Breaking Bad (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

[DexterTCN]

Stunning, edge of the seat stuff. That this show can produce such high quality time after time just amazes me.

The best of the last three (out of four) episodes for me. It's doing a thing now where they put a cliff-hanger at the end of an episode then immediately (just about) resolve it in the next episode. Very un-Breaking Bad.

But that's what they do, they keep showing you that what you think, presume, assume, surmise, work out like columbo...is pointless. We know quality, we say. We know top class drama and how it works, we shout in frustration.

What they're doing is wrong, it's against the rules. It's awesome. Walt was the only morally good adult in that episode.

 

[DexterTCN]

There was lots of good stuff in that one, obviously.

There was one bit that was very Keyser Soze though...sent a nostalgic chill down my spine. Can't remember it exactly.

'He's the devil, he's smarter than you, he's lucky. Whatever you think will happen, I'm telling you, exactly the opposite of that will happen.'

 

[Fez909]

Thought that episode was OK, but nothing special. It's tying things up nicely, but there wasn't a lot of tension. Even Jessie's confession: I liked the way it was done, but I was wondering if he was going to bottle it at the last second. I suppose Dexter's second last post comes in there. The show made me think that was going to be high drama when it just...happened.

Skyler's taken an unpredictable turn as well. I know she's got the capacity to be pretty ruthless but I thought she was looking weak the past few episodes and was about to turn on Walt. The kill order was unexpected but wasn't a particularly "omg, wow" moment like the video in ep3.

Jessie's little paranoia thing at the end was a bit crap, too. I can understand him being paranoid and it fits with everything we've seen so far, but the mean looking dude stood there for just the right amount of time felt forced/cheesy.

Second best episode of this section of S5, but way behind the last episode, IMO. The first two were boring/meh.

 

[Orang Utan]

I thought this episode was the 'worst' so far in this leg. Or rather, the most muted in terms of drama and tension

 

[Part 2]

I was thinking Skyler would tail Walt to the meet, kill Jessie there and then and be shot herself, probably by Hank in a gun battle outside the mall.

The bald guy who Jessie clocked was half familiar enough to have me thinking he was someone else we'd already seen.

Agree with OU though, I'm ready to see some death/killing now.

 

[magneze]

Killing != drama || tension

 

[girasol]

I started watching series 1 again, interesting how Walt still had some of Malcom in the Middle's dad character back then - it also felt like it had a lot more (dark but also light) humour - those were the days

The last few episodes have been ok - but I still think the first 2 series were the best.

 

[Yelkcub]

I started watching series 1 again, interesting how Walt still had some of Malcom in the Middle's dad character back then - it also felt like it had a lot more (dark but also light) humour - those were the days

The last few episodes have been ok - but I still think the first 2 series were the best.

For me, it's really losing something by having to watch it one episode at a time.

 

[Gromit]

Yeah I agree that they are trying to milk out the last half of the season with cliffhangers when before things would bumble along and then surprise explode. But we know the big explosion is coming (in the end finale) so the surprise is gone and they have had to change tack.

 

[Orang Utan]

Killing != drama || tension

What?

 

[magneze]

Killing is not dramatic or tense.

 

[Orang Utan]

Yes it is

 

[magneze]

If it was then there'd be killing all the time on screen which would be really boring. The actual deed generally stops any tension that has been built up.

 

[Ted Striker]

I started watching series 1 again, interesting how Walt still had some of Malcom in the Middle's dad character back then - it also felt like it had a lot more (dark but also light) humour - those were the days

The last few episodes have been ok - but I still think the first 2 series were the best.

I remember watching the first series first time round - I thought it was going to be a whole lot lighter, and the story revolving around this old guy with short life span that stops giving a fuck and rights wrongs (sometimes via science...) that he normally wouldn't have the balls/desire to sort out - the shorting of the brash bank customers car being typical of what would have been reasonably endearing, far-out and lol-some TV series.

The end to series 4 for me was the pinnacle. Still not lost on this one, though I thought it would never top the heights of the first 2 series, then to think the edge of the seat stuff in Walt vs Gus vs Jesse vs Wheelchair guy (the scene in the car park when Gus paused and walked away from the parked car had me falling off the edge of the couch!) - To do that in the fourth series of anything is miraculous.

