Discuss the Breaking Bad season 5b premiere here if you'd like. It should go without saying, but if you have not seen the episode, enter at your own risk.
Loved it. So there were a few things that stuck out to me. The episode started showing Walt with hair. That means Walt isn’t doing chemo, especially since we know he is currently getting chemo since the cancer came back. I think he is all in to protect his family. Also, they eluded to the fact that whoever is making the meth sucks at it (60% pure). Walt blows that lady off, but I think that will come back to bite him. I loved the last line:
“If that’s true — if you don’t know who I am — then maybe your best course would be to tread lightly.”
@ WaLi:
It was a continuation of the cold open (the flash forward) from the premiere last year. Walt bought the gun in that Denny’s bathroom. He was coughing and taking some meds at that time.
I think Skyler and Walt Jr are dead in the flash forwards. I don’t think Walt disappears to New Hampshire without his family, and he’s clearly coming back to get revenge on someone, especially if his identity is known in Albuquerque and there’s no chance of reclaiming his old life.
I think Jesse finds out about Jane, and the lily of the valley, feels like Walt has taken everything he loves from him, and decides to take everything Walt loves in kind. I think the gun and the ricin is for Jesse.
Great opening episode. Jesse is losing it. I’m interested to see what happens between him and Walt. Loved when Hank closed the garage door and that tension between them. Great scene. I agree with Sitrick that Jesse will find out and if so, I can’t wait for that scene.
@ sitrick:
How much does Walt really care about his family at this point? He’s been willing to essentially keep Skyler as a hostage. I’m not sure Walt cares about anyone other than himself.
Walt has to get mixed back up in the meth game so I wouldn’t rule out confrontation there.
@ sitrick:
How much does Walt really care about his family at this point? He’s been willing to essentially keep Skyler as a hostage. I’m not sure Walt cares about anyone other than himself.
Walt has to get mixed back up in the meth game so I wouldn’t rule out confrontation there.
I think that’s sorta part of his delusion at this point. I think he tells himself that now that he’s out of the business, he can get Skyler to love him again. And I think for all his megalomania, I think if anything happened to Walt Jr he’d be devastated. He still tells himself family is the most important thing. Hence “That is NOT going to happen.” with Hank.
The other thing I think about is, Walt Jr is the only character that hasn’t really been touched by Walt and the meth trade. He’s a total innocent, and hasn’t had much to do thus far in the series except eat breakfast and mope. The more I think about all that the more I’m just waiting for him to get killed. Look at the way Cranston’s playing the flash-forward Walt. That’s a guy that’s lost everything he’s cared about with no hope of ever getting it back.
Miles Pequeño
Someone smarter than me already pointed this out, but Walt has taken on a lot of the characteristics of the people he’s killed. Some of these are stretches, but some are pretty clear:
1.) Starting cutting off the crusts on his sandwiches like Krazy 8;
2.) Orders his drinks on the rocks (instead of his usual neat) after killing Mike and drops the “learn to take yes for an answer” line immediately afterward;
3.) Acts like Gus with the vomiting and the running of a legit business, faking conversations with old associates (Lydia at the car wash), and in the flash forwards is driving a Volvo;
4.) After running over/shooting the Gus underlings who used and then killed little Tomas, he poisons Brock;
5.) Adopted Jane’s dad’s goatee after letting her die.
Those are pretty much in order of “definitely done on purpose” to “eh, maybe”.
@ WaLi:
You seen it? One of the best new shows for sure. Actually, I might even put 3 new shows in my top 5 right now: Rectify, Orphan Black and Orange.
@ Berselius:
That show was so much fun to watch and Maslany put on an acting clinic. Easily the best performance by an actor this year IMO. Male, female, tv, movie, whatever.
The cold open was awesome. A lot of modern shows are good at the whole minimal dialogue thing, but BB might be the best of them. Outside of random skater yells, not a word was said except for the Hello Carol. Chilling.
