Breaking Bad Season 5 - Official Discussion Thread

[Clinkster]

They wouldn't have killed them. Outside of the crazies and amateurs, experienced "pro" criminals know that killing a cop is the surest way to make sure the law enforcement community will make every effort to run them to ground and then get sympathetic prosecutors to seek the death penalty for them once caught.

Thankfully Hank and Gomez knew better than this. Not that it did them any better...

Fantastic episode, can't believe there's two more left after this. So now Walt goes back to exact vengeance on the Neo Nazi's for ripping him off (killing Hank)? Or maybe something else triggers his return...

 

[Kev]

Thankfully Hank and Gomez knew better than this. Not that it did them any better...

Fantastic episode, can't believe there's two more left after this. So now Walt goes back to exact vengeance on the Neo Nazi's for ripping him off (killing Hank)? Or maybe something else triggers his return...

He doesn't really need anything else to trigger his return... when he was on the phone with skyler he said he had things he needed to take care of. I assume that means the nazis.

 

[kevman]

That episode blew my mind. On the edge of my seat the whole time. My wife even teared up at one point because Holly in the fire truck looked exactly like our daughter who turned 1 today.

Our daughter turned 1 two weeks ago. Same effect that scene had on my wife as well. Great episode.

 

[Clinkster]

He doesn't really need anything else to trigger his return... when he was on the phone with skyler he said he had things he needed to take care of. I assume that means the nazis.

Indeed, though I'm just thinking something will cause him to come sooner rather than later. But we'll see...

I really did enjoy Walt's genius: Kidnapping a child to guarantee an audience with the police to throw himself under the bus and reduce (possibly eliminate) how guilty Skylar looks in the eyes of the law.

 

[BladeVenom]

I really did enjoy Walt's genius: Kidnapping a child to guarantee an audience with the police to throw himself under the bus and reduce (possibly eliminate) how guilty Skylar looks in the eyes of the law.

I agree. That was brilliant.

 

[Rudee]

It was just Walter being desperate. He gave the child back quickly so it had little impact on the story. Walt always has to be in control and that was clearly him trying to show he still had it. He truly is a selfish individual no matter how he tries to spin it.

No it wasn't. The phone call to Skylar was very cleverly thought out by Walt. He kidnapped the baby because he knew the kidnapping would get the FBI to tap the phone line, like they always do in a kidnapping case. Knowing that the phone line would be tapped, he called Skylar on the home phone and took full ownership for all that transpired, including Hanks murder. But more importantly, Walt disclosed that Skylar had no involvement with it whatsoever. Walt was tearing up as he was going full on Heisenberg with Skylar, as he knew he had to say the mean things he did in order to make it believable for the FBI who were tracing the call.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

No it wasn't. The phone call to Skylar was very cleverly thought out by Walt. He kidnapped the baby because he knew the kidnapping would get the FBI to tap the phone line, like they always do in a kidnapping case. Knowing that the phone line would be tapped, he called Skylar on the home phone and took full ownership for all that transpired, including Hanks murder. But more importantly, Walt disclosed that Skylar had no involvement with it whatsoever. Walt was tearing up as he was going full on Heisenberg with Skylar, as he knew he had to say the mean things he did in order to make it believable for the FBI who were tracing the call.

Yeah. Skylar understands what Walt's doing too.

Right after Walt says "You stupid BITCH. How dare you" Skylar looks taken aback and glaces at the police officer beside her, there is a pause as the pieces fit together in her head, and she says "I'm sorry."

And then Walt continues, saying that he built everything, and Skylar says "you're right, you're right." At this point she's playing along, knowing that Walt knows the police are there listening in and absolving her and Walt Jr. of all guilt.

And of course after Skylar asks where Hank is, Walt is crying his eyes out but is doing everything he can to not let out any crying sounds over the phone, doing his best to play the ultimate bad guy to the FBI guys listening in.

 

[Printer Bandit]

i'd like to know what 2 generations in the future would think of this show.

 

[OCGuy]

Great episode. I was getting annoyed with the (seemingly) complete collapse of Walt's intelligence. I did not catch on until near the end of the phone call, with the "I built this, not you" line (paraphrasing).

 

[Newbian]

Sure are wrapping it up fast.

My only complaint was how fast skylar believed everything marie said about walter being arrested when she had every reason to not believe her.

 

[OCGuy]

So Walt Jr. "Broke Bad" (lied to 911 dispatch). Is there anyone left who hasn't?

