diff --git a/blog/src/brba.org b/blog/src/brba.org index ed5d012..4b8b055 100644 --- a/blog/src/brba.org +++ b/blog/src/brba.org @@ -2,6 +2,33 @@ #+TITLE: The Breaking Bad Universe #+options: html-style:nil html-scripts:nil date:nil created:nil #+HTML_HEAD: +* Scaletta +Riscrevere: +- BCS: tutto? +- BrBa + + + +- salva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mVq_4BA5DQ +- il problema di s05 è che non ci sono nemici. Walter è sia il + protagonista che il nemico quindi c'è meno ordine ed equilibrio. + Avrebbero dovuto usare come pov qualcun'altro + + Hank would have been the perfect protagonist for the last season + + inoltre è simile a Walter da molti punti di vista + +- Fai copia di tutti i link qui + + +- TODO 05E12: One of the show's coolest easter eggs is in this + episode. At about 34-35 minutes in, Look at the bookshelf behind + Jesse. One of the things on it is Deadwood, which Anna Gunn is in. + Just to the right of Deadwood are two things with black spines. They + are Breaking Bad DVDs with their spines digitally blacked out. + There's at least one version (possibly Netflix streaming) that has + at least one shot where they're not blacked out. +- vedi altre easter eggs + + - TODO: thanks to reddit for insight and some wording on some stuff https://old.reddit.com/r/breakingbad/comments/1que5i/after_the_finale_i_rewatched_the_entire_series/ https://old.reddit.com/r/breakingbad/comments/tsmd69/list_of_breaking_bad_and_better_call_saul/ @@ -39,6 +66,27 @@ https://old.reddit.com/r/breakingbad/comments/tsmd69/list_of_breaking_bad_and_be note that while both spoke English, neither did so very well. Gus doesn't want them palling around with any of his other people, not even the Spanish speakers at his restaurants. plus, did we even know before this that Gus speaks German? One more way he can keep the engineer isolated, since he can direct him personally without needing a translator. (I wonder if he speaks French too?) +* Watching order TODO specials +1. Start with Better Call Saul (BCS) and stop watching after S06E10 . The cold open of the following episodes + will be better understood after watching Breaking Bad (BrBa). The + most hardcore people may wish to skip it but I enjoyed watching them nonetheless + + S01E01: Uno + + S02E01: Switch + + S03E01: Mabel + + S04E01: Smoke + + S04E05: Quite a Ride + + S01E05: Magic Man +2. Breaking Bad. Stop after watching one of the most acclaimed episodes: + Ozymandias (S05E13) +3. Watch the cold open to BCS Season 4 Episode 5: Quite a Ride +4. finish Breaking Bad +5. Now you can watch El Camino. The movie doesn't really stand on its + own and the story fits chronologically exactly here. +6. This is the moment to rewatch the remaining BCS cold opens + (basically every cold open of the first episode of each season) +7. Finally finish BCS. The end wouldn't make sense without having + finished BrBa first and it would spoil El Camino. + | Minisodes [[https://old.reddit.com/r/breakingbad/comments/tsmd69/list_of_breaking_bad_and_better_call_saul/][Link]] | Title | Timeline (After episode listed) | @@ -93,6 +141,8 @@ https://old.reddit.com/r/breakingbad/comments/tsmd69/list_of_breaking_bad_and_be | Before El Camino | Skinny Pete interrogation | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZKqMVPlDg8 | * TODO +- rivedi BrBa S05E06, S05E08 +- bravo vince meme: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/bravo-vince - Salva blogs and interactive media - parla errori chimica - introduzione riguardo chi sara` Saul? Magari puoi sostituire Saul @@ -105,12 +155,6 @@ https://old.reddit.com/r/breakingbad/comments/tsmd69/list_of_breaking_bad_and_be find yourself rooting for the exact opposite of the inevitable. - Chuck gets the illness back only when Jimmy is there, without Jimmy he is fine. Episode? -- BCS finale: this is a really, really good breakdown but I think - Chuck won't kill himself, his house will catch fire because of the - gas lamps. I feel like they are focused on a lot in every episode - that features Chuck, even in this episode the foley sound for it was - reaaaaally loud. Chuck dies in house fire, I'm callin' it. Also - Jimmy threatens to burn his house - Skyler pessima figura di donna: reagisce con la stessa cosa che odia. Wants Walter to talk, she doesn't talk. Big part of it is on the writers. I’m not calling them misogynist but pretty much the @@ -153,9 +197,10 @@ capisce la scala di misura degli effetti delle azioni di Heisenberg, ben oltre ABQ e la sua famiglia. * Better Call Saul ** S01E09 -To Chuck, the law is sacred and more important than Jimmy. He went outside for the case twice, but -he won't do that to chase after Jimmy. It also provides attrition with -Mike's thoughts about the law being different from morality. +To Chuck, the law is sacred and more important than Jimmy. He went +outside for the case twice, but he won't do that to chase after Jimmy. +It also provides attrition with Mike's thoughts about the law being +different from morality. He never said he wanted his brother to be Slippin' Jimmy, but he did say that people don't change, thereby implying Jimmy could never @@ -582,9 +627,17 @@ It’s funny that Lalo called him a cockroach, because that’s exactly how Pete Painting from hospital reappears - https://i.imgur.com/XGkGC7W.jpg - https://i.imgur.com/g7dnepz.jpg +** Ozymandias o altro? +A showdown occurs + between Hank and Heisenberg in Season 5 that forces Walt Jr. to + grow up in a less superficial matter. +Collegato a showdown di episodio 02 01 ** General consideration to put in proper episode chapter *** Hank -Hank is always insecure and covers it with his bravado. I think the actor does a great job of conveying this. There are times he looks worried before entering a room, takes a deep breath, then enters the room/crowd with full bravado going. +Hank is always insecure and covers it with his bravado. I think the +actor does a great job of conveying this. There are times he looks +worried before entering a room, takes a deep breath, then enters the +room/crowd with full bravado going. He can be both an annoying and sympathetic character @@ -672,7 +725,13 @@ use it against Walt when we get the chance instead of being open and act like a grown-up kinda thing. *** Colors and symbolism -Because the pools are always such a deep blue, I always believed them to symbolize the presence and pressure of meth almost like an ever present entity. Couple examples: 1) think about the bear crashing into the pool from this context. 2) skyler nearly drowning in the pool thus losing her life to this business Walt has. 3) the house being bombed out and skateboarders skating the pool. The business is destroyed and their is nothing left to show for it. +Because the pools are always such a deep blue, I always believed them +to symbolize the presence and pressure of meth almost like an ever +present entity. Couple examples: 1) think about the bear crashing into +the pool from this context. 2) skyler nearly drowning in the pool thus +losing her life to this business Walt has. 3) the house being bombed +out and skateboarders skating the pool. The business is destroyed and +their is nothing left to show for it. ** S01E01 When Walt confronts the kids making fun of Jr. seems bad-ass in the @@ -818,26 +877,12 @@ striker rather than the match head, that is a lie. The phosphorus is found in the match head. ** S02E01 -**** Foreshadowing / spoilers -n this episode walt figures he needs 737 thousand before he dies. -Episode titles: -- E01: Seven Thirty-Seven / E04: Down / E10: Over / E13: ABQ - -About Tuco: - -A: I asked them to kill me. Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to -coming back and doing the part. [Laughs]. It's really difficult to -pull off. They were like, "We want you to come back and do eight more -episodes." And I said, "No. I'll do one more and that's it. You guys -have to kill me." They're like, "We never heard of an actor that -wanted to die." And I'm like, "You don't understand. This part's -really hard." - -Here's a link to the interview: -http://blogs.amctv.com/breaking-bad/2009/03/raymond-cruz-interview/ - -The car's bouncing got slower then stopped like a heart monitor before -a flatline. +In this episode walt figures he needs 737 thousand before he dies. +Remember the episode titles for now: +- E01: Seven Thirty-Seven +- E04: Down +- E10: Over +- E13: ABQ ** S02E02 Here Hank mentions that Tuco may have knifed a Mexican national in '03. @@ -847,28 +892,44 @@ talks about the same thing, about five years from that time. This would also extend Tuco's sentence from 6 months to 5 years. +On an interview Raymond Cruz, the actor that portrais Tuco, said: +#+begin_quote +I asked them to kill me. Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to +coming back and doing the part. [Laughs]. It's really difficult to +pull off. They were like, "We want you to come back and do eight more +episodes." And I said, "No. I'll do one more and that's it. You guys +have to kill me." They're like, "We never heard of an actor that +wanted to die." And I'm like, "You don't understand. This part's +really hard." +#+end_quote + +Here's a link to the interview: +http://blogs.amctv.com/breaking-bad/2009/03/raymond-cruz-interview/ + +Notice how the car's bouncing got slower then stopped like a heart +monitor before a flatline. ** S02E04 -For me, this episode is not about Skyler, but how Walt and Jesse are -reduced to the same level (the phone call, confrontations with Jesse's -mum and Walt with Skyler, the fight in the RV and what proceeds, etc.) +This particular episode doesn't focus on Skyler as much as it does on +Walt and Jesse, who are both brought down to the same level of +desperation and turmoil. We see this through various events such as +the intense phone call between them, confrontations with Jesse's +mother, and the heated argument between Walt and Skyler. The tense +fight that occurs in the RV only adds to the sense that both +characters are being pushed to their limits. ** S02E05 -This was the episode where I started to think Walt was not the nice, -normal guy we met in the pilot, but someone with a real nasty streak. + Walt's character takes a dark turn that is hard to ignore. He goes + from being the mild-mannered protagonist we met in the pilot to + someone with a ruthless streak that is on full display. The scene + where he brings the gun to Jesse and instructs him to "handle it" is + particularly chilling, as it shows Walt's acceptance of murder as a + normal course of business. -Specifically, it is when he brings the gun to Jesse and tells him to -"handle it." We saw most of the episode (and earlier in the series as -well) that Walt is much greedier than Jesse, but now we see he is also -much more ruthless about violence. This wasn't a self defense -situation like Tuco or Krazy 8, this was signalling his acceptance of -murder as a normal course of doing business. I never saw Walt the same -way again after Breakage. - -I think this is also the point where I started seeing Walt as a bigger -criminal than Jesse, and a worse influence on Jesse than vice versa. -When I see this episode now, I want to beg Jesse to run away from ABQ -and never come back. Because both Jane and Walt are going to fuck him -up worse than he could ever imagine. +As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that Walt is a bigger +criminal than Jesse and a negative influence on him. +You can't help but feel a sense of dread for Jesse's future, knowing +that both Jane and Walt are going to cause him even more pain and +suffering. ** S02E06 If you haven't recognized it, that is Spooge. Appears in BCS S06E04, @@ -876,37 +937,24 @@ The cockroach: Not only foreshadowing for Spooge, but also referencing the episode before, where Hank is talking to Walt and Jr. about shooting Tuco. He uses the metaphor of a cockroach crawling out from under the refrigerator, and how you don't think about it, you just -stamp on it. This is contrasted with Jesse's attitude towards the +stomp on it. This is opposed to Jesse's attitude towards the beetle, and how his own perspective on murder differs from Hank's. - ** S02E07 Finally the most awaited character. -Notice how he asks about Ignacio and Lalo. Remember that BCS was just +Notice how Saul asks immediately about Ignacio and Lalo. Remember that BCS was just a sequel so imagine the reaction of the fans at the first run of BCS. +I don't know if this was planned but Bravo Vince. Also remember how at BCS we stopped exactly at the scene: "a public masturbator?". ** S02E10 -DA SPOSTARE - -Let me disclaimer an apology for a wall of text as this is my favorite -episode and I generally don't have a lot of people around who will -listen to my opinions of it without finding themselves bored. - -I think this is the most important episode of the series. I see this -episode as the shape of things to come for the rest of the series. So -many things happen under the guise of an episode toned at a pace that -seems almost slow. To briefly summarize: - +#+begin_quote Jesse and Jane's relationship moves from casual to truly romantic with the introduction of one of the show's most tragic characters: Jane's father. This is the foundation for the rot within Walter - and Jesse's relationship. Heisenberg and Hank have their first - showdown - something that won't happen again until the middle of - Season 5. This is a showdown that directly allows Walt Jr. to - superficially grow up ("I kept up, right?"). A showdown occurs - between Hank and Heisenberg in Season 5 that forces Walt Jr. to - grow up in a less superficial matter. Skyler begins her flirtation + and Jesse's relationship. Heisenberg and Hank have a showdown. + This is a showdown that directly allows Walt Jr. to + superficially grow up ("I kept up, right?"). Skyler begins her flirtation with Ted. The end of this path has major repercussions for the entire White family. "There's rot." - This line may be more important than the more famous final lines of the episode. There @@ -932,19 +980,8 @@ seems almost slow. To briefly summarize: own home - just a gloss, a sealant to keep the rot that is Heisenberg from being exposed to the world. -Of course the acting and pacing of this episode is magnificent as it -builds to one of the greatest scenes in the entire series. I theorize -that most people view this entire episode as a build up to "Stay Out -of My Territory". In my opinion the symbolism lies just underneath the -surface (perhaps this is one of the reasons why the episode is titled -"Over") that takes place within the entire episode is the reason "Stay -Out of My Territory" is so fondly remembered and well-liked by fans of -the show. Of course, I'm a little biased to my favorite episode of the -series. - /u/Gootangus - - +#+end_quote From what I see in all these episode discussion threads on Reddit, people are obsessed with that moment, where Walt becomes Heisenberg, where Jimmy becomes Saul, severely overrating the importance of @@ -957,39 +994,6 @@ and ends in Heisenberg, starts with Jimmy and end with Saul, but both of them are present from the start and along the road. Those characters, like