Breaking Bad Season 5 Sunday

[Magus]

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It all comes down to this, the final season. Will Walt's house of lies collapse beneath the weight of his deceit, burying him and all he holds dear? Well, probably, but will Jesse be the cause, or will Mike have something to do with it?! Or Hank? Or perhaps...the Ghost of Gale, haunting Walt and driving him insane in his dreams with a banshee wail of karaoke?!!

Anyway, tune in to find out.

Bitches.

Until then, tide yourself over with this edition of Breaking Bad Celebrity Bowling:

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[Azisien]

This will be the first television show in 14 years that I tune in for live on a week-by-week basis. Considering I'm only 26, that seems like a pretty big honour. Psyched!

[Magus]

First 90 seconds of Season 5:

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I'm surprised it starts immediately after the end of last season. I'd have expected a time-gap of a few months at the least.

[Magus]

Oh, god. This episode. So good. Oh, man. Just. Phenomenal. Man. I gotta go to bed, but holy crap. Man. MAN.

I can honestly say I have enjoyed Breaking Bad more than the Wire at this point. THERE I SAID IT. I SAID THE UNTHINKABLE.

[Red Fighter 1073]

Any insight as to what happened to Ted in that scene? Could barely hear what either of them were saying. I didn't expect that to happen from last season, though I guess I did think that he was out of the picture in Season 5.

Walter seemed to garner at least a little bit of sympathy from me last season, but holy shit, this season he's just ramped up to full-blown... anti-hero? drug lord? Not quite sure how to describe how crazy he seems this season.

[Magus]

Any insight as to what happened to Ted in that scene? Could barely hear what either of them were saying. I didn't expect that to happen from last season, though I guess I did think that he was out of the picture in Season 5.

Walter seemed to garner at least a little bit of sympathy from me last season, but holy shit, this season he's just ramped up to full-blown... anti-hero? drug lord? Not quite sure how to describe how crazy he seems this season.

Walter has basically become Gus Fring. Or, almost. He even did his Gus Fring thing there with Saul. He did exactly what Gus did in "Boxcutter", minus the ending. BUT will he be able to follow through on it like Gus was able to? At this point he seems to lack exactly the same impetus that made Gus completely amoral--the loss of the person he loved most in the world. The flash forward tells us either he has been in hiding because he was unable to go far enough, or something along the lines of what happened to Gus' boyfriend happened to him and he's now completed his transformation. In either case he has come back to settle the score. In any case, the final scene of the episode shows us he's completely immersed himself in this myth that he is untouchable and justified. When he says to her, "I accept your apology", even though he had just endangered all their lives for the past year (I think this has all taken place in the span of a year, not sure) and basically been a pretty crappy husband. Even though she cheated on him with Beneke and took his money without his permission, what he's done has been far worse all told. But his arrogance has now reached its absolute apex--he almost came to his senses last year, but because he "won" he now feels he is absolutely untouchable.

As for what happened in that hospital scene Skyler basically went in there to apologize to Beneke about what had happened but realized he was scared out of his wits that she was going to have him killed (due to Saul's henchmen holding him hostage last year, and then him accidentally snapping his neck). What he said was that he would never ever tell anyone ever what had happened, and talked about how he has kids, etc. basically begging for his life because he figures Skyler will have him killed off. Once Skyler realizes that's how he sees the situation, she goes along with it and says, "Good.".

[BloodyMage]

Loved the episode. It was pretty amazing. I agree that Walt has basically become Gus Fring or, at least, thinks of himself as such. However, he lacks the finesse. Gus would never have left that truck in the police barracks. In fact, Gus would never even have been in the van.

[Azisien]

Wicked awesome shit.

[Lumenskir]

So, I just had a flash of insight that I'm pretty sure was handed down from above: Walt is going to plant the ricin cigarette in one of Skyler's cig packs before this half-season is over to ensure she can't disrupt the cook. That's going to be the first step to Hank finally having a Keyser Soze moment and getting on his case. That plus Mike dying (probably a little bit into the second half-season) will lead to Jesse finding out all of the other shit Walt's done, eventually leading to Walt being taken down by some combination of the two + some other third party we haven't met just yet.

I want this to be memorialized here now so I can point to it in the future.

[BloodyMage]

I wondered if Jesse might actually rat Walt out to Hank at some point and supply him with some hard evidence after he finds out what Walt did and after Hank has already started having suspicions.

The cig thing could totally happen though. It might actually twig something with Jesse too if he hears how she died and thinks it was similar to how they planned to kill Gus. But yeah, I can totally see Walt doing that. It would all come together quite nicely.

[Lumenskir]

I wondered if Jesse might actually rat Walt out to Hank at some point and supply him with some hard evidence after he finds out what Walt did and after Hank has already started having suspicions.
My basic reasoning is that the BB universe clearly has a God/moral balance, where something bad happens to you after you do something bad. This has been applied to basically every character but Walt, not because we're meant to think what he's doing is right, but because he's been externalizing all of his comeuppances on others, primarily Hank and Jesse (but oh so much more on Jesse). His downfall coming from those two would be the most apt.

I also think that Mike probably has to die both for the moral retribution, but mostly because he's the only dampening factor on Walt at this point. Maybe I just like Mike too much, but as long as he's around I can't see things going pear-shaped enough to get to that flash forward within a year.
The cig thing could totally happen though...But yeah, I can totally see Walt doing that. It would all come together quite nicely.
My revelation was basically Chekov math: Ricin cig being stored for later use + Skyler smoking in earnest out of spite + Walt pushing her to the limit = Walt needing to kill Skyler in a way that would spite her back to prevent her from acting in response to his abuse.

[BloodyMage]

I also think that Mike probably has to die both for the moral retribution, but mostly because he's the only dampening factor on Walt at this point. Maybe I just like Mike too much, but as long as he's around I can't see things going pear-shaped enough to get to that flash forward within a year.

