Breaking Bad Season 5 - Official Discussion Thread

[Udgnim]

Skyler or Jesse killing Walt would not be a surprise as having the 'one person the villain trusts' turn on them is a pretty common plot decision.

Seems a little sick to me that that's how it is, but that seems the most common plot choice, unless there's some hero like James Bond, which there defintely isn't in this show.

An even darker choice would be to have his son kill him - a dark plot would be to have him having to pick between his parents who were trying to kill each other.

Spoiler

http://i.imgur.com/SAiJrna.jpg

promotional picture with Jesse with handcuffs on

probably means Jesse gets kidnapped

gun means Jesse kills Walt?

 

[Craig234]

I just got up at 5am to watch last nights BB. While watching I was struck by 2 things.
First is how amazing this show is. I am trying to quantify its excellence so I can use the show as "How to do it!" Either the group as a whole is on top of their game or the show-runner is the best at letting everyone do the job. Direction is snappy and clever. Writing is true, emotional and surprising. The acting is superb with everyone in the cast hitting high notes. I should look up their names but will use their characters. Jessie shows what Mr Whites sees in him by stopping being a victim and becomes Heisenberg Jr. Marie has 2 good scenes and fills in years of back story to her character with the therapist and then the coffee. Hank Jr does the heartstrings yank thing very well. Skyler breaks bad, it was Shakespearean in the Lord's Castle (Holiday Inn) Plotting, pressuring and pushing to protect the family line. Saul as both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern muttering in the wings. The twisted machinations of Hank which are both tragic and comic. Like the Warner Brothers Coyote ever hopeful and always fails. Finally Mr White, who should have sang with the Spinners in the 70's. Go left, go right. Tuck and roll, lying to all. Amazing. When in the back seat talking to Saul and telling him to lay off Jessie, He grew and filled the back seat with menace. It was the total Heisenberg. One of a kind.

Second is how can the networks fall so far behind? Perhaps quality programming is a niche prospect and the "numbers" won't allow shows to develop.

Sorry to run on so long but, Man I like that show!
Tee Jay

The answer to low quality TV shows and low quality political leaders is probably similar - look to the people for the answer.

This show is excellent, but what percent of people want this excellent show over the top rated shows?

On the show, I love how they take their time letting scenes play out.

The first one that really grabbed me was when Walt had the first drug dealer captured.

It played out so closely to how I could relate to that happening - the humanity, followed by the realities of limited choices, the believable excuse for Walt's next actions.

Again and again, they spend a lot of time where it's good for the show.

There are definitely writing flaws - such as too many 'near misses' that break just right for Walt - but they're forgivable as it helps the show add a lot of tense situations.

Probably the coincidence I liked the least was Walt talking with the girl's father in the bar the one night she was given to get ready for rehab, and they happen to talk that much.

And they make up for that some with having the 'easy' answers not go well a lot. How many times did ricin get tried?

 

[Craig234]

Spoiler

http://i.imgur.com/SAiJrna.jpg

promotional picture with Jesse with handcuffs on

probably means Jesse gets kidnapped

gun means Jesse kills Walt?

Spoiler

I think the handcuffs are easily explainable by being in custody with Hank.

 

[Udgnim]

Spoiler

I think the handcuffs are easily explainable by being in custody with Hank.

we'll see how things move along in future episodes

imo, right now, Jesse is more working with Hank than being in custody since Hank does not want DEA involvement yet

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Personally I'm having an okay time watching this final season.

The best breath-taking parts of BB are season 1-3, imo.

I find that sentiment very hard to understand. To me the final episode of season 4, pretty much all of Episodes 5-8 of Season 5, and all of the episodes of this current season (call it 5A) have been riveting. Other than "Half Measures" (the penultimate episode of Season 3), I think Season 4 beats everything that preceded it (all of which I love), and the last 8 episodes (including those in both Season 5 and Season 5A) beat Season 4.

Of course each of us can have his own opinions and preferences, but I do think it's hard to dispute that this final season has been, at least so far, a quantum leap over the final seasons of any of the other great modern serialized dramas, and I am highly confident that it will maintain that quality level throughout.

As an overall work of fiction I find BB almost unbelievably compelling and well-crafted. It's been years since I saw a movie I found nearly as satisfying. The last one that comes to mind, for my tastes and sensibilities, was probably Inglorious Basterds, but that is obviously a much more cartoonish, affected and less realistic work than Breaking Bad.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

I find that sentiment very hard to understand. To me the final episode of season 4, pretty much all of Episodes 5-8 of Season 5, and all of the episodes of this current season (call it 5A) have been riveting. Other than "Half Measures" (the penultimate episode of Season 3), I think Season 4 beats everything that preceded it (all of which I love), and the last 8 episodes (including those in both Season 5 and Season 5A) beat Season 4.

