Pajiba

I think Skyler trying to pay Ted's debt WAS the smartest move she had the option of making but I think this just shows how quickly she's going down the same road as her husband. Good intentions leading to nothing but death and destruction all around her.

I thought it was absolutely brilliant when she was pretty much begging for Walt to understand that what she did, she did for the family. It's not only ironic because Walt needed it for the reason she got rid of it, it's also the same exact reasoning Walt had when he first started this.

Finally a great episode from start to finish. For the first time this season I felt sympathy for Walt. We got a glimpse of the bad-ass Walt in the desert and I hope he comes back in the last 2 episodes to finish Gus and Jesse; my hate for that ungrateful prick is growing. I especially liked the end and completely missed the symbolism till my gf said "he looks boxed in".

I certainly went through my phase of disliking Skyler (even though I fully realized my loyalty was misplaced.) Mainly because as a character she just showed up to henpeck and slow down the action. Now that she's fully wrapped up in it though, she's riveting. It's so funny people are still dogging her. Her giving Ted the money wasn't illogical, even if Saul advised against it. How was she to know how dire and precarious Walt's situation at work was? Certainly not from Walt.

I just hope Jesse survives the season. Despite his having killed more than one person at this point, he's the most innocent and redeemable person in this enterprise. Also, Aaron Paul is amazing.

I loved seeing Saul's A-Team at work. We need to see more of them!

Generally speaking, I try to ignore all the pointlessly negative bile that gets hurled about over certain characters in great shows (oh my god I hate Winona, I'm glad Rita's dead and I hope her kids are next, when are they gonna hurry up an' kill Skylar. She's a bitch!). It strikes me as being very narrowminded, like they expect the story to be propelled by the central characters on their own. In a vacuum with nothing tethering them down.

Likewise I try to ignore people who judge a great show on an episode to episode basis. I tend to wait until I've seen the whole season before I think back and measure the value of all the material collectively. It's the only way that makes sense to me.

I think Rome was the game changer for me. It was the first time I realised that TV could tell better stories than most movies. I thought me the virtue of patience and that the extra time spent building charcters and constructing a narrative can really pay off.

I hope that Breaking Bad will stand, for years to come, as an inspiration for how great TV can be!

The framing of Walt laughing maniacally in his crawlspace, completely metaphorically boxed in by his erratic decisions was one of the most gorgeous shots I've seen on this show. And there have been so many. I can't imagine two more episodes of this, let alone another season.

I actually had a few problems with this episode--things that didn't really seem to make sense or were a little out of character. I'm usually so absorbed in the story that I don't notice this kind of thing, but the interactions that helped this episode really go off the rails felt more forced than usual. For instance:

--Skyler's showdown with Ted. My husband and I both were surprised it turned into a fight about blackmail, although Ted is certainly not above that. Really, if it's all the same to Ted and he's going bankrupt anyway, why wouldn't he just pay the IRS and save Sky some trouble in the process? I was waiting for Skyler to say "I'm not giving you this money to help you--I'm doing it to get me and my family out of the mess you made."
--Is Jesse really still that angry at Walt? It's been a week since their big blow-up fight, and Jesse's been through a lot in that time, so I can't imagine he had been stewing a lot over it. He's still standing in the way of Gus just getting rid of him. I expected Jesse's reaction to be more ice grill, along the lines of "what the hell are you doing here" and "we don't need you anymore." Not another physical confrontation and refusing to even listen to Walt. If he was really that pissed about how Walt had treated him all this time, including his comments about what Jesse's life is worth, why would Jesse stand up for him? It would have been more believable to me if Jesse was cold to him, slammed the door in his face, and then the goon squad took him away.
--Using the cattle prod thing on Jesse's front lawn. Guess these guys aren't worried about some Gladys Kravitz in this relatively nice neighborhood calling the cops to the home of your up-and-coming cook?
--The way Ted went out is a little too convenient. However,
I'm not 100% sure Ted is dead. They talked about him like he was done, but I don't remember hearing something definitive, and Walt bursting in at that moment might have been a way of delaying any further revelation there.

That said, the last 15 minutes with Walt's frantic dash to leave it all behind was really great. All this time it's seemed that the one sure thing he had was tons of money--now he's basically back where he started, looking death in the face.

Yeah I finally jumped on the bandwagon and didn't stop. Two day marathon and all. It's kind of a love/hate thing going. I mean really both Jesse and Walt are aholes that keep messing up their own and each others lives. Though they stick together out of a sense of, who knows what. I mean I guess Walt is the reason Jesse got involved in all this, and did put him in some serious nasty situations. However after Tuco, Jesse is kind of the reason so much crap happened. It seems they either forget what they have done for each other, or just never speak of it and only speak about the bad. It'd be nice if at least one episode they could just hash it out. This happened because of you/I did this for you/etc. As it is getting to the point of, then why do they bother with each other? For a while now, actually. I do give them props for having almost totally unlikeable yet still very much compelling characters though. I mean outside of Walt Jr. and the baby, everyone in the show is pretty easy to hate. Which is something I've always wanted in a t.v. show actually. Just to see if it's doable. But yeah, totally worth the hype. The show that is.

