Breaking Bad

[mfunk9786]

There was such an outstanding level of humor in that cold open - it's amazing that, when writing a script for something so serious and so driven by the complicated plot, Gilligan's scripts in particular manage to cram in so many fantastic jokes.

[willoneill]

I thought the cold open was so great that it made me not care that it was technically bullshit.

Spoiler

AEDs will only deliver a charge when they detect fibrillation or tachycardia; it wouldn't have done anything in this case.

[Roger Ryan]

There was such an outstanding level of humor in that cold open - it's amazing that, when writing a script for something so serious and so driven by the complicated plot, Gilligan's scripts in particular manage to cram in so many fantastic jokes.

Given how the open (initially) seemed unrelated to the main storyline (at least more so than usual), it felt like an homage to SIX FEET UNDER!

[Professor Wagstaff]

There was such an outstanding level of humor in that cold open - it's amazing that, when writing a script for something so serious and so driven by the complicated plot, Gilligan's scripts in particular manage to cram in so many fantastic jokes.

I feel like the average episode of Breaking Bad or Mad Men end up being funnier than most comedic movies/shows I watch, or at least more memorable. Certainly I laughed more at that storyline involving magnets than I did at the last two or three comedies I saw in the theatre.

[cdnchris]

Franch.

[solaris72]

I thought the cold open was so great that it made me not care that it was technically bullshit.

Spoiler

AEDs will only deliver a charge when they detect fibrillation or tachycardia; it wouldn't have done anything in this case.

Spoiler

From the manual for a PowerHeart AED G3:

USING MANUAL OVERRIDE (MANUAL MODE)

For use by qualified ALS personnel only. The AED has a manual override feature which overrides the AED’s automatic analysis protocol. By entering this mode, the rescuer is taking responsibility to identify a shockable rhythm and to administer a shock. The default setting for the manual override is "enabled". When enabled, the Manual Override function allows the user to charge the AED and deliver a shock at the user's discretion. After the shock button is pushed or 30 seconds has elapsed, the device will automatically exit the manual mode and return to the AED mode.

[mfunk9786]

The Breaking Bad Insider Podcast is always a good listen - their attention to detail when putting this show together is staggering. For example, they had to make a last-minute alteration to the scene discussed in the previous post, because Germans traditionally wear their wedding bands on their right hands, not their left hands like Americans typically do.

[flyonthewall2983]

Spoiler

Leave it to this show to start off with Mike being awesome cooling down one of his men making sure he knows he'll be kept whole, pepper in some obscure Simpsons references, have the whole family sit down and enjoy Scarface and end it on a gloomy fucking note.

[mfunk9786]

What Simpsons references?

[knives]

Damn, the scene between Marie and Skylar has to be their most effective moment yet.

[flyonthewall2983]

What Simpsons references?

Box factory, "double guitars".

[mfunk9786]

I stand corrected. I hope those are indeed Simpsons references, though it would've been better if Walt had said he went to one on a field trip.

[flyonthewall2983]

As cool as the scene was when Skinny Pete was laying it down on the piano, it was also a little sad and mirrored Jesse's potential as an artist a few seasons back. Kind of shows these people weren't raised to be fuck-ups by society's standards, but something still went horribly wrong.

[knives]

Except Badger. I think he has brain damage.

[The Narrator Returns]

Spoiler

For the cancer to come back.

Ouch.

[LQ]

Spoiler

For the cancer to come back.

Ouch.

I feel like that's the most brutally honest thing I've ever heard uttered on television. Anna Gunn's work during that scene was.... jesus. Breathtaking.

[cdnchris]

I'm not the only one who finds Jesse's character one of the most heartbreaking characters on TV right now am I? I remember wanting to punch him the first season but his character really grew and became much more complicated as the show went. Paul was great in seasons 2, 3, and 4, but this season I'm finding him such a tragic figure more so (even more so than what happened to him in season 2) because of the amount of loyalty he has to Walt despite the fact Walt is obviously his biggest problem right now. Hell, both Mike and even Gus were better father figures for him (even though it's likely Gus would have killed him eventually.) It's especially painful because Jesse tries to do the right thing but his loyalty to Walt just puts him down the wrong path every time.

Spoiler

The one episode this season where he finds the planted "ricin" and breaks down actually almost moved me to tears, despite the fact I knew what Walt had done. And I found the moment when Jesse got him the watch for his birthday really touching. Jesse just has this sincerity to him. And then I was so angry when Walt turned that watch, a caring gesture on Jesse's part, into a victory. This is the only show I can think of where I've been so emotionally tied to the characters and events to such an extreme degree. If Jesse ends up biting it by the end of the show I think I'll be absolutely devastated.

And yes, to Anna Gunn's scene and that particular line, I did get the chills.

[Murdoch]

I love that after all that's happened Jesse still calls Walt "Mr. White."

[cdnchris]

That's always been a great touch. I'm pretty sure Jesse has never referred to him by his first name, even when he was pretty sure he was going to kill him. I'm sure someone would correct me if I'm wrong. I'm guessing the time will come when Jesse refers to him as "Walt" and when that happens it will be because things are about to get really, really ugly.

[flyonthewall2983]

I think he called him Walt once or twice, can't remember where though. I really noticed this when he broke down when the ricin was found in the first episode, and Jesse had his meltdown near the couch. As weird as it sounds, I like that both Jesse and Walt are as near the same page as they'll probably ever be during the entire show. The scene of them hanging out watching Three Stooges last week was among my favorite scenes of the season so far.

[essrog]

Spoiler

For the cancer to come back.

Ouch.

I feel like that's the most brutally honest thing I've ever heard uttered on television. Anna Gunn's work during that scene was.... jesus. Breathtaking.

Agreed. I've always found the Skyler hate among many viewers baffling (and it's not just men who hate her, either), but if there are any of them left after this episode, I honestly don't know what show they're watching.

[mfunk9786]

I don't know what it says about me that I'm still rooting for Walt... but I'm still rooting for Walt. It seems like he's doing everything he can to arrange a situation where he can support his family and eliminate anyone who could possibly cause them harm, and even though it's obviously not going to end well, I don't know if Skyler, having bought into this last season hook line and sinker, has much of a case at this point. If she balked from the beginning and got the hell out of dodge, it'd be one thing. But she was fine when the money was rolling in the first time around.

[LQ]

It seems like he's doing everything he can to arrange a situation where he can support his family and eliminate anyone who could possibly cause them harm

You can't be serious. Walt is the only one who is not "possibly", but actively causing his family harm. Whatever his motivations were back in season 1, he is choosing to continue pursuing this life out of megalomaniacal hubris and nothing but. I think this season has made that abundantly, blatantly clear.

[mfunk9786]

Perhaps, but I still don't really have much sympathy for Skyler. Suddenly she's decided she wants the train to stop, and since Walt won't pull the handbrake, he's instantly a monster.

[swo17]

Up until a few weeks ago though, I don't think she was aware that bodies were dropping (including ones close to her) as a result of Walt's actions. And Walt is a monster now. He was a little more sympathetic and kind to Skyler while rising to the top, but now he treats everyone and everything around him as subservient. Note the chilling tone in his last couple pillow talks with Skyler.