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[Jack Scofield]

Just rewatched "One Minute" last night. So let me get this straight. The twins are hunting Hank, who at this moment is walking towards his parked vehicle. He enters his car, inexplicably sits there for a bit, and then receives a call from a blocked/restricted number. The caller, with his voice masked, warns Hank that he will be killed in one minute.

Immediately I furrow my brow with confusion. The twins know that Hank is there. They've followed him to this parking lot, so obviously they still arent searching for him. Are they just watching him from across the parking lot? Why would they wait another minute before killing him? Even worse, Hank just sits in his car, watching his digital clock change from 3:17 to 3:18. Just drive away, Hank! Before he answered his phone he was sitting in his car awhile. If he drove away like any normal person would have done, he would've received the mysterious call while on the road, and the twins would be sitting there feeling stupid for having wasted their opportunity.

It just makes no sense! Breaking Bad, I expect better from you.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Dude, Hank has shown a few times before that he is prone to panic attacks. Hence why he didn't just drive away. And the twins were always very methodical in the way they choose to act. That was established. Don't think anything was that much of a leap there.

 

[HIGH DEF JEFF]

Doesn't he think the call is a prank too. He calls Gomey (sp?) and leaves him a voice mail saying that was messed up.

I also assumed that Mike was in that parking lot lurking somewhere, watching the whole thing. That's how he was able to be specific with the time.

But forget all that, it's meant to build tension. I love Breaking Bad but it's guilty of much bigger leaps in logic than the scene you are asking about. (i.e. Hank calling Walt from the junky yard and sending him pictures of No-Doze and Gonzo's bodies)

 

[UrbanRats]

 

[near]

11 more days to go!

 

[UrbanRats]

I was counting 7.

 

[Previous]

Just caught up and finished season 3 recently. I must say I am hyped

 

[Cornballer]

- LA Times: Vince Gilligan and the strange world of 'Breaking Bad' *some S4 spoilers, not sure how bad they are as I haven't read the article*

 

[Cornballer]

Watching "Crazy Handful of Nothin'"...

Hank to Walt regarding the 'stolen' supplies from his chemistry lab: "You gotta keep better watch over your turf. We don't want people to start wondering about you now." Funny to me because of the first line rather than the second. I'm glad they've turned Hank into something different than how he was at the beginning of the series. Much more interesting character this way.

Raymond Cruz is so good as Tuco. Both of the scenes at his hideout are intense.

:O :O :O :O :O

Walt in the car at the end fondling the money and screaming - holy shit.

Great episode.

 

[dave is ok]

Watching "Crazy Handful of Nothin'"...

Hank to Walt regarding the 'stolen' supplies from his chemistry lab: "You gotta keep better watch over your turf. We don't want people to start wondering about you now." Funny to me because of the first line rather than the second. I'm glad they've turned Hank into something different than how he was at the beginning of the series. Much more interesting character this way.

Raymond Cruz is so good as Tuco. Both of the scenes at his hideout are intense.

:O :O :O :O :O

Walt in the car at the end fondling the money and screaming - holy shit.

Great episode.

That scene in the car is one of my favorites. Top 3 probably

 

[Vlad]

Doesn't he think the call is a prank too. He calls Gomey (sp?) and leaves him a voice mail saying that was messed up.

I also assumed that Mike was in that parking lot lurking somewhere, watching the whole thing. That's how he was able to be specific with the time.

But forget all that, it's meant to build tension. I love Breaking Bad but it's guilty of much bigger leaps in logic than the scene you are asking about. (i.e. Hank calling Walt from the junky yard and sending him pictures of No-Doze and Gonzo's bodies)

You don't need to assume that Mike was the one who made the call, it was spelled out in the later episodes. That was Gus' plan all along, to keep Walt around as his way to break away from the Cartel, so he redirected the twins towards Hank and had Mike give him a heads-up so that Hank would eliminate them for him.

