Breaking Bad

[extarbags]

Did anyone besides me watch this the other night? I rather liked it, but it needs a couple more episodes to hook me, I think.

For more information, refresh this page until the appropriate banner ad loads, then click on it.

[Bahimiron]

I liked it, but I don't know if I'd go out of my way to see more episodes.

Seeing the dad from Malcolm in the Middle getting a handjob is not a high point for me, I won't lie.

[extarbags]

It wasn't for me either, especially since I was watching it with my mom. It made the point, though.

[Athryn]

I liked it a lot. The setting (New Mexico) was cool, and the story was interesting, with some nice dark comedy elements. I remember reading that FX didn't pick up this series because it was a little too daring for them, and that's why AMC picked it up. I would suggest catching it, especially since there's fuck all else on TV right now.

Removed anything relating to the plot. The main reason I posted it was because when I saw the ads and stuff for the show, I had no idea what it was or why I wanted to watch it until I saw a basic plot summary, which was what I posted.

[JPR]

I liked it, too. I think that it would be better going into it without any of the information that Athryn just posted, though.

[VegasRobb]

Better than expected. I was worried that the Dad was going to suffer from comedy lead-actor typecasting (see Al Bundy and Hawkeye Pierce for examples). He did a nice job with the character. I like that you can see him flipping the switch and turning into hardcore-do-what-it-takes guy as he reacts to the various situations.

[Quaro]

Way darker than I expected and great cinematography. A real surprise.

[VegasRobb]

Way darker than I expected and great cinematography. A real surprise.

If I remember right, the cinematographer (John Toll?!) has at least one Oscar. That's a nice get for a TV series.

I was amused at the profanity filter on the show. Took a second to register that the show was on AMC.

[extarbags]

I was amused at the profanity filter on the show. Took a second to register that the show was on AMC.

Oh! Is that fallout from the thing Athryn was saying about FX passing on it? I was wondering what the deal was with that.

[Bahimiron]

I found it odd that shit was okay, but 'goddam' got blanked out.

[extarbags]

I didn't catch "shit" being said uncensored.

[Athryn]

Oh man, the 2nd episode is just fucked up, is all i have to say.

[VegasRobb]

Oh man, the 2nd episode is just fucked up, is all i have to say.

I gotta catch a repeat. Didn't realize that it's going up against the second airing of The Wire on Sundays.

[Fugitive]

Ooh, thanks for the reminder. I remembered seeing a blurb about this over the Christmas holidays, but forgot to set the PVR, and it looks like I can catch the first episode again next week.

(Usually we're a season or two behind on cable-network shows up here, unless you get the premium channels.)

[EvilIdler]

Dialling this in on my "premium channel" now..it better be completely fucked up, or I want my money back!

[bloo]

Dialling this in on my "premium channel" now..it better be completely fucked up, or I want my money back!

If you don't think the end of episode one is fucked up enough for you, wait for the end of episode 2.

Wow. Did not expect to see that on something made for television, even if it was made for cable.

[Athryn]

Dialling this in on my "premium channel" now..it better be completely fucked up, or I want my money back!

I'll put it this way, it made some of the stuff on Dexter seem like a Disney movie, if you know what I mean.

[Fooey]

I wasn't quite sure after the first episode, but that second episode was amazing. The fiasco at the end might be the most gory thing ever shown on basic cable.

[Warning]

God that was both gut-wrenchingly funny and nearly unwatchable at the same time.

This show really reminds me of Fargo.

[Adree]

This show is definitely the new Dexter. Quite the holy shit moment.

[JPR]

I think you guys kind of over-sold the ending. I don't know what I could have been expecting, but I was underwhelmed.

I do like the show a lot, though.

[EvilIdler]

It's Weeds meets Dexter, with a dash of Brian Yuzna :)

[Athryn]

The beginning of episode 3 made me gag. ><

[Quaro]

Anyone still watching this? Every episode is beautifully shot, not quite to the level of the pilot, but above most tv. Story-wise, still strong, though I couldn't quite get inside Walt's head when he refused the money from Elliot.

[Athryn]

I have a couple of episodes saved up that I'm gonna watch this week. It's a great show but just .... hard to watch sometimes.

[EvilIdler]

I watched episode 3+4 in rapid succession. Still entertaining. And it's not hard to watch.

[Adree]

This show is great.

[Adree]

Bumping this thread because you really should be watching this.

[JPR]

Far and away the best new show of the year.

In fact, I think it's my favorite show.

[LionelThompson]

I skipped the first episode because I had the conception of Bryan Cranston as just being a silly actor between 'Malcolm in the Middle' and his appearance on that lame sketch competition show 'Thank God You're Here', but gave it a chance after reading the strong reviews. Fortunately they replayed the first episode and I have been in love with it since.

On the other hand, I'm crushed that there is only one episode left in the season. The best shows have the shortest seasons dammit (although that is likely the reason).

[Athryn]

I watched episode 3+4 in rapid succession. Still entertaining. And it's not hard to watch.

I love the show, but I do have to beg to differ. The part where they were cleaning up after the little .... bathtub accident made me gag. That's what I meant about it being hard to watch.

[mixuk]

Excellent show. Probably the best this season.

[EvilIdler]

bathtub accident made me gag.

Ah. I've had short-term garbage disposal jobs involving food waste. I'm hardened ;)

[extarbags]

So dudes, some websites are referring to last night's episode as the series finale. Anyone know what the deal is?

[JPR]

No. I had heard that this was supposed to be the last episode, but it certainly didn't seem like a season ender to me.

[stusser]

It was the season finale, not the series finale.

Quite good, but Mad Men it ain't.

[Charles]

No. I had heard that this was supposed to be the last episode, but it certainly didn't seem like a season ender to me.

I thought it was a solid season ender. It's just nonstandard in that it's not a cliffhanger.

But the episode ended with a stable suitation, with hooks for next season. They have a solid flow of cash and materials for drugs. That's the stable situation. The hooks are that White has leverage on his brother in law now, because of the sister's shoplifting, and that we don't know how his treatment is actually going, and on top of that, their meth is now unique (blue) and seems to maybe create extra aggression. I expect the blue meth to be a major focus next season.

[EvilIdler]

This show gets new fans all the time. One guy I mentioned it to couldn't tear himself away until he'd watched all seven episodes.

[Athryn]

I finally watched the last 2 eps today, loved them both. I wish they'd done a full season of episodes rather than just the ones they did.

[Fooey]

This show is so damn good. I really hope it comes back. I read it was doing a steady 1.5 million or so per episode. Is that good by AMC standards?

[Athryn]

This did indeed get renewed for a full 13 episodes for next season. Hurray!

[dashingly]

Bump because Bryan Cranston just won the Emmy! Yay!

[Athryn]

Bump because Bryan Cranston just won the Emmy! Yay!

I saw that tonight, I was so happy! He looked completely floored also, and you can tell they're doing filming now as he was in his trademark post-cancer hairdo. Pretty awesome, although I was kinda rooting for Jon Hamm (the fact that Mad Men won best series definitely softened that blow.)

[Papageno]

When's Breaking Bad coming back? January?

[Athryn]

When's Breaking Bad coming back? January?

Sunday! Season 2 starts this week, and from the review I've read, it's supposed to be even better than the first season.

[extarbags]

Oh man, I can't wait!

[Mean Dr. Lily]

FYI -- for those that missed it last night (or if you're like me and your cable package doesn't include AMC anymore) here's a link to the full episode:

http://www.amctv.com/videos/breaking-bad/

[Mean Dr. Lily]

Also this: http://www.waltswisdom.com/

BOOOOOOooo marketers. Can we just stop with the fake blog from TV/Movie characters? Ick.

[Papageno]

Awesome ep. last night. Nice cliffhanger.

[Nawid A]

Crazy cliffhanger.

[alexlitel]

One hell of a cliffhanger this week too.

[Nawid A]

Ahhh, loved it. So is this (and the third episode) the intended final episodes of the original season?

[Papageno]

Don't know, but that was a stunning reversal of fortune.

[Brian Seiler]

Okay - just started watching this (working my way through the marathon of the first season), and I love this show. My respect for Bryan Cranston has leveled up a couple of times already and I'm enjoying both the black comedy and the actual drama up through episode 4.

My beef: what the HELL kind of high school chemistry lab stocks HYDROFLOURIC ACID? That shit is hardcore, yo. It will burn a hole through your hand and poison you to death before it gets out the other side. In my entire time picking up chemicals for the university, the only two places I ever found that stuff were the fossil lab (which also had picric acid - I assume they use it for cleaning those things off) and the microchip manufacture lab (where they used it for etching), and in both cases my supervisor kind of wanted me not to get it at all because it was so dangerous.

[Papageno]

I don't know chemistry enough to tell you. Maybe they wanted to trip up any would-be meth cooks?

[Brian Seiler]

I don't think this would be used for cooking meth. This was what they used for the body. Cooking meth uses considerably less dangerous basic ingredients. It may have just been a plot device, since HF really would chew through just about anything - I just have a hard time believing a high school chemistry lab would purchase it at all.

[Papageno]

Oh, right, that was when they had to get rid of a body and whats-his-face puts the stuff in a bathtub, and it eats all the way through.

It probably was just something the writers put in there without thinking how unlikely it would be for a high school chem lab to have it.

[Lunch of Kong]

Ding!


Ding! Ding!

[Papageno]

What an awesome show. Tightly plotted, and everything seems to follow logically from what came before and the characters' motivations. Very dark, of course, so it's not for everyone.

[z0diac]

I'm digging this show too but it's a bit of a downer sometimes. I'm not on Season 2 yet but it's nice to hear the quality is still there. Bryan Cranston definitely deserved that Emmy.

[Demon G Sides]

I'm completely digging this show after a friend introduced me to it. Funny at times, just actiony enough for a serious drama. And the plot is understandable and interesting.

[alexlitel]

Just won a Peabody today. Yay.

[Papageno]

I just wish Walter would tell his wife already what's going on. He was about to before his latest brush with death.

