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Breaking Bad - Season 5, Part 2 - The Final Eight Episodes - Sundays on AMC
- Thread starter Cornballer
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- The gambling was just a way for her to have a hold over Walt. Do you really think he cared about stories to spend his money?
- She didn't need to get involved in that at all. I can't feel sorry for her since it was her idea all along. Saul and Walt were going to launder anyway before she even got involved
- Rescuing Ted? You mean forced him against his will, right? After she already cooked his books
And the whole reason he started cooking again in S5 was because she gave away all of Walt's money. She can't get away scot free over here.
And that's not including volunteering Walt to pay Hank's bills without his notice, again
She's been a thorn since the beginning
CharminUltra
Member
Yup!
Skyler is as compelling as a cardboard box and about as dynamic as a rock. The fact that her one redeeming quality is that she is the least morally bankrupt character in the show speaks volumes about her lack of complexity and substance.
She is literally a human MacGuffin.
Uh, the the end of Crawl Space and the Pool scene demonstrated it pretty damn well for me.
I agree she's not always on her best game, but she has handed down some phenomenal performances. Just this past season, her breathless, fear-dripped performance opposite Bryan Cranston as he stomps after her around the room and demands she tell him what her exit strategy is was absolutely brilliant. I've never seen a more authentic scene of domestic abuse.
Nameless said:
I wonder which came first - the blog post from the Breaking Bad crew which specifically references Walt as a sociopath, or Vince Gilligan saying that that MIGHT - might - be too strong a word?
Mr. Saturn
Member
Did anyone else here cringe when listening to Walt lie to Skyler about the second cell phone in season 2?
god, its so awkward when he tells her that what she heard was his phone alarm, to remind him to take his medication, and its obvious that he's lying. That scene always made me feel uncomfortable.
god, its so awkward when he tells her that what she heard was his phone alarm, to remind him to take his medication, and its obvious that he's lying. That scene always made me feel uncomfortable.
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
I'm glued to the couch, rewatching season 5 right now. I'm pretty pumped. Like, what the fuck is Hank gonna do?
I should've expected this.
There is a difference between caring about and being interested in/fascinated by a main character. To boil the show do to "he's the main character, we have you root for his interests" is not only wrong, but proves that maybe you're the one who is new to fiction. Walt is the unreliable narrator placed on the TV screen. We don't need to care about him or wish him to succeed to be fascinated by the web of lies that he has engrossed his entire world in. The story that Gilligan is interested in telling is more about the root of evil than rooting for Walt. That's why the show is so engrossing.
Also, comparing Skyler to Jar Jar Binks is beyond stupid, even if you meant it as a point that we don't need to sympathize with "good" characters. That's such a surface level reading of Skyler's plight that I'm not sure how to respond.
Captain_Spanky
Member
An excellent post. The show has come to be about how Walt's cancer has become moral and externalized, breaking down and decaying everyone he loves. Skyler is a clear example, but every character, in their own way, has "broke bad" because of what Walt brought in to their lives, compromised their moral integrity as a direct result of his selfish decisions.
Skyler used what little power she had. So yes in literal terms she was an "annoyance". Where she had been placed by Walt she could be nothing more, but she can't be blamed for still trying to exercise her autonomy and break out of the cage this man had created for her, subtly, insidiously and without her knowledge or consent.
Sye d'Burns
Member
I'm rewatching now in prep for the new episodes; I'm closing in on season 3. Since I'll be watching the new episodes on Amazon, I figure I'll go on blackout this evening.
I definitely remember her in Crawl Space and, though it's less in my mind, the Pool scene. Based on my recollection, I would agree, in those two episodes, you're correct.
Steelyuhas
Member
Wouldn't mind Todd getting filled with bullets.
Still think there's something to him taking the jar with the spider in it. That was super odd.
The pool scene is one of my favorite scenes in the entire series. It's so goddamn beautiful.
Does it feel weird to anyone else that Todd gets to finish out the show with these guys but not Mike?
Fucking Walt
BREAKING_BADger
Banned
Nameless
Member
People building shallow views of a nuanced and complex characters, probably. And we both know Vince said a lot more than that.
Souless_PJ
Banned
Every person I know that watches the show in real life hates her. Including my wife. This place is the only side I've seen that has ardent fans
#TeamSkySkyDieDie
Third Strike
Member
That jar could have that kid's fingerprints on it.
Maybe Walt will cut her head off, put it on a stick, light it on fire, and let Ricky Hitler take pot shots at it with his pistol.
