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Breaking Bad - Season 4 - Sundays on AMC
- Thread starter Cornballer
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Black Mamba
Member
Loved this episode. Especially loved the ending with Skyler laying things on the table as they are.
The power struggle between them is very compelling. Tonight it starts with Skyler trying to assert control over Walt because of her anxiety and Walt instead takes control by claiming he's the one people should be afraid of (almost implying her as well). Then it ends with Walt trying to reassure her he's protecting them but she lays it out that she's the one doing all the real protecting while he's just put them all in harm's way.
The dichotomy there was just brilliant writing, IMO. So good. Season has been put into 4th gear. Can't wait for 5th.
The power struggle between them is very compelling. Tonight it starts with Skyler trying to assert control over Walt because of her anxiety and Walt instead takes control by claiming he's the one people should be afraid of (almost implying her as well). Then it ends with Walt trying to reassure her he's protecting them but she lays it out that she's the one doing all the real protecting while he's just put them all in harm's way.
The dichotomy there was just brilliant writing, IMO. So good. Season has been put into 4th gear. Can't wait for 5th.
Net_Wrecker
Member
"I AM THE ONE WHO KNOCKS!"
"But y'know what Walt? Someone has to protect this family from the man who protects this family."
SOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD
"But y'know what Walt? Someone has to protect this family from the man who protects this family."
SOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD
Granger Danger
Member
Oh the hubris. This can't end well...
This episode was solid gold from start to finish. So many brilliant scenes.
milkyjay20
Member
Granger Danger said:
Oh the hubris. This can't end well...
seriously... i guess he forgot about shaking like a leaf the last time he ran into gus.
still tho, i couldn't help but laugh when he wouldn't let the original car wash owner keep his first dollar. "as is." lol. and then making those honduran ladies clean up for him, saluting them with his coffee lol. at least he tried to protect them, showing that he's at least got a smidge of decency left.
milkyjay20
Member
Persona7 said:
which is how meth heads actually look. i always found it weird that jesse and his pals look more like your average dudebros than your average methheads. (the skinny one.. he just looks skinny and unkempt.) then there's that scene where jesse destroys his little brother's joint, saying "it's only skunk weed anyway." (give it to me then!!) i get the impression that the writers need to wiki up about drugs.
none of that even really matters. i'd prefer them to know more about the human condition than about drugs, and they have not failed in that regard. BB is as much a show about drugs as sopranos is about the mafia.
Another great episode. Walt is set on the path to self-destruction now and burning so many bridges as he goes - that outburst to Skylar was pretty staggering, although her decision to return home was more emotionally powerful. The episode was a bit on-the-nose with its themes, and I hope Walt starts to suffer the consequences of his narcissism soon (the last few eps have all revolved around him making the situation worse for himself, would be dramatically nice to see that now play out a little bit), but this really is proving to be a tour-de-force season once again.
Here's a far more detailed analysis of the episode I wrote. Obviously DON'T click through if you want to avoid spoilers.
Here's a far more detailed analysis of the episode I wrote. Obviously DON'T click through if you want to avoid spoilers.
sixteen-bit
Member
Is it next week yet? 
Granger Danger
Member
They always do. Remember Skank and Scooge from season 2?Persona7 said:
blame space
Banned
not all meth heads look like the mugshots, though. i've seen people that live for the stuff but look perfectly normal. in fact some people go in completely the opposite direction and become obsessed with being clean, brushing their teeth, etc.milkyjay20 said:
i think Breaking Bad is substantially more about drugs than The Sopranos is about the mafia. the reason the show can do what it does with the audience's emotions and morality is because it presents us with a man who who needs (needed?) to provide for his family. Walt started cooking meth because a) he's really fucking good at it, and b) he saw it as his only viable option for he and his family to survive.
whether or not any of that matters now is up in the air, but it's incomparable to the mafia's role in The Sopranos. Tony Soprano breaks the law because he can, Walter White breaks the law because he has to.
Granger Danger
Member
Other than Skyler's line the cheese was intentional, to show how hubristic Walt has become. Same with the over-the-top dollar bill scene.D4Danger said:
Cornballer
Member
Reviews:
- Sepinwall's review
- Onion A|V Club
- memles
- Jessica Winter subbing for Poniewozik on Time.com
- Todd VanDerWerff @ LA Times
- NY Magazine
- Matt Zoller Seitz @ Salon.com
Other media:
- Inside Episode 6
- Sneak peek at next week's episode (please spoiler tag discussion)
- Insider podcast
- Preview for next week
- AMC Q&A - RJ Mitte (Walter Jr.)
- Sepinwall's review
- Onion A|V Club
- memles
- Jessica Winter subbing for Poniewozik on Time.com
- Todd VanDerWerff @ LA Times
- NY Magazine
- Matt Zoller Seitz @ Salon.com
Other media:
- Inside Episode 6
- Sneak peek at next week's episode (please spoiler tag discussion)
- Insider podcast
- Preview for next week
- AMC Q&A - RJ Mitte (Walter Jr.)