[JetLagger]

Another good episode bookended by the Tuco teeth. The long silences and the beautifully framed shots are still some of the best on tv. Michael Slovis is just rocking as the Director of Photography this season. Looks like he doing some work on Fringe as well, which starts up again this week.

I'm glad the Dean Norris character Hank has finally evolved from the cartoonish cop blowhard into something vulnerable. I'm also warming up to Aaron Paul more and more every week as he becomes more self confident. Calling Walter by his first name instead of Mr. White. Nice turn. Next week also looks to be good with Jesse having to kick some ass in order to generate some street cred. I'm still extremely hooked on this show.

-Tim

[extarbags]

Man, just a fantastic episode this week. I love the shift in focus onto Jesse, and I love Walter slowly becoming less of a hero who sacrifices everything for his family and more of a jerky criminal.

[Athryn]

I finally caught up on my backlog, and I was kinda glad I watched them all at once. It was pretty incredible.

This show is the best thing on television, again. The performances, the writing, the cinematography, everything is just incredible. Everyone needs to tell their friends, their coworkers to watch this show, it is absolutely brilliant. The parts of Down, where everything was just going so much to hell for Jesse, and the bit where he falls into the portapotty and drags himself to the RV were just so pathetic it almost brought me to tears.


I just wish Walter would tell his wife already what's going on.

I can't possibly imagine a situation where he could really tell her. Maybe if he was in jail, like the bit he started to record at the beginning of season one, but really? You can't just tell your wife that you're cooking meth.

[Joe M.]

the bit where he falls into the portapotty and drags himself to the RV were just so pathetic it almost brought me to tears.

Oh god, I was laughing so hard. I am constantly impressed by the creativity in BB -- every time I think it's reached a pinnacle it just gets better. Since The Wire was cancelled this is probably my favorite show on television.

[Demon G Sides]

God tonight can't come fast enough.

[JetLagger]

Wow, tonight's episode was the darkest and dirtiest of the season so far. I had to take a shower after viewing.

It's a victimless crime...

-Tim

[Papageno]

Yeah, that was pretty F'd up.

See, he should have just taken their drugs and fired a shot or two in the air and left if he wasn't going to make good on threats of violence right away. Hanging around all day playing peekaboo with their kid wasn't going to accomplish anything. I'm glad the kid was going to be taken out of that horrible environment though, as things looked by the end.

And in the other plot arc, Walter White, Bullshitter Supreme.

[drake113]

Jesse's really come into his own in the past few episodes, almost to the point where I'd consider fast forwarding through all of Walt's scenes. Funny how the writers have managed to make the family man with terminal cancer the less sympathetic of the two characters.

[Quaro]

I haven't found Walt sympathetic since the first time he turned down his super rich friend's offer to pay all his medical bills. It's hard to root for Walt at all anymore when he's endangering his entire family because he won't take their money. They tried to elaborate on his motivations this week, but I still can't get into his head on this one. No matter how much he thinks his friend screwed him, turning down his offer just seems insane.

But Jesse? GO Jesse, kick some ass.

[Athryn]

Jesse's really come into his own in the past few episodes, almost to the point where I'd consider fast forwarding through all of Walt's scenes. Funny how the writers have managed to make the family man with terminal cancer the less sympathetic of the two characters.

I think they're doing it on purpose, showing one's rise and the other's fall. Who knows where we'll end up but it's definitely interesting to watch.

[Demon G Sides]

Yeah last night's episode was amazing. I felt utterly terrible for that poor kid, especially when spooge's lady friend there knocked him out and the kid was just like staring in bewilderment.

Also, Spooge's end made me giggle cuz I didn't think it was going to end that way, and then i gasped and kinda cringed when I saw how serious it was.

[Papageno]

As soon as I saw "Spooge" tinkering under the machine that was tipped up like that I knew that guy was going to end up getting killed that way. Didn't know if the tipping was going to be intentional or not, but yeah, it was obvious to me that it would not end well.

BTW, even assuming Jesse managed to get rid of most of his fingerprints, wouldn't the cash itself have certain known serial numbers that would help the authorities track it back to him?

[EvilIdler]

The money's probably still good for illegal purposes. Laundering shouldn't be too hard. Or so I've heard.

[drake113]

Well, Jesse is still an idiot. I'm betting he gives it to Walt without telling him the source, and Walt ends up using it to pay for treatments/rent/random emergency and catches the attention of the Feds.

[alexlitel]

Just watched this past week's episode, and I think it is the best of the series and probably's its most powerful ending thusfar.

[Demon G Sides]

Fuck my college for not having AMC in the dorms. Now I gotta wait for AMC to upload it to their website.

[JetLagger]

The Heisenberg narcocorrido music video at the beginning...wow this show continues to impress me.

Yea to my boy Jesse, mac'n on his hottie neighbor, yo. That ending scene with the lawn chairs in the living room just floored me. What a fantastic shot. And Bob Odenkirk joins the show next week. Totally sweet, I can't wait.

-Tim

[Lunch of Kong]

Yeah, nice corrido. :-)

[Papageno]

The narcocorrido was pretty great. As good and idiomatic as the Spanish was in it, it's kind of surprising how bad the Spanish was of one of the actors (the tall guy on the right, behind Dean Norris's character, when they're on the lookout for the deal going down and the two guys are badmouthing him behind his back for not speaking Spanish and working on the border). For one thing, when he said the line that's subtitled "Politics, politics" he said "Políticos" twice, which means politicians, not politics (which would be "política"). Second when he said Albuquerque in Spanish he just murdered the pronunciation (should be "albukerke" with the u as in rule and the e as in Fred, and the stress on the "ker"). It really took me out of the moment a little bit.

And that neighbor chick is indeed a hottie. Damn.

[extarbags]

And Bob Odenkirk joins the show next week.

Wow, that's fantastic. Is he going to be a recurring character?

[JetLagger]

Wow, that's fantastic. Is he going to be a recurring character?

Yep, and IMDB also has John de Lancie aka Q in a few upcoming episodes as well.

-Tim

[Athryn]

Spoilers in case people worry about that sort of thing:














The head on turtle scene was pretty .... good? It took by surprise, that's for sure.

[Demon G Sides]

I did not see the head on a turtle thing coming, at all, from anywhere. I knew he was going to see something, to kinda show that he isn't totally incompetent, but I never expected what would happen next.

And go Jesse. Woot woot. That scene literally made me go "awww!" out loud, and my roommate's girlfriend looked at me funny. Seriously, this series is amazing.

[z0diac]

Seriously, this series is amazing.

Both this and Mad Men are my top 2 shows now (go AMC!). I'm like 6 eps behind on Lost now, but I'll watch this as soon as it airs usually.

[extarbags]

I watched this week's episode last night, and I thought: is this show better than The Wire? Is this actually the best TV drama ever produced? Maybe.

The music video at the beginning was perfectly chilling. Kudos to them for setting that up and not following up on it in the same episode (other than showing how serious the cartel is in the desert scene). This show just gets better and better.

Question: does anyone know if this is intended to have a third season?

Another question: can this show continue if Jesse gets killed? Walter? My gut says yes to the first, no to the second, but they might find a way if that's where this ends up.

[JPR]

I read an interview with the guy who plays Jesse in which he says that his character was actually supposed to die at the end of the first season, but they replanned because the chemistry between him and Walter was so good.

So yeah, Jesse can die. Walter, I don't think so.

[Nawid A]

There will be a third season I believe (13 episodes). I expect that to be the last though. Eventually Walt has to die.

[Athryn]

There will be a third season I believe (13 episodes). I expect that to be the last though. Eventually Walt has to die.

His cancer could go into remission!

[balut]

As unlikely as it would be, I'd almost like to see Walt continue to rise as the shadow boss of the Albuquerque meth cartel, losing his family and friends in the process and ultimately dying of cancer at the top of his criminal empire.

[Nawid A]

I totally see this season ending with either Jesse or his girl biting the dust. But then wouldn't they tease it? The swimming pool thing is getting very fishy.

[EvilIdler]

The swimming pool thing is getting very fishy.

I'm sure it's chlorinated.

[JPR]

No comments yet?

This show is fucking good. I wouldn't have picked Bob Odenkirk to give such a good performance in what (spoiler) by the end, amounts to a menacing role.

[DrCrypt]

How was it a menacing role? I realize it seems, at first blush, like an attempt at blackmail, but if you rewatch it, he wasn't threatening Walt: he was offering a service, rightly pointing out that Walt and Jesse are basically incompetents with no real criminal connections.

[JPR]

I agree that it was a legitimate offer of business partnership, but it wasn't without an undercurrent of intimidation. I mean, Walt is obviously frightened, and rightly so. Odenkirk just did a better job than I expected of really communicating his position of strength. Especially following the earlier scene.

[BigRedCat]

Yeah, Saul Goodman definitely thinks he has one up on Walt. For one, he knows the ATM murder wasn't Jesse, so the intimidation factor is gone for him at the moment. We also know he has ties to the cartel from his earlier pleading for his life, and I can easily see that coming back to bite Walt in a big way.

[DrCrypt]

I think this season is going to have to end with Walt really committing to doing business with as much nastiness and violence as the competition.

[EvilIdler]

Thinking or hoping for violence?

[extarbags]

i wouldn't have picked Bob Odenkirk to give such a good performance in what (spoiler) by the end, amounts to a menacing role.

I dunno, I don't think it's really all that surprising. Breaking Bad is as much a comedy as it is a drama, and Odenkirk is a great comedic actor who can play it straight just enough to pull it off. Another actor like this is this guy:

http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pBMoTHZflmlzM9wbLHOVxgFwV6A5nWdS39tzW6xJrBbnJxwC Hn42RmR4H0rLgas_RCg3PMLK1Ojs

...but I guess he's already working on a show.

Anyway, another phenomenal episode. I don't know how this show keeps getting better, or how it maintains this slow burn suspense. I also think Saul was offering a legit partnership... he only has one up on Walt in that he's offering a service that he knows Walt needs. He found Walt so easily it's insane, which he knows will be a shock to Walt's system, and he furthermore knows that Walt has no choice but to take him up on his offer. Which he will. Like he said, it's not extortion or blackmail, just legal representation.