What does everyone think happened to the White house? The spray tagging of Heisenberg wouldn’t be done by authorities; so did the cartel/Czechs/someone else (Jesse?) do that? The other question is what was Carol’s thinking when she saw Walt; did she freak because she saw a fugitive drug kingpin, or because she saw someone she thought dead? Or, both?
Either way, Chekhov’s ricin will have something to do with the series conclusion (not subtly, they inserted Badger and Skinny pete’s scene here which mentions Chekhov several times).
I think at least one of Walt’s family member’s is dead; I think it’s Skyler but it could easily be either of the kids. I think the two flash-forward intros with Walt as 52 wants us to believe that Walt is alone and his family is either gone or dead; I think this may be misdirection. He may be returning to possibly save someone in his family.
—-
Everything else was great, and I have nothing to say about the end that many other writers haven’t said much better. That last line is great. I love how the series as a whole plays with your pacing expectations. Things like Walt’s confrontation with Hank seems like something saved for the last episode or two, while several other plot issues that would normally have been confronted sooner (Jesse not knowing about Jane/Brock, the ricin) are still waiting to be resolved.
I don’t see how Jesse learns about Jane. Only Walt knows and he’s such a good liar at this point I can’t imagine that one coming out. I’m not sure about Brock either. Just Walt, Saul and Huell know. Walt won’t tell him and if Saul or Huell did, they’d be killed by Jesse. I’m also not sure resolution is even necessary on those two issues. Jesse hates Walt and wants nothing to do with him.
@ dmick89:
I normally would agree but I can easily see Walt letting it slip out though. He’s such an egomaniac that he could let it slip in an argument or something. Either way, I’m sure something will happen that will be completely epic that it’ll make you shit your pants.
How does everyone feel about this show ending? Do you think this show has so much expectation to end brilliantly that it’ll disappoint, ala Sopranos? Or do you think they’ll end it on a perfect note?
Comments
Loved this episode. So many great moments. Walt vs Hank was better than I expected. Norris was excellent tonight.
dmick89Quote Reply
Loved it. Probably post thoughts tomorrow. So many neat moments.
MishQuote Reply
Loved it. So there were a few things that stuck out to me. The episode started showing Walt with hair. That means Walt isn’t doing chemo, especially since we know he is currently getting chemo since the cancer came back. I think he is all in to protect his family. Also, they eluded to the fact that whoever is making the meth sucks at it (60% pure). Walt blows that lady off, but I think that will come back to bite him. I loved the last line:
“If that’s true — if you don’t know who I am — then maybe your best course would be to tread lightly.”
WaLiQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
I’m glad they had that confrontation this episode, although I guess with only 8 left they kind of had to
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
It was a continuation of the cold open (the flash forward) from the premiere last year. Walt bought the gun in that Denny’s bathroom. He was coughing and taking some meds at that time.
dmick89Quote Reply
Yeah, Walts line to Hank was awesome.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Yeah realize that but i guess I didn’t remember that he had hair in that scene.
WaLiQuote Reply
I think Skyler and Walt Jr are dead in the flash forwards. I don’t think Walt disappears to New Hampshire without his family, and he’s clearly coming back to get revenge on someone, especially if his identity is known in Albuquerque and there’s no chance of reclaiming his old life.
I think Jesse finds out about Jane, and the lily of the valley, feels like Walt has taken everything he loves from him, and decides to take everything Walt loves in kind. I think the gun and the ricin is for Jesse.
Just my theory.
sitrickQuote Reply
Last season while watching Scarface – “Everybody dies.”
Foreshadowing, bitch.
Egg ShanQuote Reply
Great opening episode. Jesse is losing it. I’m interested to see what happens between him and Walt. Loved when Hank closed the garage door and that tension between them. Great scene. I agree with Sitrick that Jesse will find out and if so, I can’t wait for that scene.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ sitrick:
How much does Walt really care about his family at this point? He’s been willing to essentially keep Skyler as a hostage. I’m not sure Walt cares about anyone other than himself.
Walt has to get mixed back up in the meth game so I wouldn’t rule out confrontation there.
dmick89Quote Reply
Have an A-1 day!
BerseliusQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
I think that’s sorta part of his delusion at this point. I think he tells himself that now that he’s out of the business, he can get Skyler to love him again. And I think for all his megalomania, I think if anything happened to Walt Jr he’d be devastated. He still tells himself family is the most important thing. Hence “That is NOT going to happen.” with Hank.
The other thing I think about is, Walt Jr is the only character that hasn’t really been touched by Walt and the meth trade. He’s a total innocent, and hasn’t had much to do thus far in the series except eat breakfast and mope. The more I think about all that the more I’m just waiting for him to get killed. Look at the way Cranston’s playing the flash-forward Walt. That’s a guy that’s lost everything he’s cared about with no hope of ever getting it back.
sitrickQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Now I really miss being able to thumbs up a comment.
dmick89Quote Reply
Just watched. Goosebumps.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
They let you watch Breaking Bad at work for the government? Not a bad gig.
dmick89Quote Reply
New Shit
MylesQuote Reply
This was a great recap by Greenwald: http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/83966/breaking-bad-season-5-episode-9-recap-the-endgame-begins-with-blood-money
dmick89Quote Reply
By the way, if you haven’t watched Orange is the New Black yet, you’re doing it wrong.
dmick89Quote Reply
Saw this comment on that article I linked above.
dmick89Quote Reply
And then this:
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Agreed. I’m glad I can Coe to OV for top rate
baseball insighttv show recommendationsWaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
You seen it? One of the best new shows for sure. Actually, I might even put 3 new shows in my top 5 right now: Rectify, Orphan Black and Orange.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Orphan Black was so good.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
That show was so much fun to watch and Maslany put on an acting clinic. Easily the best performance by an actor this year IMO. Male, female, tv, movie, whatever.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
I just finished the chicken episode. Wife and I love it so far.
Not Stationary WaLiQuote Reply
The cold open was awesome. A lot of modern shows are good at the whole minimal dialogue thing, but BB might be the best of them. Outside of random skater yells, not a word was said except for the Hello Carol. Chilling.
What does everyone think happened to the White house? The spray tagging of Heisenberg wouldn’t be done by authorities; so did the cartel/Czechs/someone else (Jesse?) do that? The other question is what was Carol’s thinking when she saw Walt; did she freak because she saw a fugitive drug kingpin, or because she saw someone she thought dead? Or, both?
Either way, Chekhov’s ricin will have something to do with the series conclusion (not subtly, they inserted Badger and Skinny pete’s scene here which mentions Chekhov several times).
I think at least one of Walt’s family member’s is dead; I think it’s Skyler but it could easily be either of the kids. I think the two flash-forward intros with Walt as 52 wants us to believe that Walt is alone and his family is either gone or dead; I think this may be misdirection. He may be returning to possibly save someone in his family.
—-
Everything else was great, and I have nothing to say about the end that many other writers haven’t said much better. That last line is great. I love how the series as a whole plays with your pacing expectations. Things like Walt’s confrontation with Hank seems like something saved for the last episode or two, while several other plot issues that would normally have been confronted sooner (Jesse not knowing about Jane/Brock, the ricin) are still waiting to be resolved.
MishQuote Reply
I don’t see how Jesse learns about Jane. Only Walt knows and he’s such a good liar at this point I can’t imagine that one coming out. I’m not sure about Brock either. Just Walt, Saul and Huell know. Walt won’t tell him and if Saul or Huell did, they’d be killed by Jesse. I’m also not sure resolution is even necessary on those two issues. Jesse hates Walt and wants nothing to do with him.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
I normally would agree but I can easily see Walt letting it slip out though. He’s such an egomaniac that he could let it slip in an argument or something. Either way, I’m sure something will happen that will be completely epic that it’ll make you shit your pants.
How does everyone feel about this show ending? Do you think this show has so much expectation to end brilliantly that it’ll disappoint, ala Sopranos? Or do you think they’ll end it on a perfect note?
MuckerQuote Reply