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Breaking Bad, the SPOILERS edition (don't read if not up to date!)

catgirl

Veteran

I hope no one minds if I spin this off Janet's thread to be able to discuss without ruining the suspense for others!

I know Walt goes back for the ricin in that flash-forward, so my thought is that he intends to take out Todd's gang. What is going to happen to Jesse? Was that phone call was really to save Skyler?

What amazes me is that both Jesse and Walt transformed with knid of an opposing character arc - Jesse from waste case to moral compass, Walt from schlub to sociopath.

I've read a lot about how people hate Sklyer for standing in his way. I felt the opposite - I really disliked her for being weak. But I also see her as abused, though she didn't start out that way.

I'm probably going to have to go back and watch all the seasons again once it's over to find all the tie-ins throughout the show.

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41 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

The suspense is killing me! I listened to a podcast about the making of Ozymandias, where Vince Gilligan and another writer said quite overtly that Walt's motivation for the phone call was to clear Skyler of suspicion. Walt finally realizes that the best thing he can do for his family is disappear and make sure that Skyler is not treated as his accomplice. And the reason he gives Jesse away is that he blames him for Hank's death.

I hope that the family is not in danger, although I'm afraid Uncle Jack and the gang will be after Marie, since the DVD with Jesse's confession is at her house.

So many theories, but the writers have so far been able to come up with really unexpected twists. I hope the last two episodes will be no different. Vince Gilligan keeps saying that the ending will be very satisfying to fans, but I guess I'm not so sure that all the fans have the same favorites. At this point, I have a lot more sympathy for Skyler and Jesse than Walt.

Sara L.

Veteran

I think the phone call was to save Skyler but that there was also a lot of truth in it for Walt. He really does feel that she's ungrateful, never understood him, and he's proud of his accomplishments as a meth dealer.

I was wondering if Jesse is going to take out Uncle Jack's gang with some sort of chemical reaction like in the first season where Walt kills whatever-his-name-is with a reaction. The scene where Uncle Jack refuses to wear the mask made me think of it.

I've always liked Skyler except for a few episodes at the beginning of this season. I felt like she (and sometimes Jesse) were the conscience of the show. I'm not sure that I believe that she would really turn against her sister and make that video with Walt, even with him constantly threatening that she would be seen as an accomplice if they were caught.

catgirl

Veteran

Sara L, interesting theory! I wonder if Jesse will take them out but die with them in a blaze of glory/martyr way. I think Junior is the conscience of the show - he is completely innocent and has always been a clear beacon of good.

Agree Walt is disappointed that Skyler didn't see his meth career as a big accomplishment... though why he thought she would be, I don't know. I guess neither of them knew the other's mettle or flaws.

I don't see how Skyler will be able to keep the money regardless of being exonerated or not. It's evidence and it's criminally obtained... will be interesting to see!

Mochi

Veteran

She won't keep the money, of course not. And the irony is that even while Walt was stockpiling this money in a warehouse, and later in the ground in barrels, they were never able to benefit from it. Lived in the same house, lived the same lives, maybe drove slightly better cars. And then the family got blasted into fragments anyway.

The phone call to Skyler--in my first viewing, I thought Walt was being completely straight, which was chilling. Only after reading a recap/analysis did I see that it was his setup to exonerate her.

Their son breaks my heart. Any normal life for him is over.

Some people put the blame on Skyler for "insisting" on a hit on Jesse. I see Jesse's screwup...if he'd only confronted Walt in the plaza...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

How many times my heart broke during that episode. Watching Walt fall to the ground next to Hank's body (shades of Gus watching Max die). Walt spitting out the truth about Jane to Jesse. The White family splintering into pieces right in front of us in the scene with the knife. Walt taking Holly, and Skyler chasing his car. Jesse chained up like a dog on a leash. And Walt leaving Holly at the fire station.

It took me a moment during Walt's phone call to figure out what he was doing, but his tears and Skyler's responses made it clear to me that he was attempting to save her in the eyes of the authorities. But Sara, you are absolutely right that there were kernels of hard truths in what Walt was saying. A brilliant, underachieving, stoic man like him is a ripe candidate for resentment underneath, which can (and did) turn ugly and self-destructive.

I can't see Walt as pure evil, as some people do, but I think pure evil makes for a caricature, not a character. I believe he did/does love his family. He started doing what he did for the sake of the family, but it turned into something darker and more self-serving. As Heisenberg, he found the power he had always felt he lacked.

I also never shared the hatred a lot of the world seems to have for Skyler. What an impossible situation she was in! Granted, she made some awful decisions too, but I saw strength in her character, as well as weakness.

I am totally rooting for Jesse to get out of all this alive, somehow, and start fresh somewhere else. Alaska for real this time?

Sara L.

Veteran

I never thought of Junior as the conscience because he was kept too much in the dark. He doesn't have any moral decisions to make (until this last episode when he called the cops) because he had no idea what his parents were doing. Skyler knew what her husband was doing and never lost the fact that drugs are bad. She never fully approved of what he did and didn't seem as swayed by the money as Walt was. I agree that she got pretty beat down by Walt by the end.

Sara L.

Veteran

Janet, I just saw your reply and agree that Walt isn't pure evil. He still believed he was doing all this for his family, which is why Hank's death was so devastating to him. I don't believe he ever really thought harm would come to his family, and he still thought of Hank as family.

