Nameless
Member
Come on BB. You're essentially implying that people can't compartmentalize their actual moral compass from a television show. You don't really believe that do you?
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Breaking Bad - Season 4 - Sundays on AMC
- Thread starter Cornballer
- Start date
- Status
Come on BB. You're essentially implying that people can't compartmentalize their actual moral compass from a television show. You don't really believe that do you?
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
I personally don't do that. But I don't "roll" bad guys in like WRPGs either.
I'm sure people can, but it's still not something I get down with.
PezDispenser
Banned
The fact that I thought the last shot of S4 made Walt a way more awesome character means that I'm a sociopath with no sense of morality who promotes violence against children in real life. True story!
Alot of things swing in his favor despite sharing half of those qualities.
I know people like Skyler but not like Walt so it's easy to lump those bad stories/experiences in with her.
Walt's actor is infinitely better.
Skyler doesn't have chemistry on screen with anyone that even remotely reaches the amazing walt/JEsse chemistry.
Walt is crazy, and I love crazy.
Personally if I had to be in the breaking bad "World" and spend time with someone it would be a non depressed hank.
metalslimer
Member
Wait, are we supposed to not like walt for what he did to Jane. I had no sympathy for her when she was just going to drag Jesse down into an inescapable abyss of drug addiction and with that much cash they would be dead in weeks. Of course in the end Walt dragged Jesse into an abyss himself.
Do you play violent games? Play GTA? I watch these shows for entertainment, and Walt entertains me so I root for him because I like it when he goes crazy.
Agree with you here.
Didn't even really care about Brock either. In real life or in a book to me that's horrific. On tv that to me is almost a good act since kids on tv/film are basically my least favorite things ever. Game of thrones kids are basically the one exception to the rule ever for me. Action movies with little kids? (War of the worlds, the first Bale batman movie, etc hell in Mass Effect 3 I wanted to take out a sniper and take that little fucker out before his ship went) I usually root for them to die a horrible death.
Nameless
Member
Last time I checked, my Skyrim character had killed upwards of 1500 people. Guess that explains it.
What's sorta confusing about Gilligan's comments is a lot of Walt's 'vile' acts tend to be shrouded in gray:
Letting Jane die: She got Jesse using heroin, extorted Walt for Jesse's money(hinting she would extort him in the future) and was clearly leading Jesse down a path where he either OD's or is left with a thumb up his ass after she bails with his money. Look a back at her reaction after Walt drops off the cash. They clearly set her up to be a problem that Walt 'solved'.
Gale's Murder: Fucked up but it was "Gale or them", period. Someone was going to have their life taken and Walt chose self preservation over the life of the guy brought in to phase him out. All parties involved were aware how the game is played in this business.
Poisoning the kid: Again, fucked up, but what's worse, a kid getting sick for a little while OR Walt, Walt's family, and Pinkman all being killed? What of Walt's children? That Brock was ultimately fine, the argument COULD be made that the end justified the means here.
PhoenixDark
Banned
Walt is a reprehensible human being and also quite manipulative, even of TV audiences given the amount of people who defend him (especially at the expense of Skylar!) 
He's a great character but I have a feeling he'll get his eventually. Especially if Jesse finds out about what he did to Jane and Brock
He's a great character but I have a feeling he'll get his eventually. Especially if Jesse finds out about what he did to Jane and Brock
Nameless
Member
Walt is a reprehensible human being and also quite manipulative, even of TV audiences given the amount of people who defend him (especially at the expense of Skylar!)
He's a great character but I have a feeling he'll get his eventually. Especially if Jesse finds out about what he did to Jane and Brock
Weeds made me dislike Nancy Botwin; she'd fuck someone over every which way for the smallest of reasons..or even no reason. In all the episodes of Breaking Bad I've never seen any true malice in Walt's action. Selfish at times, sure, but you can say the same about the actions of anyone on the show at some point; that's just how people are. But even though he manipulates Jesse when he feels he needs to, Walt constantly goesout of his way to keep him alive throughout.
Were Walt truly a bad guy he would have let Pinkman die seasons ago instead of constantly splitting large quantities of money with him and cleaning up his fuck ups. It goes both ways.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
Like I said before, it would take something HUGE to make me stop rooting for Walt on his quest to take life by the balls (at the expense of a few innocents ).
Honestly, what makes it easier is that every season we're introduced to someone(s) worse than Walt who he ends up facing up against. And it's always easier to go with the lesser of 2 evils. Also we can never forget who he used to be, and all that. I could see why some people can't root for him, but I also think it's easy to understand why lots continue.
List of people I root for on this show:
Walt
Hank
Walt Jr.
Jesse
Marie
Badger
Skinny Pete
Everyone but Skyler really, and it's not that I don't root for her, it's that I'm indifferent on whatever her quest is these days, especially after the ted fiasco, not fucking him, the whole other thing
And if shit goes down and Walt dies, I won't cry but it would be a sad thing to see how deep down he went. The flashbacks only make it sadder
).Honestly, what makes it easier is that every season we're introduced to someone(s) worse than Walt who he ends up facing up against. And it's always easier to go with the lesser of 2 evils. Also we can never forget who he used to be, and all that. I could see why some people can't root for him, but I also think it's easy to understand why lots continue.