As Gus planned it, Hank would have known they were coming, so his law enforcement training plus the fact that he'd be armed (Gus couldn't predict that hank would have been stripped of his gun in the meantime) would have been able to let Hank easily take both of them out.

Just rewatched "One Minute" last night. So let me get this straight. The twins are hunting Hank, who at this moment is walking towards his parked vehicle. He enters his car, inexplicably sits there for a bit,

Well, considering the emotionally wrought day he's had, I can hardly fault him for it.

and then receives a call from a blocked/restricted number. The caller, with his voice masked, warns Hank that he will be killed in one minute.

Immediately I furrow my brow with confusion. The twins know that Hank is there. They've followed him to this parking lot, so obviously they still arent searching for him. Are they just watching him from across the parking lot? Why would they wait another minute before killing him?

As has been said (and explained by the show), Mike is the one who called him when the twins were about a minute away from where Hank was sitting.

Even worse, Hank just sits in his car, watching his digital clock change from 3:17 to 3:18. Just drive away, Hank!

And do what? Go home? If he assumes the call is true, why on earth would he drive home to his wife and have the two people intent on mudering him follow him home?

Before he answered his phone he was sitting in his car awhile. If he drove away like any normal person would have done, he would've received the mysterious call while on the road, and the twins would be sitting there feeling stupid for having wasted their opportunity.

So your main complaint is that a character in a state of emotional turmoil sat in the silence of his car for a minute to compose himself? Hardly something that's completely out of the ordinary.

It just makes no sense! Breaking Bad, I expect better from you.

It's a little bit of a coincidence, but hardly "makes no sense".

 

[Zeliard]

Yeah that scene worked fine I think. Hank at first thought the call was a prank and then started to become apprehensive and jittery as he realized that it probably wasn't. He became noticeably nervous, and before he could ultimately get himself to do anything, the twins appeared. But since Hank had gotten the phone call he was much more prepared than he would have otherwise been. He was able to react instantly when he saw the first twin in his rearview and instinctively backed up, crushing him with the car.

 

[near]

I still haven't revisited any of the seasons since my initial viewings and I'm slightly annoyed because they haven't released the series here on Blu-ray yet. I so badly wanted to burn through all the episodes before the premier of S4. And I'm not settling for DVD.

 

[smokeymicpot]

Re-watching season 3 now. Skylar I like and dislike at times. The online poker thing was great.

The Fly is such a awesome episode.

 

[blame space]

that was one of the most intense scenes in the series and make no mistake, you're supposed to be screaming PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE ALREADY!!

it's a perfect example of what someone would do from the perspective of watching a TV show vs. what someone in the actual situation would do.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

Yea, I don't think those were legitimate criticisms at all.

 

[brianjones]

all the seasons are on blu-ray

my bad missed the "here" part

 

[Kapura]

Watching through season 3. Pretty intense thunderstorms have been occurring in the afternoons over the past three days. I'm watching the season the episode "One Minute" and it gets to the climax where

Spoiler

the two assassins are coming for Hank.

Right at the beginning of the scene where

Spoiler

Hank gets the warning call

, it starts to rain and thunder. It steadily picks up over the next five minutes, but as the episode ends, the rain starts to taper off.

Holy shit, man.

 

[Zeliard]

I love Breaking Bad but it's guilty of much bigger leaps in logic than the scene you are asking about. (i.e. Hank calling Walt from the junky yard and sending him pictures of No-Doze and Gonzo's bodies)

Why was that a leap? Hank was established early on as having a pretty twisted sense of humor. It's a somewhat contrived coincidence, maybe, but I wouldn't call it a leap in logic.

 

[Al-ibn Kermit]

Ok, agreed. He clearly loves his son too. However he doesn't see him as someone who can follow his footsteps. You can see that when he no longer cares about him driving using both feet. He's given up on that dream.

He sees Jesse as someone who can continue his legacy. He's clearly proud of him, you can see that when he tells him Jesse's meth is as good as his. Also he loves him as a son, so in that respect, Jesse is like the son he never had IMO.