real people, are multidimensional and dynamic, in a fluid process. Not in a static moment. - -** S02E11 -A new mug. - -Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning circle. The first image of the -episode is a bicycle wheel of a child (foreshadows Drew Sharpe) at the -triangle where Combo gets capped and where Walt first kills as -Heisenberg in 312 Half Measures. The circle continues, Walt has chosen -Heisenberg (DLZ), and desperately looks at his reflection in the -Pollos Hermanos window to see Gus Fring for the first time as what he -is, a continuation in Walt's circular transformation and in essence a -reflection of Walt. Also in this episode Jane returns to the circle of -drug abuse, Skylar is put in the position of covering up illegality -for a man she cares about. There are two highlights in this episode -that hold water as some of the most memorable of the whole series. -Firstly, we should acknowledge the linearity between 211 and 411 Crawl -Space. The circle of cooked books is introduced in 211 and paid off in -411, the beginning of Gus and Walt's business in 211 and the end of -their business in 411. With those connection drawn, Jesse's first time -using heroin is one of the most entrancing scenes with the incredible -musical cue of Enchanted as the camera slowly pulls and warbles upward -beyond ceiling height, like the final shot of Walt in the Crawl -Space--and in terms of dramatic urgency nothing beats the end of Crawl -Space, except maybe the end of Mandala, "Baby Coming" had me crying -the first time I saw it. This is an episode that left me in awe and -for my money exceeds the penultimate and finale episodes of season 2. -This is a top ten episode of the series, no doubt. - -Another note on the significance of mandala–Buddhist monks create -mandalas out of colored sand that they deliberately destroy once -finished. Although it sometimes takes them weeks of work to complete a -mandala and they are sacred, they destroy them to remember not to get -attached to anything. Nothing is permanent, as they learn in the show. ** S02E12 It's worth mentioning that Walt's decision to put his daughter Holly on the side and protect her is a contrast to his decision to let @@ -999,14 +1003,14 @@ protect himself and his interests, he also shows a genuine love and care for his family, specifically his daughter Holly, and will do anything to protect her from harm. - While it could be seen as a ruthless and sociopathic act, it can also - be understood as a necessary decision made to protect himself and - those close to him. Additionally, it's worth noting that Jane was not - an innocent victim, she was a willing participant in the drug-dealing - underworld, and had threatened to expose Walt to the DEA. The death - of Jane is not seen as an act of pleasure or self-preservation but as - a decision taken out of concern for Jesse, someone he considered as - family. +While it could be seen as a ruthless and sociopathic act, it can also +be understood as a necessary decision made to protect himself and +those close to him. Additionally, it's worth noting that Jane was not +an innocent victim, she was a willing participant in the drug-dealing +underworld, and had threatened to expose Walt to the DEA. The death of +Jane is not seen as an act of pleasure or self-preservation but as a +decision taken out of concern for Jesse, someone he considered as +family. Furthermore, it's notable that Walt does not act like a classic sociopath, as he is genuinely conflicted about the decision and even @@ -1060,26 +1064,27 @@ pink teddy bear crashes into the pool may symbolize his own "drowning" or death, as well as the death of the plane crash victims. This could represent the idea that the death of these innocent people is connected to Walt's actions and serves as a reminder of the -consequences of his actions. The show creator Vince Gilligan is known -for his attention to detail and symbolism, and this could be a clever -nod to the audience. +consequences of his actions. ** S03E02 What Saul says after knowing about Kim: wow. Skyler had two options here: turn Walt in, or attempt to drive him -away by having an afair. - -The real reason she took the job with Ted was she wanted the -attention, which includes sexual, he would give her, so its not out of -character for her to fuck him, she uses Walts actions as an excuse and -justification. - -As for Jesse, wow a short stint at rehab doesn't drastically alter -your life and morals. Trust me the girl he gave the meth to will be -fine, she probably didn't even use it, and if she is willing to accept -drugs as payment for gas, I question the "innocence" you're applying -to her. +away by having an afair. Regarding her decision to take the job with Ted, it's +possible that part of her motivation was to seek attention and perhaps +even sexual attention from him. This wouldn't be out of character for +her, and her affair with Ted can be seen as a manifestation of this +desire. While she uses Walt's actions as an excuse and justification +for her behavior, it's important to remember that she is ultimately +responsible for her own choices. +As for Jesse, it's unlikely that a short stint in rehab would +drastically alter his life and morals. While it's true that the girl +he gave the meth to will probably be fine, it's important not to +underestimate the impact that drug use can have on someone's life. +Additionally, it's unfair to question her innocence simply because she +accepted drugs as payment for gas. It's important to remember that +addiction can affect anyone, regardless of their perceived level of +innocence or morality. ** S03E04 Green light is emblematic, a profound episode of discovery and reassertion. It's Walt's return to the "Stay out of my territory" @@ -1088,7 +1093,7 @@ mindset of late season 2. It begins with Jesse returning to what he is best at, it was good to see him smiling and reminiscing in the RV, for all the pain that Walt has put him through he still is grateful for this skill that he is -developing. But at the same time, when he pays for gas with the blue +developing. But at the same time, when he pays for gas with the meth it's a shocking snap back to reality that Jesse cares, but to the extent of making money, he is a good salesman, just like when we see him in the suit and tie applying in the first season for a sales job. @@ -1096,16 +1101,13 @@ him in the suit and tie applying in the first season for a sales job. Green Light contains one of the funniest lines of the whole series by my account: "I'm talking with Ted". This episode also furthers the motif of bugs symbolizing both a watching eye and the contamination of -Walt's life--Jesse not crushing the bug in Peekaboo, The Fly, Vamanous -Pest, the bugging of the cars in season 4 and Hank's office in 5a, and -Mike bugging and de-bugging Walt's house. +Walt's life. Without BCS, this would have been the first time where we see Mike and Gus together, and we would discover that Mike works for Gus. This is also one of the rare times in the series that the audience is ahead of Walt with knowledge of the business. That's what Gus brings, a closer awareness for the audience that leaves Walt somewhat in the dark. - ** S03E05 Is Marie showing to Skyler how to be supportive, what she would have done in her place instead of taking the (almost) nuclear way? @@ -1116,16 +1118,6 @@ Gus manipulates Walt just as Walt manipulates Jesse. that Walter White is careening down like he just got a text of his money barrel dug up. -"I am awake": now remember the dialogues of the