Breaking Bad

[Col. Tartleton]

Oh my God, I'm just finishing season 4, and that episode when

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Walter breaks down and rushes home to pack up his money and leave with his family, and realizes Skyler gave the money to Ted

is so freaking intense. I have never seen anything like this, period. This show will be remembered in history. It takes TV to a whole new level!

Even the episode before that, in Mexico. Ffs!!

It gets better. Crawl Space is great, but Face Off (final episode) is better.

[Engie]

I've been trying to hold off reading this thread to avoid spoilers as I've only just watched the first season but I can't help it, this show is too good

Some great acting, especially from Bryan Cranston, makes this show. Definitely one of best programmes on TV at the moment.

[Vítor Gaspar]

Talk about hitting the fan, really.

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This is was my face just a few minutes ago.

[Morbius Sire]

Wait, I don't understand what happened in the end of the episode: can someone explain?

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Have I missed something in the episode? especially that book and "walt whitman"

Also, some minor goodies:

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I've been trying to hold off reading this thread to avoid spoilers as I've only just watched the first season but I can't help it, this show is too good

Some great acting, especially from Bryan Cranston, makes this show. Definitely one of best programmes on TV at the moment.

I am glad you're liking it, Engie.
I won't spoil anything for you, So I will say this: Keep watching as things will become a lot better as the seasons pass.

[God]

Have I missed something in the episode? especially that book and "walt whitman"

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It was a book Gale (Walt's meth cook partner in Gus' lab) gave to Walt as a gift, to 'WW' as in Walter White. There was a flashback to after Gale was killed last season and Hank found his notes on meth making, which he'd written inside he'd dedicated (or something like that) to 'WW', Hank joked that it might stand for 'Walt Whitman'... or even Walter White

[Morbius Sire]

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Great to see that Walt getting bored with making money and he wants out. Especially the scene with the MRI hints a possible resurgence of his cancer.
Oh, boy things are going to get a lot interesting.

As well, I am betting that Jesse will be killed by Walt.

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It was a book Gale (Walt's meth cook partner in Gus' lab) gave to Walt as a gift, to 'WW' as in Walter White. There was a flashback to after Gale was killed last season and Hank found his notes on meth making, which he'd written inside he'd dedicated (or something like that) to 'WW', Hank joked that it might stand for 'Walt Whitman'... or even Walter White

I see. That make more sense. Thank you

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Sad but unexpected to see that Walt will be brought down with a minor detail. Something he missed or forgot.

Is it possible that Skyler placed that book there? or it is just coincidental?

[Halie Satanus]

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Is it possible that Skyler placed that book there? or it is just coincidental?

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She couldn't predict Hank seeing it so....

[God]

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She couldn't predict Hank seeing it so....

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Plus she wouldn't have known about Gale in the first place. Sloppiness on Walt's part I think. Can't believe we have to wait a whole year now.

[Ishan]

@God
Yeah i guess the same. Anyways we can all imagine how the last season (or S05 part 2) is going to start and end.

[Halie Satanus]

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Plus she wouldn't have known about Gale in the first place. Sloppiness on Walt's part I think. Can't believe we have to wait a whole year now.

Walt's genius ever exposing him to people who don't over think things. Most people if asked to name a person with the initials W.W would say 'Willy Wonka.'

Now that Walt's involved with the Brotherhood it looks like we may well get that Scarface ending...

[Vítor Gaspar]

He bought what he bought in the beginning of the 5th season for a reason... that wasn't a flashback, that was a prolepsis.

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Not to mention him and Walter Jr. watching Scarface together. That was a hint, I think.

Anyway, if I'm not mistaken there's an episode where they show Whitman's book in the bathroom. A long time ago. Who would have thought.

[God]

He bought what he bought in the beginning of the 5th season for a reason... that wasn't a flashback, that was a prolepsis.

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The 'Walt Whitman' bit? Definitely a flashback to last season, I remember it clearly. That's why the 'to WW' was significant, he'd seen it before in Gale's book.

[Vítor Gaspar]

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The 'Walt Whitman' bit? Definitely a flashback to last season, I remember it clearly. That's why the 'to WW' was significant, he'd seen it before in Gale's book.

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I'm talking about the M60 he buys in the first episode of this last season. Tony Montana is coming.

[EireEmerald]

Talk about hitting the fan, really.

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This is was my face just a few minutes ago.

Im sure the hit the bottom of the toilet as well.

[Dr. Croccer]

I've been watching this show for a while and am nearing the end of season 4. It's very good, the acting is suberb and the drama and plot is very unique and colourful while still realistic.

I do have a few problems with it, though.

Mainly the philosophy Gillian tries to horse-shoe in it. I quite disliked the '2deep4u' montage with the bear during season 2. The pay-off and message was weak. I'd also say that the general message of the movie, that doing bad things makes you a bad person regardless of your intentions, exemplified in Walt, isn't realistic, is really weak and doesn't even apply to the series. The career criminals are depicted diversely, with some being insane and almost cartoonishly evil (Hector, Tuco), but many others are pretty deep personalities who aren't 'bad'. Jesse and Mike aren't 'evil', they just do certain things for money, and it becomes apparant that they can behave perfectly normal and not have to let their social contacts suffer as Walt's did. Even Gus isn't 'bad', he's a well-mannered guy who is ruthless when he needs to be but isn't cruel, nor has his 'bad behaviour' really impacted his psyche as much as it does Walt's, and he's only been doing it for a year or so, while Gus and Mike have a lifetime of crime behind their backs, far more gruesome than anything Walt's done.