Re: Saul's connection to the cartel: not sure how that will play out. Yes, we know he's got some kind of connection there, but we also know he's terrified of them, so he's probably not exactly on their retainer. I could certainly see him selling them out to the cartel to save his own skin down the road, though.

[JPR]

Yeah, Joss Whedon said in an old interview that he always tries to cast comedic actors in mostly dramatic roles, and Breaking Bad has done really well for itself by following a similar philosophy.

[JetLagger]

Bah stupid cable went out on Sunday, so I didn't get a chance to watch this week's episode until today.

Wasn't expecting the Jane recovering addict angle. That should set up some nice tension in the future episodes. And damn she is cute, seriously.

And holy crap did Bob Odenkirk deliver this week. Funny, slimy, clever, the put a dollar in my pocket rolled me. I so need the Constitution wall paper for my office. How he just integrated himself into the organization by confronting Walter at the end was brilliant.

-Tim

[DrCrypt]

Yeah, I really don't think there was an undercurrent of menace in Odenkirk's final scene. The big thing to remember is as goofy as the guy is, he was insistent on the dollar being placed in his pocket to maintain lawyer-client confidentiality.

My bigger worry if I were Walt: Who are the silent partners in "Saul Bass and Associates?"

[Demon G Sides]

My god this show can not get any better. Next week's episode has to suck, just to counterbalance the all kinds of awesome the rest of the seasons been.

[Christien Murawski]

Okay, I'm not looking at previous posts in this thread (forgive me) and I promise to leave after getting an answer to this question so you won't have to worry about spoiler alerting in a thread where you shouldn't have to. I've just finished the first three episodes (Netflix dvd) and I'm really on the fence as to whether I should continue. There's a lot here I like, but also some pretty big strikes against it that just made me cringe (the eBay handjob scene, the father beating up the kid in the jeans store, the uncle and the hooker).

So should I give it another go or am I okay to drop it?

Thanks folks.

-amanpour

"I thought we were going to Cold Stone Creamery."

[BigRedCat]

So should I give it another go or am I okay to drop it?
"

I don't particularly like the scenes you mention(ebay scene in particular made me roll my eyes).

Breaking Bad is the best show in television.

The two statements are not mutually exclusive. The show grows in leaps and bounds. Anyways, the first season is short, and the second season is thus far visual/storytelling perfection as far as I'm concerned.

[JPR]

I'm inclined to think that if you are so-so about the show after the first 3 episodes that you will never get why people like it so much.

It's still worth watching, but expect to be underwhelmed.

[Quaro]

It's full of cringe moments like that, actually, but it's hard to imagine the show being as powerful as it is without them.

[Nawid A]

My god this show can not get any better. Next week's episode has to suck, just to counterbalance the all kinds of awesome the rest of the seasons been.
And yet it didn't. Breaking Bad is the most amazing show on television. I mean Lost has been perfect this season, but this, this is getting near The Wire status.

[JetLagger]

Wow another great turn where happiness isn't so happy for Walt...SO what does Walt do now? I cannot wait to find out.

"Come on you bitches, hear me now!" and the shot of the camper with the dead coyote, that was beautiful. Plus great music this week.

-Tim

[Christien Murawski]

Okay, thanks folks. I'll bump the next disc up in my queue.

I'm out. Feel free to spoiler away.

-amanpour

"You're the goddamn Iron Chef."

[extarbags]

Wow, this week's was downright hard to watch. Fuck Jesse, just fuck him.

[Papageno]

Wow, this week's was downright hard to watch. Fuck Jesse, just fuck him.

No kidding--letting Walt down, getting his girlfriend back on drugs, starting on the H, etc. And my brother also had to get up and miss the last 10 minutes or so, he was so disgusted with how everything was falling apart.

Next week looks like things just go from bad to worse.

With things coming to a head like this, I don't know how the third season is even possible, especially with the portentous opening scenes from a few of the episodes, hinting at a grim end for at least a couple of people.

[JetLagger]

This is the most uncomfortable series I have ever watched, but the show is just so beautiful, I can't stop watching. I literally yelled at my tv throughout the whole episode. The love \ hate feelings I have with these characters is just agonizing. Jesse's moral guilt turning him into even more of an addict, Walt's callous desire for power and respect stemming from some past incident. Will the season end in a Walt vs. Jesse blowout?

-Tim

[Christien Murawski]

Just dipping back in...

I just finished watching the second disc (episodes 4-6), and I have to thank you all for encouraging me to stick with it. Wow. Some great stuff here.

This scene in Episode 5, the Talking Pillow discussion...this is one of the great scenes. So much of Episode 5 is so great.

And Bryan Cranston is fucking fantastic. He has this moment in the scene with his college pal Elliott, when Elliott is offering him a job (basically offering him charity)...beautiful.

Again...thank you all.


-amanpour

"Badass, Dad."

[Nawid A]

Just the latest episode. Jesse isn't as despicable as you guys make him to be. Combo's murder really fucked him up. When shit that big happens to you, you're going to be fucked up for a while. His job just made it all worse. So 2 more episodes left, huh? This Sunday, we have a birth, a possible disaster of a deal or goldmine, and the fallout from all the different actions. And then, I'm going to guess that Mexicans turn up in the finale and kill Walt's family. I don't think the show is afraid to go there.

[Adree]

Ahahaha die junkie die.

[Papageno]

Just the latest episode. Jesse isn't as despicable as you guys make him to be. Combo's murder really fucked him up. When shit that big happens to you, you're going to be fucked up for a while. His job just made it all worse. So 2 more episodes left, huh? This Sunday, we have a birth, a possible disaster of a deal or goldmine, and the fallout from all the different actions. And then, I'm going to guess that Mexicans turn up in the finale and kill Walt's family. I don't think the show is afraid to go there.

I get what you're saying about Jesse.

And that was a very dark last scene in this episode. Poor Jane. She wanted to get clean, but the addiction made her get high that one last time.

(And from a male hetero audience perspective, it sucks that that eye candy is no longer going to be around. Krysten Ritter is teh hawt.)

[Adree]

I get what you're saying about Jesse.

And that was a very dark last scene in this episode. Poor Jane. She wanted to get clean, but the addiction made her get high that one last time.

(And from a male hetero audience perspective, it sucks that that eye candy is no longer going to be around. Krysten Ritter is teh hawt.)

She never wanted to be clean, she'd miss pissing off her daddy too much. Getting Jesse hooked on heroin makes her vomit choked death that much more fitting.

[Nawid A]

Well that takes care of the Jesse/Jane are in the body bags theory. I think I knew the finale shocker would be self contained in the finale.

And man did my heart go out to Jane's father. He was not what Jane made him to be at all. My sympathy for her fell as the episode went on so it made her death a little easier.

So how's this going to work out? Finale opens with Jesse waking up and Walt telling him his girl is dead? Isn't that fishy? Doesn't Walt need to get home? Where does the money fit in? How does Jesse cover his tracks? It's clear that there is no way Walt would kill Jesse at this point (when in drug dealing business terms, Jesse's death is overdue).

The finale is going to be insane. May just be the first fast-paced episode of Breaking Bad ever. Or at least a slow-paced romp with some frantic chaos.

[Papageno]

I would think that Walt's just going to go home after covering evidence of his being there and taking appropriate measures to make sure Jesse doesn't suffer Jane's fate, and hope that Jesse's horror at discovering said fate gives him the kick in the head he needs to want to get clean. Of course, if Jesse ever figures out that Walt let Jane die like that he may do something crazy (like kill someone from Walt's family) in retribution.

[Demon G Sides]

Yeesh. What a hard episode to watch, only because it was so bleak. I didn't pick up on a lot as I was kinda busy, but I'm going to re-watch it.

[Papageno]

BTW, a speculation I read on a blog somewhere is that the explosion aftermath/hazmat suit guys/body bags are the result of Walt's non-professional installation of the water heater a few eps ago. He may know a lot about chemistry, but maybe not so much about electrical wiring and natural gas plumbing? Which still leaves us with the question of who's in the body bags.

Also, Jane's dad is going to go medieval on Jesse when he finds out his daughter is dead.

[Papageno]

Hmm, that was certainly random.

BTW, the actor that played the "cleaner" bears a striking resemblance to one of my friends from college named Evan. This actor's a bit older than my friend, but I remember noticing the resemblance way back when this actor was one of the main villain's henchmen in Beverly Hills Cop. Every time this guy came on the screen we'd say, "there's 'Evil Evan' again." To this day in my family he's known as "that Evil Evan actor."

[EvilIdler]

That actor always plays bad guy or FBI. Nothing else :)

Now we know what's in the pool, I guess.

[Athryn]

I'm surprised nobody commented really on the finale. I finally got to watching the latter part of the series (I got busy and let them pile up, so I watched from "Better Call Saul" on in 2 sittings) this week, and I have to say that was an interesting ending.





Spoilers below, although I know it's been a month since the series ended, anyway:












As soon as I saw the "NTSB" van, I knew it had to be an airplane crash of some sort, but it wasn't until I saw where Jane's dad worked that it really connected.


So, what did the rest of you think of the finale, and where do you think things are going to go from here?

[LionelThompson]

What I'd LIKE to see happen is have the story move forward with him telling his wife the truth and exploring that aspect of the relationship. What I'm afraid will happen is like too many times already she comes home because of the airplane crash, forgets the whole thing and they go back to normal (as normal as they can be).

[mashakos]

What I'd LIKE to see happen is have the story move forward with him telling his wife the truth and exploring that aspect of the relationship. What I'm afraid will happen is like too many times already she comes home because of the airplane crash, forgets the whole thing and they go back to normal (as normal as they can be).
I prefer it the other way, as that's how people act in real life. If someone was deathly afraid of their partner leaving them because of what they were really up to, they would try as hard as possible to avoid any "exploring" in that area. Edit: the significant other is also afraid of the same thing, and welcomes a distraction in such a situation. AFAIK

SPOILER





loved the show, but felt the two body bags at the end to be too much.