first season, -especially about the study of change, the chirals speech. -Awake line for granted. We finally have context for those words. We -have swept with Walter the road from mild mannered highschool teacher -to full fledged criminality and we can now weigh those opening words. - -In the meantime we see Hank alienate Marie and fracture his family's -foundation, substituting his search for the Heisenberg for Walt's "rot" -of season 2's "Over". - We also see Walt engaged in a chess maneuver, one of many to come with Gus Fring, calling Gus's motivations exactly. The only problem: Gus was right. Walt's propitiatory selfishness about his formula does in @@ -1133,7 +1125,7 @@ fact cloud his judgement, it obscures the love he has for Jesse, and the amount of danger he is willing to risk against his family's safety. -And then there is the awe-inspiring speech by Gus to Walt about "What +And then there is the awe inspiring speech by Gus to Walt about "What does a man do Walter?" It further illustrates Walt's embodiment of the strained American, middle-class male. The propaganda and the toxicity in that speech is similar to the one in BCS where he tells his @@ -1145,13 +1137,12 @@ is between a rock and a hard place, she was alienated from family as much as Walt and is feeling lonely, which impedes her from fully causing the collapse of everything by telling on Walter. -Skyler's lawier is the voice of truth and conscience. She speaks to +Skyler's lawyer is the voice of truth and conscience. She speaks to the spectator, trying to reverse the emotions that we feel about the protagonists of this story. it's a story of abuse, arrogance and crime, that's the raw reality and we feel empathy towards the characters only because they are the point of view from which we contemplate the story. - ** S03E07 The cousins go out. Without BCS people were left a little bit unsatisfied about their role, given how much allure around their @@ -1163,121 +1154,103 @@ comedy relief with his brash, cocky attitude. The way the writer's have developed his character, in particular after he killed Tuco, is astounding. This episode also furthers a key theme of the show as a whole, which is that Walt's entrance into the drug world doesn't just -ruin his own life, it ruins the lives of everyone around him - and -it's only going to get worse. +ruin his own life, it ruins the lives of everyone around him. "La familia es todo" -One Minute stands as a testament, a chance coalescence of Walt's -actions causing what Walt has fought 3 and 1/2 seasons to avoid, the -inevitable infliction of pain upon his family. While the reaffirmed +While the reaffirmed choice of Walt to stay in the life comes with dire consequences as Hank's car clock changes from 307 to 308 (great episodic reference), Hank is ready to accept the consequences of his actions, facing what is right, acknowledging that he has been "unraveling." The shootout -puts his family back into perspective, in the next episode 308, when -Jesse outlines how much less they are making than Gus Jesse yells -"What's more important than money?!" Slam cut to Walt visiting Hank in -the hospital. An incredible landmark episode, a crossroad of the -series, Walt's family is directly affected by his actions, it isn't -300 unknown souls perishing in the 737, this is his home, the rotting -foundation of his family broached in 210's Over, perhaps Walt is the -rot, collapsing all that he purports to care about around him, One -Minute is a resounding motif, especially in season 5A, Walt is -described by Mike as a ticking time bomb, in 504 Walt places his watch -on the nightstand on top of his now infamous copy of Leaves of Grass, -and he hits 10 people in prison in the two minute span. Heisenberg's -actions have come home, the cross from 307 to 308, Negro Aroyo Ln. -** S03E08 -There is some great, deep dialogue in the waiting room of the hospital -between Jr, Walt, Marie and Skylar. A great deal is unpacked character -wise in that hospital. Firstly, Marie, hurt and angry lashes out at -Gomie and the boss uttering "The DEA is NOT WELCOME HERE!" You know -that there was a little part of Walt that felt good to hear that from -his family member even though it wasn't fully meaning what it was -intended to. I love the analogy drawn between the "Killing Pablo" book -and Hank's feelings about catching the bad guys. And then of course -one of my personal favorite monologues that nearly had me in -tears, when Walt is reassuring Marie by telling her about his stay in -the hospital. In the middle of it he mentions how he hit every green -light, and how he wished for once that he could just be stuck in -traffic with his family a little while longer. That to me echoes true -with 305's Green Light, that Walt drove forward in his criminal quest -effectively leaving his family behind. "I survived this place, and I'm -not half the man your husband is." Right after Marie is comforted and -grabs Walt's hand, you see Skylar reminded that Walt is still Walt, -that he isn't inhuman. +puts his family back into perspective. -Another little part of this episode that I had was improv'd, Walt at -his core is a problem solver, and in times of great stress, that -concern with the little problems is juxtaposed, manifested on -screen, with cleaning the apartment complex's pool in 301, fixing the -unseen 'rot' in his family's foundation in 210 Over, fixing the -contamination that was the 310's Fly, and in 308 I See You, fixing the -uneven legs of the table in the waiting room. Though I've heard some -argue that this is Walt's why of disconnection, I disagree with that -contention. +The episode "One Minute" serves as a powerful reminder of the +consequences of Walt's actions, as they finally catch up to him and +bring pain to his family. Despite his efforts to avoid this outcome +over the course of three and a half seasons, it becomes clear that his +choices have led to this inevitable outcome. + +As the episode unfolds, we see that Hank is also facing the +consequences of his actions, acknowledging that he has been +"unraveling" and accepting the need to face what is right. + +Bravo Vince moment: Hank's car clock changes from 307 to 308. +** S03E08 +"What's more important than money?!" Slam cut to Walt visiting Hank in +the hospital. + +In the hospital waiting room, there are some powerful and revealing +conversations between the characters. Marie expresses her anger +towards the DEA, and although it was not directed at Walt, it is clear +that he takes some satisfaction in hearing it from a family member. +The analogy between Hank's pursuit of criminals and the book "Killing +Pablo" is a great insight into his character. One of the most +emotional moments is when Walt reassures Marie about his hospital stay +and expresses his desire to have spent more time stuck in traffic with +his family. This resonates with the theme of "Green Light" in episode +305, as Walt has driven forward with his criminal activities, leaving +his family behind. When Marie grabs Walt's hand, Skylar is reminded +that he is still human and not a heartless criminal. + +In addition, there is a small moment of improvisation in which Walt +fixes the uneven legs of the table in the waiting room. This is a +reflection of his core nature as a problem solver and is not +necessarily a way of disconnecting from the situation. Throughout the +series, Walt has demonstrated his tendency to address small problems +in times of great stress, such as cleaning the pool in the apartment +complex in episode 301, fixing the unseen 'rot' in his family's +foundation in episode 210, and fixing the contamination in S03E10. Also, the title of the episode, "I See You" might be a word game with: ICU, intensive care unit. - ** S03E09 -I think the main thing to come out of this episode is the gambling -story, as Anna Gunn is given her time to shine. There hasn't been a -whole lot going on with Skyler in recent episodes; she was rethinking -the affair with Ted, talking with her lawyer about what she should do, -not taking any direct action against Walt. It's all been building up -to this. For all the criticism Skyler gets as a character, it's -undeniable that her role in the show is absolutely crucial, she is -the yin to Walt's yang, she's the constant reminder that what he's -doing is, at the most fundamental level, wrong. And just as it starts -to seem she may be leaning towards agreeing with his actions in the -confession to Marie, that gets blown away by the line "I learned from -the best". +The most significant development in this episode is the gambling +storyline, which allows Anna Gunn to showcase her acting skills. +Skyler's character has been relatively inactive in recent episodes, +with her contemplating her affair with Ted, seeking advice from her +lawyer, and not taking any direct action against Walt. However, all of +this has been leading up to this episode. Despite the criticism that +Skyler receives as a character, her role in the show is critical. She +serves as the counterpoint to Walt, reminding him that his actions are +fundamentally wrong. Just as it appears that Skyler may be starting to +agree with Walt's actions in her confession to Marie, the line "I +learned from the best" shatters that illusion. And of course +Heisenberg is attracted to the dephts of her lying. -Meanwhile, Jesse gets greedy and starts to show some of his -characteristics from the first season. -Even with all that's happened, he is still just the same -old Jesse - "I'm a criminal, yo". He's been given the perfect job -where all he has to do is cook, stay out of trouble and get paid -millions, but it's not enough. And despite Saul's advice to invest in -the nail salon, he declines and instead wants to get back into -business with Skinny Pete and Badger. He wants it all; he wants money, -and lots of it, but he also wants the carefree, low-level drug dealer -lifestyle even when he's given the opportunity to go beyond that. +By the way, it is mentioned in the pilot and +another season 1 episode that Skylar tried at one time pursuing a +career in creative writing, so her spinning this web of well prepared +lies was not shocking, but more indicative of her throwing her +lot in further with Walt. -There are a couple of other outstanding scenes too, in particular -Jesse's box speech at the support group and the Gus and Walt's -conversation at the chicken farm. The latter is also very important in -that Walt extends his contract, entering even further into the meth -world and accepting that there's definitely no going back to his old -life at this point. +Meanwhile we see Jesse reverting back to his old ways, showing signs of greed +and his desire for the criminal lifestyle. Despite being given a job +where he can cook and make millions without trouble, he declines +Saul's advice to invest in a nail salon and instead wants to work with +Skinny Pete and Badger. He wants money and the carefree lifestyle of a +low-level drug dealer, even when he's given the opportunity to go +beyond that. + +Other noteworthy scenes include Jesse's emotional box speech at the +support group and the conversation between Gus and Walt at the chicken +farm. The latter is significant because Walt extends his contract, +committing even further to the meth world and acknowledging that +there's no going back to his old life. There are a couple of other +outstanding scenes too, in particular Jesse's box speech at the +support group and the Gus and Walt's conversation at the chicken farm. +The latter is also very important in that Walt extends his contract, +entering even further into the meth world and accepting that there's +definitely no going back to his old life at this point. Note how in the Pollos commercial we see the first ever mention of Madrigal Electromotive. For us that we have seen BCS, we have more context and this serves as a more catchy detail. -Skylar's gambling story albeit impressive and well presented now -directly implicates her with Walt if the Car Wash laundering wasn't -enough. There is a moment when Skylar is telling the story to Marie -when Walt looks over in admiration, or should I say Heisenberg is -attracted to the depths of her lying.It is mentioned in the pilot and -another season 1 episode that Skylar tried at one time pursuing a -career in creative writing, so her spinning this web of well prepared -lies was not shocking to me, but more indicative of her throwing her -lot in further with Walt. - -But the highlight without question of this episode is Jesse's box -speech monologue to his AAA-like group. Along with his speech to them in -Problem Dog, they are two of Jesse's best, revealing monologues of the -whole series. It was an anecdote that told us what we already -knew: Jesse is capable and can make it straight if he wanted to. - - ** S03E10 Fly is entirely about Walt and Jesse. There is slapstick and stupid crap, hitting each other with the fly swat "Is that your fly saber?" -Some really idiotic lines - "Ebola! It's this disease I saw on the +Some really idiotic lines: "Ebola! It's this disease I saw on the discovery channel where all your intestines just sorta slip out of your butt". @@ -1292,18 +1265,17 @@ scene because it is symbolic. The lab represents Walt's mind: his personal hell, full of guilty contaminant. He tells Jesse his perfect moment to die was the night -that Jane died and that he should have never gone to Jesse's house: -we know he means the second time. +that Jane died and that he should have never gone to Jesse's house: we +know he means the second time. -It feels a lot like "Waiting for Godot" which could be -intentional and was probably an inspiration for the style and the way -that they talk and reminisce. Nothing much actually happens - two -characters wait around for Godot who may or may not exist while they -talk about absurd and serious stuff. The fly that Walt pursues may or -may not even exist. Fly could be a stage play with it's (mostly) one -setting. There is no night or day in the underground lab, and barely -any background music is used which makes it feel even more strange and -isolated. +It feels a lot like "Waiting for Godot" which could be intentional and +was probably an inspiration for the style and the way that they talk +and reminisce. Nothing much actually happens - two characters wait +around for Godot who may or may not exist while they talk about absurd +and serious stuff. The fly that Walt pursues may or may not even +exist. Fly could be a stage play with it's (mostly) one setting. There +is no night or day in the underground lab, and barely any background +music is used which makes it feel even more strange and isolated. At first we may think that the fly is the same as the aunt's opossum: an imaginary being that symbolizes pain and @@ -1369,7 +1341,7 @@ to form, a course-correct on individual motivations, for some a clearer view, and others a demented path towards egoist self-destruction. ** S03E11 -Hank's Handjob Bet was one of the funniest moments of the series. +Hank's handjob bet was one of the funniest moments of the series. That, coupled with the last scene is testament to