Breaking Bad

[polak]

I never liked it either.

[MikePatton]

I will agree that it's imperfect. The story is pretty ridiculous. Sometimes I can see the writers fingerprints all over it and that is always something that will bother me.

But it's still immensely entertaining. I have to see it the night it comes out. So I guess I still really like it.

[trackercowe]

I am a huge Seinfeld fan, and in terms of sitcoms it would be right up there for me (only behind The Simpsons); although I have to say Curb Your Enthusiasm might be better than Seinfeld. I feel there is a lot more rewatch value in Curb, and I just find myself laughing more often. That show is absolutely hysterical, and shows how Larry David doesn't even need the Seinfeld cast to create an excellent comedy.

[Tinordi]

It's a great show but it's not in the upper echelon to me. It's basically an action show with commitment to a 5 season story arc. In that end it seems novel because most shows are written with only one or two seasons in mind and then they go on brand new stories only with the same characters. Besides Walt and Jesse there isn't alot of depth to the other characters, not like shows like The Wire, the Sopranos, Mad Men which I would hold in a higher regard than Breaking Bad.

The show's greatest strength is also one its biggest weaknesses. It's a very good story and continually refers to itself and all actions and reactions are related back to events told within the tightly woven narrative. However, the world of Albuquerque in the show is very narrow and placed within a glass bubble. There's a certain pastiche to the world that it seems like we're watching a contrived greek tragedy put together by the Gods, it's mechanical and deliberate.

Except that's not how real life is, shows that I hold in higher regard are ones that accept and glorify happenstance and the organic, chaotic, fabric of our society told through characters that are deeper and less overly flawed but still more relatable and understanding.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Except that's not how real life is, shows that I hold in higher regard are ones that accept and glorify happenstance and the organic, chaotic, fabric of our society told through characters that are deeper and less overly flawed but still more relatable and understanding.

The Wire

[nik-]

Breaking Bad is great, but it hasn't surpassed the Wire for me because the Wire told a tale that to me is personally more intriguing. The corruption and decay of a civilization through bureaucracy and complacency. Improper policing, neglect of neighbourhoods, the dissolution of a formerly solid job base, the death of school systems and the hopelessness of fighting against any of it. Way broader, way more depressing, but incredibly cool.

Plus, Walter White is a villain, there are villains in Westeros ... but Snoop and Chris? ... come on.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

^ummm thats kinda sad.

Tattoos...they preserve the things you love:

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

There's a certain pastiche to the world that it seems like we're watching a contrived greek tragedy put together by the Gods, it's mechanical and deliberate.

I think that is sort of what I was getting at when I said a lot of the things this season feel forced just to advance the plot.

The writers really don't seem to want the viewer to make their own determination about the characters and are force feeding the audience. It really feels like this last season is on rails.

Don't get me wrong, the show was always full of unilkely coincidenses that geared the story, but it still felt a little more wide open and intricate. I much preferred it when Walt was a shady MacGyver and the relationship with Jesse was are bizarre "odd couple" satire. There was no highgorund for anyone and just different shades of grey. Now, it seems like they are trying to teach the audience a lesson and are dictating how the audience should feel about characters... which is fine for some shows, but I was really hoping for different.

While I think the acting has been top notch this season and the story still interesting, it feels like they ran out of time and made things less intricate. I found myself disappointed with laziness of some of the plot advancements. For example; instead of Hank finding out about Walt trhough some incredible sleuthing, he just fell onto it. And then how Jesse pieced together the Brock poisoning, I am still not buying it. Both of those major plot advancements are too forced and undermine the cleverness that the show has had in the past IMO.

While it is a great show, it is not without it's flaws.

