Breaking Bad (Season 5.5)

[Qrazy]

Yeah, loved it. It did what Breaking Bad does best: ratcheting up tension to delivery some of the most entertaining and satisfying scenes on television - all packaged in magnificent acting, keen directorial choices, and beautiful photography.

But it wasn't perfect. They took some shortcuts in the writing and character choices that didn't feel fair given where we left last season.

[

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Walt is perhaps too quickly back in Skylar's good graces and has perhaps too quickly discarded of his Heisenberg persona consider how deeply he had sunk into it last season. I get that the cancer is back and that he's motivated to repair the damage he has done to his family on some level. But the man had absolutely degenerated to a full-fledged scumbag last season. Where did that go so quickly? The speed with which the writers have to push the story makes me think we missed out on a slower evolution we would have gotten with a full Season 5 and Season 6 set of episodes.

]

And I know it is Jesse's M.O. but I'm a little tired of all the moping. Fantastically layered scene with him and Walt this episode, perfectly acted, but his character is feeling almost one-note in his guilt-addled state.

Great cold open as well. Very revealing and provocative. How the hell are we going to get from here to there in 7 more episodes? Anyone else suspicious that...

[

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Walt's intention is to use the Ricin to commit suicide?

]

[

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Definitely not, he has a massive gun in the back of his car. Why would he go to the effort to get that pill in that case? Plus Ricin is not a painless death nor is it instant. Also, Walt would never commit suicide.

]

[number8]

Oh man, I did. Legit typo, I assure you. I know how it's spelled.

[Ezee E]

Walt drove all the way from New Hampshire to New Mexico for the ricin. If it were for suicide intentions, that'd be the dumbest thing ever.

I don't think the Skyler-Walt conflict is at all over. The whole scene at the car wash was a little awkward between the two.

Jesse's character, on the other hand, makes sense to be moping over this time. In the span of 2-3 years (story time), he's killed one person in cold blood, and witnessed another being murdered for no reason, on top of everything else. He was already fragile to begin with. It's not as interesting to watch someone mope is all.

I like Walt taking on Gus' persona though.

[number8]

I like Walt taking on Gus' persona though.

Walt adopts the characteristics of the people he's killed. It's usually literal (he sees them do it, then imitates it after they're dead). I found it interesting that they included a symbolic parallel with the laying down a towel before vomiting. He never saw Gus do that.

[Ezee E]

Walt adopts the characteristics of the people he's killed. It's usually literal (he sees them do it, then imitates it after they're dead). I found it interesting that they included a symbolic parallel with the laying down a towel before vomiting. He never saw Gus do that.

Ah good one. I never even considered that.

I wonder how he'll take on Mike then.

I liked that Barty reminded me of Half Measure. Mike's monologue in that was amazing.

[number8]

I wonder how he'll take on Mike then.

He did already. Walt used to drink whiskey neat, while Mike on the rocks. This difference between them was pronounced in the episode where they met at a bar and Mike bought him a drink then punched him.

In last year's finale, after he killed Mike, Walt went to Hank's house and Hank offered him a drink. Walt asked for on the rocks.

[number8]

The first time he did that was with Krazy-8, who specifically asked Walt to cut the crusts off the sandwich when he was Walt's prisoner. After Walt killed Krazy-8, every time we see Walt making a sandwich in the latter seasons, they always make a point to show him cutting the crusts.

[D_Davis]

He did already. Walt used to drink whiskey neat, while Mike on the rocks. This difference between them was pronounced in the episode where they met at a bar and Mike bought him a drink then punched him.

In last year's finale, after he killed Mike, Walt went to Hank's house and Hank offered him a drink. Walt asked for on the rocks.

And it's probably why he's already killed [

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Skylar

].

In the S5 cold open, [

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he forms his age with the bacon.

]

Unless I missed something from last night's episode - haven't watched it yet.

[Scar]

Rewatched the first few episodes of Season 5 and forgot about the cold open to episode 1 that takes place on Walt's 52nd birthday in some random state outside of New Mexico. He coughs a few times, so it appears like the cancer may be back and he also bought a rather fancy assault rifle as well.

Yeah, that's not an 'assault rifle'. That's a full blown M60 machine gun. Full auto, belt fed goodness.





Loved the shit out of that episode. Will try to rewatch it again soon.