this show's range in both tone and acting. @@ -1414,8 +1386,8 @@ script states "It's certainly not the most brilliant of Walter White plans (it's been awhile since we saw one of those)" #+end_quote -Fact is, Walt has been seen powerless since a while (just two episodes -ago, he's freaking out about a single fly in the lab). +Fact is, Walt has been seen powerless since a while: just two episodes +ago, he's freaking out about a single fly in the lab. Then there's the scene in which Mike just invites himself in his home, informing that his real boss is Gus and forbidding him to go that way. @@ -1423,8 +1395,8 @@ Still emphasizing how Gus has full power on everyone and everything Also about Mike tirade, which is of course about killing Jesse to prevent him from killing the dealers, it obviously took another -meaning in Walt's mind ("words can be open to interpretation"). For -Walt, Jesse is the one to protect from the 2 thiefs, not the other way +meaning in Walt's mind: "words can be open to interpretation". For +Walt, Jesse is the one to protect from the two thiefs, not the other way around. In part because since Jane death he feels risponsability for the state of mind Jesse is in, as clearly her death had a major impact on how Jesse behaved in Season 3, compared to earlier seasons. @@ -1465,9 +1437,18 @@ it was almost like an homage to Pulp Fiction. ** S04E02 Examples of toxic masculinity. ** E0405 -In BrBa Mike loses it's humanity, he's more insensitive and cynical. -BCS gives us more context and makes us understand what Mike is trying -to protect. We have a more coherent vision thanks to BCS. +In Breaking Bad, Mike is portrayed as a stoic and ruthless enforcer +who works for Gus Fring. Until now he appears to have lost his +humanity and is shown to be insensitive and cynical towards the people +around him. + +However, in the prequel series Better Call Saul, we see more of Mike's +backstory and get a better understanding of his motivations and +actions. We see his struggle to provide for his family after the death +of his son, and how he becomes entangled with the criminal underworld. +We also see how he tries to protect his granddaughter and provide for +her future, which becomes his main motivation for working with Gus and +others. ** S04E09 In this episode Skyler is portrayed as becoming more similar to Gus, taking a more active role in the family's business, going to the frontline. @@ -1507,7 +1488,7 @@ This is because: The timing may not make sense given that Pinochet was still in charge -until the 98, but for sure Pinochet sold billions worth of columbian +until the '98, but for sure Pinochet sold billions worth of columbian cocaine so Gus might just have been a big shot drug dealer with connections to the dictatorship. Of course this is only a theory. In the end Gus persona is enigmatic and has an aura of mistery around @@ -1551,20 +1532,21 @@ impending death. The return of the cough indicates that Walter is getting closer to the end of his life and serves as a dramatic reminder of his mortality. ** S04E12 -This is where the show starts to become worse. +This is where the show starts to become worse in my opinion. -Regarding Gustavo sixth sense: -- Jesse tipped him off: him hearing about the strange poisoning - of Brock is what makes him question if Walter has a role in that -- he also made the silly mistake of leaving the car unattended so he - doesn't want to risk it +It may not be perfectly clear that Gustavo's intuition +is influenced by a couple of events. One is when Jesse informs him +about the peculiar poisoning of Brock, which makes him suspicious of +Walter's involvement. Additionally, he becomes more cautious when he +accidentally leaves his car unattended, prompting him to take extra +precautions to protect himself. ** S05E02 Peter Schuler appears to be the boss of the food or restaurant division of Madrigal Electromotive. He oversees many restaurant businesses, one of which is Los Pollos Hermanos. Back in BrBa, he killed himself at the beginning of the episode called -"Fifty-One" (S05A-E04, or S05E04). He killed himself by putting an +"Fifty-One" S05E04. He killed himself by putting an electrode from a defibrillator and shocking his own brain, killing himself. We never really found out how much he knew back on BrBa, but it must've been enough for him to decide that the best course of action @@ -1577,39 +1559,8 @@ Gus reminds Peter of something he did back on Santiago (the capital of Chile, in South America). They had their backs to the wall and somehow Peter got them out of whatever mess they were in. -For some background, Pinochet became the de facto leader of Chile back -on the 1970's (1973 specifically) thanks to the US's involvement and -backing of Pinochet's political party and they overthrew the -democratically elected government. Pinochet ruled the country up to -1990 when he stepped down after a referendum denied him another 8-year -term following his already long 17-year long reign in power. Pinochet -was believed to have killed more than 3,000 dissenter's and political -opponents and this was also helped by the US' intelligence agency, the -CIA. Operation Condor was believed to have killed more than 60K people -all throughout South America to help countries like Chile, Argentina, -and a few others of their neighbor's rulers to hold on to power by -denying political opponents any way to take away their power. So with -that, I'm fairly certain that following Pinochet's rule of Chile -coming to an end, the soldiers that were involved in all of these -killings had to make themselves scarce and had to flee the country -before being arrested or executed for their crimes by the new -president and his new government, or by Interpol since Pinochet ended -up being arrested by an international arrest warrant. Pinochet never -saw the inside of a jail cell (reminds me of Walt) because he fought -all of his charges in court but ended up dying of old age (he was 91). - -So, what the hell does this mean? It means that Gus and Peter were -probably a part of the killing squads or "Caravan of Death," that did -all of Pinochet's dirty work. Gus changed his name, and that's why all -records of him from back in Chile are now destroyed (remember Hank -asking Gus if that was his real name back when Hank suspected Gus?). - -As a quick aside, back in World War 2, after the Nazi party was -defeated, many of their members fled to places like Argentina and -Chile and many other countries in South America. I'm not saying Peter -is a Nazi... but maybe his father was since he is a German from Chile. ** S05E03 -Finally Vamonos Pest. Some of those guy we recognize from BCS. +Finally Vamonos Pest. More on the "bugs" motif. Some of those guy we recognize from BCS. When Andrea offers food and beer: it concludes the change of emotions between Walt and Jesse, they feel that they both grew and recognize a @@ -1637,7 +1588,7 @@ to the actual plot, but right now Skylar is so terrified of a scene like Scarface's finale [and the accompanying comment] becoming Walt's/their fate. -For as much as people shit on Season 5A there is so many incredible +For as much as people shit on the first part of season 5 there is so many incredible themes, motifs and foreshadowing. A prime example comes from Hazard Pay. I've always seen the BB narrative as an allegory on the Rockwellian nuclear unit and the dynamics of the patriarchal evolution @@ -1696,38 +1647,41 @@ Hank? This was the real reason VG introduced Hank's obsession with them, as he was to mirror this fight against Heisenberg #+end_quote ** S05E04 -"there doesn't seem to be anything here" - So sad. +"There doesn't seem to be anything here" - So sad. -This episode was not as strong as Rian Johnson's previous directorial -effort with 'Fly', nor as masterful as 'Ozymandias', but the latter is -heavily due to the content he had to work with. This was an -interesting episode that seemed to squat itself inside of Skyler's -head, but the wade into the pool was a beautiful shot, Skyler -enveloped in 'blue' like a visual definition of her melancholy. The -highlight of the episode was definitely the incredibly tense scene -between Walter and Skyler as he stalks her around the bedroom, tearing -apart her every threat or plan. The scene is shot so tightly it -becomes claustrophobic, and I loved that as terrified and as helpless -as Skyler felt, she still challenged Walter every step of the way: "I -thought you were the danger" and that chilling line as she tells -Walter that she's "waiting for the cancer to come back". +This episode provided an intriguing insight into Skyler's state of +mind, with the shot of her wading into the pool being particularly +striking, as she was surrounded by the color blue which conveyed her +melancholic mood. However, the most memorable moment of the episode +was undoubtedly the incredibly tense scene between Walter and Skyler +in which he stalks her around the bedroom, systematically dismantling +every plan or threat she has. The scene is shot so tightly that it +becomes almost claustrophobic, and it is noteworthy that despite being +terrified and feeling helpless, Skyler continues to challenge Walter +every step of the way. She even delivers a chilling line to Walter, +telling him that she is "waiting for the cancer to come back" and +reminding him that she once thought he was the danger. -Walking into the pool was an incredible move by Skylar. That massively -cathartic argument between Skylar and Walt was like watching a fast -paced chess game: love and sympathy went right out the window as Walt -began treating Skylar like his opponent. The scene ends with a -resounding strike from Skylar that reiterates the object motif of -S05A, marking numbers to their extreme. "Bide my time, and wait...until -the cancer comes back." +After Walt shows Skylar Jesse's birthday watch, which symbolizes their +father-son-like bond, he tries to convince her that everything he has +done is for the sake of their family. However, despite his efforts, he +retires to bed alone as Heisenberg. -After Walt shows Skylar Jesse's birthday watch (another father-son -moment, he's the only family left) and tells her how she'll change her mind, Heisenberg retires -to bed alone. He sets his ticking watch on his personalized copy of -"Leaves of Grass" on his nightstand. Remember this scenes. - -By the way, on the cup: "Danger entering 51", while Skyler smoking on -it; nice touch. +The scene ends with him setting his ticking watch on top of his +personalized copy of "Leaves of Grass" on his nightstand. Remember +this detail. +Breaking Bad Season 5 was divided into two parts. The first eight +episodes aired in 2012, and the final eight episodes aired in 2013. +This split was done for production reasons, allowing the show's +writers and producers more time to develop the storyline and create a +satisfying conclusion for the series. The decision was also made to +split the season in order to maximize the show's exposure and audience +reach, creating more buzz and anticipation for the second half of the +season. This format was also adopted by many other shows. This is all +to say that the cup with the message "Danger entering 51" is another +nice touch in the scene, especially with Skylar smoking while holding +it. ** S05E05 The bit about dark territory was accurate. Most trains today operate in under what is called Centralized Traffic Control (CTC). There is @@ -1741,5 +1695,226 @@ Each train is issued a warrant that is copied to paper that gives authority to operate between certain mileposts. Though the dispatcher is unable to see the exact position of the train, he still maintains constant radio contact. + +** S05E06 +We see Jesse deeply affected by the death of Drew Sharpe and the news +report about it makes him realize that Walt has no conscience. +As he leaves the bug bombing cook site, he overhears Walt whistling +the hymn "Lily of the Valley," which has lyrics that refer to Jesus as +the "Bright and Morning Star" and the "fairest of ten thousand to my +soul." + +In addition to this, the scene where Jesse sits at the White family +dinner table represents a shift in power dynamics, with Jesse taking +on the role of the son. This scene also highlights Walt's desperation +to leave behind a legacy, as he has missed out on opportunities +throughout his life and now sees his meth empire as the only way to +make a name for himself before his time is up. + +Nitpick: the scene with the zip tie on the wrist even if badass is +very bad writing: Mike would never tie only a single arm and the whole +electricity/fire arc is impossible. +** S05E07 +Wow, very powerful beginning. ** S05E08 The fly came back + +Also do you remember the tickling clock over the book in the fourth +episode of the season? + +The fly represents Walt's guilt. When Todd disposed of +Mike and Walt stared at the fly in complete silence, it signaled to me +that Walt had finally mastered his guilt. He had compartmentalized it +in his mind and it was no longer a distraction. This scene is +reminiscent of the one in Dead Freight where Walter sat in the same +office contemplating the "loose thread" of his porkpie hat and +declared that "nothing stops this train." In Gliding Over All, we see +him fulfill that prophecy despite everything that happened - Mike is +dead, Jesse is out, and his kids are gone. Walter continues to go +through the motions until he amasses a fortune. However, it's an +empire that he takes no joy in. What struck me the most about the line +"I used to love to go camping" was that it came before the bold wipe +where we see Walter emerge from Hank's couch in his Tychem suit, ready +for another cook, with nothing but complete boredom on his face. The +thrill is gone, and even the mountain of money doesn't elicit much of +a reaction. + +During a drink with Mike, Walt would always order his whiskey neat, +while Mike preferred his on the rocks. However, in this episode, +Walt was seen ordering his whiskey on the rocks, which is similar to +how he used to cut the crust off sandwiches after killing Crazy-8. + +The painting that Walt is intently staring at in the motel room with +the prison guys is the same painting he was staring at in the same way +in the hospital after his "fugue state" back in Season 2. The painting +is of a man in a rowboat rowing out to a ship with a wife and two kids +on shore watching him leave...which is likely to be very relevant to +the ending of the series, I presume. It also ties into tonight's +title, "Gliding Over All," a Walt Whitman poem... "GLIDING o'er all, +through all, Through Nature, Time, and Space, As a ship on the waters +advancing, The voyage of the soul--not life alone, Death, many deaths +I'll sing." + + +The writers playing games with the audience +"Learn to take yes for an answer." - Mike, S04E02 + +"Learn to take yes for an answer." - Walt, S05E08 + +"We're gonna make a lot of money together." - Tuco, S01E07 + +"We're gonna make a lot of money together." - Lydia, S05E08 + +I especially love how the "That whole night we were laughing, telling +stories, drinking wine..." line tied in, considering