Talk is a public forum where you can ask questions and share your commentary with fellow Breaking Bad fans.
Is this kid for real or is he an extremely gifted actor? My wife and I love the sideline of the sticky-handed sister. I personally loved the episode where the Brother in Law takes the son to the Meth Motel, dead nuts on and hilarious. The tell-tale rotting teeth says it all.
If the entire first season up until now has been about the pain and horror of one man Breaking Bad, tonight's season finale was all about that one man enjoying it, such as it is. "Where did that come from," Skyler asks, "and why was it so damn good?" Walt responds, "Because it's illegal."
The sentiment is echoed throughout the episode, when Walt smokes an illegal Cuban cigar with Hank, when he encourages Jesse to think creatively about getting the necessary supplies (by going to the black market, I assume). Jesse, it seems, is enjoying a transformation of his own --"Yeah Science!" he exclaims when Walt comes up with a plan to manufacture meth without stealing 300 bottles of pseudo. But more than that, Mr. White is encouraging him, forcing him to think creatively, and the two are starting to view each other as more than either burdens or cash cows. They're forming almost a father-son bond.
The worst is not over for Walt--the sombering speech he gives to his unborn daughter is enough to remind us of that. And I would never for a moment think that the horrors of his new line of work have been put to rest. His new buyer has proven himself to be a homicidal maniac, and any pleasure Walt may be taking is tempered by the sheer brutality of his reality. But it was nice, for at least one episode, to see him alive and in his own way, happy.
What did you guys think of the season one finale?
Have you ever heard of the concept of "sainting"? It refers to someone removing evidence after a person's death, so that a secret life can be kept from loved ones.
In the event that Walt is not found out before his death, do you think he would ask Jesse to clean up his effects so that his family didn't find out about the meth cooking? Would Jesse do it on his own, without being asked?
I've said several times before that Walt seems to be just a little scared of Skyler. To be fair, what I've really meant is that he doesn't want to disappoint her. He wants to meet her approval and to protect and provide for their family. The idea that he might not be able to frightens him, but he's also frightened that she might find out how he chose to meet his obligations. I think even death wouldn't remove this fear.
OK, one more spin on this topic: Skyler DOES find out. Would she hide the information from their daughter, Holly, as she grows up?
We enjoy Breaking Bad so much...the acting is top-notch which makes the whole story so believable. We were enjoying watching the reruns "On Demand" and now they are not available. Will they be made available in the very near future???? We can't hardly wait for Season 2!!!!
If Breaking Bad is, as Vince Gilligan says, the story of how Mr. Chips becomes Scarface, then tonight we said hello to his little friend. Up until now, Walt's digressions -- and granted, there have been many -- have seemed more like quick lapses in judgment rather than changes in his personality.
But tonight, almost before our eyes, we saw Walt shed one persona and adopt a new one altogether. It's not just the bald head I'm talking about, though it did serve as a nice metaphor as well as make Walt look, to quote Walter, Jr., "Bad-ass." All of a sudden Walt became almost an entirely different person with a renewed sense of determination, focus, and decisiveness. In that very last scene where he's clutching handfuls of cash in victory, we see that despite his death sentence, he truly feels alive for the first time.
I don't think that he'll be "Scarface" from now on -- he still has a family who he loves and a home to protect. The challenge for him now will be to integrate this new person into the Walt everyone knows and loves. But I think that at the very least, he will no longer be afraid to get his hands dirty, and he's certainly not the same character that began the episode lecturing Jesse about keeping the "business" side of their operation away.
What did you guys think of tonight's episode?
7 episodes is more like a tease than a season. Have they shot the next season? Or must there be deals made at the networks first?
I've really enjoyed the series because it shows me my "bad old days" and I'm glad I'm not there anymore. A friend asked me if Breaking Bad is realistic. Pretty much. Ya gotta have cajones to cook and distribute, for sure. Then if you get a stupid tweaker for a partner, it's gonna go against you big time.
I think this series would be good for older kids to watch so they could see for real what they are getting themselves into, and not be pampered by some "After School Special" version.
I LOVED the "Mormons as killer bikers" episode, except, you only feel that scared of the Mormons coming, you don't hallucinate quite that badly. Though I never had anything as pure as the tweaker had, nor as large a quantity.
I pray they have the series on again. Well written, well acted, and entertaining is a rare commodity on TV. This show has it all.
Just for fun, as we WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION (sorry...that's me getting impatient) of a second season, how about a lil' viewer speculation and or fan wish lists.
To encourage plenty of participation I'll make it very easy to play along.
You must:
~Choose four different characters
~Make a prediction or season two wish for all four characters
~Mark each one, next to the name, 'Speculation' or 'Wish' (feel free to do one or both) and keep each thought to a 25 word max.
Example:
HANK-Speculation - Hank will find out about Walt but keep his mouth shut about in exchange for Walt staying quiet on his wife's lil habit.
HANK - Wish - Hank, seeing Walt and Jessie together, will start pressing Jessie on Walt is up to.
Sound like fun?
While I'll need a day or two to mull over my own predictions and wishes I look very forward to reading all of yours as we WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION! (Yeah! I'm still impatient but I want more... AMC should be flattered and pleased we want it that *BAD* ) on a second season of Breaking Bad.
This week's episode followed up on a promise the series made two episodes ago, and gave us a deeper glimpse into Walt's life that could have been. After meeting Walt's old partner Elliott, and his wife Gretchen who we of course recognize as Walt's former love interest, it is now painfully obvious that she is at the center of him losing out on all the fame, glory, and of course money that would have come with a life at Gray Matter. I personally am looking forward to how this little menage came to pass.
Watching Walt and Gretchen's horribly awkward interaction and his heartfelt conversation with Elliott (before, of course, the cancer subject arose) I couldn't help but wonder if Walt regretted the sequence of events that led him away from Gray Matter, and yet towards an extremely fulfilling life and marriage with Skyler. Part of me thought that Walt has every right to be bitter towards his friends' successes, which he should by all rights share. But when I watched the so-called intervention later in the episode, I could really feel the unity and love between these characters. Some part of me knows that Walt wouldn't have it any other way -- cancer, debt, Hank and all.
What did you guys this of this episode?
Tonight's episode may have been titled "Cancer Man," but in my mind it was all about Jesse. We learned some startling and heartbreaking facts about our favorite miscreant tonight, but none more tragic than the fact that somewhere in him lies the potential to be a much better person than he is.
It's shocking to see him run home not to a broken house, but a well-to-do family with a gifted child--even more shocking to see this child starting to follow his brother down a misbegotten path. But it's obvious to me that Jesse too was once in Jake's shoes: he's obviously got artistic talent, and even Mr. White wrote on his failed test, "Apply Yourself." I can't help but think Walt wouldn't have written that had he not seen a glimmer of hope in Jesse. And I can't help but wonder what kind of life Jesse would have had if he had never turned to drugs.
What did you guys think of this episode?
This is the first TV series since Twin Peaks that I would call art. This show rocks! Profuse thanks to everyone involved for providing us with this beautiful series - I really enjoy being able to look forward (excitedly) to the next episode.
I love every actor, but I must admit being partial to Aaron Paul. He is completely amazing. I thought about him, his character, and just what it is that makes a great actor all day today. Keep pushing it, make it explode. I wish the censors would give this show free rein to do whatever the hell it wants. (I wish that about all shows, but this one really deserves the freedom to go wherever it is that it needs to go.) Just beautiful. And Aaron, if you're ever in Cleveland, look me up, PLEASE. Thanks again to all involved for the ART.