I don't think he's just given up on his son, Walt probably believes that there's nothing else he can really teach/give Junior within his remaining months besides enough money to have a secure future.

With Jesse, Walt may have though that he was going to be able to continue some sort of legacy but obviously all that went out the window the second he ran over those two guys that killed the 12 year old, putting both he and Jesse on Gus' shit list. I mean, he clearly has an ego but I think his friendship with Jesse is more important than that.

 

[Drewsky]

It's a somewhat contrived coincidence, maybe, but I wouldn't call it a leap in logic.

Yeah, I would say the thing Breaking Bad is most guilty of is contrived coincidences. They don't bother me at all though.

 

[BoboBrazil]

I watched all 3 seasons recently and fell in love with the show and now I can't wait for season 4. The bad thing is having to wait a week between each new episode Any word on a final season or will this just continue on until it is cancelled?

 

[big ander]

I watched all 3 seasons recently and fell in love with the show and now I can't wait for season 4. The bad thing is having to wait a week between each new episode Any word on a final season or will this just continue on until it is cancelled?

Talk floating around that 5th will be the last but we won't know for a long time.

 

[brianjones]

just rewatched the s3 finale.. so incredible

when victor pulls up at walt's house

they had to make gale so damn likeable too the bastards

 

[BertramCooper]

they had to make gale so damn likeable too the bastards

Honestly, I found Gale uber creepy. He didn't deserve to die, but he gives me the willies.

 

[brianjones]

well he is socially awkward.. he's just a big nerd

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

Gale was kind of underdeveloped to bring back for that final finale moment, IMO. As a dude who was in the background for a couple eps, he worked, but when they brought him back at the end, it didn't quite land for me.

 

[xbhaskarx]

It just makes no sense! Breaking Bad, I expect better from you.

I don't think you understand the difference between things that make sense and things that make no sense.

Gale was kind of underdeveloped to bring back for that final finale moment, IMO. As a dude who was in the background for a couple eps, he worked, but when they brought him back at the end, it didn't quite land for me.

What does this even mean, it made perfect sense in terms of the story, what more do you want?

 

[Shake Appeal]

What does this even mean, it made perfect sense in terms of the story, what more do you want?

It means expecting the audience to feel tense and uneasy about the death of a minor character with minimal screen time is a stretch, especially when that minor character has more or less one dimension, which has largely been played for laughs. I can see what they were trying to do (and anyway the principal work of that scene is making the audience feel tense and uneasy about the fates of Walt -- which is difficult for me, because I think he's irredeemably loathsome -- and Jesse), but it could have been done better and with more emotional weight, and the reason it wasn't is because BB struggles with consistency of tone.

 

[brianjones]

when has gale been played for laughs exactly?

i dont see how it's not tense.. walt's life literally hangs in the balance.. and jesse has never had to kill someone.. especially someone who is generally innocent

 

[Cornballer]

- Desert Sun Interview: 'Everyman' Bryan Cranston at breaking point
- buzzfocus: 5 ‘Breaking Bad’ Questions For Season 4

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

It means expecting the audience to feel tense and uneasy about the death of a minor character with minimal screen time is a stretch, especially when that minor character has more or less one dimension, which has largely been played for laughs. I can see what they were trying to do (and anyway the principal work of that scene is making the audience feel tense and uneasy about the fates of Walt -- which is difficult for me, because I think he's irredeemably loathsome -- and Jesse), but it could have been done better and with more emotional weight, and the reason it wasn't is because BB struggles with consistency of tone.

Exactly this. And it became more ridiculous when Gilligan came out after the finale and said "I try to end every season like a series finale." I'm sorry, but naw, not that ep.

 

[satriales]

Gale was kind of underdeveloped to bring back for that final finale moment, IMO. As a dude who was in the background for a couple eps, he worked, but when they brought him back at the end, it didn't quite land for me.

That moment is not about Gale being killed, it's all about Jesse and how he has just killed an innocent person in order to save Walt.