Love how nothing in the series is ever forgotten and they always seem to call back to certain pivotal moments. Tio had a chance to nail Jesse to the wall back in Season 2's "Bit By A Dead Bee" but chose to crap his wheelchair rather than cooperate with the DEA. Now that same punk he declined to rat on is responsible for the end of the Salamanca name.

We just started this series. It's hard to watch because it is a true tragedy. And thanks for posting about it because we would have missed it otherwise.

Hank swallowed Walt's story about the car crash way to easily. They've proved Hank's savvy for mystery solving in this season so I am thinking he is beginning to suspect something. He might just save it for a private conversation with Walt, UNLESS Walt has gone insane. Which I think would be a great twist to the plot. Have Walt put on psychological hold somewhere for truly temporarily losing it.

I'm not sure why that added my last name. Well played, Big Brother.

I can't see how we can back Jesse though and hate Walt. I mean, they are almost mirror images of each other. I mean is it because Walt at this moment in time is more of a screw up and ahole than Jesse? Cause I mean both are more or less responsible for not only their own problems, but each others. I mean without Walt, Jesse would have been dead quite a few times by now. I mean even Jesse killing Gail(?) for Walt, also made it so he was protected. Where as Walt has constantly had to put others and himself in harms way for Jesse. Again, I don't like any character really. I am interested. Drawn in. Even understanding of the characters. No matter how frustrating they are at times, they are relatable in that, we can't always do what we know we should do. However, I can't see liking Jesse and disliking Walt, or vice versa. Both are screw ups that seem to need drama in order to survive. I mean I'm just trying to see why people seem to back him so easily and cast Walt aside so easily.

I mean I'm just trying to see why people seem to back him so easily and cast Walt aside so easily.

I think we as people like to pretend we could never be so irrationally, self-destructively prideful as Walt is. He was making relative peanuts as a schoolteacher when he could've been making solid six figures because he couldn't get over himself. He could've gotten out of this altogether or later at least avoided some of the worst repercussions if he could just have stopped himself from thinking he deserved what he was going after. At every turn, the difference between things staying relatively stable and things going off the rails has been Walt's push for more (whether it be money, control, respect, etc.). This warped, decades rotted ambition of his is responsible for exactly 95% of his problems, and we don't like to admit to ourselves that we could be similarly stupid and petty and utterly doomed, so we don't like admitting that what Walt's been doing is understandable and on some levels sympathetic.

He's still probably more "evil" than Jesse, though. Because, again, Walt frequently had a choice about what he was going to do (even if the better option would've gotten Jesse killed), whereas a lot of Jesse's have been forced on him by Walt's actions. Though, ultimately, I think the question of who is more or less redeemable is a bit semantic-- no one's actually going to be redeemed, they'll be lucky to just not die.

Jesse has gotten Walt in trouble as much if not more than Walt has gotten Jesse in trouble.

Walt has been ambitious and down right evil at times, but he's constantly put Jesse ahead of everything. Which is one of the reasons I don't like him sometimes. I wish he were colder. He has put Jesse ahead of his family at times. Seriously why are these two so loyal to each other?!

Jesse seems to have gotten him and Walt in trouble for being too stupid, and Walt has seemed to gotten both of them in trouble for not being able to be content. However I think they both still need drama to survive. They seem incapable to survive without it. Again, I just don't see how you can like one and hate the other.

Then again maybe, people just see Jesse as a kid. As the less scary looking of the two. He still has his whole life ahead of him. Something along those lines. Maybe I just don't like him cause I find him so completely stupid. Where as with Walt, we know he is incredibly smart, but he still constantly makes the wrong decision. Maybe I respect that more? Maybe that's why I don't like either, but if I had to choose I'd go with Walt. Like gun to head and all. Though again, don't really like/stand behind either.

I don't understand how anybody could dislike Hank at this point..and to a lesser extent, Marie for putting up with and overcoming how awful Hank was to her earlier in the season.

Re Hank and Jesse, I too wondered what ties them together and why they're still so loyal to each other. I would guess the experiences they've been thru together have hardened that bond, even if it's a malignant one.

How important is it to "like" a character to enjoy a show? Walt has become a prideful dick whose hubris has destroyed lives, but he's also the most fascinating character study I've seen from any show in a long while. I actually hope he gets Gus..Gus is a ruthless shitbag, and a bully. I want to see the return of Heisenberg these last couple eps.

I didn't see it in the comments here yet, and I apologize if someone has already suggested this tonight, but does anyone else see that perhaps one of Walt's only remaining outs at this point would be telling Hank everything to save himself and his family via plea bargaining and witness protection (although I ultimately can't see him "settling" for that kind of life), which is basically what, at this point, he seems to have decided is his only way out anyway? I get that there is an entire other season ahead so its too soon for that at this point, but for some reason, I always thought that might be his last card to play if it came down to it.

