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Breaking Bad - Season 5, Part 1 - Sundays on AMC
- Thread starter Cornballer
- Start date
- Status
WTH is this? What's obvious about her being manipulated and abused? Do the previous episodes mean nothing? Who manipulated who with the car wash idea? Who spent whose money without permission? Who cheated on who? Who didn't file the divorce papers once they were finally signed?
I don't understand some of you. You act as if the characters are black and white. All the main characters are shades of grey. They do good and bad. Both have done something reprehensible in this series. Neither is free of blame, and both have played active roles in the scheme. Trying to label Skyler as a victim is delving deep into the realm of moral relativism. It's the "well Walt is more evil" kind of thinking. That's nonsense.
Whether you like a character or not has more to do with your personal bias or sympathy for their role in the show. Skyler's been written and acted as a character that's very easy to hate. Her shit stinks just like Walt's only Walt is at peace with his decision. Just because she's a conflicted character doesn't mean anyone should necessarily feel sympathy for her. That some do is fine, but it's hardly surprising that a lot of us detest her. I'm all about accountability. No excuses for making mistakes. Adults live by the decisions they've made. Skyler should be no different IMO. PEACE.
Technosteve
Banned
skylar changed, alot. She might die or kill walt
-Pyromaniac-
Member
lol I love how Anna Gunn even understands why people hate on Skyler. Or at least some of the reasons.
Though she argues that Skyler is completely 100% trapped. I don't think that's the case. There's always an out.
Though she argues that Skyler is completely 100% trapped. I don't think that's the case. There's always an out.
1-Grab a dictionary, and look up manipulated.
B-Watch the show again.
DevelopmentArrested
Banned
By far, too. The pool scene was something out of a shitty CW melodrama.
No need to get offended, just like my opinion man.
Cornballer
Member
Any thoughts on Hank getting offered the promotion? My first instinct was that he's going to turn it down to stay on the Frings/Heisenberg case, but I'm curious if that'll happen and where he's headed from here.
But it's like you're losing money if you don't take advantage of those lease rates!
-Pyromaniac-
Member
He'll take it and then micro-manage the Gus Fring case to death, lol.
triplestation
Member
What position did he get promoted to anyway?
SpeedingUptoStop
will totally Facebook friend you! *giggle* *LOL*
Yea, Walt quietly and naturally dying is the only one.
D
Deleted member 81567
Unconfirmed Member
How is persuading, manipulating?
The money spending I can understand, but please don't compare it to Walt's spending habits. Skyler genuinely wanted to protect her family from a stupid mistake she made.
And once again, these characters have done good and bad, all in their given circumstances. Each character is very complex. As things are right now, Skyler is trapped, and you can't justify her inevitable death because she cheated on Walt one time because Walt totally ignored her for weeks. That's insane. It's irrational hate, that borders misogyny.
Jeez man, I know very basic stuff about cinematography and symbolism, but you seem illiterate in that aspect. It was a uniquely shot suicide attempt. Skyler did it in a time where Walter ironically mentioned how things improved the past year, which was probably the last straw for Skyler. If those were "improvements" who knows what the future stores.
DevelopmentArrested
Banned
Hank vs Walt should be season 5B but it doesn't look like they are headed that way.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
no it's not. She could flee, go to the cops, witness protection, etc... There are other options other than becoming complicit.
Cornballer
Member
ASAC (Assistant Special Agent in Charge) which is Merkert's old job.
One thing is for sure - he will also be fired when he find out it's Walt. Right under his nose and all.
But seriously, I guess not much will happen with that promotion story wise. I figure he would put all his men on it in a week or two (episodes) when it is clear that the blue on the street isn't some leftover or something.
SpeedingUptoStop
will totally Facebook friend you! *giggle* *LOL*
If you were in her position, would you do it? These are options, but are they the best one for her, Walt & the family? Or is Walt dying of cancer as soon as possible the best one?
This block could end not just at the flashforward, but actually show some of the events there, with the next 8 dealing with the ramifications arising from that. It would be strange, of course, since it would mean that basically a year will pass in the next four episodes, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if it's the course they've taken.
For one thing, if they don't do that, there's less of a cliffhanger to torment the viewers until next year. If the 8th episode ends with some crazy event that doesn't feature the cold open, then we know in some fashion where that ultimately goes - Walt procures a fake New Hampshire driver's license, buys a machine gun from some shady arms dealer, and gets ready to start some serious shit. And we would know what led up to that, so we would probably know the exact parties involved other than Walt.
If the 8th episode instead ends with crazy stuff that happens in that setting, it becomes a true cliffhanger, since we have no clue at all of what to then expect.
Having said that, it could certainly just mean what you said - that the flashforward simply ends this block of episodes and we don't really see anything we didn't see at the start of the season. But it would be surprising if it doesn't go there at all. The flashforward being indicative of something that isn't to be touched on again until a year from now is not going to be as effective from a storytelling perspective with the general audience. It fits better structurally with the split season to at least end it there.
DevelopmentArrested
Banned
Great scene from that new Skrillex video
-Pyromaniac-
Member
I never thought about this but what if Hank finds out that Walt is Heisenberg and all that, but Walt tells him in typical cold blooded fashion that if he brings him in he will tell the rest of the DEA that Hank helped me avoid the law and all that. I mean..they are basically family. That can't look good, and it could ruin Hank's reputation and make him lose the only thing he loves other than Marie, his job.
So instead of Hank finding out and chasing down walt to take him in, they just have this tension that boils and boils and boils....