[polak]

The whole show prior to this season had built up a persona for Walt that meant he was always a step ahead of Hank or was able to somehow diffuse his suspicions. It would be weird if Hank got so close to figuring it all out after Gale died, then got stopped by Walt, and then kept getting close again. It would've become a cliche in my eys. Kind of like how I said earlier that Californication seems to go through the same arc every season, Breaking Bad would've developed the same problem. Every season it'd be Walt finding a new way to build or maintain his empire, Jessie going through some depression for something he was involved in cause of Walt, Hank getting close to figuring him out but never quite doing it and Skylar being an annoying B****. It was sort of a slow burn as Walt built up his empire but if it wasn't for Hank "stumbling" on his discovery the story would've fallen into a cycle as Walt had already become a king pin.

Hank stumbling upon something coincidently, allowed for the show to break out of that and move the story to the end. It was also a given that something small would get Walt. The show was never going to end with Hank leading a proper, successful investigation and then putting Walt in handcuffs. It needed to be something outside the box.

[rayne008]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

... For example; instead of Hank finding out about Walt through some incredible sleuthing, he just fell onto it. And then how Jesse pieced together the Brock poisoning, I am still not buying it. ...

Funny, both of those you mentioned are ones I am totally comfortable with. I feel, like most things in life, it's the tiny details that get you. Sometimes all it takes is the smallest catalyst for all of the pieces to fall apart.

[Erick Estrada]

Maybe this sailed over my head but did Walt actually believe the police weren't listening to that call with Skyler when he pretty well admits guilt in all his crimes? Was that calculated in that he's trying to spare the family any association with his crimes or has he become extremely sloppy?

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Maybe this sailed over my head but did Walt actually believe the police weren't listening to that call with Skyler when he pretty well admits guilt in all his crimes? Was that calculated in that he's trying to spare the family any association with his crimes or has he become extremely sloppy?

It was Skylar's get out of jail free card with a tinge of (his) truth. He knew the cops were listening.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Maybe this sailed over my head but did Walt actually believe the police weren't listening to that call with Skyler when he pretty well admits guilt in all his crimes? Was that calculated in that he's trying to spare the family any association with his crimes or has he become extremely sloppy?

That was all calculated. He knew they were listening, he was trying to separate Skyler from any wrong doing. You can tell he didn't enjoy saying the things he was saying, but he knew it had to be done before he left town.

[Hessen]

Hence ripping the battery out of and destroying the phone.

[East Coast Flame]

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

That was all calculated. He knew they were listening, he was trying to separate Skyler from any wrong doing. You can tell he didn't enjoy saying the things he was saying, but he knew it had to be done before he left town.

Not sure why he felt he had to take the fall for murdering Hank though as drug dealer is one thing but cop killer is grounds for a massive manhunt. He could have pinned that on Jessie to get a bit of revenge.

[polak]

I think he either believes his new identity will keep him safe forever and doesn't care or he doesn't want to cross anyone else anymore out of fear of revenge against his family.

[trackercowe]

Walt also believes he only has under a year left to live. So why would he care if there is a manhunt looking for him? In his mind he'll be long dead before the cops get wind of where he is.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not sure why he felt he had to take the fall for murdering Hank though as drug dealer is one thing but cop killer is grounds for a massive manhunt. He could have pinned that on Jessie to get a bit of revenge.

I don't think he wants to give the nazis any reason to come around to threaten Skyler and the kids by implicating them. I don't think it is believable that Jesse would have done it. Besides, he is missing too and Marie wouldn't believe it.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Maybe this sailed over my head but did Walt actually believe the police weren't listening to that call with Skyler when he pretty well admits guilt in all his crimes? Was that calculated in that he's trying to spare the family any association with his crimes or has he become extremely sloppy?

Others have commented already but I think the overarching storyline of Walt here is that, while his Ego might be the trump card in many circumstances, in the end, it is his love of Family that has brought about all this catastrophe.

In the end, after all the horrible stuff we saw Walt do prior, he still sacrifices for his family.

It's just another layer to the love-hate relationship I have with the character.

Edit: And also, because invariably someone will bring this up in response, Walt utilizes that massive ego in his final act to 'save' his family.