I wonder why Uncle Jack didn't kill Walt though? Underestimating him, maybe? He'd just killed the BIL that Walt had tried his hardest to save and he doesn't think Walt might take some sort of revenge?

rae

(website)

Veteran

This is fascinating to me as someone who just could not get hooked on Breaking Bad. I watched the first two seasons but really felt that Skyler and Junior were selfish, insensitive, condescending, and incomprehensibly guilt-trippy toward Walt. They were selfish before the health news broke and only got worse after... I just could not understand why on earth Walt would be motivated to create this nest egg for them.

I do like hearing about Walt's arc from shlub (that's how I saw him! definitely not as a brilliant chemist guy re-harnessing his mojo) to sociopath.

pil

Veteran

Walt to Skyler:
“You clearly don’t know who you’re talking to, so let me clue you in. I am not in danger, Skyler. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No! I am the one who knocks!” – Walter White

Walter White needs to be in hell.

Rae, your thoughts about the family are interesting. Walt was emphasising family even in the midst of Jack contemplating shooting Hank and also while trying to convince Skyler and Walt Jr. to pack and leave with him.

I still hope something happy can happen for Jesse.

Have you seen the clip of Aaron Paul on The Price is Right?

catgirl

Veteran

Alaska indeed!

There is a great article/interview with Cranston in the current New Yorker, where he talks about purposely making Walt ambiguous so you simultaneously hate him yet empathize...

pil

Veteran

Yes, I meant to add that Bryan Cranston's acting is extraordinary. It's hard to know whether to root for or against Walt.

Elly

Veteran

Never watched most episodes, but I'm currently in ABQ and all the local TV and radio stations are alight with interviews from the cast.

Sara L.

Veteran

Elly! I live in Albuquerque! That's the reason I initially started watching the show. It's so fun to recognize all the locations.

Kristin SF

Veteran

Not reading the above since I watch episodes with DH and we are behind. But, has everyone seen this Jimmy Fallon clip at this point? It was so good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duKL2dAJN6I

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I saw that, Kristin! Cracked me up.

Raisin

Veteran

My god I love this show. I watched all 5 seasons in about 3 weeks. I'm addicted to it like meth, haha. I am both anxiously awaiting the last episodes, and sort of depressed that it's over.

Ok, now onto the analysis. For sure Walt was saving Skylar there. He did an awesome performance though, and it took me a few minutes to see what he was doing, but I'm sure that was the idea behind it.

I've always felt like Jesse would kill Walt in the end. Especially since he poisoned Brock, and now he told him about Jane. I was sort of thinking there was an alternative motive behind him telling Jesse about the Jane thing, but I can't quite figure out what it would be. I mean he stops them so he can specifically tell Jesse that little tid-bit, before he's supposed to go off and be tortured and die. Walt always seemed to think of Jesse as a son a bit, so I don't know why he would specifically want to hurt him that bad before he dies, so I'm wondering if there's some motive there I can't quite figure out. Another way of saving Jesse some how?

Anyway, I am on pins and needles waiting for the next episode! SO GOOD!

MsMary

Veteran

I also have watched the whole series in the last month or so. OMG I love it so much I want to marry it. My absolute favorite is Jesse. Oh, my dear sweet lord, do I love that boy. I actually had to take a break from watching in the middle when he was using and having all the meth heads in his house because it was stressing me out so much! LOL I am hoping against hope that he gets away scot-free somehow.

I have to think Walt is going to end up dead.

As for the women, I think Skyler's character arc has been fascinating and pretty realistic. I am not a Skyler hater at all. And Marie! She started out so annoying but I have come to really like and, yes, respect her! And it's so so sad that she's a widow now!!

Have you heard that the lawyer is getting his own spinoff series?

Mochi

Veteran

What? Though I can't say Saul isn't a fantastic character. I was always so happy back when both he and Mike Ermentraut were appearing in the same episode.

Raisin

Veteran

Yes, apparently Saul's show will be a prequel to the show....which I wondered if that was any hint at his fate in the show...

Sara L.

Veteran

I thought Walt was trying to hurt Jesse by telling him about Jane. He blamed Jesse for Hank's death and was just trying to hurt him in any way he could. Jesse's one of my favorite characters and I really hope he makes it out alive.

catgirl

Veteran

I love Jesse! I had the pillow over my head when he was being dragged away. I think Walt blamed him for Hank's death and wanted to hurt him. No betrayal would hurt Walt more than that of someone he had let in emotionally.

I feel guilty for not liking Skyler, but I don't. Marie drove me nuts too but I have grown to like her.

Saul! The ultimate lawyer archetype!

MsMary

Veteran

Una, when we open our law firm, in addition to Sequin Friday, we need to hire Saul's interior decorator!!

MsMary

Veteran

And OMG Mike!!! I loved him!! The scene at the playground when he saw the cops coming and knew it was over -- just amazing, amazing acting!!

Mochi

Veteran

And if Jesse ever does make it safe up to Alaska, you can hire him to...to...wait, was he actually employable?

MsMary

Veteran

He's good with kids. He could babysit!

catgirl

Veteran

He could be our manny!

Mochi

Veteran

"He could be our manny, BITCHES!"

There. Fixed that for ya.

MsMary

Veteran

ROFL, Mochi!!!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My husband binged on the most recent four episodes the other night (I joined him) and is now caught up. We have been planning our weekends around the final two episodes!

Something occurred to me yesterday. Uncle Jack and his Neo-Nazi Pals are going to go looking at Hank's for the video Jesse recorded, because Jesse told Todd about it. But if they find Marie, looking for a video, she is going to think they're talking about the one Walt and Skyler made. She's going to think Walt sent them for that video, and when Uncle Jack and friends watch it, they're going to think they did indeed kill Walt's boss when they killed Hank! I have to believe that fake confession video is going to come back and have unintended results. Hmmmm....

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