AMC's "Breaking Bad" Discussion (2008-2013)

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Vlad Draculi

As much as that may be true, Walt's own ego is what emanated seasons 4-6. Had Walt not become a cocky little shit everything would have remained status quo and he would have lived out the rest of his days with his family and they would have had a fortune to their name. Instead, the little ****er wanted it all for himself because he's a selfish prick.

Walt deserves the lion's share of the blame for how things turned out.

But we'll never know what would've happened if Jesse hadn't had a series of mentally-challenged meltdowns in season 3.

That's what precipitated Walt's falling out with Gus.

...even though Walt most likely would've clashed with Gus at some point anyway.

[TheLaughingMann]

I am of the mind that sickness and drug use facilitated the very instability of thinking that Walt and Jesse both shared. Those two went through so much in the series.

[Ray Jackson]

The Fly is actually a pretty great episode.

...but I can definitely see how viewers would've been annoyed at the time it first aired.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

...but I can definitely see how viewers would've been annoyed at the time it first aired.

Like every episode of TWD this season?

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Like every episode of TWD this season?

That's a lie and you know it.

...two of the episodes this season have not sucked.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

That's a lie and you know it.

...two of the episodes this season have not sucked.

You right.

[Jacques Souvenir]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The Fly is actually a pretty great episode.

...but I can definitely see how viewers would've been annoyed at the time it first aired.

And I can see how viewers skip that episode, every time they binge watch the series.

Originally Posted by iScottie

Like every episode of TWD ever?

Fixed it for you!

[Ray Jackson]

How ironic is it that in season 3, Mike basically tries to persuade Walt to

[Show spoiler]let Jesse be killed?

Sometimes the irony is so thick on this show that you need one of Walt's custom-designed fly swatters to brush it away from your face.

[Ray Jackson]

As much as I dislike Marie, I have to admit...the woman gives one hell of a hand job.

[Ray Jackson]

Gale's karaoke video may be the greatest thing in the history of television.

...maybe in the history of the world.

Rest in peace my sweet prince.

You beautiful, libertarian angel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEwWKP6aryw

[Ray Jackson]

The more I dig into seasons 3 and 4, the less blame I put on Walt for what happened with Gus.

Later on in season 5, Mike makes it seem like if Walt had just shut up and cooked, everything would've been fine. But Walt refused to do that because he "wanted to be the guy." Although that's probably true on some subconscious level, what was Walt supposed to think after what happened at the end of season 3/beginning of season 4?

He had to believe that Gus would try to kill him at some point.

...I put more of the blame on Gus and Jesse.

[Ray Jackson]

Finished up season 4 last night.

Watching four seasons of Breaking Bad in two weeks takes a toll on one's mental health.

This last viewing only reaffirmed my belief that season 4 is the best of the series...and one of the greatest seasons of television in TV history.

It's just remarkable.

But it's so dark and distressing that it somewhat dampers the enjoyment of watching it imo.

Not sure if I would take it over season 2 as my favorite season.

...the marathon continues.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

[Show spoiler]Finished up season 4 last night.

Watching four seasons of Breaking Bad in two weeks takes a toll on one's mental health.

This last viewing only reaffirmed my belief that season 4 is the best of the series...and one of the greatest seasons of television in TV history.

It's just remarkable.

But it's so dark and distressing that it somewhat dampers the enjoyment of watching it imo.

Not sure if I would take it over season 2 as my favorite season.

...the marathon continues.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by iScottie

God bless you Hector.

You

[Show spoiler]went out like a champ.

...a true invalid, funny-face making OG.

[Ray Jackson]

Walter White got me into Steely Dan.

...true story.

[Show spoiler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfZWp-hGCdA

[Ray Jackson]

Season 5 marks the moment when Walter's arrogance really starts to become a major factor in the show imo.

The scene when they

[Show spoiler]use the magnet to destroy the laptop is a perfect example. All he had to do was let it go after a few seconds. But he had to keep to push it, keep cranking up the voltage, until the entire room was destroyed. Which is what broke the glass on Gus's picture frame...which is wht led to the discovery of the offshore bank accounts...which is what screwed Mike and all of his guys.

Tragic how those bank numbers caused so much damage in the show, given the fact that the laptop was encrypted.

Season 5 also marks the first time I actually begin to feel somewhat sorry for Skylar.

...although she's still annoying as hell.

[Ray Jackson]

Season 5 is my least favorite season of the show.

But it's still a really, REALLY good season of television.

That tells you just how great this show was.

[Ray Jackson]

And now...on to the final season.

...to Ozymandias.

The lord is my shepherd...I shall not want.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

[Show spoiler]

[veritas]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Walt deserves the lion's share of the blame for how things turned out.

But we'll never know what would've happened if Jesse hadn't had a series of mentally-challenged meltdowns in season 3.

That's what precipitated Walt's falling out with Gus.

...even though Walt most likely would've clashed with Gus at some point anyway.

I always felt that almost all of their problems stemmed from Jesse. Jesse was the focal point for almost every problem Walter had with Gus. Almost all of the problems Walt had revolved around his inability to kill Jesse as Jesse repeatedly became self destructive enough that he was going to kill himself and take Walt with him in most cases. Jesse is also basically the only character that repeatedly threatened Walt but Walt never dealt with. And at the end

[Show spoiler] Walter could have lived if he had not saved Jesse

. Jesse was Walters blind spot if he had simply cut his losses and killed Jesse at 3 to 5 different Jesse **** ups where Walter had to bail him out then Walter would have been fine in all likelihood.


You can point to some of Walters mistakes like using the magnet to long on evidence lockup but that really was only a mistake in hindsight. All he was doing was making sure the damage was done and he had no way of knowing about that picture frame. When I look at Walt "mistakes" almost all of them are only really visible in hindsight while Jesse screwed up in very obvious ways every season.

[Vlad Draculi]

Yes, but that's because Walt saw Jesse as the son he couldn't have.

Plus, he did plan to kill Jesse with everyone else as he thought Jesse was living a good life style. It wasn't until he say how Jesse was that he changed his mind.