 

[jpeyton]

I'm a little disappointed, starting near the end of the last episode.

Walt should have manned up, called in the cavalry, and let them take out Hank, Gomez and Jessie in one fell swoop.

His money would have been safe, Hank would have never made that call to Marie, and life would more/less go back to normal.

But now he has no family, a fraction of his money, and a few dead bodies on his collar. I hope the finale isn't some suicide by cop BS. I already know rescuing Jessie is coming up, which is a shame, since he was the root of all of Walt's troubles.

 

[Printer Bandit]

delayed opening credits were a nice touch.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Wow... Im still trying to process what the hell I just watched
Hank and Gomez was predictable, but the whole Walt taking his daughter and planning the call etc was brilliant

The whole thing is just so fucked up at this point, I cant think of any sort of ending that would be even remotely "good"

 

[TeeJay1952]

Sometimes when I order a good steak and I get it as I take each bite I am a little bit sad. Each bite diminishes the total and it will soon be gone. BB has become like that to me. Exquisite but finite.
The roll call for performances in this episode are again extensive. The Writers with fore knowledge of this being final season are pulling out all the stops. The direction takes us places we have thought about but have never been to. The acting sublime. Walt getting Skyler out of the police glare with his reverse on the previous Hank tape was brilliant. The Family dissolution in one episode crowded with other events was well paced and incredulous in it's complexity and inevitable given the circumstances. Todd and his uncle are so good with casual and complete evil. Hank's bravado at his execution made go Hooray for Hank. Walt telling Pinkman that he watched girlfriend die was riveting.
All in all I am satisfied but a little sad and know I will miss this universe.

Breaking Fan
Tee Jay

 

[Gibsons]

Any doubt that Cranston gets another Emmy?

(even if Emmys are lame)

 

[Anubis]

Yeah. Skylar understands what Walt's doing too.

Right after Walt says "You stupid BITCH. How dare you" Skylar looks taken aback and glaces at the police officer beside her, there is a pause as the pieces fit together in her head, and she says "I'm sorry."

And then Walt continues, saying that he built everything, and Skylar says "you're right, you're right." At this point she's playing along, knowing that Walt knows the police are there listening in and absolving her and Walt Jr. of all guilt.

And of course after Skylar asks where Hank is, Walt is crying his eyes out but is doing everything he can to not let out any crying sounds over the phone, doing his best to play the ultimate bad guy to the FBI guys listening in.

yea i got the context but it took a 2nd viewing of it for me to pick up on all the facial queues. walt forceing himself to do it and skyler basiaclly goes blank. it was masterful

 

[NuclearNed]

Our daughter turned 1 two weeks ago. Same effect that scene had on my wife as well. Great episode.

...and mine as well (ie wifey in tears)

 

[Gibsons]

I totally missed this

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Any doubt that Cranston gets another Emmy?

(even if Emmys are lame)

If the process were entirely merit-based, Breaking Bad would have won Best Drama at some point (probably several times), and Cranston would win every year he's eligible. Instead we get things like Homeland winning. (In fairness, the first season of Homeland was very good, though I don't think Damian Lewis even approached the performances Cranston has turned in with every season of BB.) That being said, I do expect Cranston will win again, but Best Drama will go to something like House of Cards.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

At least Walt knows that barrels can ROLL.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Another take on the scene where Walt takes the kid is that he didn't do it to have a reason to get Skyler off the hook. He did it cause she turned on him, then after the scene in the bathroom with the baby calling out for mama, he then came to his senses and had the idea about calling her. The baby calling out mama over and over was one of the most powerful emotional of the series.

 

[Brigandier]

Another take on the scene where Walt takes the kid is that he didn't do it to have a reason to get Skyler off the hook. He did it cause she turned on him, then after the scene in the bathroom with the baby calling out for mama, he then came to his senses and had the idea about calling her. The baby calling out mama over and over was one of the most powerful emotional of the series.

That was my take on it as well. After losing Skylar and Junior, he grabbed what little family he had and left. However, he realized that he couldn't take care of a girl on the run, and that an Amber Alert would make it quite difficult to avoid detection.

 

[MisterJackson]

I totally missed this

Missed what? You mean you missed that part of the episode, or are you now seeing something in that scene you didn't see before? All I see is the barrel of money he's rolling.

 

[ultimatebob]

At least Walt knows that barrels can ROLL.

Heh... Walt has learned a lot since the first season