List of people I root for on this show:
Walt
Hank
Walt Jr.
Jesse
Marie
Badger
Skinny Pete
Everyone but Skyler really, and it's not that I don't root for her, it's that I'm indifferent on whatever her quest is these days, especially after the ted fiasco, not fucking him, the whole other thing
And if shit goes down and Walt dies, I won't cry but it would be a sad thing to see how deep down he went. The flashbacks only make it sadder
killertofu
Member
A new promo pic was posted on BB's Facebook fanpage
:lol
hahahah, that's hilarious.
God I can't wait. My gf and I have been rewatching the series for the past couple of weeks. Trying to get a BB premiere party going on
A new promo pic was posted on BB's Facebook fanpage
:lol
Breaking Breakfast
A new promo pic was posted on BB's Facebook fanpage
:lol
Oh thats great.
The One Who Knocks
Member
My first post after getting approved and I'm incredibly glad to see this thread on the front page since there is no thread I'd rather make my first post in. Anyway, with that out of the way I am not replying to anybody in particular (it is much more a general reply, just in case anybody thinks this is aimed at them) but one thing that I've always found with Breaking Bad when compared with other television shows of a similar quality (The Wire, Mad, Men, The Sopranos and Six Feet Under for example) is that I've never felt an actual "connection" to the characters per se. To me at least, as somebody who has followed the series since the beginning, it seems as if the series has always kept me at arm's length from each of the characters so that I don't become emotionally attached to them yet still find them all engaging. I feel that I may have phrased this incorrectly as I still become nervous when the characters end up in danger (such as One Minute) so I guess I do have an emotional attachment to the characters but it is different, in a way I can't quite describe, to one that forms when I watch other shows. Perhaps the best way to describe it is that an emotional attachment forms yet it always feels like I am "detached" from all of the characters and thus not following anybody in specific yet everybody at once (maybe this was phrased poorly and is overly complex or vague to follow, if so I apologise).
The reason I bring this up is because of a comment that somebody made earlier regarding Skyler, that is that (I'm paraphrasing from here) "she is an obstacle for Walter and as such it seems intended that we dislike her as she opposes Walter and we root for him". Perhaps this is just me but as I've mentioned I never felt a specific attachment to Walter like I have with other protagonists and this never really bothered me at all, possibly one of the reasons why I find Skyler such a compelling character (along with pretty much everybody else in the show, including Walter Jr. and his unending desire for pancakes) and don't share in what seems to be a rather significant hatred for her. I'm just curious if anybody who likes Skyler shares a similar sentiment as it may help clarify as to why some like her while others dislike her and while reading the thread (while not a member) I cannot recall seeing something similar mentioned and that is just why I am curious if anybody shares a similar feeling.
And I'm also sorry to bring up the topic of Skyler hatred once more, I know that this is an oft-debated topic in the thread and can become rather heated (which is why I've tried to approach it in a way that doesn't talk about the qualities of the character but instead about the way in which people watch the show to help determine if that has an effect on people's opinion of her).
The reason I bring this up is because of a comment that somebody made earlier regarding Skyler, that is that (I'm paraphrasing from here) "she is an obstacle for Walter and as such it seems intended that we dislike her as she opposes Walter and we root for him". Perhaps this is just me but as I've mentioned I never felt a specific attachment to Walter like I have with other protagonists and this never really bothered me at all, possibly one of the reasons why I find Skyler such a compelling character (along with pretty much everybody else in the show, including Walter Jr. and his unending desire for pancakes) and don't share in what seems to be a rather significant hatred for her. I'm just curious if anybody who likes Skyler shares a similar sentiment as it may help clarify as to why some like her while others dislike her and while reading the thread (while not a member) I cannot recall seeing something similar mentioned and that is just why I am curious if anybody shares a similar feeling.
And I'm also sorry to bring up the topic of Skyler hatred once more, I know that this is an oft-debated topic in the thread and can become rather heated (which is why I've tried to approach it in a way that doesn't talk about the qualities of the character but instead about the way in which people watch the show to help determine if that has an effect on people's opinion of her).
Listen, sarcasm barely works without making you look like an asshole in real life. On the internet your chances of coming out looking saintly and unscathed are even lower. Everyone else here is having a discussion and you're contributing jackshit with your fake wit and stupidity. Either actually talk to people and offer an opinion and people'll respectfully talk to you and we'll have a fun little conversation about a TV show or quit your pathetic and misguided retorts and shut up.