Cornballer
Member
Poniewozik with a quick note about that scene from last night, via Twitter:
dave is ok
aztek is ok
Bryan Cranston really nails any scene where he has to raise his voice
milkyjay20
Member
blame space said:
hmm, you learn something new everyday. my main druggie encounters are crackheads and pillheads.... i really should go out and meet some methheads.
i agree with your post, but i was thinking of it differently. i was thinking of shows that are focused on its gimmick, while leaving drama on the backburner.
backflip10019
Member
Really enjoyed last night's episode. The only gripe with it was that Walt buying Walt Jr. the brand new red sports car did not seem like a real moment at all. Yes, I understand that Walt's hubris is getting in the way of his judgment, but I still don't believe that he would do something SO glaring and against his careful and calculated nature, especially since Walt Jr. has never seemed like a character that needed to be won over in terms of his relationship with Walt -- Jr. has always been on his side.
The rest of the episode was very good, but that decision really took me out of the realism of the moment for a while.
What did you want him to say? This is how people argue in real life. Great writing is best when it feels real.
The rest of the episode was very good, but that decision really took me out of the realism of the moment for a while.
D4Danger said:
What did you want him to say? This is how people argue in real life. Great writing is best when it feels real.
tycoonheart
Member
backflip10019 said:
Maybe Walt realized Skylar wouldn't let them keep the car for long and would have him return it?
backflip10019
Member
Yeah, but as Walt said, he knew that would crush Jr. Hell, it would crush any kid. Seems like that would completely defeat the purpose of buying it in the first place to mend his relationship with his son. It just seems like Walt's decision to get Jr. a new car came out of nowhere as a means to damage Walt and Skyler's relationship further.tycoonheart said:
tycoonheart
Member
backflip10019 said:
And that would make Skylar look bad in the eyes of Jr. Walt, again, comes out on top. Walt becomes the dad that wanted to buy his son a car and Skylar is the "bitch mom" who made them return it.
backflip10019
Member
True, but I don't think that Walt would do that at the expense of his son's feelings. Would any parent really buy an expensive, hot new car for their child just to have the other take it away, especially when they were actually starting to get along again? Yes, it would be Skyler who came off as the "bitch mom," but Jr. would still be crushed. For someone who claims he did everything for the family, I don't think Walt would do that.tycoonheart said:
user8503492
Banned
Great episode!
Funny shit tho for me is I posted on my facebook that True Blood was horrible last night and is in decline saying it has jumped the shark at some points. I then ended my Facebook comment saying at least Breaking Bad was great as usual and Walts "Knock on the door" speech was epic.
WOW! did I bring hate down on myself!
This comment had me laughing, from a old friend from highschool whos now a body builder..
Wow...go get gang banged by Breaking Bad cast...lol
Funny shit tho for me is I posted on my facebook that True Blood was horrible last night and is in decline saying it has jumped the shark at some points. I then ended my Facebook comment saying at least Breaking Bad was great as usual and Walts "Knock on the door" speech was epic.
WOW! did I bring hate down on myself!
This comment had me laughing, from a old friend from highschool whos now a body builder..
Wow...go get gang banged by Breaking Bad cast...lol
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
Sara Paquin is my favorite arktrice.
dave is ok
aztek is ok
Sarah Packwin is an Oscar winner. Does Breaking Bad have any of those? No
blame space
Banned
remember the movie with her and the geese
i think i liked that movie
i think i liked that movie
sixteen-bit
Member
Facebook comments, man.
backflip10019
Member
Well, they were contrived. Somebody wrote them.D4Danger said:
As far as I can remember, I don't think Walt has ever verbalized his egomania to Skyler before this scene. Most of the time, he had appeared apologetic to her, reassuring her in a friendly, nonthreatening way that they were safe. As a result, she began to trust him, going so far as to make plans for him to move back into the house. I would imagine that in hindsight, we'll see this as a turning point in their relationship, as I would assume that the writers wanted to push Walt to the limits of his mania and genuinely scare Skyler.
The language that they used in this scene is meant to be succinct and forceful, which personally I think it accomplished. Walt was essentially recycling what she said when he said things like "I am the danger" and "I am the one who knocks." I liked the dialogue in the scene for its simplicity; if the writers had gone anywhere else, the gravity of the scene probably would have suffered.
Granger Danger
Member
Jean is not a goose, she's a phoenix.blame space said:
user8503492
Banned
Imm0rt4l said:
You dont have to tell me anything I dont know, we actually stopped being friends after high school because of his douchebaggatry like the above coment he left when I stated my opinion that True Blood has jumped the shark and Breaking Bad is amazing as usual.
I recently responded back to his coment just trying to explain that TB was "OK" its first season but has been on a rapid decline due to a see through plot line and far to many chracters the writers refuse to kill off and to many throw away story lines that are just filler.
He justified it by trying to explain to me how the books have all this closure and how TB shows "the portrayal of vampires in the True Blood world is the way they should be shown. Bad ass, strong, horny & violent. Not some Twilight glittery sissies."
And Breaking Bad just promotes Meth and could never come close to excellence that TB is...
I not very good at argueing with idiots so I think I might just let his comment go unreplied and bask in his ability to turn his brain off when he watches TV.
Well Im off to my gang bang!
Cornballer
Member
Tell Gilligan that GAF says hi!Pkm said:
sixteen-bit
Member
blame tumblr's gif limitSpeevy said:
sixteen-bit
Member
This season seems to have more product placement than usual Denny's and Sony Vaio come to mind, but I didn't find it too distracting.Cardigan said:
Oh yeah, I forgot about those. It doesn't bother me terribly, it's just somewhat disappointing because Breaking Bad always seemed to have lots of integrity. Not saying it doesn't have integrity now, but it's lessened._dementia said:
Same can be said for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
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