 

[kehs]

Other than Walt implying and Gus not refuting it, there wasn't any other indication that it was Gus/Mike that called right?

It means expecting the audience to feel tense and uneasy about the death of a minor character with minimal screen time is a stretch, especially when that minor character has more or less one dimension, which has largely been played for laughs. I can see what they were trying to do (and anyway the principal work of that scene is making the audience feel tense and uneasy about the fates of Walt -- which is difficult for me, because I think he's irredeemably loathsome -- and Jesse), but it could have been done better and with more emotional weight, and the reason it wasn't is because BB struggles with consistency of tone.

I don't think the impact was for Gale's death. The impact was supposed to be Jesse murdering someone who didn't deserve it.

 

[Drewsky]

when has gale been played for laughs exactly?

When his apartment was nerdy as you could imagine and he was singing an Italian song in an absurdly high pitched voice.

 

[Dina]

E11 from S03 was such a shocker to me. I never fully realized how far over the edge Walt was.

 

[LaneDS]

When his apartment was nerdy as you could imagine and he was singing an Italian song in an absurdly high pitched voice.

Haven't rewatched S3 yet, but I don't recall thinking Gale was ever portrayed as a vehicle for humor; the stuff you described, to me, was just character building.

 

[Drewsky]

Haven't rewatched S3 yet, but I don't recall thinking Gale was ever portrayed as a vehicle for humor; the stuff you described, to me, was just character building.

In a way it was. But you can't tell me him checking the temperature of his boiling water with a laser thermometer wasn't meant to get a chuckle at least.

 

[HIGH DEF JEFF]

Originally Posted by Vlad:

You don't need to assume that Mike was the one who made the call, it was spelled out in the later episodes. That was Gus' plan all along, to keep Walt around as his way to break away from the Cartel, so he redirected the twins towards Hank and had Mike give him a heads-up so that Hank would eliminate them for him.

As Gus planned it, Hank would have known they were coming, so his law enforcement training plus the fact that he'd be armed (Gus couldn't predict that hank would have been stripped of his gun in the meantime) would have been able to let Hank easily take both of them out.

I know it was Mike that made the call and the motivations behind Gus's plan. Here's what I said:

I also assumed that Mike was in that parking lot lurking somewhere, watching the whole thing. That's how he was able to be specific with the time.


Originally Posted by Zeliard:

Why was that a leap? Hank was established early on as having a pretty twisted sense of humor. It's a somewhat contrived coincidence, maybe, but I wouldn't call it a leap in logic.

"Contrived coincidence"..better way of putting it. Thanks.


Originally Posted by Drewsky:

Yeah, I would say the thing Breaking Bad is most guilty of is contrived coincidences. They don't bother me at all though.

Neither do I. Even in the incident I brought up..it's pretty silly that Hank would call Walt to discuss wife problems in the middle of a supposed double homicide investigation but it was what the writer had to do to let the Walt and Jesse character know what Tuco was up to. I recognize that it's contrived and am guilty of giving it a pass because more often than not the plotting of the show is solid.

 

[kehs]

Neither do I. Even in the incident I brought up..it's pretty silly that Hank would call Walt to discuss wife problems in the middle of a supposed double homicide investigation but it was what the writer had to do to let the Walt and Jesse character know what Tuco was up to. I recognize that it's contrived and am guilty of giving it a pass because more often than not the plotting of the show is solid.

Why? Hank called Marie right after a drug bust in the first (maybe second) episode.

Wow so rewatching the first season my friend noticed something pretty damn interesting.

There is a point where Walt passes out while he is working at the Car Wash after he sees a high-class brunette woman about to get in her car. Then he begins to cough and falls to the ground. Me and my friend are having a discussion on whether or not that Walt thinks this woman is actually Gretchen. Considering all the subtle foreshadows i've been catching on, i'm almost convinced myself.

I had that same thought when I rewatched the episode.