Although Jesse did just stop him from killing that woman after it seemed like she was trying to obstruct their business. Jesse might turn out to be right and might be acting like a moral fetter for Mike, but it's also possible that Jesse just doesn't want to get his hands dirty and it could backfire on them.

My revelation was basically Chekov math: Ricin cig being stored for later use + Skyler smoking in earnest out of spite + Walt pushing her to the limit = Walt needing to kill Skyler in a way that would spite her back to prevent her from acting in response to his abuse.

Although it might confuse his motivations a bit. Every thing he has ever done has been for his family, or so he says, and that's what helps him sleep at night. Even his argument with Skylar erupted from her trying to keep his kids away from him. To kill his wife to keep his kids would really confuse that motivation. I could still see it happening but I think it would be a moral event horizon for him. It would be a real moment of no return.

[Lumenskir]

Although it might confuse his motivations a bit. Every thing he has ever done has been for his family, or so he says, and that's what helps him sleep at night. Even his argument with Skylar erupted from her trying to keep his kids away from him. To kill his wife to keep his kids would really confuse that motivation. I could still see it happening but I think it would be a moral event horizon for him. It would be a real moment of no return.
I've been watching the series over again so my Dad can catch up to this season, and one of the things they keep hitting over and over is that Walt has been moving the finish line over and over until we get to the season premiere where the only 'justification' he has for continuing the cook is...he has to pay back Jesse (which he pretty much has to remind Jesse about). He's literally at the point where he's cooking because he wants to, not 'needs' to, and I think Skyler is going to get in the way of what he wants.

Also, I mentally put the over/under at two episodes for Landry killing again. This is why I need to memorialize my insights.

[Magus]

Man, Todd just got himself a raise.

[Lumenskir]

Man, Todd just got himself a raise.
Yeah, a raise of six feet. In the ground. More of a reverse raise, I'm thinking.

[Magus]

I like how Todd just dispenses with all the moral quandaries and rationalizations Walt and Jesse go through in their quest to sell life-destroying crystal meth to tens of thousands of people. He just shoots kids with no remorse. He's a breath of fresh air, honestly. He's like a young Mike Ehrmentraut.

[BloodyMage]

Well, he's not getting paid to moralise.

[Lumenskir]

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[Magus]

Hahaha, Breaking Your Enthusiasm!

[Magus]

I think the best part of this week's episode was easily the most awkward dinner ever.

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[Odjn]

why the fuck is everyone calling todd landry

[Lumenskir]

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm0fowt5wK1qdlkgg.gif

Second: Pretty sure it's just been me.

Third: You need to watch Friday Night Lights.*

*Psst, that you is everyone reading that sentence.**

**Yes, even if you've already watched it.

[Odjn]

No.

[Magus]

The guy playing Todd also played a character name Landry on Friday Night Lights, who also murdered someone.

Also as per internet regulations we shall now call Todd by his internet approved nickname, Meth Damon.

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ONCE YOU SEE IT YOU CAN'T UNSEE IT

[Lumenskir]

Landry, are you taking notes on a motherfucking criminal conspiracy??

[Magus]

"Stringer White" should be like, a mashupthingamajig on the youtubes.

So about that episode:

"You're goddamn right!" seemed to be Bryan Cranston channeling Clint Eastwood. Just give him all the Emmies.

Why does everybody wear black leather jackets in the desert?

This season has had the best musical montages of pretty much any show I've seen. Who knew putting money in safety deposit boxes could be so exciting?

Haha, that ending. Here's some more Breaking Your Enthusiasm to "celebrate":

SPOILERS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u0PpE8MCmU SPOILERS

[Lumenskir]

So Mike wanted to die, at least on some level, right? Like, I can see him not wanting Jesse to stick his neck out, but entrusting it to Walt, especially at that point in their relationship, and letting so many of his defenses down leads me to think he basically checked out on life when he saw the cops and knew he would never be with his granddaughter again, and Walt was a convenient out..

[Magus]

So Mike wanted to die, at least on some level, right? Like, I can see him not wanting Jesse to stick his neck out, but entrusting it to Walt, especially at that point in their relationship, and letting so many of his defenses down leads me to think he basically checked out on life when he saw the cops and knew he would never be with his granddaughter again, and Walt was a convenient out..

I didn't get that vibe at all. I think he never really saw Walt doing that because it had no material purpose to it. He's yelled at Walt before, he just did it moreso this time because he was never going to see him again and he didn't have to pull any punches at all.

[Lumenskir]

I didn't get that vibe at all. I think he never really saw Walt doing that because it had no material purpose to it.
To me, viewing Mike's last moments as him being caught by surprise just goes against every "Fuck yeah, Mike!" moment/characterization that's been shown to us throughout the series, aka how he's basically been Methworld Batman. Like, remember the loops Walt was going through to get a gun that wouldn't be easily detected when worn, and Mike nonchalantly spotted it later and scolded him? Mike's characterization has been as the experienced/undaunted one; Even if you accept that he wouldn't let Jesse, who he trusts, get the go bag because of the danger, why wouldn't he just have one of his numerous 'guys' be a gofer one last time as a favor (unless we're assuming that the entirety of Mike's underworld contacts were the 11 guys locked up?) and keep Walter, who he hates, away from it.

Mostly I think he, on some level, wanted Death By Fuck You Walter because (1) As stated, if this came as a blindside to him it's a pretty shitty way for him to get got and (2) It supports my "karmic retribution" theory because not only is he forced to make the choice to abandon his granddaughter without saying goodbye, but he has to face the choice of either living in exile or letting the person he respects the least take him out, and he chooses death (albeit with the opportunity to shit on Walt twice before he left).