"he was home alone when it happened, but two bodies turned up. How? FIND OUT NEXT SEASON"

[Athryn]

I prefer it the other way, as that's how people act in real life. If someone was deathly afraid of their partner leaving them because of what they were really up to, they would try as hard as possible to avoid any "exploring" in that area.

SPOILER





loved the show, but felt the two body bags at the end to be too much.

"he was home alone when it happened, but two bodies turned up. How? FIND OUT NEXT SEASON"

The body bags were corpses from the airplane crash, silly. I thought that was pretty obvious, one of them landed on the windshield of his car, as the NTSB people were taking pictures of it.

[mashakos]

The body bags were corpses from the airplane crash, silly. I thought that was pretty obvious, one of them landed on the windshield of his car, as the NTSB people were taking pictures of it.
no, if a body landed on a car from that height it won't just crack the windshield...
but yeah, I'm retarded for not realising that plane crash = multiple bodies

[DrCrypt]

There is no WAY those bodies are going to be from the plane. My guess is that Season 3, like Season 2, will lead off from the previous season finale, elaborating upon it surprisingly. My guess is that shortly after the plane crash, "representatives" of the Los Pollos Hermanos cartel will show up to kill Walt. He will take them out and cover up their deaths with the crash. Keep in mind we clearly saw Walt's very identifiable glasses frames being bagged by NTCB, as well as a huge blood stain and cracked windshield on the car in the driveway... which, I can't recall, may not have been there at the end of Season 2.

No, there's more to that finale than we think.

[Athryn]

There's a great little interview (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/tgoodman/detail?blogid=24&entry_id=45175) with Vince Gilligan, the creator of the show, during the DCAs this year. One of my favorite lines:


My pitch to AMC was, basically, we're going to take Mr. Chips and gradually transform him into Scarface."

[Nawid A]

There is no WAY those bodies are going to be from the plane. My guess is that Season 3, like Season 2, will lead off from the previous season finale, elaborating upon it surprisingly. My guess is that shortly after the plane crash, "representatives" of the Los Pollos Hermanos cartel will show up to kill Walt. He will take them out and cover up their deaths with the crash. Keep in mind we clearly saw Walt's very identifiable glasses frames being bagged by NTCB, as well as a huge blood stain and cracked windshield on the car in the driveway... which, I can't recall, may not have been there at the end of Season 2.

No, there's more to that finale than we think.

Joke post? That is all the result of a plane crash.

[Quaro]

I felt like they were pushing it a bit when Walt finally gets the million dollar deal... at the exact same time that Jessie overdoses... at the exact same time his wife goes in to give birth.

[extarbags]

It was only the first and third out of those. I didn't find it much of a stretch, really... people have two important things that conflict all the time, it's not like this was a perfect storm of events that conspired to make him miss the birth of his daughter.

[PeterGinsberg]

You don't need a criminal lawyer, you need a *criminal* lawyer ... Better Call Saul (http://www.bettercallsaul.com/).

Hopefully the new season will continue with Breaking Bad holding it's place as the bleakest and most depressing TV comedy ever.

[Bandersnatch]

Oh damn, I forgot about it. New season begins this month right? I loved this show, but the ending of season 2 really pissed me off. I felt cheated.

[Nawid A]

Oh damn, I forgot about it. New season begins this month right? I loved this show, but the ending of season 2 really pissed me off. I felt cheated.
I was not a fan of it either. I didn't feel cheated but I definitely thought it was incredibly disappointing and uncharacteristic for the show.

[Demon G Sides]

Starts later this month, so excited. I need to rewatch the last few episodes though, I was forced to watch them in parts and don't remember much.

[tromik]

Hopefully the new season will continue with Breaking Bad holding it's place as the bleakest and most depressing TV comedy ever.
No kidding. The later portion of season two makes season one look like a sitcom with a laughtrack. That was some heartbreaking television.

[Juntei]

March 21st season 3 starts.. just wish UVerse in my area would pick up AMC-HD

[alexlitel]

http://www.savewalterwhite.com/

[Strollen]

March 21st season 3 starts.. just wish UVerse in my area would pick up AMC-HD

Thanks, I can turn off my DVR for a week. I saw Breaking Bad on the AMC schedule, and set the record every episode mode for the last week since I was desperately afraid of missing one.

I am sure I've never been so hooked on a non HBO/PBS series in my life.

[JetLagger]

You don't need a criminal lawyer, you need a *criminal* lawyer ... Better Call Saul (http://www.bettercallsaul.com/).

Hopefully the new season will continue with Breaking Bad holding it's place as the bleakest and most depressing TV comedy ever.

Holy crap, the Wayfarer 515 commercial is brilliant. The candle, ribbon and finally the tear, awesome.

So excited for this season, bring on the bleak.

-Tim

[serling]

savewalterwhite.com

Wow, the donate button at the bottom actually links to the National Cancer Coalition. That is so cool.

Oh, and can't wait for more episodes of this. Love the characterization and cinematography.

[drake113]

Wow... First episode of the season, and Cranston is already locking in another Emmy.

[Quaro]

I'm trying to decide whether to watch this season. Show is amazing and beautiful, staggeringly so, but it's SO hard to watch. I'm not sure I can stand Walter becoming even more unsympathetic.

[Nawid A]

Holy fuck. Ladies and gentlemen this just locked itself in as one of the top 5 greatest TV shows of all time. That Season 2 finale left me a bit cold but I was totally wrong. Completely and utterly.

[Strollen]

Wow... First episode of the season, and Cranston is already locking in another Emmy.

Yup

The new episode of the Pacific (I specifically got HBO for the series) and Breaking Bad were on at the same time. I taped the Pacific and watch Breaking Bad first, it was better..

Walt telling the student that really it was only the 53th worse plane crash, was just priceless and so in character.


****Spoiler*******















I thought Sklyar's reaction to him finally coming clean was perfect. I think that she will eventually rat him out, unless of course the hit men get him first.

[Jackstar]

Tonight's first scene brought me to a highly unusual state where all I could do was stare at the screen, quite literally unable to think of anything except the words "what the fuck?" over and over, until the camera pans into the drawing on the wall, and at that moment all my confusion was wiped away, replaced by the most chilling and foreboding dread I have ever experienced as a result of a mere dramatic presentation.

... just me?

[Nawid A]

... just me?
Nope. That scene is going down in history as fucking legendary.

[Strollen]

WTF definitely followed by oh this is the dream of the season, and then the ah ok moment. Although it didn't have huge emotional impact on me. The chatting kid noticing their cool boots that filled me with dread.

The biggest dread for me is my fear that this is the show's last season.

[Nawid A]

WTF definitely followed by oh this is the dream of the season, and then the ah ok moment. Although it didn't have huge emotional impact on me. The chatting kid noticing their cool boots that filled me with dread.

The biggest dread for me is my fear that this is the show's last season.
I don't want to say it here due to people possibly considering it a spoiler but how many seasons it's supposed to be is no secret.

[Jackstar]

I don't want to say it here due to people possibly considering it a spoiler but how many seasons it's supposed to be is no secret.
I hadn't heard this at all and it took some strong Google-Fu to find any article which even remotely touches on this: http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/03/17/vince-gilligan-on-breaking-bad-season-three/

Not sure if this is what you're referring to but it seems to me that the planned length of the show is not something that we as the audience should be overly concerned about. Although the point about how Breaking Bad is a kind of show that cannot go on forever and must have a planned end, is interesting.

[Lunch of Kong]

What was up with the !@#$ing crawling? !@#4ing creepy ass !@#$-!@#$ing show!!!

[Athryn]

What was up with the !@#$ing crawling? !@#4ing creepy ass !@#$-!@#$ing show!!!

As soon as I saw the crawling, I knew it had to be a pilgrimage to some sort of religious site. There are pilgrimages historically and contemporary where the pilgrims prostrate themselves and crawl on the ground.

[Demon G Sides]

What a crazy fucking episode. I need to watch it again to see if I caught every reference there was.


SPOILER!













For someone with a better memory than I; what was painted on the wall at the end of the episode? I'm trying to rack my brain thinking of it, but can't quite remember.

[Athryn]

BTW: I wonder if the one airplane being from Utah is a reference to Aaron Paul finally leaving Big Love as a recurring character.

[Jackstar]

As soon as I saw the crawling, I knew it had to be a pilgrimage to some sort of religious site. There are pilgrimages historically and contemporary where the pilgrims prostrate themselves and crawl on the ground.
I am sorry you missed out on the experience I had--I eventually figured the same thing, but my knowledge of such things is strictly intellectual, and not at all cultural, so for the duration of the scene I felt like I had been unknowingly dosed with a large amount of acid. It's not very unusual for me to experience a very strong emotional response to a TV show, but what was unusual here is that it impacted me exceptionally quickly, without any build-up before hand for me to figure out what was going on fast enough.

Note that I consider "felt like I had been unknowingly dosed with a large amount of acid" to be a huge compliment.

[JetLagger]

What a crazy fucking episode. I need to watch it again to see if I caught every reference there was.

The entire first episode of the third season is up at the AMC site.

http://www.amctv.com/videos/breaking-bad/?bcpid=9787693001&bclid=10174960001&bctid=72293876001

-Tim

[z0diac]

The crawling apparently is done by sects that worship Santa Meurte (http://www.photography-news.com/2010/02/santa-muerte-photo-essay-by-jeffrey.html), and is popular with people in drug cartels and other underworld activities.

[Nawid A]

I hadn't heard this at all and it took some strong Google-Fu to find any article which even remotely touches on this: http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/03/17/vince-gilligan-on-breaking-bad-season-three/

Not sure if this is what you're referring to but it seems to me that the planned length of the show is not something that we as the audience should be overly concerned about. Although the point about how Breaking Bad is a kind of show that cannot go on forever and must have a planned end, is interesting.

Breaking Bad is a four-season show. This was stated after the S2 finale.

