Breaking Bad

[FlamesAddiction]

Did Walt take the blame for Hank's death?

Skylar just asked where Hank was Walt replied that they would never see him again. Then he said that if she didn't keep in line, she would end up like Hank.

It implied that Hank was dead, but it wasn't a murder confession.

[Regulator75]

[cDnStealth]

Apparently AMC is extending the final two episodes to 75 minutes each including commercials.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

Apparently AMC is extending the final two episodes to 75 minutes each including commercials.

Which likely just means that AMC is selling 10 more minutes of commercials in the final two episodes (they were already running this year's episodes at 65 minutes).

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

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.

Since the beginning it has been about the rise of a man and the fall of a King. There has been no "high ground" or shades of grey. Just wrong turns and choices that blow up the bubble until it bursts.

You know when you read a novel and everything makes sense because all the details are explained. This is incredibly difficult in TV/movies and I think the writers have done a fantastic job with the show and you're just being too picky, trying to find flaws in a superior piece of art.

This show is the new pinnacle for structure and story telling on a TV series and I feel sorry for all most every show that is compared to it.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by getbak

Which likely just means that AMC is selling 10 more minutes of commercials in the final two episodes (they were already running this year's episodes at 65 minutes).

By law there is only a certain amount of commercial time you can show in an hour. I believe it's 16 mins on US network TV. So 24 mins in an hour and a half. At least that what it was when I was in school.

6 mins in Canada every 30 min slot
8 mins in the US every 30 min slot.

* Scratch that - TV advertizing is deregulated in the USA - Page 13

http://www.tvb.ca/page_files/pdf/Inf...e/TVBasics.pdf

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Anyone notice that pair of pants when Walt was rolling his barrel?

[Hessen]

^^ What am I missing?

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Hessen

^^ What am I missing?

Nothing? Just highlighting his pants on the ground.

[Hessen]

Geeze... I totaly missed them. Thought it was a rock.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Nothing? Just highlighting his pants on the ground.

Unfortunately some of these animated gifs are totally lost on Tapatalk users.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Tapatalk users must be shunned.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

This show is the new pinnacle for structure and story telling on a TV series and I feel sorry for all most every show that is compared to it.

The show is just about to knock off The Sopranos off as my favourite show of all time. The final two episodes will probably cement its place.

I might have to give up TV for a while becuase nothing has/will come close to it for a long time. Its had everything...orginal concept, great acting, great writing, great directing...and best of all, its ending while its still in its prime.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Igottago

The show is just about to knock off The Sopranos off as my favourite show of all time. The final two episodes will probably cement its place.

I might have to give up TV for a while becuase nothing has/will come close to it for a long time. Its had everything...orginal concept, great acting, great writing, great directing...and best of all, its ending while its still in its prime.

I definitely have Breaking Bad over the Sopranos right now. It's just so much cleaner. There were too many tangents in the Sopranos I felt. Breaking Bad seems like it was much better defined from the start.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I might have to give up TV for a while becuase nothing has/will come close to it for a long time. Its had everything...orginal concept, great acting, great writing, great directing...and best of all, its ending while its still in its prime.

Vince Gilligan doing a 2014 Gilligan's Island remake!

[Regulator75]

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Nothing? Just highlighting his pants on the ground.

Just to be precise about this, it was the first pair of pants/overalls he wore on the first cook in the desert with Jesse in the RV.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by nik-

I definitely have Breaking Bad over the Sopranos right now. It's just so much cleaner. There were too many tangents in the Sopranos I felt. Breaking Bad seems like it was much better defined from the start.

What you describe is part of the reason I would put Sopranos over Breaking Bad.

Tinordi nailed it though in his post. I like breaking bad a lot, it's a great 'action' show, but it's certainly (in my opinion OF COURSE) not a top drama by any means.

[nik-]

I wouldn't call Breaking Bad an "action" show. It just had a much more defined arc, and as a result, there was less filler than the Sopranos.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by 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.

Totally agree. The Wire's characters are so awesome and the interlacing of each season was great - plus as a viewer you can identify with the issues in The Wire easier. The characters, issues, etc are more real than BB.

Breaking Bad is up there with The Wire and Sopranos for me, but hasn't topped them (neck and neck with Sopranos, but I give Sopranos the edge on characters, storyline complexity and acting - Gandolfini and Cranston are basically a wash, and BB has quality actors (Jesse/Hank), but overall, I think Sopranos entire cast was awesome top to bottom.