Breaking Bad

[Drucker]

Interesting picture - especially considering Jesse's hair and beard this season. However, I don't think Walt drives a Volvo, does he?

Looks like it.

[flyonthewall2983]

It's not the car he pulls up to his house in during the latest cold open.

[rspaight]

Walt doesn't drive a Volvo, it's a Chrysler 300. (Chrysler has a product placement deal with BB that also covers Junior's Dodge Challenger and Hank's Jeep Commander, which has turned into a Dodge Durango with this past episode.) (EDIT: oh, yeah, he does have a Volvo in the cold open of "Live Free Or Die.")

Other BB car nerdery: the "success" of the car wash has allowed Skyler to upgrade her ancient Jeep Grand Wagoneer to a new Ford Edge.

Spoiler

But it's an interesting theory, given the strong parallels (vomit knee towel, hushed conversation with former associate in cover business) with Gus that we saw on Sunday.

It's not the car he pulls up to his house in during the latest cold open.

Spoiler

The big red Caddy is the car that has the machine gun in the trunk. It apparently came free with the machine gun. The Volvo was left at the Denny's (or maybe the gun dealer took it).

[matrixschmatrix]

Did we ever see Walt not taking his whiskey on the rocks? From the way Hank already knew it, I was assuming that was always what he did.

[Sloper]

Spoiler

It was a nice touch when we saw him cutting the crusts off his bread - originally he did this out of consideration for Crazy 8, then he seems to do it as a kind of tribute or memorial to him (sort of a reminder to his conscience), but I guess over time this becomes a way of absorbing the identities of his victims, and thereby obliterating his own. Maybe. I'm not a huge fan of the show, but it's quite a clever and poignant way to sign-post the character's development.

[mfunk9786]

My Way

[flyonthewall2983]

Ahem

[mfunk9786]

Hahahaha sorry about that! Warrants reporting anyway - brilliant

[OnOnt]

Did we ever see Walt not taking his whiskey on the rocks? From the way Hank already knew it, I was assuming that was always what he did.

During the infamous bar scene with Walt and Mike, I remember it that Walt first ordered his on the rocks and then Mike ordered his neat.

[matrixschmatrix]

The Walt-is-imitating-Gus thing is true enough, anyway- on the commentary for Live Free or Die, Gilligan confirms it (and says 'maybe' when asked if the Volvo Walt's driving in the opening was chosen as a reference to Gus's.)

[domino harvey]

You really have to wonder why it took Hank so long to connect the dots:

Spoiler

[flyonthewall2983]

Spoiler

My favorite non-garage scene from Sunday's episode has Walt discussing the air fresheners with Skylar. In the midst of all the chaos he created for himself and everyone around him, it's easy to forget how good he became at business.

[matrixschmatrix]

Really? Took that as a reminder of what a micromanaging, controlling asshole Walter can't help being at this point

[flyonthewall2983]

What's a good businessman, if not a micromanaging controlling asshole?

[Luke M]

Spoiler

It was a nice touch when we saw him cutting the crusts off his bread - originally he did this out of consideration for Crazy 8, then he seems to do it as a kind of tribute or memorial to him (sort of a reminder to his conscience), but I guess over time this becomes a way of absorbing the identities of his victims, and thereby obliterating his own. Maybe. I'm not a huge fan of the show, but it's quite a clever and poignant way to sign-post the character's development.

Spoiler

Also, can't forget how we saw that flash-forward scene with Walt arranging his bacon into a 55 just like Skylar had done.

[mfunk9786]

A 52, actually.

[Roger Ryan]

A 52, actually.

Fortunately - I'd hate to think we'd have nearly four years of events to plow through in seven episodes!

[Andre Jurieu]

Fortunately - I'd hate to think we'd have nearly four years of events to plow through in seven episodes!

Well, they are pretty good at avoiding the standard TV-drama practice of stretching out of the expected events within their storyline to the point where it starts to get boring (I often worry that's what will happen to Hannibal), and instead moving the plot ahead by confronting obstacles almost immediately. I think if Breaking Bad were just another network drama, with the usual 22-episode seasons that always just wind up dragging towards the season finale, we might still be stuck figuring out how Walt and Jesse avoid getting killed by Tuco. Having said that, yeah, four years in seven episodes would be ambitious even for Gilligan & his crew.

[flyonthewall2983]

You mean Walt and Jesse, right?

Hell, I'm wondering how they're going to cram 10 months or whatever it is into the next 7 episodes.

[Andre Jurieu]

You mean Walt and Jesse, right?

Yup! Noted and corrected.

[matrixschmatrix]

Do we know how long the Crystal Blue Persuasion montage covers? I feel like they tell us that it's about three months (Marie says something about having had the kids for that long, I think?) but I don't remember exactly. I'm assuming we're going to get a similar timejump somewhere in the next 7 episodes, perhaps time Walt spends in total retreat in New Hampshire.

[cinemartin]

Yeah - Marie said 3 months since they had the kids, which they got on Walt's 51st birthday. That was just before Walt decided to "retire". The latest episode he yelled Jesse he's been out of the business for a month. So by my count, there is 8 months of narrative time to fill.

[knives]

This remains the funniest show on television with the Scrooge McDuck bit tonight.

[flyonthewall2983]

Spoiler

Heisenburnt

[cinemartin]

I'll send you to Belize.