PezDispenser
Banned
What the fuck are you talking about? If anything, I was pointing out how ridiculous it is for anyone to say that everyone "should" be rooting for any particular character. It's just as ridiculous to actually, sincerely say that I'm "watching the show wrong". Lol. I guess I don't have a high enough horse to watch it on.
Steelyuhas
Member
The worst ones live.Does it feel weird to anyone else that Todd gets to finish out the show with these guys but not Mike?
Fucking Walt
gameofthroneslogic
Yeah it's a possibity.
You're watching the show wrong!!! Let me show you the way. GAf always amazes me.
A sociopath is not 'shallow.' There are real sociopaths in the world and these can be every bit of complex as someone who just makes a bad choice. Given how little regard we've seen Walt have for anyone, and we will continue to see, he's been faking every shred of empathy he ever had. Like a true sociopath.
It's not like we don't go down this path every Breaking Bad topic. You post your latest insane theory that does not even tangentially relate to what is actually going on in an episode, and the rest of everyone laughs about it. That's just the roles we play.
I wouldn't say you were watching the show wrong if I hadn't had like 2 seasons of reading your posts to know it's true. I've never seen someone more insanely misinterpret a piece of fiction than you, genuinely. Admittedly my life experience is limited, but so far, you're the winner
Funny, everyone I know that watches the show thinks the Skyler hate is ridiculous.
CharminUltra
Member
Lies.
PezDispenser
Banned
Except that's not what I said at all, I was simply pointing out why it was understandable that some people could find him to be the best part of the show.
You are the one who can't seem to accept that anybody could have any opinion other than rooting for Skylar.
When you Skylar enthusiasts are literally too dense to be able to parse my argument, then there is really no point in continuing this stupid debate.
This sounds a lot like someone I know.
I like this idea
Hopefully 3am
Can't wait to see Gaf meltdown when Sky Sky ends up being the one that kills walt or betrays him or whatever.
So 8 Central? I was thinking it was 9 :O
Damn, that's earlier than I thought. I might have to stay up to watch this.
and it'll be sickening to see how many "fuck yea" posts she gets if she bites the bullet.
she fucked ted
she took walt's money
she put her family in danger
she is the real danger
My initial point that I don't understand the vicious hatred for Skyler and the gymnastics that people go through to justify Walt and/or paint Skyler as a poorly drawn annoyance. The shows POV seems very clear in sympatheszing with Skyler over Walt. I don't understand those who believes she has deserved to end up in a plastic drum.
faceless007
Member
I have no idea how you can think Skylar had selfish motivations about that. What did she stand to gain personally from the cover story? She never wanted to spend any of the money even after it was established. Do you really think an unemployed school teacher suddenly throwing down stacks of thousand dollars on conspicuous purchases is responsible behavior?
Nevertheless, it's direct counter-evidence that Skylar exists solely to get in the way of Walt. That was her directly enabling him in a much smarter way than either Walt or Saul would have figured out.
She only forced him because she knew that IRS attention would bring their whole family down. Yes, she shares part of the blame for cooking the books initially, but Ted had no way to get out of the audit, so Skylar was forced to take charge and give him a way out. Not her fault he was too stupid to take it.
There's a rather bizarre undercurrent here of blaming Skylar for "forcing" irresponsible and reckless characters to do things they should be smart enough to do anyway.
Again, no one is claiming she's a paragon of morality. But almost all of her actions you call "annoying" are justifiable as wanting to avoid attracting law enforcement attention, which is, you know, what a smart criminal mind would do. Walt owes his continued safety from the police more to her than he would ever admit.
Unrelated note: Watching a Travel Channel show about BBQ restaurants, apparently there's a place in Memphis called Gus's Fried Chicken.
You do remember why she forced Ted to clear his name right? If the IRS went down on Ted, they'd look into everyone connected to him and look at Skyler and discover Walt's "tax evasion".
She rescued Ted to protect her family. Some of that reasoning was definitely because she felt for Ted but most of her motivation and the fuel for her persistence and anger against what Ted was doing was to keep her family safe. If Ted went down, her, her family, and Walt and everyone he is connected to would go down.
bodyofanamerican
Member
Any word on the Insider podcasts? Are they doing them again this year?
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
I have a new theory about Skyler hate.
In a show focused primarily on plot, her role is much more about character (her own, and Walt's change around her/relating to her). So if you really aren't interested in the psychology, half the Skyler scenes are unnecessary.
I watch the show for the characters as much as plot, so Skyler is a great aspect of the show for me.
Explains all the "Fly" hate, too. The character moments in "Fly" are fantastic and it was definitely a great episode from Season 3.
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