Rare instance where a social media arm of a show does memes right. niceA new promo pic was posted on BB's Facebook fanpage
:lol
Fair enough on Sky.Everyone but Skyler really, and it's not that I don't root for her, it's that I'm indifferent on whatever her quest is these days, especially after the ted fiasco, not fucking him, the whole other thing
And if shit goes down and Walt dies, I won't cry but it would be a sad thing to see how deep down he went. The flashbacks only make it sadder
And of course I'd be sad if Walt died. Just because I think the person he is now is despicable doesn't mean I never liked him or don't want to see him redeem himself at all. It's exactly what you said: if he died as a massively wealthy but morally corrupt kingpin, I'll be distraught over how far he fell.
Great post. I don't know that I'd call what you feel "detachment," but I do know what you mean. I myself call it "fascination." Where, due to the quality of the writing, every movement a character makes is compelling and danger and thrills remain intact, but you know you'll appreciate the big picture no matter what pain comes. Just like you I'm having a hard time parsing out exactly what I mean, but I think that makes enough sense for now.
PezDispenser
Banned
Sarcasm can be a great tool to prove a point. I was taking the Stephen Colbert route of being purposely absurd to highlight an actual absurdity. And if anything, your bitter, angry reply is evidence that it *did* work.
Like I said, I was trying to prove a point that was relevant to the discussion.
You are the one who is sitting here calling me stupid and an asshole. What exactly is that contributing again?
Quit telling people how they're "supposed" to feel about the complex characters/events on this show. That shit just rubs me the wrong way. And besides, your opinion is wrong =).
Saul!
Double negative
So here you compare yourself to Stephen Colbert and claim that your goal all along was to be so absurd to the point of purposefully derailing the conversation we were having. OK.
I was calling you an asshole because you were sitting on the sideline firing off the same stupid joke over and over without actually talking to anyone or offering a real, constructive opinion. I had been just talking with people until that, which is contributive.
I never said anyone had to feel one way or another, but art has intent and you can support that intent by providing evidence from the show. And that's the kind of discussion it was.
Superimposer
This is getting weirder all the time
Any ideas when the Season 5 thread is going up?
tycoonheart
Member
The show started by showing us a high school teacher who gets told he has cancer, who is supposedly a genius and has had his work win others the nobel prize, who tries to do something to help his family out financially before he dies.
How do you not get emotionally attached to Walter at that point?
I can understand if you say you don't feel any attachment to him now, after having some a lot of questionable things.
But to say you were never emotionally connected to Walter is a bit strange to me.
How do you not get emotionally attached to Walter at that point?
I can understand if you say you don't feel any attachment to him now, after having some a lot of questionable things.
But to say you were never emotionally connected to Walter is a bit strange to me.
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
When Cornballer said it would earlier in the thread, I believe.
I was definitely connected to his nice, bad luck side. And that's the man I'm still connected to.
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
That poor, dead bastard.
The whole point of he series is that Walt starts off as a good guy and ends as a bad guy.
We just see the transformation.
http://www.webcitation.org/60TswtrpQ
We just see the transformation.
metalslimer
Member
I think at once in his life he was a genuninely nice person. The ravages of life's circumstances lead him to becoming the somewhat cruel manipulative bastard we see today. I think this is why this show is so fascinating to watch because many of us have experienced the sort of let downs and bad life events that make us miserable inside, but Walt just takes it to the extreme than none of us would.
The 'bad events', aside from getting Cancer, going back even before the show start, appear to be all of his own making.
Pretty much. The nice guy was his outer layer and he never let it take over, unfortunately.
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
I always took Walt as being sick of people not taking him seriously. Hank emasculates him in front of everyone when he was holding the gun at the party. Then Walt Jr. calls him a pussy for giving into his cancer. Heisenberg is Walt's masculine fantasy. The only time he's intimate with Skylar is when he comes home from cooking or a drug deal. The adrenaline that comes as result of being a fucking badass is intoxicating to him, and now he's completely consumed by it.
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
I think it's okay if that inspires you to, say, demolish the bullies picking on your son. Not so much to let a girl choke on her own vomit.
Cornballer
Member
It's more or less done. I just have to put some finishing touches on it tomorrow and then I'll post it.
Jane dying was good for Jesse in the long run. He even admits they both would have been dead soon if Jane had her way with him. Her death galvanized Jesse to get his shit together and get clean. Of course Walt's reasoning for letting her die were most likely selfish and purely a business decision, but he indirectly helped Jesse by doing so.
Maybe not directly, but it certainly was his idea to.
Oh really.
tycoonheart
Member
What details do we know about Gretchen and Walter to say definitely that it was Walter who fucked up their relationship and his research?
As far as Walter always being this way, I dunno about that. He was a good husband, a good father. Look at the tape he makes in the pilot where he is saying goodbye to his family. He sounds like he genuinely tried to do something to help them out since he loved them.
He has since changed a lot though. He isnt the same person now at all.
As far as Walter always being this way, I dunno about that. He was a good husband, a good father. Look at the tape he makes in the pilot where he is saying goodbye to his family. He sounds like he genuinely tried to do something to help them out since he loved them.
He has since changed a lot though. He isnt the same person now at all.
tycoonheart
Member
At that point he still had cancer and in his mind he was doing something to help his family out financially. No?
Awesome observations, and spot on. Can't wait for the season to start.
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