[Strollen]

I hadn't heard this at all and it took some strong Google-Fu to find any article which even remotely touches on this: http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/03/17/vince-gilligan-on-breaking-bad-season-three/

Not sure if this is what you're referring to but it seems to me that the planned length of the show is not something that we as the audience should be overly concerned about. Although the point about how Breaking Bad is a kind of show that cannot go on forever and must have a planned end, is interesting.

Thanks for finding that, I was under the impression that this was the final season. (It can't go forever realistically) So hearing that there is one or two more possible seasons is terrific news.

Loved this quote

Well, I just, you know, I still, it sounds corny. It sounds like, you know, honest to God, I cannot believe our show is even on the air. I mean, it is so out there and it's so dark, and it's a show about a guy dying of cancer who's cooking crystal meth. I mean, you know, I cannot believe we're even on the air.
I could see this show on HBO, but on basic cable and AMC, it is just unbelievable.

[EvilIdler]

First episode of the third season, and the first one I finally got to watch in glorious hi-def! It had a whacky start, a violent ending and the usual messed up middle. It was great :)

[Athryn]

I really liked how they used an orange filter whenever the Cousins were on screen. It made the whole world look eerie and alien.

There's a TV critic for the SF Chronicle that does a breakdown of the show after every episode. He does some really great analysis, if anyone cares to read it. Link is here (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/tgoodman/detail?blogid=24&entry_id=59646). I always like to read them after watching because some of his insights make things even cooler. He also has an interview with Vince Gilligan on this season.

[Jackstar]

The eyeball is so creepy. I can just imagine it screaming "J'accuse! J'accuse!" with no mouth.

[Strollen]

2nd episode is just as great as the first, albeit without the surreal opening, but the final scene had me on the edge of my seat.

[jabroni]

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2061/roofpizza.gif

[Athryn]

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2061/roofpizza.gif

Hahahaha, the pizza scene had me rolling. Awesome stuff.

[pcbonn]

Hahahaha, the pizza scene had me rolling. Awesome stuff.

Plus the shot the next morning, with the cheese/topping slid halfway down the pizza.

[stusser]

Hah, I watched it several times with instant replay myself.

[Joe M.]

I'm dying to find out who those two guys are working for and just how Fast Food Manager Guy managed to work that magic. This show always asks more questions than it answers. :(

[Tom Chick]

I can't help but feel jerked around by that "resolution". Mysterious message from character supposedly unrelated to the situation averts violent showdown? What is this, Lost?

BTW, I love the third comment someone left on my Breaking Bad gamespotting (http://fidgit.com/archives/2010/03/gamespotting_breaking_bad.php).

-Tom

[Jackstar]

Gus is a big player, based in the U.S. Naturally, he's in contact with everyone else in the cartel scene, which isn't entirely plausible, but it's a dramatic presentation, so I'm cool with it. Obviously he can't be on the phone to Mexican Home Base all the time, so he was surprised to discover that one of his associates has a grudge against Walter, but he's powerful enough that he can put the word out and say, "This gringo is mine."

The obvious upcoming conflict is that Walter is now forced to cook for Gus, or else Gus will have no reason to keep him alive.

Arguably these are spoilers, but I think the situation is pretty clear.

[Jackstar]

Mysterious message from character supposedly unrelated to the situation
But, Tom... Gus and the two hitmen are all brown people. Don't you see it?

[Tom Chick]

Yeah, that makes sense, but I preferred the idea that Giancarlo Esposito was just a business-oriented drug dealer rather than a bona fide uber-connected mafioso bad-ass.

Also, I'm bummed at what a fake-out it was that the two hit men with no lines go so deeply undercover that they have to get rid of their clothes, but they're somehow still able to be reached by cell phone. Whatever, Breaking Bad.

-Tom

[Jackstar]

Yeah, that makes sense, but I preferred the idea that Giancarlo Esposito was just a business-oriented drug dealer rather than a bona fide uber-connected mafioso bad-ass.
The way he handles the deal with Walt indicates that Gus is crazy-connected. He's not just a guy who runs a chicken business and dabbles in dope on the side. That was always apparent to me from the minute the character showed up, and it's reasonable that would not be immediately apparent to the average viewer.


Also, I'm bummed at what a fake-out it was that the two hit men with no lines go so deeply undercover that they have to get rid of their clothes, but they're somehow still able to be reached by cell phone. Whatever, Breaking Bad.
Totally okay with this as well. For whatever reason, their insertion into the country had to be untraceable. Obviously that was primarily for dramatic effect, but I'm okay with that. However, once they are in-country and clear of the border, they can link up with their accomplices and get a secure phone.

Why bring a cell phone across the border? They give them out in Cracker Jack at every 7-11 now.

[Tom Chick]

For whatever reason, their insertion into the country had to be untraceable. Obviously that was primarily for dramatic effect, but I'm okay with that. However, once they are in-country and clear of the border, they can link up with their accomplices and get a secure phone.

Ha, you just answered your own unasked question! When you say their insertion had to be untraceable "for whatever reason", you then explain that very reason: "for dramatic effect". Nice! :)

The mystery presented so well in the first episode is that they're going to go so deep undercover that they can't possibly be traced. Burning clothes and even witnesses. Ooh, scary!

But that was played strictly for dramatic effect and then dropped. And we didn't even get to see this scene: "Hello, Mexican Drug Cartel Overlord? This is Pancho and Ramon. Yeah, we got here fine. The trip was okay. Bad food, uncomfortable seats, and we had to smoke some fools, but at least we didn't have to check any bags. Anyway, we're going to pick up new suits and a chrome-headed axe now, but you can reach us at 555-0666 if there's a change of plans."

The assassino hermanos go so deep undercover for an episode and a half just to cross the border brutal style? I suppose it gets Walt's brother in law involved since he conveniently decides to order up photos of a burned immigrant smuggling truck for his daily briefing. Whatever, Breaking Bad.

Which is fine, I guess, for TV. The idea is that we're just being dribbled out stylish bits and pieces as needed for dramatic effect rather than any meaningful narrative arc. All that plot stuff just gets contrived as needed. Maybe I'm fretting too soon without seeing where it's going, but I really didn't care for last season and I'm wondering if I should even bother with this season. I'm even a little bit over Bryan Cranston pretending to be tortured.

Why does the medium of TV so often compromise the content? Oh, wait, I just answered my own question: it's TV... :(

-Tom

[Jackstar]

All I can say is that the things that you have pointed out as straining credibility, I find to be 100% plausible. Your imagined conversation especially, yes, that's exactly what they would say! Why wouldn't they? They cross the border with extreme sanitation to hide from police, not from their employers.

But now that I see you didn't like season 2, I don't know what to say. You may be incapable of experiencing joy.

[Tom Chick]

It's got nothing to do with plausibility, Mr. Star, and everything to do with the standard dramatic fake-outs I've come to expect from episodic TV.

However,I'm not sure I buy the plausibility of having a Ouija board at a nursing home, but did you imagine this conversation: "Hey Ramon, since Mark Margolis doesn't have any lines in this series because he's playing a mute, do you think they'll have something at the nursing home with all the letters of the alphabet? Preferably something big that reads on camera. It would be really cool if it somehow kinda tied into that mystical bit where we crawled on our bellies to the voodoo hut. Remember that?"

Look, I like the show better than most TV I try to watch. But I'm a tough guy to please. I just want more stuff like roof pizza and plane wreck eyeball from the pool. I'll be delighted if we ever get anything as good as Bryan Cranston's scenes with the drug dealer fastened to the basement pillar with a bicycle lock in season one. That stuff was aces.

Also, would it be crass to bring up Anna Gun's cleavage? She's a good actress with absolutely beautiful eyes, but I can't deny that she also appeals to my baser instincts. Actually, just pretend I didn't say that and that I've kept talking about dramatic feints and narrative arcs and whatnot. I mean, she's a mother, for pete's sake, who's just given birth. What kind of clod brings up her cleavage?

-Tom

[Jackstar]

From that perspective, I'm in agreement with you, as the standard dramatic fake-outs often impact my enjoyment.

But this stuff you are bringing up all gets a pass from me. The Ouija board for example. If you were in that guy's position with the paralysis and the bell and all that, wouldn't you want there to be a similar device around? Obviously someone is paying for Gramps to be housed in the facility. I don't see a problem with that payer saying to the staff, "Make sure there's a Ouija board around. Gramps needs one." Maybe it's his board, and they brought it with him along with his clothes.

I'm the guy who gave up on Lost because of a problem similar to what you've been describing, but so far the 3 things you've criticized don't seem to be problems. If you find something out of place that I can't rationalize, though, I want to know!

[Strollen]

But now that I see you didn't like season 2, I don't know what to say. You may be incapable of experiencing joy.




Also, would it be crass to bring up Anna Gun's cleavage? She's a good actress with absolutely beautiful eyes, but I can't deny that she also appeals to my baser instincts. Actually, just pretend I didn't say that and that I've kept talking about dramatic feints and narrative arcs and whatnot. I mean, she's a mother, for pete's sake, who's just given birth. What kind of clod brings up her cleavage?

-Tom

Well seems clear how to bring joy to Mr. Chick is to appeal to his baser instinct.

I am all for gratuitous nudity, plunging necklines, and great cleavage, but I think the costumes for Anna Gun are just about right, a MILF, but not a slut.

The side arc of Skylar dealing with the moral quandary of her boss, who she clearly likes, and his illegal accounting is one of the nice touches of the show.

[Tom Chick]

The side arc of Skylar dealing with the moral quandary of her boss, who she clearly likes, and his illegal accounting is one of the nice touches of the show.

Agreed. I especially like how it's being used to give her some insight into her husband.

I was also really glad Walt confessed to her what he was doing. The whole dynamic of him keeping everything secret was a great way to tease the audience, but it was also a hindrance to her character's development. I wasn't looking forward to another seasons of Skylar being shut out of the substance (ha ha!) of the plot.

-Tom

[Jackstar]

Walter Jr. is going to find out real soon too. You heard it here first.

[Demon G Sides]

I just want them to start cooking again. I want the drug business side too!

