Breaking Bad

[Drucker]

Couldn't it be just as likely that Jesse is the spray-painter doing the tagging? Since a hit was put out on Jesse (and certainly Todd's uncle put Jesse in the cross-hairs at one moment), wouldn't we expect him, therefore, to live?

[mfunk9786]

What benefit would there be for Jesse to spraypaint Walt's abandoned house? In other words: Why would he do that?

[Roger Ryan]

The story just has to hit the media for someone (perhaps one of those errant skateboarders) to spray paint the house. The tagging speaks more to the legend of Heisenberg than to an accusation.

I agree that the editing was primarily to blame for the lack of plausibility in the gunfight. For me, the scene was unnecessarily extended. A better stopping point for the episode would have been just before the shooting begins...or immediately following the resolution.

[mfunk9786]

What's so fascinating about this damn spraypaint though, is finding out how it comes out to the public that Walt is who he is. Because not only do people have to know he had some secret life, they have to know specifically what went on, what moniker he went by during his dealings, etc. It's not even like all of his drug contacts knew him by the Heisenberg name.

[warren oates]

I agree with Roger Ryan on both points. I'm thinking that perhaps the implausibly edited gunfight cliffhanger was about a storytelling choice made after the filming was done, a decision taken in post production to keep us in suspense until the next episode. So to stretch out that moment and yet still give us the feeling of a seriously intense gunfight blazing, they made a choice to use/steal alternate takes that weren't so great or that didn't show the obvious injuries (if the squibs were going to be done all in post as VFX, you see what I mean) both cops must have received.

The single best argument that Hank's time is up is simply that he's finished his arc, which was to arrest Heisenberg/Walter White legitimately -- not to prosecute him, or visit him in prison later and gloat, etc. One of the many great aspects of the writing of this show is how Vince Gilligan et al. consistently manage to deliver moments like this, that are utterly true to the characters but that still find a way to keep the story going. An especially difficult and impressive task when the characters' needs are in such total conflict. A simpler minded writer would stop at believing there was no way to have both Hank and Walt get what they're destined for, playing out their arcs till the end, and so would boringly choose one at the expense of the other.

I'm with the people who think Walt's big machine gun is for the white supremacists. But who's the ricin for, Lydia? If Jesse scurries off into the desert, and makes it to the final episode alive, as I'm now thinking he will, what will his fate be? Maybe he's not even in jail (because the only cops who have any evidence of what he did are dead), but why is he still in ABQ? Inertia? Is he living with Andrea and Brock? And what's the fallout from that desert shootout going to do to Walt's immediate family? Marie's a widow. And Skyler's already so scared for her kids that she won't let them out of her sight. When she finds out Hank's dead, that could be the last straw for her marriage too.

I had thought that the only episode to take place mostly or fully in flash forward time, one year later, would be the very last one, but now I'm not sure about that either, especially because the title of the penultimate episode appears to be "Granite State."

[Andre Jurieu]

The spray paint in the abandoned house is a clue that someone with knowledge of who Walt was (and even though Marie knows, does she know about all the Heisenberg stuff?) outed him publicly in some way shape or form either before or after he escaped to New Hampshire.

I assumed that word got out and it was just random graffiti, hence his neighbor becoming paralyzed by terror upon seeing him at the end of his drive-way. I also thought maybe the white-supremacists make his identity known.

[warren oates]

I also thought maybe the white-supremacists make his identity known.

I doubt this. If those guys hate anything more than non-whites it's cops and rats. Did you even believe for a second the assertion that they'd put down their weapons if Hank and Gomie showed their badges? If they were through with Walter, they'd rather cap him than narc on him.

[Andre Jurieu]

I doubt this. If those guys hate anything more than non-whites it's cops and rats. Did you even believe for a second the assertion that they'd put down their weapons if Hank and Gomie showed their badges? If they were through with Walter, they'd rather cap him than narc on him.