Walt's behaviour during much of the series is also annoying. I know it's intentional and supposed to show that he's stressed and his psyche has taken quite some beating and whatnot, but it isn't realistic. Often Walt just flips for no reason, or does things which would obviously only further worsen his situation. Alot of it doesn't seem rational, and it's hard to empathize with or even understand a character whose actions don't seem to have any relation to reality. I also don't really like his macho behaviour at times. I preferred him from season 1, when he was just a guy suddenly trapped in all this crime. It allows for much more drama and character development, and makes the plot more believable.

[Thorn777]

Well, living under constant fear of death by the person holding you on a string and then eliminating that person can sure change your persona. Same way their criminal activities lead to unforeseen consequences, like killing that boy on his dirtbike. When continuing your path on such point, you know you can meet such situations again, you stop being "a good person" and take it for granted, as part of the job etc. And that changes your think. Resets you in all kinds of ways.

I knew allot of good kids, teenagers, young adults who where small time criminals in real life ending up as egocentric, empty headed and backstabbing, often opportunist or compulsory violent, or both.

Life alters people, specially criminal or drug ridden lives. Both become a way of life.

[Col. Tartleton]

Well, living under constant fear of death by the person holding you on a string and then eliminating that person can sure change your persona. Same way their criminal activities lead to unforeseen consequences, like killing that boy on his dirtbike. When continuing your path on such point, you know you can meet such situations again, you stop being "a good person" and take it for granted, as part of the job etc. And that changes your think. Resets you in all kinds of ways.

I knew allot of good kids, teenagers, young adults who where small time criminals in real life ending up as egocentric, empty headed and backstabbing, often opportunist or compulsory violent, or both.

Life alters people, specially criminal or drug ridden lives. Both become a way of life.

Don't make me agree with you.

[Morbius Sire]

Well, living under constant fear of death by the person holding you on a string and then eliminating that person can sure change your persona. Same way their criminal activities lead to unforeseen consequences, like killing that boy on his dirtbike. When continuing your path on such point, you know you can meet such situations again, you stop being "a good person" and take it for granted, as part of the job etc. And that changes your think. Resets you in all kinds of ways.

I knew allot of good kids, teenagers, young adults who where small time criminals in real life ending up as egocentric, empty headed and backstabbing, often opportunist or compulsory violent, or both.

Life alters people, specially criminal or drug ridden lives. Both become a way of life.

Good post! I agree.
However, Dr. Croccer does raise an interesting point: Walt was consumed by his job, he fully embraced it not knowing where it would end him. Similar to what Tuco had become(I am sure he was normal prior in his early lifetime).

Meanwhile, Gus, Jesse and Mike did their jobs without getting consumed by it. They managed to maintain some sort of a normal life.

[Vítor Gaspar]

Why do some policemen end up abusing of the rights their job allows them to have while others (the majority) don't?

Men and women are not completely alike, and some people deal with certain situations better than others. It is not unrealistic. If anything, it is realistic, and just accentuates the quality this show has. Not every character is artificially black and white. It is colourful, like life really is (and this reminds me of a very good song Breaking Bad had at the end of season 2, if I'm not mistaken )



And probably the music was there for a reason.

As to Gus, he was consumed by his job. Or by revenge. Either way, he never lived a life like Jesse and Mike did. He was closer to Walt, except with his emotions more controlled, but not fully controlled (remember that episode in Mexico? More than anything, Gus did that for revenge)

Speaking of emotions... maybe that's the reason why people react to things differently. Some deal with them better. Some have dealt with things in the past that made them unable to deal with their emotions in the present and future. That's what happens to many people who face traumatic experiences. And what is a traumatic experience is highly subjective and differs from person to person.

Walter's hubris can be, perhaps (but not limited to it), explain by his failure at Gray Matters (he wasn't lying when he said that to Jesse) and past experiences in his life, which we aren't yet fully aware of.

I think this series is much deeper than the mere "crime doesn't pay" message. I'm afraid it doesn't even have that message. More than anything, I think this series tries to convey the message that we may have the strength to put some things in motion, but we may not have enough strength to stop them. By then we are mere objects of our past actions.

[Ishan]

More than anything, Gus did that for revenge

True but the thing about Gus was that he was a very patient man and was willing to put such things on a back burner just so his emotional feelings couldn't get in the way of his drug business. He went to attack them only because he was pushed into a corner, remember that sniper scene where he goes "come at me bro" lol? After that he made up his mind that there was no turning back now since cartel was pressing his nerves hard.

Come to think of it, his partner was killed and he was kinda screwed when they approached them with their meth proposal, wasn't it? And this time he thought like "You guys ed me once but not again."