Though, honestly, what a crazy ending. Who else was like "How the fuck is this going to endddd" and they literally left the ending up til the very end of their timeslot. I almost thought they were going to cliffhanger us with it, and I was going to end up smashing something into my TV in anger.

Also, Saul's scene with the house and the lawyer? Fucking fantastic. What a great ploy.

[Juntei]

Also, Saul's scene with the house and the lawyer? Fucking fantastic. What a great ploy.

Saul is easily one of my favorite characters. I do wonder though just how connected Saul is. I remember his terror when he was kidnapped by Walt and Jesse, then he puts them in contact with Gus, and now Gus can call off the hit crew.... makes me wonder if it was Gus that Saul was afraid of during the kidnap scene.

I will admit to my recollection of the kidnapping being a touch fuzzy.

[stusser]

My feeling is that someone in the cartel sent the assassins to avenge Tuco. They didn't realize they were being sent to kill Heisenberg, aka the goose who lays golden eggs. Nobody's gonna kill the source of all that bestselling blue ice. Walter is a valuable commodity. He's going to start cooking again real soon, because he's far too valuable to ever allow him to quit. That's what the rest of this season will be about, is my guess.

[EvilIdler]

"Make sure there's a Ouija board around. Gramps needs one." Maybe it's his board, and they brought it with him along with his clothes.


More likely that Mattel donated some games to the place. They make ouija boards (now also available in pink! Honest!) as party games. No, I never understood that thing about American culture.

I'll have to agree with Tom's other complaints, though.

[Intangir]

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/535/dfo.png

[Strollen]

My feeling is that someone in the cartel sent the assassins to avenge Tuco. They didn't realize they were being sent to kill Heisenberg, aka the goose who lays golden eggs. Nobody's gonna kill the source of all that bestselling blue ice. Walter is a valuable commodity. He's going to start cooking again real soon, because he's far too valuable to ever allow him to quit. That's what the rest of this season will be about, is my guess.

You got that prediction right. Well they certainly laid the ground work to entice Walter to start cooking again.

My nomination for line of the season. Is Skylar's "I fucked Ted", while picking up the salad and serving it to the boys.

What a great show.

[Jackstar]

Walter should have seen that one coming. He should have been prepared to immediately say, "Oh, how did he like your awesome birthday/ebay/handjob technique?"

Skyler is a terrible human being. I like that it's so obvious, but Walter denies it, because he's still in loooooooove with her. Man, when that dam breaks, she's getting washed away.

And I love that we're expected to believe that Skyler is not certain what "attorney-client privilege" means, even though she's a trained accountant. Because I totally believe she is that ignorant!

[Calistas]

The thing I love most about this show is how perfect each of the characters are. They are all great, they all are interesting and they're all vital. That's quite an achievement for the writers to pull off.

[Glenn]

Yeah, that makes sense, but I preferred the idea that Giancarlo Esposito was just a business-oriented drug dealer rather than a bona fide uber-connected mafioso bad-ass.I think they're turning his character into something very much like the white guy drug-smuggling pilots in Cocaine Cowboys (on Netflix, recommended) from the early days of Miami's drug trade. The head smuggler in Cocaine Cowboys was on the White House VIP list and worked for nearly a decade with no trouble from the police, but he also knew all the top-level people in the Ochoa cartel, and knew what was going on. Gus is very competent, no drama, and makes a lot of money for the cartel, and therefore he's allowed to remain independent... but can certainly call high level people whenever he needs to.

But I'm also sorta disappointed that they're moving away from the idea of a Stringer Bell that survives Season Three.


Also, I'm bummed at what a fake-out it was that the two hit men with no lines go so deeply undercover that they have to get rid of their clothes, but they're somehow still able to be reached by cell phone. Whatever, Breaking Bad.Yeah, everything with the pitbull brothers so far has been for the purposes of one suspense scene per episode at the cost of plausibility and consistency. Which is really worrisome after the payoff for last season, where the reason for the bodies at Walt's house turned out to be... just an excuse for flashforward to the bodies at Walt's house.

The intrafamily strife with Walt has been good so far, so I'm still watching. But the fact that the show seems to be moving towards bigger bloodier crazier just to hang onto viewers, even when there's zero reason for it plot-wise, is a bad sign.

[Athryn]

The scenes with Jesse calling Jane's phone over and over to hear her voice were heartbreaking. :(

[drake113]

The scenes with Jesse calling Jane's phone over and over to hear her voice were heartbreaking. :(

Aaron Paul's performance in this series has been fantastic. I'm still in shock that he didn't get an Emmy for last season.

[Lunch of Kong]

The scenes with Jesse calling Jane's phone over and over to hear her voice were heartbreaking. :(

I wish I could say I have never done that before. *sigh* I don't have the heart to remove old friends from my contact list either. I guess I'm just a big softie.

[Jackstar]

But the fact that the show seems to be moving towards bigger bloodier crazier just to hang onto viewers, even when there's zero reason for it plot-wise, is a bad sign.
I don't agree. The entire purpose of the show is to "take Mr. Chips and turn him into Scarface." That's direct from the creator. Expect more crazy. We're not even close to Scarface yet.

And I don't get how any of you can find the Cousins to be implausible. That's Tuco's blood. They're clearly fucking insane. Anything they do doesn't have to be plausible at all!

[Tom Chick]

"Hey, Ramon, so we have to get this guy in a wheelchair out to the chicken farm."

"That's no guy, Pablo, that's our uncle?"

"What, really?"

"Yeah, I think so. I'm not sure."

"Well, anyway Ramon, should we rent a car now that we've got new suits, cell phones, and the fiscal liquidity to buy a chrome-headed axe?"

"I have a better idea, Pablo. Let's go steal a van from a handicapped lady at the bingo parlor!"

Whatever, Breaking Bad.

I did like this episode for the family drama, including whatever's going on with the brother-in-law. And it was pretty cool to get two violent scenes -- Danny Trejo's head hacked off and random biker/druggie bad-ass getting his kisser splattered on the corner of the bar -- and a bona fide knife-twisting full-on eye contact use of the F-word, even if they did mute the sound so you couldn't hear how hard Anna Gunn hit the "ck".

As for Aaron Paul, I'm not sold. Good lord, how much more film stock has to be spent on him moping around? Whatever, Breaking Bad.

On the flip side, I've finally come around to accepting Bob Oedenkirk without worrying that maybe David Cross is going to pop up in some ancillary role. And whatever they do with Giancarlo Esposito -- I was a bit worried he was going to gun everyone down, or something implausible like that -- I like what he's doing as an actor. There's a reason he was my favorite performance in Chupacabra Terror.

-Tom

[Jackstar]

Alright, Tom, you got me. You nailed it and I was wrong before.

It's still completely plausible! TUCO = LOCO

[Jackstar]

Wait, I take it back. Why would the Cousins bother to go shopping for a wheelchair and a wheelchair car and a van when they could just find an old lady and kill her? It'd be way faster.

[Jackstar]

You can change my name to "Breaking Bad Apologist" now too if you want. :)

[Strollen]

You can change my name to "Breaking Bad Apologist" now too if you want. :)

Jackstar, as the winner of the Break Bad Apologist Beauty Pageant, I want you to know, that I nominate myself to be 1st runner-up in the event that you are unable to fulfill your duties, and/or run of excuses.

It is vital that we protect the dramatic license of the Breaking Bad cast and crew, from the Vulcan-like logic of Mr. Chick. :)

By the way, Tom where was this critical analysis when you were viewing Hurt Locker?

[Jackstar]

Okay! I got it!

They didn't know they were going to go out to the chicken ranch, right? They just thought they were going to ask Don Salamanca with the Ouija board to find out who to kill, right?

Instead, they get totally cockblocked from what they love to do, which clearly is killing people. So then, they get told, "Okay grab your uncle and take him to see Gus," and they're like, "Fuck! All we want to do is kill someone, and instead we need to go get a goddamned wheelchair van! Hey, wait a minute..."

Busted, Tom! What? What?

[Tom Chick]

By the way, Tom where was this critical analysis when you were viewing Hurt Locker?

Uh, fully engaged?

You don't seem to understand that I like both Breaking Bad and The Hurt Locker. My enjoyment of entertainment doesn't hinge precariously on how realistic it is.

That said, you're setting up a strange set of rules when you juxtapose a family drama and a dark gritty story about the drug underworld of the Southwest. Go figure. So if you want an example of rules-breaking Forces of Darkness and Chaos, check out Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men to see it done right. Or, better yet, Outer Dark, which manages to out-Chigurgh Chigurgh and makes Pablo and Ramon look like the featured TV extras they are.

-Tom

[Tom Chick]

They didn't know they were going to go out to the chicken ranch, right? They just thought they were going to ask Don Salamanca with the Ouija board to find out who to kill, right?

Instead, they get totally cockblocked from what they love to do, which clearly is killing people. So then, they get told, "Okay grab your uncle and take him to see Gus," and they're like, "Fuck! All we want to do is kill someone, and instead we need to go get a goddamned wheelchair van! Hey, wait a minute..."

For what it's worth, I liked the scene. It was funny. I liked them crawling on their bellies to the oracle and shedding their clothes. And I loved the sequence of them creeping into Walt's house with the axe. Those things are set up and shot very well. But they're ultimately pretty silly when you think about them. Optional activity, of course, but since I find myself thinking about Walt and Flynn and Skyler, I figure I might as well think about the rest of the show as well.

I was worried we were done with Ramon and Paco after the POLLOS text message, but I'm glad to see they're being kept around. Maybe those two goofballs will pay off eventually. I hope one of them gets fastened by the neck with a bike lock to the crawlspace under Walt's house!

-Tom

[Jackstar]

But they're ultimately pretty silly when you think about them.
I can't agree. You had me for a moment, but then I really thought about it, and now their murder of the van lady is the only way I can see things happening in that world.


I was worried we were done with Ramon and Paco after the POLLOS text message, but I'm glad to see they're being kept around. Maybe those two goofballs will pay off eventually. I hope one of them gets fastened by the neck with a bike lock to the crawlspace under Walt's house!
I pledge to you, if this show does not take us to a place where Walter kills at least one of the Cousins with his mad scientist powers in a story that is as satisfying as what happened with BikeLockGuy, I will never forgive this show.