So instead of Hank finding out and chasing down walt to take him in, they just have this tension that boils and boils and boils....
if I was GENUINELY BONE CHILLINGLY TERRIFIED of my KIDS DYING and ME DYING I would get.the.fuck.out.of.dodge.
BertramCooper
Banned
Robot Pants
Member
I like this guy. He knows what's up.
LOL
That opening was hilarious! I was in tears. Couldn't believe I was seeing it. BB has amazing comedic moments, but nothing like that opening scene! LOVED IT!
D
Deleted member 81567
Unconfirmed Member
Yep. I also loved it. It was so terribly awesome.
Too much Skysky being a drama queen over a litttle disagreement.
Wow indeed. Probably not enough explosions, Walt flipping his hat not enough and what not, not enough Meth cookin', Skyler being wrong/right etc.
Said it before, opinions all and that but I really think people sometimes watch the wrong show when they find episodes like these bad or boring.
It was still paced fast for what it tried to do with the story. As was every other episode so far this season.
... And around ep7/8 all the whiners will be the ones saying OMMMMMMMG THIS WAS AWESOME the loudest. It is called buildup. Happened every season (which was amusing) but now it is just constant whining about the same subject.
Souless_PJ
Banned
I would swap 1 and 2 (apart from the interesting cold open in 1 the magnet caper was a bit on the nose) and 2 featured a lot of Mike.
Agree with the rest though.
I don't want Skyler dead. I think it would be a dumb mistake by Walt as Hank is too close, and it just attracts more heat. However, I'm not about to call any willing participant a victim. Skyler is trying to manipulate Walt into stopping and/or leaving. Walt is trying to manipulate her into shutting up and going along with the plan. There are no victims here. PEACE.
D
Deleted member 81567
Unconfirmed Member
ma·nip·u·late/məˈnipyəˌlāt/
Verb:
Handle or control (a tool, mechanism, etc.), typically in a skillful manner: "he manipulated the dials".
If you see some kind of control by Skyler towards Walt, then you're as delusional as the latter.
Derp. Acting like only one person in the relationship is doing the manipulating is missing the point. Just because Walt plays the game better, doesn't mean Skyler is innocent.
My mind boggles at how anyone paints her as a victim. Is it just because she's a woman? What...women can't make bad decisions they need to be held accountable for? PEACE.
Joe Shlabotnik
Banned
Hank's career is a little bit boned by the fact that Walt is Heisenberg, unavoidably. Even if he brings him in "clean", it still looks terrible that his brother-in-law was the mastermind meth chemist he was chasing for the past year.
She has no leverage. Big whoop. So the victim is automatically the one with no leverage, regardless of how they got themselves in that predicament? I give up. I understand why people hate these Skyler debates. I only started watching a month or so ago, so I missed out on the first 4 seasons of this back and forth. It's frustrating and pointless. PEACE.
SpeedingUptoStop
will totally Facebook friend you! *giggle* *LOL*
Pimpwerx is a troll account dudes, its cool.
D
Deleted member 81567
Unconfirmed Member
-Pyromaniac-
Member
yeah. It also presents an easy way to have hank find out but not end the show right then and there.
But I could easily see him finding out and being so inclined to do the right thing that he doesn't think about how it looks on him and gets in shit for it. But he seems too smart for that. So yeah I think they will have a ton of tension when Hank finds out and can't do much about it.
BlueTsunami
there is joy in sucking dick
Cook Meth: Morally neutral
Badger Husband: Punishable by death
Badger Husband: Punishable by death
SketchTheArtist
Member
Maybe I'm light years behind, but I just noticed the gun Walt bought in the first episode of the season, behind the cash, on our right. 
You're right, I'm wrong. Walt forced Skyler to work at the car wash, and forced her not to file the divorce papers. It was his idea to use the drug money to help Hank and Ted. Skyler just went along to not earn the scorn of her family. Walt totally wasn't thinking of his family when he did any of this either. What an evil man. PEACE.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
You are indeed, mad late on that.
SpeedingUptoStop
will totally Facebook friend you! *giggle* *LOL*
how does getting out of dodge occur when your husband is an admitted murderer of multiple people who as insinuated he is dangerous to you? How do you raise your kids and give them the best in life when you could be murdered for it or go to jail for being involved in a situation you couldn't prevent? Her only choice is to get her family as far away from the inevitable blast radius as possible.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
witness protection. That's what it's there for! Walt gets arrested, she flees to an unknown location, new start. All I'm saying is there are BETTER options. There always was for her.
...and I've personally attacked someone where?
Hey! When you can't prove someone wrong (and no one "wins" a debate like this) you call them a troll. Look who's wearing his big boy pants today. PEACE.
D
Deleted member 81567
Unconfirmed Member
How about constantly lying to her? How about the fugue state disappearance? How about letting her in the business by misleading her? His secrecy? Walt does what he does to get what he wants, but also wants his family to not react to anything. It's an insane mentality that has worked since Skyler is now trapped.
Nameless
Member
You know, the ironic thing about Hank's promotion is that in order for him to keep it and continue advancing The Mystery of the Blue Crystal must never be solved. Ever. Merkert was phased out in large part due to a loose friendship with Fring, and to say that Hank's relationship with Walt, on paper at least, is far far more precarious would be an understatement. Outside looking in the argument might even be made that Hank was playing both sides. At the very least Heisenberg getting popped could spell the end of Hank's career. At worst he gets lumped into the whole thing. Like Skyler, he's sorta kinda held hostage by association.
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