[Grouchy]

And it's probably why he's already killed [

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Skylar

].

In the S5 cold open, [

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he forms his age with the bacon.

]

You just blew my mind.

There was zero chance for this to disappoint, eh? Another fantastic episode. The tension in the final scene could be cut with a knife.

[Watashi]

I'm pretty sure everyone is going to die.

[

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Except Badger. Badger will live on forever.

]

[D_Davis]

I'm pretty sure everyone is going to die.

[

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Except Badger. Badger will live on forever.

]

The last shot of the show will be Badger picking up Walt's old hat, putting it on, and saying, "Let's cook." Thus illustrating the moral of the story - there's a Heisenberg in all of us.

[Scar]

The last shot of the show will be Badger picking up Walt's old hat, putting it on, and saying, "Let's cook." Thus illustrating the moral of the story - there's a Heisenberg in all of us.

Followed by the implosion of the internet.

[slqrick]

[Grouchy]

Hahah that was quick!

[Gizmo]

well that was everything and more.

[D_Davis]

Pretty good opener. Good choice to quickly set up the main conflict. It feels like we're (viewers and characters) all on the same page.

[Robby P]

Great episode though I agree with Amber's criticisms about the lack of detail devoted to Walt's about face. I do think, however, that Jesse's status as the show's moral conscience kind of requires him to be a bit of a debbie downer at this point. I like where his character is heading. It seems appropriate.

[Spun Lepton]

Holy ...

[number8]

Here's my take on that Star Trek scene.

[slqrick]

[

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Walt is perhaps too quickly back in Skylar's good graces and has perhaps too quickly discarded of his Heisenberg persona consider how deeply he had sunk into it last season. I get that the cancer is back and that he's motivated to repair the damage he has done to his family on some level. But the man had absolutely degenerated to a full-fledged scumbag last season. Where did that go so quickly? The speed with which the writers have to push the story makes me think we missed out on a slower evolution we would have gotten with a full Season 5 and Season 6 set of episodes.

]

[

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I thought he looked like a complete scumbag all episode long, at least for me. I think he just allowed himself to be emasculated by Skylar, or at least made it seem that way. His scene where he tried to convince Jesse that Mike was still alive was one of the most pathetic things he's ever done, that alone was enough to convince me he hadn't changed his ways, just didn't care to put up a public fight with Skylar. Maybe this thing with Hank is what brings back the venom full force. He just seemed like a dude without much purpose.

]

[Ezee E]

[

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I thought he looked like a complete scumbag all episode long, at least for me. I think he just allowed himself to be emasculated by Skylar, or at least made it seem that way. His scene where he tried to convince Jesse that Mike was still alive was one of the most pathetic things he's ever done, that alone was enough to convince me he hadn't changed his ways, just didn't care to put up a public fight with Skylar. Maybe this thing with Hank is what brings back the venom full force. He just seemed like a dude without much purpose.

]

Great point.

[Spun Lepton]

But it wasn't perfect. They took some shortcuts in the writing and character choices that didn't feel fair given where we left last season.

[

Show Spoiler

Walt is perhaps too quickly back in Skylar's good graces and has perhaps too quickly discarded of his Heisenberg persona consider how deeply he had sunk into it last season. I get that the cancer is back and that he's motivated to repair the damage he has done to his family on some level. But the man had absolutely degenerated to a full-fledged scumbag last season. Where did that go so quickly? The speed with which the writers have to push the story makes me think we missed out on a slower evolution we would have gotten with a full Season 5 and Season 6 set of episodes.

]

My understanding is that it was always planned as 5 seasons, and due to the money mishaps surrounding MadMen, they split the last seaons into two chunks. So, in essence, Season 5 has more episodes than it would have originally. Instead of 13 it will have 16.

[Qrazy]

Walt's about face is fine and makes perfect sense for the character. He's seen The Godfather. He knows how these things go. The business is important to him but family is just as important. So when Skylar gives him a point of entry back into her life last season, at that point he had everything else he wanted in terms of power and finance so he seized the opportunity.

There were plenty of shots of Walt looking vacant and lost last season while he was on top of the world. Gilligan laid the groundwork quite well.

[[ETM]]

I keep wondering why Skyler is so frequently called "Skylar" by mistake. Seems to be a far less common name, at least to me.