I didn't think they would rat him out/turn him into the cops. I thought they would basically ruin his life by revealing his identify (I figured they would just provide the story to the press) after they were done with him, basically tossing him to the curb after they are satisfied with Todd's knowledge of the cooking process.

Aside from the white-supremacists, I also thought that the major shoot-out so close to the highway might attract some attention, especially if it results in the death of multiple high-ranking cops.

[domino harvey]

I am already on record as not being all the convinced of this show's brilliance (or even adequacy) but the last third of this episode was remarkably dumb and highly convenient. Maybe if they subvert the telegraphed death of Hank via the phone call I'll allot a little more credit back to the show, but even so this was just lazy and I didn't buy Walt's garrulous reaction to Jesse's plan nor Hank's pushing his luck when he just got a full confession over the phone. I understand being in love with this show and wanting to have its babiez but was any aspect of all this "payoff" really all that satisfying to the hardcore aficionados? And that the show seems to be boiling down to confrontations with the highly uninteresting and indistinguishable supremacists is a case of weird priorities-- Does anyone care at all about these interchangeable white trash hicks?

[domino harvey]

In other news, the Complete Series set comes in a barrel:

[Andre Jurieu]

Wait, why am I supposed to care about the white trash hicks? I assume they are being used as a means to display and comprehend how out-of-depth Walt and Jesse are in comparison, at least when it comes to the immorality they assume is standard practice for their chosen profession. I think Todd's an interesting character in terms of the disparity between his personality and his actions.

I did wonder why Walt didn't clue in so quickly that Jesse was playing him, especially after the line went silent, but we are talking about a massive amount of money that has altered everyone's lives considerably.

[domino harvey]

Wait, why am I supposed to care about the white trash hicks?

Because it seems likely the show is heading towards a final confrontation between Walter White and the other Whites and it doesn't seem particularly satisfying from a dramatic standpoint. Even if I'm wrong and their only function was this firefight and the ensuing, inevitable deaths, that still doesn't seem all that compelling in light of the series' far more memorable villains. I don't dislike them (well, you know what I mean) and it helps that they're played by some capable actors, but I just think of any fifth-string criminal from Justified and this turns to just so much lost potential all over again

[warren oates]

I think the point with the white supremacists is not necessarily that they are Walt/Heisenberg's equals, but that once Walt was done dealing death to all of his truly formidable opponents like Gus and Mike, he's not free and clear but instead still in the criminal shit he created and he may well be done in by the nastiest (Todd's Uncle and friends) and dumbest (Todd) bad guys yet. And there's always Lydia, who is not to be underestimated.

Hank isn't pushing his luck the way he sees it. He's getting Walt "dead to rights," the only way we know he could live with admitting what he knows to the rest of his department. Let's not forget how desperate Hank's been for any break in the case, no matter how cleverly he's played the Jesse card up till now.

Walt falls for the phone picture for the same reason Huell does -- they've both been primed for it. Jesse almost burned down his house, beat up Saul and went off the grid such that Walt's already committed to killing him. I think it's pretty fair to imagine Walt not thinking about the possibility of the van's GPS beforehand and not stumbling over that detail now, when the emotional reality of the fiction Jesse's spinning seems entirely plausible.

Since you're brought up your generalized distaste for the show, I'm actually really curious to hear more of why you think it doesn't measure up, how you think we fans are snowing ourselves. I know you're a fan of The Americans, for instance, against which I could wager just about every claim you've made above -- but to the umpteenth, the Nth and then some -- in spite of the fact that I really want to like it and that it's aiming for similar territory halfway between a character-driven drama and a thriller.

[domino harvey]

Since you're brought up your generalized distaste for the show, I'm actually really curious to hear more of why you think it doesn't measure up, how you think we fans are snowing ourselves.