At this point, Walt would have to kill many people to tie up all his loose ends. I think it's foolish of him to believe that simply offing Gus would be enough.

Also, something about the way Hank acted last night, but could he maybe be starting to get just a small hint that something with Walt isn't right? Maybe not directly connecting him to the case, but his interraction with Walt made it seem like he was being pretty careful about what he said and watching Walt's reactions a little more closely than usual.

But, more than likely, that is me just reading way too much into it.

This show is pure awsome snorted up the nose. And this last episode was as good as it gets. Walt is now about to transform in to the ultimate badass he must become to save himself and his family.

I say it is full on war for the rest of the show. With Walt's chemical aptitude he is going to start making bombs and blowing shit up guerilla warfare style. And there is no way Hank does not figure Walt out by the time this season ends because it is what all his investigating is leading up to--the real Heisenberg. That means for the show to go on Hank will have to die soon thereafter or he'll team up with Walt to take down Gus. Either way, more people are gonna die, because the end of each season always ends with death. And its gonna be big. Man, I cant hardly wait.

Interesting discussion going on here. I find myself rooting for Jesse more and more as this season goes on, and I can't quite put my finger on why.

I think a big part of it has to do with the fact that he still seems human in spite of all the terrible things he's done - he was genuinely torn up over killing Gale, he wanted (desperately) to help Mike, and he's maintained his loyalty to Walt (to a degree) in spite of how awful Walt has become.

Again though what about Jesse and the dealers? His fault. Jesse and the Meth stealing for more money? Jesse and him constantly returning to drugs? Jesse black mailing Walt by calling him at his house? Jesse making Walt miss his daughters birth by being too high to do anything?

Again, is it just because all the crap Jesse did was more out of stupidity then pride? Cause a lot of that stupidity constantly made Walt have to do the wrong thing in order to protect Jesse. In order to save him.

Again I think it might just be as simple as Jesse is cuter than Walt. I mean to an extent. Not saying teenage girl mentality, but I think looks do a play into some things. Jesse is the least scary looking of the two. I mean Jesse still looks like a teenage child. Where as with Walt you have a grown ass man. A man who is still holding himself back constantly. I mean we know how he was before the cancer, and even though a few times he might have let loose some, he still hasn't gone totally berserk. He hasn't totally unleashed. Which now seems, he will. We know there is a lot more with Walt that does indeed scare us. Where as with Jesse, we've seen the worst. At best he is Gus's trusted puppet. At worst he is still an idiot that will make another stupid mistake, that will put Walk in a tough spot. Though seeing as this time, it is his family in direct danger, who knows if he'll save him, if and when he messes up again. I mean again, it just doesn't make sense. I could understand, Walt scares me more than Jesse. I think that makes sense. But to say, Walt constantly messes up his own and peoples lives around him, while totally forgetting all the times Jesse has done the same. If not more times. Well, that just does not make sense. Unless you all are going after some sort of Chewbacca defense here?

Then again two episodes left, so who knows. I'm guessing, someone starts reading word up magazine half way through the season finale.

Cause it was all a dream? Man you white people don't know anything about Biggie.

Skylar's problems could've worked out better if she actualyl listened to Saul for once. He's deep in the game and has dealt with liars and crooks, as well as become one, as a career. Skylar's own pride and distaste for Saul has been her stumbling blocks. The best work she has done as a crook is the first scene with Bill Burr (perfect casting) analyzing the car wash grounds.

Who's to say Walt isn't dead already? He went quiet pretty fast laying down there, then he was framed as being in a coffin. The stress would be enough to make anyone (let alone a 50+ year old) die of a heart attack. A little bit of poetic justice, with everyone thinking he might die from cancer.

The rest of the White family would be out of danger then - they don't know of Gus.

So basically you are all judging Jesse on what is going on at the present time? In which case, it seems kind of a play it by episode relationship you have with these characters. I mean right now Jesse is just a tool for Gus. Gus put the pieces around Jesse in order to make him a suitable replacement for Walt.

Both are the same level of realistic. As far as the more sympathetic goes, it's all a matter of opinion. I can relate to both equally for different reasons. However right now Jesse still seems very much a kid that hasn't and doesn't appreciate everything Walt has done for him. On the contrary Walt constantly makes the wrong decision even though he knows better. With Walt for a while it seems it's not about the family or his cancer, he was just bored for the longest time and now that he's had a taste for a life less ordinary, he couldn't go back. Won't go back.

So it could be that as well, maybe? Jesse doesn't know any better? Walt does? Maybe, I'll take smart and wrong decisions over stupid and human puppet. Though again, I don't have any sympathy for any of these characters. Outside of Walt Jr., the baby, or even Hank, that is. Still can't see how many can like Jesse so much and hate Walt so much. Again, I think it's mostly due to the superficial reasons. Even if people don't realize it. As really, both are guilty of a lot of the same crimes. So to speak.