Of course each of us can have his own opinions and preferences, but I do think it's hard to dispute that this final season has been, at least so far, a quantum leap over the final seasons of any of the other great modern serialized dramas, and I am highly confident that it will maintain that quality level throughout.

As an overall work of fiction I find BB almost unbelievably compelling and well-crafted. It's been years since I saw a movie I found nearly as satisfying. The last one that comes to mind, for my tastes and sensibilities, was probably Inglorious Basterds, but that is obviously a much more cartoonish, affected and less realistic work than Breaking Bad.

You lost me at Inglorious Basterds but I agree with everything else you said.

 

[zinfamous]

we'll see how things move along in future episodes

imo, right now, Jesse is more working with Hank than being in custody since Hank does not want DEA involvement yet

Spoiler

but Jesse was also arrested by the regular 'ol PoPo 2 episodes ago; and so has already been in handcuffs.

 

[purbeast0]

Spoiler

but Jesse was also arrested by the regular 'ol PoPo 2 episodes ago; and so has already been in handcuffs.

pretty sure it's just promo art that is symbolic of his character and what he's going through. i HIGHLY doubt that amc would put out promo art that has spoilers to the conclusion of breaking bad right there in our face.

 

[bigrash]

Damn I can't wait till Sunday!

 

[Craig234]

Thinking about times the writing broke down a bit, I didn't care for how:

Spoiler

the jewelry store let Skyler go free on shoplifting when she faked labor.

 

[Printer Bandit]

writers sure are dragging this out / milking it. 42 minute episode, with only 5-10 minute of real plot development.

 

[zinfamous]

pretty sure it's just promo art that is symbolic of his character and what he's going through. i HIGHLY doubt that amc would put out promo art that has spoilers to the conclusion of breaking bad right there in our face.

Oh, I agree. Just indulging the topic there after the issue had already been raised.

 

[mugs]

writers sure are dragging this out / milking it. 42 minute episode, with only 5-10 minute of real plot development.

Yeah really, they said they had too much material for the last 8 episodes, but this week's episode had about as much happen as the last 5 minutes of episode 9.

 

[mugs]

Thinking about times the writing broke down a bit, I didn't care for how:

Spoiler

the jewelry store let Skyler go free on shoplifting when she faked labor.

I don't think you need to put season 1 stuff in spoiler tags.

Did she leave the jewelry behind? If they got their merchandise back, I can see the manager being less concerned about having her punished than about the potential liability of causing early labor.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Thinking about times the writing broke down a bit, I didn't care for how:

Spoiler

the jewelry store let Skyler go free on shoplifting when she faked labor.

I have a hard time being upset by that. The store had gotten its merchandise back, and she created a real problem for them through her behavior. I could easily imagine a store manager saying, "screw it," and letting her go. I have always liked these kinds of moments where Skyler, in a very self-aware way, uses her feminine wiles to get out of trouble (the others being the time she got the locksmith to let her into Walt's condo, and the other - my favorite - being the IRS audit with Ted).

 

[Krazy4Real]

writers sure are dragging this out / milking it. 42 minute episode, with only 5-10 minute of real plot development.

Completely agree.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Completely agree.

I don't see how one episode where they throttled back a tiny bit is them "milking it." In terms of what one would expect from the average show, this season has been progressing at a sprinter's pace. In particular, they could have held the fight between Walt and Hank until halfway into the season, or even later. Things have been moving fast. If you want to see "milking it," I dare you to watch the final season of Dexter. Just take some No-Doz first so you don't end up hitting your head on your coffee table when it puts you to sleep.

 

[Krazy4Real]

I don't see how one episode where they throttled back a tiny bit is them "milking it." In terms of what one would expect from the average show, this season has been progressing at a sprinter's pace. In particular, they could have held the fight between Walt and Hank until halfway into the season, or even later. Things have been moving fast. If you want to see "milking it," I dare you to watch the final season of Dexter. Just take some No-Doz first so you don't end up hitting your head on your coffee table when it puts you to sleep.

Yes, this show is much better on a whole than other shows. Nobody has ever disputed that.

Yes, this season of Dexter has been very underwhelming. We don't need you to constantly remind us of this.

And yes, the last three episodes have felt dragged out. The first episode of the second part of season 5 was amazing. The rest so far have been good, but there has been a whole heck of a lot of forgettable filler. In my opinion they set the tone for the rest of the series with the first episode, and then throttled back. You could turn the last three episodes from one hour shows into half hour shows and not lose any content at all.

 

[Craig234]

I have a hard time being upset by that. The store had gotten its merchandise back, and she created a real problem for them through her behavior. I could easily imagine a store manager saying, "screw it," and letting her go. I have always liked these kinds of moments where Skyler, in a very self-aware way, uses her feminine wiles to get out of trouble (the others being the time she got the locksmith to let her into Walt's condo, and the other - my favorite - being the IRS audit with Ted).

