Did anyone else feel this episode was hilarious? The Walt/Skyler scene rehearsing the story, Gale's music video, Saul asking if he was included in the list of those in danger. Really great episode story wise, and glad they added humor to it. It made the episode tense and light, which makes the drama even better.
Thank you. I had forgotten Gus is now at odds with the cartel. I hope they play that fact up more then say Skylar buying the car wash.
Interesting episode. They're starting to build the tension, and I like where this is going. Or at least, where I think it might go. That Gale video was funny, sad, and uncomfortable to watch. I laughed at some of the stuff in his notebook, particularly the vegan s'mores and Rand Paul schwag. Well played Walter, deflecting Hank to Walk Whitman. They've let the Jesse situation go about as far as they should. Yes, we get he's broken up, but I'm glad they're not going to have him stoned and crying all season. I'm pretty convinced Mike is "The Disappearer" whom Saul was describing. Perhaps, Walter paid Saul to have Mike "disappear" Jesse into a new life with a new identity. I can't wait to see Hank and Walter interacting more. I'm pretty sure that Hank is going to lean on Walter to get help on the technical details of that journal. And it's starting to go down with the Cartel. Walter is going to have to play them and Gus off one another. I hate getting in the anit-female character camps that surround almost every show, but I don't like where they're taking Skyler. I don't like the plotlines around her, and I hope it's not just filler to keep her in Walter's life. I'd love to see some tie in to the car wash with this season's other plotlines. Kind of standard operating procedure for this show. Create tension, simmer until it's ready to blow, and then climax unexpectedly or violently in ways that shock or surprise.
When I thought they were gonna off Jesse I got really excited about the possibility, not because I don't like him but because I think it'd be a brave move and it could create a lot of new energy for the show. and because i feel like Jesse is basically at the end of his rope and I can't think of any place interesting they can take him now. Gus has no reason to let Jesse live and he's certainly not in the tough love business. Walt had that speech about them coming as a pair but their relationship has deteriorated and their has to be absolute breaking point for Gus or else he will come across as soft as he looks. We'll see, I guess.
Skyler was more interesting when she didn't know what was going on and was pissed off all the time.. i think the writers made a mistake by getting her involved too much. As for Marie.. i dunno.. seems to me that character was dead-weight from the get-go. I have no idea what the writers are going to do with her. She seems to be only filler material.
On the AMC site they have an interactive version of Gale's notebook and crime scene evidence. Kind of fun. http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/gale-boetticher-case-file
Yeah it was a boring storyline that unnecessarily took up 2 episodes. It seemed her whole function was a long drawn out way to get the lab notes into Hank's hands. And I wouldn't chalk it up to "character development" because it didn't develop anything about her that already didn't know.
Finally watched the last 2 episodes. The tension really picked up. I somewhat disagree with the lack of character development that the first couple of episodes had in regards to hank and his wife. I mean, sure, she is a small part of the show but i thought it really showed how sad their situation was and how depressing overall. I love how the mosy tension is created in the most mundane events...e.g. When Walt was opening the wine bottle, i was waiting for something. Spoiler Can't believe Walt allowed Hank to get back on the trail at the dinner. His pride really got to him but i can't quite put my finger on his other motivation. Thought the jesse angle was good. Rather than have jesse feel like an outsider/slave, make him feel like he's part of the team so that he actually cares.
Spoiler I think they did a good job of showing how Walt realized that he liked the life of a drug chef more than the life of a family man. His initial reaction when Skylar asked him to move back in was the first indication that he got to liking the drug life more. He finally gets what he wanted in the beginning, but now he is reluctant to give up his current lifestyle. They also showed Marie playing with the baby, the dinner table talk, the corny jokes about Walt Jr working there and the baby being a mascot. Walt looked absolutely bored. Walt came to a realization that Walt the family man is a pathetic guy who has a gambling problem trying to run a car wash business that he despised working at in the first place. It's back to square one. It's not that much different than season 1. But Walt the drug chef is highly regarded on the streets, is worth millions to a drug kingpin, has the DEA stumped, and is considered a GENIUS to one of the best DEA agents in Hank. But Walt can't claim any of those titles. Instead, Hank thinks this inferior chemist, Walt wannabe is the mastermind behind the purest meth around. He gets fed up at the dinner table, and let's Hank know that Gale is NOT the genius he thinks. I am happy with the set up. It is a bit slow, but I'm ok with that for this season. This is a turning point in the character development. What do you they do now? There are so many scenes that are just quiet, and so many thoughts run through your head. What's going on, why it's happening, what the characters are thinking...all these guesses are going through mind at 100mph when we get those quiet scenes. I love this show. Too bad it can't last forever.
Spoiler It is interesting to see Heisenberg take over Walt little by little. heard an interview with the creator before and they think they can realistically go another 3-4 seasons with still having a quality plot line. It's amazing to think that they don't really have any longterm goals set in the story. It was also interesting to hear him talk about how they originally had Jesse being killed off in the first season
Spoiler The show was renewed for 16 more episodes after this season. It's done after that. Whether it is one season, or split into two, is still not decided yet.
What do you mean by that? Specifically the Spoiler it's done after that Not that I think this is the type of subject matter to be spoilered anyways. Best episode of the season. So much tension the whole episode, but I guess that's inevitable with 4 episodes of buildup. Spoiler Maybe they're planning a role reversal? Jesse is the new company man, and Walt tries to derail the train as he fights domestication.
Spoiler not necessarily. The network might have only signed for another year but that could be them being cautious not to lock up too much money into the show long term. I don't diagree that another 2 seasons and the series should probably come to a conclusion, but i would base that decision on how the story is unfolding, rather than how long they resigned for.
Hank has to be onto Walt..I mean a) Walt has come into a lot of money through 'playing poker' and he doesn't want to talk about it. The idea of him being an expert card counter that can trick casinos is silly. b) He just bought a business with this mystery money. c) Jesse is involved in the meth trade and specifically 'blue meth'. d) Walt has a connection to Jesse. e) There is a physical description of Heisenberg that looks like Walt. f) Walt is a chemistry genius. g) Walt needed money to pay for his own medical bills. I'm thinking security camera footage from the fried chicken place or the laundry mat/meth lab itself is probably gonna be how Hank ultimately finds out about Walt.
was the poem that was in gales notebook really a walt whitman poem or did walt make that up? if it is not actually a ww poem maybe that will be how hank finds out he is heisenburg.
Spoiler I sort of also saw it as that Walt realized no matter what Skylar still controls his life. He restricted by her. She even set the date he was going to move back in. Feeling caged, he got drunk and decided to shake things up with Hank. This episode was great. I really wonder where they take it from here
I know there's going to some major payoff with the Gus vs. Cartel and Gus vs. Walt plotlines, but I'm pretty unimpressed with this season. We're halfway through the season, and it's been a pretty slow burn so far. Skyler has become intolerable. Maybe they're trying to show that Walt prefers the criminal life to the family life, but I'm ready for her to be offed. I'm hoping for Hank to return with a bang and turn up the heat on Walt and Gus. I'm not really sure what game is going with with Gus, Mike, and Jesse, and I'm sure it will play out dramatically. However, I'm getting kind of bored with the slow pace of this plotline.