For the record I don't think any lover of this show is "snowing" themselves. I don't doubt for a second that the fervent fans of the series really do find it a great show and I'm not particularly interested in challenging the show in a fight I know I'd never win (it's like why I didn't bother to rail against Uncle Boonmee or Satantango in their threads-- why bother when everyone else is so convinced of its brilliance?), but the last act of this episode just didn't work for me even within the confines of the series as presented and I had to say something. I completely buy that Walter White would panic and speed out to his hiding space. What I don't buy is that he would very clearly lay out admissions of guilt for many of his sins (I know he rattled off a bunch, but I remember for sure that he admitted to poisoning the kid and killing Fring, which alone would be enough for Hank to nail him) and that later, when caught, Hank and Gomez and Jesse would descend on White without backup and then not call in their locale and then engage in an implausible firefight. This show has at least delivered on that last count with the very effective failed assassination of Hank in the parking lot however many seasons ago, and it had emotional weight and was bloody and realistic and worked within the logic of the series. This just didn't to my eyes.

[warren oates]

I completely buy that Walter White would panic and speed out to his hiding space. What I don't buy is that he would very clearly lay out admissions of guilt for many of his sins (I know he rattled off a bunch, but I remember for sure that he admitted to poisoning the kid and killing Fring, which alone would be enough for Hank to nail him) and that later, when caught, Hank and Gomez and Jesse would descend on White without backup and then not call in their locale and then engage in an implausible firefight. This show has at least delivered on that last count with the very effective failed assassination of Hank in the parking lot however many seasons ago, and it had emotional weight and was bloody and realistic and worked within the logic of the series. This just didn't to my eyes.

Okay, I agree that the long detailed admission was too much, and it did take me out of the moment a little. But the whole reason Hank has only read Gomez alone into this case so far is pretty unassailable -- he knows it will likely mean the end of his career and the only way he's going out is by bringing Walt in himself. He has no special reason to suspect they'll need backup. And the shootout starts just as he's about to notify the tribal police, as per procedure and prudence -- but most of all, because he believes he's got Walt safely in custody now and it doesn't matter who knows.

If the show just doesn't click with/work for you, it doesn't, especially if you aren't connecting with the show's original/overarching goals. If you don't want to say more, that's cool. But I suppose it's pretty difficult for me to imagine anyone doing a much better job with the same material. I think you'd have to be telling a completely different kind of story about different characters. That's why I'm genuinely curious to hear more in depth contrarian takes from board members like you.

[Andre Jurieu]

I have to echo some of warren's point regarding the point of including the white supremacists as the primary antagonists in the shows final season. I don't believe they are being presented as worthy adversaries to Walt. I don't believe that they are meant to be perceived as particularly notable, compelling, or memorable. In fact, I think the point behind them is that they are completely unsatisfying as antagonists after all these years. At the height of his powers, after eliminating the king within his region, Walt believes himself to be an emperor within his industry. Yet what this season has really been successful at conveying is that Walt might have knocked off a very worthy opponent to obtain his position, but his industry isn't as white-collar or sophisticated as he believes he has elevated to be. In the end, crime is always a question of who is willing to set aside morality and take whatever action they deem to be necessary to survive and thrive. The white supremacists or the Mexican drug-lords were caught by surprise by people assuming inferior positions, but the empire is always up for grabs when someone decides they want it badly enough. Walt has thrived by doing whatever was necessary within the small little pool he operated in, but he's over-estimated his size and influence within that pool, and he's made the mistake of thinking that superior intellect and cunning strategy will always win, when in fact nothing really prevents the scum of the earth from just simply kicking you out of your throne once they perceive an opportunity to do so.

Some of the same hubris is what gets Hank into the situation we see at the end of last night's episode - he continues to underestimate the lengths to which Walt and the people within the industry will go to protect themselves. In this case, he has absolutely no idea that Walt would call the white-supremacists or that they would take such decisive action to ensure the superiority of their product.

[Red Screamer]

I'm pretty sure I saw Gomez get hit around the stomach area. Did anyone else see this?

