tv show: Breaking Bad

[stewie]

Teaser for Season 5:



Yeah, it gives nothing away. Bastards! Roll on, summer.

[enframed]

Jesse is a great character and an amazing actor. Every bit as good as Walt. The Gus part at the very end seemed a little out of character for that show (visually) but that was my only complaint.

I've come around on the show. It's very entertaining. I agree with the visual "cartoon" that was Gus's end. Esposito ruled though. Every now and then I wonder what happened to Esposito, guy was everywhere in the early 90's, then nothing, screenwise anyway. How annoying is Skyler? God, she bugs. Mark Margolis and Jonathan Banks (I still remember him from 48 Hrs) are fantastic as well.

I love how Walt is still the clumsy dork throughout. The bomb getting stuck in the elevator, "Restrain this!" he screams, grabbing his brief-covered crotch. He tries to act tough but he never quite is tough.

What can happen in season 5? Jesse vs. Walt?

[subprime]

Walt is possibly the least sympathetic character I have ever seen. I love the show and the character is great, but I hope he dies a fucking horribly painful death. his pride is disgusting.

I dont think this can compare to the wire. the show tries to be grey but it ultimately is just trying to sell people that morally bankrupt as being somehow ambiguous.

[Braniac5]

^^^

It's my sympathy for Walt that makes the show enjoyable for me. In the first episode, I think, he runs off some punks who are making fun of his disabled son, showing from the start his backbone and love of his family. I like how he doesn't fuck around on his wife. Everybody he kills is for the business. As for the poisoning of the kid at the end, I don't see how he could have gotten the poison into the kid, and if he did, he's a genius chemist and could have given the exact dose to sicken but not kill, who knows. I like Walt, I consider him a decent guy, in a way, more so than Jesse.

I watched the series through once and that was a while ago, so I probably missed some plot points.

edit: *SpOiLeRS* I didn't buy that whole poisoning of the kid thing and also didn't believe Tio Salamanca would have done himself in at the end, I'm guessing that is against the code of the "O.G.".

Breaking Bad is comedy basically, while The Wire is definitely tragedy.

[subprime]

thats the thing though, theres far more light at the end of the tunnel in the wire for many of the characters. While what mcnulty did is ultimately grey in the last season, he develops as a person over the course of the series. walt has just become more of an asshole.

[Braniac5]

We don't know about the light at the end of the tunnel for the Breaking Bad characters, there's another season left.

As for McNulty, I don't think his character really developed, he just got busted on his game, was forced to retire and fell back on Beattie Russell as a consolation prize. Otherwise he'd be out there boozing and whoring like the cocky, charming lowlife narc he'll always be at heart. None of the ghetto characters in the series had any such light, except for Naimon, and he was pretty annoying.

Color me whimsical, but I see Walter White as an increasingly battle hardened, but essentially ethical learn-on-the-job master criminal ruthless in the pursuit of wealth, but motivated solely by the love and desire for providing for his family before his imminent death. which makes his actions forgiveable.

I predict he'll be hitting the pipe in the upcoming season.

[subprime]

Yes but he could have avoided this if he had simply swallowed his pride and taken donations from his friends. Hes a prideful asshole who justifies his desire to feel empowered in someway by the constant unidimentional motivation of "Im doing it for my family"

[enframed]

I think Jesse is gonna kill Walt.

[Braniac5]

Donations from who? The only guy with any money is Eliot, with the ears, and he stole Walter's life work and got rich off of it, I think I remember. I can see not wanting to accept a huge, life changing gift from someone you despise.

And he is doing it for his family. The side benefit of feeling good enough about himself to have sex with his wife, etc., made it an irresistable no-brainer. Now things have gotten out of control and there's no backing down.

[subprime]

Its never made completely clear what happened. Walt is so pig headed that its hard to believe what he says about it. Again, if he had swallowed his pride >1 people would not be dead because of his actions. that puts him morally in the black.

[Braniac5]

IIRC everyone Walt killed was 'in the game', including Jesse's girlfriend, who was talking about going to the cops or something. Plus he didn't really kill her, technically. I try not to judge people morally, but I think Walt's actions are at least defensible on some level. Plus he's such a hardworking family man and all.

[subprime]

yes but hes an asshole. remember the scene where he got pulled over? its a shame the cop didnt atleast break a rib or two.

[Braniac5]

I don't recall that part, I'll go back and check it out sometime. However, until conclusively proven otherwise to my satisfaction, I remain steadfast in my defense of Walter White and vouch for his rugged but essentially good character.

[subprime]

Yes but hes an ass. At best hes a good person but is completely unlikeable.

[Sebastian J.]

I'm hooked. today is the day.

[seanurban]

I still want to give this show a chance, but the one I saw was just about two guys trying to kill a fly - a lot of actors acting - I don't know, maybe I need to watch them in order.

I had to skip the fly episode too. Watching it on DVD, I didn't care for the slow down.
I'm looking fwd to season 4 when it arrives. I won't read any further here.

[Major]

I cannot remember the last time I was this excited for a season premier of a television program.

Oh wait, yes I can. It was last year around the same time.

I usually DVR an entire season then knock them all out in a few days when it's done, but not this time. Cannot run the risk of the internet ruining it for me.

[Jodi S.]

I'm ready.

[trilonaut]

walt is an indefensible monster. that is the point of the show, that he "breaks bad", ie decides to be evil. the creator of the show has stated that.

the idea that he's "doing it for family" is already dispelled in the 2nd season.
in that he nearly rapes his wife, he gives his kid tequila 'til he barfs, i don't remember what else. i gave up on the show 'cause i can't stand watching.

[subprime]

This was established in episode 1, where he refused charity out of pride. They should introduce his mother, im imaging something along the lines of granny soprano.