they were all +laughing, telling stories and drinking wine just minutes before the +reveal. + + +The painting: +Throughout Breaking Bad, one particular painting has made numerous appearances in Walter White's life, first and foremost, in Walter's hospital room after his staged fugue state. ("Bit by a Dead Bee") The painting depicts a man in a boat paddling away toward a ship while, presumably, his wife and children wave goodbye. + +Later, the painting is seen in the motel room where Walt discusses with Jack Welker his plan to kill nine of Mike and Gus' men in jail. While Jack explains how difficult his request would be, Walt abruptly changes the conversation when he spots the painting on the wall, asking Jack if there must be a warehouse full of the identical paintings somewhere. "Gliding Over All" + +The painting can be interpreted as visualizing Walt's own growing alienation from his family and loved ones. + +The painting seen in a promotional image for "Gliding Over All" + +The painting was commissioned specifically for the filming of Breaking Bad. It is meant to resemble the artwork of American painter Winslow Homer, some of whose most famous works include The Gulf Stream, which features a similar raft in the Gulf of Mexico. + +The painting also makes an appearance in the Better Call Saul episode Fun and Games, at the very end of the opening montage. This may have been foreshadowing Kim's departure from the show later in the episode. + +** S05E09 +Hank and the evidence he collects on the garage's table serve as a +literal collage of moments that tie the plot together. He is the +driving force that accellerates the series towards the conclusion, as +his efforts to uncover the truth provide the backbone for the show's +narrative + +As the world closes in around Walter, the camera's focus on him +becomes increasingly intense, highlighting his isolation and +desperation. + +In the final shots we see Walter White returning to his former home, +his pseudonym tagged on his living room wall, he's been both +mythologized and vilified as the cold open closes with one of the +funniest moments of the last 8. "Hello Carol." +** S05E10 +Money now literally buried with the irony of a lottery ticket being +the only way to find it. + +Buried is a setup episode for the mayhem to come. It plainly stakes +out who is on who's team. Skylar is behind Walt and Marie is adamantly +supporting Hank in his Heisenberg quest +** S05E11 +The iced gun really shows how Walt is falling back on the life he has +finally gotten out of. It looked so much like dust in the shot, like +the gun was just sitting there doing nothing, waiting to be picked up +again. + +We may be desensitized but Walt underplayed his cancer coming back to +Walt Jr., not to inform him of course, but to manipulate him into +staying at home. It is a disturbing reminder of how far Walt has +fallen, and how his desire for power and control has warped his moral +compass. + +Jesse breaks free from his self-imposed catatonic state and releases +his pent-up anger. This is the first confrontation in the desert, It +became evident that Walt's intentions were not entirely manipulative, +but his love for Jesse had become a threat to his safety. While some +speculated about Walt's true feelings during the embrace, the main +concern was for Jesse's mental state. He stood with his arms firmly at +his sides, refusing to fully embrace Walt. His tears appeared to stem +from exhaustion and relief, rather than acceptance. The final scene +was truly remarkable, with Jesse unexpectedly attacking Saul, of all +people. The young boy could no longer bear the cost. Mister White had +to pay for his sins. +** S05E12 +protagonist and nemesis for Walt is not strong enough. With this +episode, it seems reasonable to think that the writers could have +approximated the final season to the classic structure of the monomyth +(which many, if not all, of the previous narrative arcs can be +approximated to) by using Hank as the hero and Walter as the nemesis. +My idea is reinforced by the fact that Jesse, who is now an +undoubtedly bitter and positive figure, collaborates with Hank. +Nevertheless, it should be noted that Hank is just as manipulative and +deceitful as Walt. Irony: Hank and Walter have the same super power: +manipulating the people that are close (in whatever way) to you. + +After watching BCS, I couldn't help but reflect on the family photo of +Walt, Skyler, and Santa Claus. It highlights the differences between +Walter and Fring, who had to abandon the bartender who was hitting on +him. + +The symbolism of dogs is for loyalty. Another episode: Problem Dog +S04E07. + +I find the image of the house being drenched in gasoline and the +family having to evacuate very powerful. It seems to represent the +family's current state of ruin and filth, as well as Walt's original +intentions being displaced. Despite this, Walt still doesn't seem to +understand the significance of what has happened to the house and the +family. + +*** The fake death theory +Some reddit comments: +#+begin_quote +Right after Jesse warns Walt "I'm coming for you," Walt calls Todd and +says "I may have another job for your uncle." +#+end_quote + +#+begin_quote +Whenever they set up cliffhangers on this show, they rarely resolve in +the most obvious fashion. The most obvious thing here would be that +Walt is putting out a "hit" on Jesse using the Nazis. But, remember: + +"Whatever you think is supposed to happen, I'm telling you, the exact, +reverse opposite of that is going to happen." -- Jesse Pinkman, +Heisenberg expert +#+end_quote + +#+begin_quote +It's not actually the exact opposite most of the time. It's more like: +they build tension towards an obvious conclusion... build it... build +it... then BAM! something completely different out of nowhere happens. +But it was tied into past information, so you kick yourself thinking +you should have known that would happen. Even though it's utterly out +of the blue. It's just as exciting as the thing you were waiting to +see happen, but it's not what you thought was going to happen. So you +get the "aweome!" payoff combined with the "whoa I didn't see that +coming" payoff. Which is a pretty tricky balance to achieve. +#+end_quote + +#+begin_quote +If this last episode accomplished anything, it demonstrated that Walt +is extremely resistant to killing Jesse, even with both Saul and +Skyler urging him to do so. Even when it's his obviously best move. +Now, maybe the point of this episode was to show him being worked into +a corner and forced to put out a hit on Jesse even when he doesn't +want to. But Heisenberg doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. He +refuses to be worked into corners. Being forced to do anything against +his will just doesn't "fit" who he's become. + +However, the idea of having the Nazis help fake his death and the +"disappearing" would fit him calling them at that moment, since it's a +response/counter-move to Jesse's threat. +#+end_quote + + + +** S05E13 +#+begin_quote +Walt, look, I know they are your students, but do not underestimate +them. Big mistake. + + Hank in S01E06 +#+end_quote + +Huell's admission could have been handled better. It was rushed and it +could feel out of character. +It is a cheap way to move immediately to the next stage of conflict. + +Also the shootout is a little bit unrealistic: Hank and Gomez were in +a very vulnerable position and they would be full of bullet holes in +an instant given what the Nazis packed. Also Todd isn't even trying to +aim with his gun.