[Luke M]

I am already on record as not being all the convinced of this show's brilliance (or even adequacy) but the last third of this episode was remarkably dumb and highly convenient. Maybe if they subvert the telegraphed death of Hank via the phone call I'll allot a little more credit back to the show, but even so this was just lazy and I didn't buy Walt's garrulous reaction to Jesse's plan nor Hank's pushing his luck when he just got a full confession over the phone. I understand being in love with this show and wanting to have its babiez but was any aspect of all this "payoff" really all that satisfying to the hardcore aficionados? And that the show seems to be boiling down to confrontations with the highly uninteresting and indistinguishable supremacists is a case of weird priorities-- Does anyone care at all about these interchangeable white trash hicks?

I completely agree. Although, I think the trick Hank and Jesse played on Walt was pretty clever, the rest was kinda embarrassing. The call Hank made to his wife was the most telegraphed scene I've seen on this show. I'm holding out hope that they're playing on that cliche and that Hank actually lives. Also, the shootout itself -- guy has his eye on the rifle scope and doesn't hit either of them. Lastly, they show all that monster firepower and then a shot of Todd firing with his pistol in the background... it was almost humorous. Perhaps, I'm being too hard but it just didn't work for me and didn't fit the rest of series.

P.S. I think I'll be disappointed if the final match up is Walt against the white supremacists... because I called it on Aug. 27 and this show had always been impossible to predict.

[flyonthewall2983]

Per Blu-ray.com, details on The Complete Series set and "The Final Season" set.

[Roger Ryan]

Per Blu-ray.com, details on The Complete Series set and "The Final Season" set.

Be careful, there's a little bit of a spoiler regarding the last episode in the detail description!

[Black Hat]

I am already on record as not being all the convinced of this show's brilliance (or even adequacy) but the last third of this episode was remarkably dumb and highly convenient. Maybe if they subvert the telegraphed death of Hank via the phone call I'll allot a little more credit back to the show, but even so this was just lazy and I didn't buy Walt's garrulous reaction to Jesse's plan nor Hank's pushing his luck when he just got a full confession over the phone. I understand being in love with this show and wanting to have its babiez but was any aspect of all this "payoff" really all that satisfying to the hardcore aficionados? And that the show seems to be boiling down to confrontations with the highly uninteresting and indistinguishable supremacists is a case of weird priorities-- Does anyone care at all about these interchangeable white trash hicks?

I have to agree with you on this although I did buy into Walt flipping out when Jesse called but once he got to the desert and saw there was no barrel that should of been the end of it. I also agree that it would be an odd, anticlimactic choice to say the least if the show's final showdown is with the white supremacists.

[swo17]

What should have been the end of it? Within minutes, Jesse shows up and Walt realizes that his hiding place has just been given away. How could he have realistically gotten out of that situation?

[Black Hat]

Wouldn't say he had to get out of it but he was still looking for the barrel and to me at least he should of realized he'd been had sooner. A lot of the episode didn't feel earned to me but shit I'd be lying if the gimmickry doesn't have me chomping at the bit for Sunday.

[Murdoch]

I would have preferred Walt hiding out till the Aryans came and witness Hank and Gomey gunned down and Jesse scurry away, with it all shot from Walt's angle. I know picking how I'd like to see a scene play out after the fact is lame fantasy filmmaking, but there were a lot of ways I'd have liked to see that scene play out in comparison to how it did.

[warren oates]

But then Hank wouldn't get to arrest Walt at all. He'd just be dead. And Walt wouldn't have the horror of living through the hit on his brother-in-law at point blank range, nor the immediate and dangerous obligation to the bad guys who saved him for their own selfish reasons. It seems to me a lot of the nitpickers aren't looking at the big picture of the entire agenda the show's writers have going on at this point. You might disagree with some of their choices in isolation, but when you consider how many different balls they're juggling, how many major characters they need to service and set up for a proper end, etc. -- well, then the result's even more impressive, warts and all.