[Tom Chick]

I can't agree. You had me for a moment, but then I really thought about it, and now their murder of the van lady is the only way I can see things happening in that world.

I credit my dramatic re-enactments of the conversations between Paco and Ramone for filling in the blanks in your imagination. For future episodes, exclusively on Qt3, I shall continue to endeavor to take up the slack where Vince Gilligan's writers leave off.

-Tom

[Kirian]

Hank's storyline is getting better, thankfully. He's going to go into a total meltdown, I reckon.

Anna Gunn: her bustlines are definitely getting lower. Which detracts [distracts?] a little from her performance. Her showdown with Walt was fantastic. It demonstrated how strong Bryan Cranston is- we still have sympathy for Walt even though he completely deserves that and more. It demonstrated her acting chops that she held such a vicious, hateful pose and stare perfectly for the entire time just to let Walt's reaction be all the more bitter and his bluster the more inane.

Jesse needs to sort himself out, true. I mean, he did say "I'm the bad guy" and I hope he realises that line either as a truth or as a lie. Right now, he's just motoring along not really going anywhere. Which I suppose works for the character perfectly, it just doesn't make for interesting viewing.

The Murderoso brothers: they need to figure out exactly what they're going to do with them. A showdown with Hank? Being cut out of the cartel? Gustavo offing them? Their use as dramatic pawns, as fun as it is to watch, is starting to grate a little. The promise shown in the first episode is almost wilting now.


Otherwise I love this show. I watch very little TV but this I would heartily recommend.

Addendum: I did hear someone point out a disparity between the way Skyler treats her criminal boss and her criminal husband. I chalk that up to one being her husband and committing a worse crime, but I suppose that's a flaw. Just about.

[Tom Chick]

Anna Gunn: her bustlines are definitely getting lower. Which detracts [distracts?] a little from her performance. Her showdown with Walt was fantastic. It demonstrated how strong Bryan Cranston is- we still have sympathy for Walt even though he completely deserves that and more. It demonstrated her acting chops that she held such a vicious, hateful pose and stare perfectly for the entire time just to let Walt's reaction be all the more bitter and his bluster the more inane...I did hear someone point out a disparity between the way Skyler treats her criminal boss and her criminal husband. I chalk that up to one being her husband and committing a worse crime, but I suppose that's a flaw. Just about.

Well, I don't think she's treating them that differently, aside from the fact that she's only fucking one of them.

My read on the situation is that she fucked Ted to intentionally scuttle her marriage and drive Walt out of the family. You'd think from all that glorious cleavage that they're setting her up as a sexual character, but I see the gesture as primarily maternal: she's protecting her family by using emotional leverage to remove a threat. She didn't sleep with Ted because she was okay with his cooking the books. She slept with him because Walt barged back into the house and refused to leave. I don't think the show intends us to regard Ted as anything other than a pawn.

BTW, RJ Mitte sure crossed that puberty line while the show was down. Yikes. He went from a kind of cutely round-faced kid to some dude with a chiseled model's face. What is it with kids named Walt growing out of their TV series?

-Tom

[Kirian]

Calling it a flaw is a bit rich, I agree. I should have been more clear that I don't necessarily agree with that criticism, I was just looking for flaws in the plotting.

She is treating them slightly differently in perfectly justifiable ways. It's pretty obvious that it's a move to try and force Walt out. The way she waited, obviously weighing it up in her mind. It fits in perfectly with her not going to the police because of her family.

I do think there's a part of the character that wanted to do that and has for a while. She just didn't because of her family and now she's got every right to fuck brains out willy-nilly. Walt's not going to tell Jr. It doesn't hurt her, it does hurt him plus she works out some of the anger, and we all know about angry fucking. So I do see some self-centred (justifiable, again) motivation there.

Also more glorious cleavage. Good for ratings. Ahem.

Unfortunately what it does is put her in danger. See, she knows about Walt. Walt now owes Gustavo his life. Anyone who may scupper that is in the way, and that includes Skyler whether or not she's planning to tell anyone. Gustavo is reasonable but, from the look of things, a businessman whatever that means. Even if it means potentially crossing the cartel by keeping a wanted man alive. I don't think he would go so far as to harm them intentionally, 'though.

Maybe the cartel would? They know who Walter is and that they can't touch him. Is that too far for them? Possibly.

The way it's all going, either Walt (pushes it too far), Jesse (collateral damage) or Skyler (who knows?) is going to end up dead. Maybe Hank. Not for any good reason but because that's the only way things can work out as I see it. Maybe that's just what I want from the show, catharsis through the release of a character (even though their release just leads to more suffering for the other characters).

RJ Mitte is putting in a brave performance. Not because he's got MS (which would be insulting to him) but because he's got a tough-ish part and he plays it, well, bravely.

[Strollen]

Well, I don't think she's treating them that differently, aside from the fact that she's only fucking one of them.

My read on the situation is that she fucked Ted to intentionally scuttle her marriage and drive Walt out of the family. You'd think from all that glorious cleavage that they're setting her up as a sexual character, but I see the gesture as primarily maternal: she's protecting her family by using emotional leverage to remove a threat. She didn't sleep with Ted because she was okay with his cooking the books. She slept with him because Walt barged back into the house and refused to leave. I don't think the show intends us to regard Ted as anything other than a pawn.



-Tom

I'm with Tom. Skylar is mommy bear backed into a corner with two bear cubs. There is absolutely nothing she won't do to protect her kids and make sure that Walt is out of her and their lives. Now she may take some pleasure in driving a dagger into Walt's heart, but it isn't her primary motivation. I think she be happy if Walt died of cancer rather than latter, so that his secret goes to grave without the kids finding out.

[Juntei]

I'm with Tom. Skylar is mommy bear backed into a corner with two bear cubs. There is absolutely nothing she won't do to protect her kids and make sure that Walt is out of her and their lives. Now she may take some pleasure in driving a dagger into Walt's heart, but it isn't her primary motivation. I think she be happy if Walt died of cancer rather than latter, so that his secret goes to grave without the kids finding out.

Oddly though that is the exact reasoning Walt had for doing what he did. Walt did it for her and the kids. I wonder if she will be able to realize this. I have a feeling that Skylar will end up hurt or killed as a warning to Walt.

[Jackstar]

Skyler is a terrible human being. The guy embezzling from his own company so he can... what... buy a car? He's obviously a far worse criminal than Walt.

I can't wait to see her cry when she figures it out. She's a great actress, I bet it'll be really awesome.

[Athryn]

It's not like Walt is growing pot. Meth kills people, embezzling money is pretty mild by comparison. I'm not saying what she did was right, but I can completely understand it.

[Jackstar]

I'm well aware of what methamphetamine does. The other guy is still a much, much bigger scumbag. He's not stealing from his company to provide for his family after he's dead, right?

What I want is that it turns out that her new boy toy stole money to pay for cocaine and gambling debts. That'd be so cool. She'd probably flip out and stab him in the throat. I bet she wouldn't hate Walt so much then, huh?

[Athryn]

Blood money is still blood money. I hardly think it makes her a 'hateful human being' to not want the money, especially considering the way it's obtained. Yes, there is a purposeful dilemma here: the crime of embezzling just because one can vs making drugs out of desperation.

Which is worse? They're both bad, but I don't think that her boss is on the Madoff level yet where his crimes are ruining people's lives.

[Kirian]

Skyler is a terrible human being. The guy embezzling from his own company so he can... what... buy a car? He's obviously a far worse criminal than Walt.

I can't wait to see her cry when she figures it out. She's a great actress, I bet it'll be really awesome.
Walt has sold a high-end drug controlled by a known violent cartel. He has risked their property and lives by doing so- he risked everything when there was a perfectly viable alternative (taking the money from a benefactor)+. Perfectly viable but for his stubborn pride, probably born of his resentment at the way things have turned out. Skyler is reacting in a perfectly reasonable manner to it. Some might say she's under-cooking it a little.

Also, if I remember correctly he's not exactly embezzling money. I seem to remember he's cooking the books so that the company looks like it has more money than it actually does, in order to stop his family business going under. Could someone verify that for me?
Addendum: ah, he's under-reporting revenue to avoid paying tax, which he claims is to stop the business going under and so that he can pay employees. He may well be lying but that doesn't change the facts: Walt has endangered her and her family, Ted is just a wally.


+On that note, is anyone else still wondering what exactly happened at Grey Matter? They've hinted at bits and pieces but I actually want to know. He dated Gretchen, left her at random and left the company, that we know. That's about it.

[Jackstar]

It seems obvious to me that a change-up is coming. Oh, sure, it looks like the boy toy is the lesser criminal. It's a television show. You think that assumption isn't likely to change? Pfft.

The boy toy is probably selling infants to China for their organs. You just wait. Besides, it doesn't alter my point: Skyler is stupid for thinking that her boss is more innocent than Walt. She doesn't know anything, she's operating on assumptions.

It'll all end in tears and I cannot wait.

[Jackstar]

There is no plan B.

[Tom Chick]

Great episode. I don't think there was once that I went, "Whatever, Breaking Bad". Loved the opening scene, loved Walt confronting -- well, trying to confront -- Ted by shattering the glass with a potted plant, loved the weirdness of hearing an extramarital Skyler sex scene and seeing her getting dressed, loved the fumbled kiss attempt with the principal, loved Hank's scene with his boss, loved Giancarlo Esposito thumbing sagely though medical files, loved the payoff for why the episode was called Green Light.

-Tom

[Kirian]

I giggled my way through the breakfast scene (after Hank at the petrol station). There's been a return to the tense, bitter black comedy of the first season in this episode.

Actually I tend, or used to, see Breaking Bad as a black comedy in the traditional vein rather than a tragedy/drama. Although my heart dropped almost as far as Walt's did when that radio announcement hit. You could almost see it hit the floor.

