lunch and seen a lovable bumbling Heisenberg Hal. I had the same feeling when I rewatched the first season of BB. The writers did an excellent job of making Walt a likeable person who gradually has descended the highway to hell.

I think there is zero chance Walt kills Skyler. Jesse, Hank, Lydia, and to a lesser extent Marie are all on the board, if he feels their actions will harm Skyler and the kids longterm.

I don't think it is a coincidence that Lydia made Walt swear on his kids's life...TWICE

I forget where I read it, but someone suggested that the end of the show should be Walt going into witness protection as the dad on Malcolm in the Middle. ha.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I forget where I read it, but someone suggested that the end of the show should be Walt going into witness protection as the dad on Malcolm in the Middle. ha.

[San Juan Sun]

Maybe its just me, but I've never really liked Skylar. She's kind of a wet blanket. I wouldnt mind if Walt sent her to Belize.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Walt is not going to kill Skylar! Somebody else will, however.

[old_gregg]

Maybe its just me, but I've never really liked Skylar. She's kind of a wet blanket. I wouldnt mind if Walt sent her to Belize.

it's that facial structure. for some reason it makes it really tough to sympathize with her.

[RC Vikings]

Maybe its just me, but I've never really liked Skylar. She's kind of a wet blanket. I wouldnt mind if Walt sent her to Belize.

Wow, I'm sure you're the only one.

[Pheidippides]

It is worth reposting this, speaking of Skylar's manjaws: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/breaking_bad_hair

[BigPiney]

I forget where I read it, but someone suggested that the end of the show should be Walt going into witness protection as the dad on Malcolm in the Middle. ha.

That would be a great Newhart ending.

[jay santos]

Caricature? One-dimensional? Where did you get that? You and I have both referenced things Walt has done along the way to illustrate complexity. It has been a fascinating journey.

But after 20 murders, poisoning a kid, and putting his family in extreme danger, how can you possibly cheer for the guy or expect some kind of redemptive ending?

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s166/br...edemption.html

Darth Vader did some bad things in his lifetime and found redemption. Redemption is always a powerful draw in literature/film.

I'm not really expecting that kind of redemption or any kind of redemption. Nor do I need it in order to remain on his side. I just like his character and do cheer for him. And I guess part of that is a hope that he avoids becoming completely rotten.

[ERCougar]

Maybe its just me, but I've never really liked Skylar. She's kind of a wet blanket. I wouldnt mind if Walt sent her to Belize.

I used to hate Skylar. I like her more now.

Darth Vader did some bad things in his lifetime and found redemption. Redemption is always a powerful draw in literature/film.

I'm not really expecting that kind of redemption or any kind of redemption. Nor do I need it in order to remain on his side. I just like his character and do cheer for him. And I guess part of that is a hope that he avoids becoming completely rotten.

I'm with you. I won't excuse anything Walt has done and I would never call him a "good" guy, but I also have a harder time than I should hating him. I guess evil fascinates me. Except in the case of the psychopath/sociopath, people don't just do bad things to do them--there's always some decent motive behind them. So what protects us from walking the same path? That's a fascinating question to me, and keeps me hoping for some sort of redemptive path for Walt.

The show explores this question in a new and interesting way--is it possible to enter a dirty business with good motives and stay good? Apparently not. But I don't think Gilligan thinks Walt is wholly evil, despite what he keeps telling TV mags. I don't know why people keep trying to paint him as wholly black. That's boring and completely unreal.

[San Juan Sun]

It would be awesome to see Walt kill Skylar, and as she dies, he whispers: "Ive been planning this since you screwed your old boss."

[wuapinmon]

The show explores this question in a new and interesting way--is it possible to enter a dirty business with good motives and stay good? Apparently not. But I don't think Gilligan thinks Walt is wholly evil, despite what he keeps telling TV mags. I don't know why people keep trying to paint him as wholly black. That's boring and completely unreal.

If we legitimized the drug trade, pot would be as omnipresent as beer is now. Liquor is a bit more severe, but drugs, I'm not sure how we'd respond to Heisenberg brand meth.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I don't know why people keep trying to paint him as wholly black. That's boring and completely unreal.

Uh... I think you are the one with this 100% black or white line of rhetoric. I think you are twisting what Gilligan (and some of us) are saying.

[ERCougar]

Uh... I think you are the one with this 100% black or white line of rhetoric. I think you are twisting what Gilligan (and some of us) are saying.

I guess I'm misunderstanding what you mean when someone could kill his own wife and not be any worse of a human being. That sounds pretty black.