It kind of lost me in s3 (I think though my timelines are hazy) when it got very 00's Eastenders, in that it pitched some epic battle against the ultimate gangland overlord of overlords (Den Watts), only for the next episode to reveal that that guy that was supposedly the Keyser Soze of the Latin American meth scene was merely a runner for the next bigger, tougher, ultimate gangland overlord of overlords (Andy Hunter), who would then get beaten and then Walt would be faced with the next bigger tougher etc....(Johnny Allen) (btw I did have to google these names )

The issue I have, if any, with S5, is that it's (had to) move at a truly ridiculous pace. I get the both situations aren't directly comparable, but to think it eeeked out Skylar vs Walt over 2 (or 3?) series, and then Hank goes from no knowledge to knowing everything and confronting Walt in the space of 30 minutes airtime.

I still think it's arguably the best thing I've ever seen on TV. It pains me to mention any lowlight, when the reality is that it's anything but the sort relative to normal TV standards. And to carry anything for 5 seasons at such a pace is truly astonishing.

 

[xslavearcx]

For me, it's really losing something by having to watch it one episode at a time.

yeah its fucking shit this way.

 

[chandlerp]

I think Marie is going to tell all to Hank's superiors and ruin his career in a misguided attempt at helping him out.

Then Hank will go after Walt all guns blazing.

 

[Ted Striker]

For me, it's really losing something by having to watch it one episode at a time.

It is, but the ability to share/discuss it with people sharing the same 'journey' (urgh!) almost makes up for it IMO

 

[King Biscuit Time]

Jesse is going to walk away from this with all the cash, or at least with some kind of peace for himself. The rest of them (bar perhaps Walt Jr, but there's time for him to break bad too) are going to rip each other apart.

 

[joustmaster]

Jesse is going to walk away from this with all the cash, or at least with some kind of peace for himself. The rest of them (bar perhaps Walt Jr, but there's time for him to break bad too) are going to rip each other apart.

No way - jesse is going to get shot to bits.

 

[belboid]

It is, but the ability to share/discuss it with people sharing the same 'journey' (urgh!) almost makes up for it IMO

having it a week apart gives you time to think about what happened, and to think about what might happen. It gives an opportunity to make the links for yourself, rather than being a passive recipient of what the authors want. Its the only way to watch quality drama.

 

[magneze]

Jesse is going to walk away from this with all the cash, or at least with some kind of peace for himself. The rest of them (bar perhaps Walt Jr, but there's time for him to break bad too) are going to rip each other apart.

Into the sunset, leaving Albuquerque in flames.

 

[girasol]

I still think it's arguably the best thing I've ever seen on TV. It pains me to mention any lowlight, when the reality is that it's anything but the sort relative to normal TV standards. And to carry anything for 5 seasons at such a pace is truly astonishing.

Arguably for sure. The Sopranos and The Wire were consistently better, throughout. Just my opinion though... Not to say I didn't enjoy last night's episode!

 

[girasol]

Killing is not dramatic or tense.

well, literally speaking, 'Killing does not equal drama or tension'

 

[Orang Utan]

well, literally speaking, 'Killing does not equal drama or tension'

Is that what the exclamation mark was for?

 

[girasol]

Is that what the exclamation mark was for?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mathematical_symbols

! means 'not', '!=' means 'not equal to'

Was that your question? Or a joke I don't get?

 

[Orang Utan]

Yes, not a joke.
I got a B in Maths at GCSE, but have not seen that before!

 

[TopCat]

BB is going downhill rapidly.

 

[girasol]

Yes, not a joke.
I got a B in Maths at GCSE, but have not seen that before!

Used a lot in programming...

More discrete maths (Logic) than pure maths?

 

[Ted Striker]

Yes, not a joke.
I got a B in Maths at GCSE, but have not seen that before!

Did Maths til Uni...Never saw != (everyone would use equals with a line through it)

As mentioned, it's a programming thing.

 

[youngian]

having it a week apart gives you time to think about what happened, and to think about what might happen. It gives an opportunity to make the links for yourself, rather than being a passive recipient of what the authors want.

I always get it wrong with Breaking Bad anyway. I'd rather be put out of my misery sooner than later.