[Bandersnatch]

Walt and Jesse arguing in the car about the quality of his meth was my favorite part of the episode. Jesse driving away with Walt's stuff on his car, hah.

[serling]

I loved the scene where he drags the potted plant and Skyler confronts him.

"I'm talking with Ted"

priceless.

[Strollen]

Walt and Jesse arguing in the car about the quality of his meth was my favorite part of the episode. Jesse driving away with Walt's stuff on his car, hah.

The pride of craftsmenship may do to more bring Walt back to cooking, than threatening him with being killed.

I also loved Walt making a pass at his pretty hot principal. As soon as she was in Walt's classroom, I thought Walt is going to try and hit on her.

[John E. Motion]

I've been enjoying the show but I really hated that the DEA agent goes from the letter 'm' as his only lead to some gas station in the middle of nowhere that just happens to be the exact place he needs to go. Exactly what was his plan? Interrogating every Mike, Micky and Mario in Albuquerque (and evidently the outlying area) who's been associated with criminal activity? Also, doesn't she know anybody who does drugs aside from somebody on the police's radar as a potential dealer?

I understand part of the shtick is synchronicity, but that's a bit much. Why not just write that the poor girl got caught by her parents and they decided to 'scare her straight' and went to the police? The short scene with the burnt-out wasn't that great.

[Athryn]

He's a good cop, that's what it was. He had a partial description and a location, and a bit of a name, doesn't take much to go back to the bar and do some more asking around.


BTW: did anyone see Cranston on The Daily Show the other day? It's so weird seeing him go back to his comedian mode now. He had a funny little thing where he brought a fake book to the show called "My Life's a Meth!"

You can prolly check it out on TDS website, good interview, although it was kind annoying, as it showed a spoilery clip for an episode that hasn't aired yet. (I think next week's.)

[Jackstar]

Exactly what was his plan? Interrogating every Mike, Micky and Mario in Albuquerque (and evidently the outlying area) who's been associated with criminal activity?
Yeah, that was the plan. You hear him talk about "some guy, name starts with an M, hangs out at this bar," and then you see him with a list of names, all starting with M, and he's crossed out like a dozen of them and when he gets to the gas station, it's the next lead he's checking. So he's obviously been out in the desert for hours tracking down his quarry.

You're getting the picture that this guy is kinda... on-edge, right?

[John E. Motion]

Yeah, that was the plan. You hear him talk about "some guy, name starts with an M, hangs out at this bar," and then you see him with a list of names, all starting with M, and he's crossed out like a dozen of them and when he gets to the gas station, it's the next lead he's checking. So he's obviously been out in the desert for hours tracking down his quarry.

You're getting the picture that this guy is kinda... on-edge, right?

It's too cute, I'm sorry.

[Jackstar]

I... don't understand.

[Wholly Schmidt]

Quick question, I just caught up with season 2. Is season 3 available online anywhere? Not on Hulu, and if it's on AMC's site, I can't find it, but that may just be me. Thanks.

[Jackstar]

Is season 3 available online anywhere?
http://eztv.it/
http://isohunt.com/
http://immortalseed.com/

One of those should suit your particular needs in your jurisdiction.

[Wholly Schmidt]

Not what I meant, but it answers my question, thanks.

[Athryn]

Is season 3 available online anywhere?

According to here (http://www.amctv.com/originals/breakingbad/wheretowatch/) you can download season 3 episodes via iTunes or Amazon.

[Wholly Schmidt]

Gracias. You may now resume discussions of the actual show and I'll bow out till I've caught up again.

(except to say season two tested my patience, and I hope it gets better. The finale was obviously interesting and enough of a hook to keep me curious--more so the separation than the crash--but I'd almost lost interest completely a few episodes earlier. Now you can tell me all the ways I'm wrong, and I won't read them for days, or weeks! Nyah-nyah!)

[DrCrypt]

Wholly Schmidt, I largely felt season two was a big dud, and I actually wasn't very interested in Breaking Bad after it... but season three is a vast improvement so far, and a return to the pacing of season one. Although it's worth noting season two started off great too until it got bogged down by the family and Jesse crap, but I don't think that's going to happen this time: the stakes have really been raised this season.

[Jackstar]

Quick, Walter! To the POLLOS Cave!

[LionelThompson]

Great film trick at the dinner table with the beam splitting the family sides. On the left was Walt and on the right, Skyler and Walt Jr. Then Walt Jr. leaves and the baby starts crying. Skyler lets him hold her so then it is Walt and the baby on the left and Skyler on the right. Finally, symbolically, she wants to bring the family together so she joins them (albeit behind them) on the left side.

Of course I could be wrong in my interpretation.

Also there is a repeated theme of breaking glass, first with the airplane and then with Jesse, while last week Walt was unable to do so himself. Perhaps by season's end Walt will be the one able to break windows.

[Jackstar]

I'm disappointed I was wrong about Walt Jr. I was hoping that the focus would shift to him, and it would be a few episodes later before Skyler realized that the nice heated floor she was standing on was paid for with blood money, but whatever, I guess tits are more interesting character development than muscular dystrophy.

[Tom Chick]

I think you're dead-on, Lionel. I noticed that as well. It's nice to see a TV show actually caring about the composition of a shot. :)

POLLOS cave, indeed.

I'm disappointed they're setting up a contrived Walter vs. Jesse thing. It seems awfully abrupt. Plus I don't really care about Jesse anymore. Junkie in recovery mooning over his dead (murdered!) girlfriend? Whatever, Breaking Bad.

-Tom

[Jackstar]

I'm with you, Tom. The development there is very forced and sloppy. Still entertaining. Mostly.

[Kirian]

Unless they're going to flip that around into "Walt's trying to keep Jesse out for his own good" it makes no sense. Even that's stretching it a bit, I reckon. It sort of came out of nowhere given the way things have been going.

The POLLOS-cave made me laugh. I couldn't help myself. That said, I don't know quite what to think about Gustavo's speech and Walt's reaction to it, whether it was laid on a little too thick or pitched correctly to Walt.

Nice catch on the composition. I didn't notice the beam but the divide between the two and the baby being some sort of link I did notice.

[DrCrypt]

Gustavo read Walt perfectly. Walt's got some ridiculous notions about pride and manhood.

I think they're setting up Jesse's exit from the show: they actually didn't originally intend for that character to last past the first season. I sort of thought his girlfriend's death might have grounded Jesse, but he's back to the usual hysterical street thug behavior this episode.

One thing's clear: Jesse intends to keep cooking Walt's formula, but given Walt's distribution deal, the only way Jesse will be able to sell his own product is if he undersells Walt and sells it himself. In other words, Jesse's going to be painting a huge target on his chest: if Gustavo doesn't kill him, Jesse is basically setting himself up as "Heisenberg" in the eyes of the DEA.

Maybe both... Gustavo would definitely whack Jesse is Hank starts closing in.

[drake113]

Also there is a repeated theme of breaking glass, first with the airplane and then with Jesse, while last week Walt was unable to do so himself. Perhaps by season's end Walt will be the one able to break windows.

Maybe he's just breaking them badly?

[Jackstar]

I was talking with my mother tonight, who is like eighty and adores Breaking Bad. Like, she told me about it before I heard of it, and a more incongruous conversation I've rarely had with the woman.

Anyway, we were discussing the last episode, and during the course of that, I discovered that she did not know what Gus' name was. I thought back, and realized that I only remember two times in the entire show that his name has ever been used. Maybe it was more than that, but I only recall two instances that were very understated anyway. Also, she's sort of losing her marbles as well as her hearing. I don't even know if she knows what "meth" is. Whatever.

So this all dawns on me, and I go, "Mom, what do you call that guy in your head?"

And she gets this priceless look on her face while she thinks about it, and she says, "...The Entrepreneur." Oh, the note of dread in her voice. It was epic.

I love my mom!

[Calistas]

I still love the show, it's so brilliantly dark :)

[Juntei]

Gustavo read Walt perfectly. Walt's got some ridiculous notions about pride and manhood.

I think they're setting up Jesse's exit from the show: they actually didn't originally intend for that character to last past the first season. I sort of thought his girlfriend's death might have grounded Jesse, but he's back to the usual hysterical street thug behavior this episode.

One thing's clear: Jesse intends to keep cooking Walt's formula, but given Walt's distribution deal, the only way Jesse will be able to sell his own product is if he undersells Walt and sells it himself. In other words, Jesse's going to be painting a huge target on his chest: if Gustavo doesn't kill him, Jesse is basically setting himself up as "Heisenberg" in the eyes of the DEA.

Maybe both... Gustavo would definitely whack Jesse is Hank starts closing in.



This is a fued that can blow up in everyones face, most particularly Walt. Jesse is not a smart person, he's a step away from being pinched by Hank, and when that happens I don't think Jesse can talk his way out of it, and now that his association with Saul is strained I don't know if he'd go with a public defender who would try to get him to take a deal that would involve giving up Walt and/or Gustavo.

I assume Gustavo would just have Walt and Jesse killed rather than risk anything pointing back to him and his partners (But how awesomely redeeming would it be if Hank got Walt to help him take down the Mexican cartel). At this point Jesse is nothing but a liability that needs to be dealt with.

The Meth cave proves to be a substantial investment from Gustavo into Walt. I find it strange that he'll be off the hook after 3 months, unless Gustavo is looking to learn how Walt cooks and take over after Walt is no longer needed.

So many different ways this show can go makes me giddy with anticipation for each episode.

[azzl]

I'm having trouble understanding why Walt is so valuable...his "recipe"? I thought the difficult part of manufacturing meth was getting all the good equipment, precursor chemicals, and being able to disguise the operation. Any chemist following good lab procedure should be able to make pure meth, or refine it until it is pure...right?

Whatever, Breaking Bad?

[Jackstar]

Skilled application of chemistry is not a thing that can be written down like a recipe, I assure you.

Rewind back to the scene where The Entrepreneur tells Walt, "I need 200 pounds a week to make this operation economically viable." Look at Walt's face.

[Athryn]

I didn't find the thing between Walter and Jesse forced at all, they never really have gotten along together all that well.