I didn't find either of the others very believable, but they were fine as entertainment.

I don't see the jewelry store one - not only was it obviously a ruse given it was seconds after the police call, but they wrote it up that the staff was clearly angry at the theft and very much wanting her prosecuted, to suddenly switch gears and easily say 'no, let her go after all'. They weren't facing liability for her going into labor in the couple minutes for police.

 

[Craig234]

I don't see any problem with the last season's pacing or story. It's going great.

I think the angle that Hank's worried about being framed a bit unbelievable, but.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Yes, this show is much better on a whole than other shows. Nobody has ever disputed that.

Yes, this season of Dexter has been very underwhelming. We don't need you to constantly remind us of this.

And yes, the last three episodes have felt dragged out. The first episode of the second part of season 5 was amazing. The rest so far have been good, but there has been a whole heck of a lot of forgettable filler. In my opinion they set the tone for the rest of the series with the first episode, and then throttled back. You could turn the last three episodes from one hour shows into half hour shows and not lose any content at all.

I don't think I've ever mentioned Dexter before in this thread.

I find it very hard to understand calling any of the first 4 episodes, with the possible exception of last night's, "dragged out." Actually other than the final scene of the first episode, I think if anything they have been (particularly episode 3) faster-paced than the season premiere. I thought episode 3, "Confessions," was one of their all-time greats. Obviously you're entitled to your opinion, but the show I've been watching has been moving very very fast.

 

[BladeVenom]

Here's an old tweet, that's now relevant.

 

[Krazy4Real]

I don't think I've ever mentioned Dexter before in this thread.

I find it very hard to understand calling any of the first 4 episodes, with the possible exception of last night's, "dragged out." Actually other than the final scene of the first episode, I think if anything they have been (particularly episode 3) faster-paced than the season premiere. I thought episode 3, "Confessions," was one of their all-time greats. Obviously you're entitled to your opinion, but the show I've been watching has been moving very very fast.

Sorry, I was wrong. I had it backwards. It's the Dexter thread where you keep mentioning Breaking Bad.

Maybe we just get off on different things. Maybe it's the whole breaking up of the season into two parts. I don't know what it is, but it seems like maybe I set the bar too high for what I thought the final episodes of the season would be since the show has been phenomenal. It just seems like there is about 15 - 20 minutes each episode where it is excellent, and the rest I forget by the time the episode ends, and I find myself reaching for my phone during those parts.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Sorry, I was wrong. I had it backwards. It's the Dexter thread where you keep mentioning Breaking Bad.

Maybe we just get off on different things. Maybe it's the whole breaking up of the season into two parts. I don't know what it is, but it seems like maybe I set the bar too high for what I thought the final episodes of the season would be since the show has been phenomenal. It just seems like there is about 15 - 20 minutes each episode where it is excellent, and the rest I forget by the time the episode ends, and I find myself reaching for my phone during those parts.

I hear ya.

Interestingly (at least to me), I find these episodes really dense and entertaining when I make myself close the computer and really WATCH them.

In general I have a habit of sitting with my laptop while the TV is on. If I do that with an episode like this week's, I too find it a little uninspired. When I put it down and focus on the show (which I have been doing for the last few seasons), I appreciate all the great and clever little details that make me love the show so much (e.g., during Marie's session with the infamous therapist Dave, the presence of his guitar, or, after Marie asks to change the subject, his saying "How is work? Last week you seemed concerned about the changes to the parking rules."), as well as all the visually interesting things. It's just so rich and rewarding.

 

[zinfamous]

BB almost lost me with season 3 and the first half of season 4. Whatever it was, I was losing interest pretty quickly. A bit of it dragged at times, though the worst offender, I think, is that there were no redeeming characters that that point. Everyone was basically a piece of shit--even grumpy Hank and his goddamn rock collection--really getting on my nerves.

Then I realized that the main arch is that Walter is just one evil son of a bitch. Now I'm just waiting for him to get spectacularly murdered in some horrible way, and I hope it happens. Hank and Jesse are the only good people in this show (though I like

Spoiler

d

Mike, too), and even Skylar seems to be slipping to the dark side.

Disturbing: it seems that Anna Gunn--the actress that plays Skylar--is getting constant death threats on her FB page or wherever, because fans think she has been making things rough for Walter. Seriously? Do these people actually watch the show? Walter is fucking EVIL. He deserves spectacular death and punishment. That's the goddamn point. He got in way over his head, and his original goals are long past and forgotten.

Anyway...this fifth season has been quite good. Only this most recent episode was a bit meh, but I think the pacing has been fine, over all.