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Wow so rewatching the first season my friend noticed something pretty damn interesting.

There is a point where Walt passes out while he is working at the Car Wash after he sees a high-class brunette woman about to get in her car. Then he begins to cough and falls to the ground. Me and my friend are having a discussion on whether or not that Walt thinks this woman is actually Gretchen. Considering all the subtle foreshadows i've been catching on, i'm almost convinced myself.

 

[HIGH DEF JEFF]

Why? Hank called Marie right after a drug bust in the first (maybe second) episode.

Why why.
To me, there's a difference between calling your wife and brother-in-law. Specifically when you are wrapping up a drug bust or arriving at the scene of a double murder. It's a minor thing that stuck out to me on a re-watch..and when contrasting Hank's behavior in the final scene in "One Minute" vs the phone call scene in "737" it was the phone call scene that felt like a writer using Hank to simply advance the plot.
It's just a nitpicky thing that drew my attention. Nothing to debate about.


==================================

What I'm more interested to see is if anyone can come up with a list of other television characters who went through such drastic growth. Characters that have almost none of the traits they started their respective series with.
Looking at those two pictures posted above of Walt Season 1 and Walt Season 3 made me think of all the shows I've watched over the years, especially all the good serialized shows in the 2000's and I can't think of a single character that changed as much as Walt has.

 

[xbhaskarx]

I don't think the impact was for Gale's death. The impact was supposed to be Jesse murdering someone who didn't deserve it.

.

 

[MightyHealthy]

I don't think he's just given up on his son, Walt probably believes that there's nothing else he can really teach/give Junior within his remaining months besides enough money to have a secure future.

With Jesse, Walt may have though that he was going to be able to continue some sort of legacy but obviously all that went out the window the second he ran over those two guys that killed the 12 year old, putting both he and Jesse on Gus' shit list. I mean, he clearly has an ego but I think his friendship with Jesse is more important than that.

Just to add to this discussion of the Jesse/Walt dynamic, Walt has called him "son" before, and possibly more than once. Whether it's dialect or a Freudian slip, anyone's guess...

 

[Darklord]

Fucking assholes. I came across some piece of shit who posted MASSIVE spoilers for this season. I read one too. And it was a big one, huge even. FUUUUUCK. God, can't I watch 1 show without someone ruining it?

 

[brianjones]

When his apartment was nerdy as you could imagine and he was singing an Italian song in an absurdly high pitched voice.

i didn't see that as supposed to be super funny or anything.. just showing he's quirky and nerdy

 

[Cornballer]

- Q&A: Betsy Brandt On What Makes 'Breaking Bad' So Good

 

[Zeliard]

To get back to the Gale thing for a sec, I understand some people's miffs with it. It actually reminded me a lot of the way that Lost worked sometimes, in that prior to the death of a character, they would feature relatively heavily in that same episode. It was essentially the writers' way of conveying as much info to the audience about that character before they were ultimately removed from the equation, and try to make their death a bit more meaningful.

Vince Gilligan, who wrote the finale of S3, seemed to go with a similar sort of tactic. We hadn't gotten a great deal from Gale before as far as character development, so we got a few scenes featuring him in his apartment doing charmingly innocent, nerdy things in that finale. It was an attempt to do some last-second endearing to the audience. I didn't take that much of an issue with it, particularly since Aaron Paul played that short scene off beautifully, but I can see why some would since most of Gale's character development came in the same episode he was killed.

 

[Wiggum2007]

Fucking assholes. I came across some piece of shit who posted MASSIVE spoilers for this season. I read one too. And it was a big one, huge even. FUUUUUCK. God, can't I watch 1 show without someone ruining it?

That sucks, but do you know how reliable the source of the spoiler was? I remember getting a "spoiler" for Season 3 when it started airing saying that Hank dies.

 

[JoJoShabadoo]

First post on gaf...

Breaking Bad!!! Only 1 week away!! Hell yeah I can't wait to see what happens! Flynn better get that drivers license.