criterionforum.org

swo17 wrote: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

Exactly. Perhaps Skyler was dangerously naive, but the veil over her eyes wasn't fully lifted until

Spoiler

Walt told her, with a detached pride, that he was directly responsible for the deaths at the nursing home. With that full realization came the breakdown and severe depression that we've witnessed over the last few episodes. Doesn't help that Walt is seemingly reveling in torturing her psychologically.

Skyler is far from blameless, she's a flawed person who should be held accountable for a lot - but she's definitely deserving of a shred or two of sympathy in the situation she's currently in.

mfunk9786 wrote: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.

He's been a monster, or been in the process of becoming one, for quite some time. I'm not saying Skyler isn't at all culpable, but her willingness to admit that she is culpable is what separates her from Walt and his "bullshit rationalizations."

The show's arc probably hasn't done her any favors -- when the series started, she was the hectoring wife, and Walt was the henpecked husband. It was hard not to cheer Walt when he told her to "crawl out of [his] ass" when he just wanted to cook a little meth to provide money for his family before he died. Those first impressions took awhile to dissipate. But now it's pretty clear Walt has replaced that place in his his ass with his own head, and Skyler (and Mike) are the only ones who can see how this is going to end.

Though I think that was deliberate on the show's part. Build it in the first season so that Walt is the most sympathetic character on the show and everyone is unlikable (remember even Hank started as this The Shield type parody) and than the show switches that around. Clearly that hasn't been successful with everyone, but generally I think its worked. Certainly if Walt was a real life person everyone would be asking for his head for all of the damage that he has caused.

I already put myself in Walt's position the whole way 'til now, so it's hard to justify shifting my sympathies at this point. It's not that I'm rooting against everyone else (I find Jesse and Hank more sympathetic than Walt, frankly), but I can understand the behavior that got Walt to this point, and I can understand why he wants to finish what he started.

It's already done though. He excuses his behavior with the family element, but at this point it is all thrill and power. He would not be treating Skylar, nor Jesse, the way he does if it was about anything involving human dignity. There is a point where being sympathetic to a tried and true monster seems like a PSU thing. Yes we have the inner working of his mind and a loving familiarity, but he has killed people, puts out a dangerous product, emotionally abuses loved ones, and even recently raped his wife. No amount of motivation can wipe those crimes away.

Well, there are some financial considerations still since Ted was given all that money right?

The main reason I stopped watching this (about four episodes into season 3) is that I identified so strongly with Walt, and just couldn't take the guilt anymore. I can't imagine sticking it out for another two-and-a-half seasons...

I don't think money's all that big of a concern anymore to Walt. He still needs it of course but the whole Ted thing is just his excuse for starting up again since I think he was going to do it anyway. Walt's sole motivator at this point is the high and power he gets from his position and feeling of invincibility.

flyonthewall2983 wrote:Well, there are some financial considerations still since Ted was given all that money right?

Also, adding on to what Murdoch said, I remember Skyler saying at some point last season that the carwash was actually turning a significant profit on its own. Cleanly.

Sloper wrote:The main reason I stopped watching this (about four episodes into season 3) is that I identified so strongly with Walt, and just couldn't take the guilt anymore. I can't imagine sticking it out for another two-and-a-half seasons...

Wow, not sure what to say to that.

knives wrote:Though I think that was deliberate on the show's part. Build it in the first season so that Walt is the most sympathetic character on the show and everyone is unlikable (remember even Hank started as this The Shield type parody) and than the show switches that around.

Yes, absolutely.

Sloper wrote:The main reason I stopped watching this (about four episodes into season 3) is that I identified so strongly with Walt, and just couldn't take the guilt anymore. I can't imagine sticking it out for another two-and-a-half seasons...

I don't get the stop-watching-the-show part, but I can see the identification with Walt. I think inside every man there's some Walt -- maybe a feeling you haven't lived up to your promise, that you've somehow settled, that you're more anonymous than you think you should be. I certainly felt some catharsis

Spoiler

at the end of season 4 -- the "I won" after he defeated Gus was pretty powerful.

But since then he's been such a bastard that I sort of can't wait to see how he gets his comeuppance. Maybe I only identified with him as long as he was an underdog.

I'd probably be 100% against Walt right now were it not for the cold opening of the first episode. He is such a beaten, desperate man in that scene it makes all of his bravado and bullshit now kind of sad to watch.

mfunk9786 wrote:Stop Hating TV Wives: In Praise of Breaking Bad's Skyler White

I'm going to assume that LQ encouraged you to post this, thus cementing her as The One Who Knocks in your household.

She is the one who knocks, yes. But believe it or not, I posted that myself. Don't hurt me, hon.

LQ IS THE DANGER

But who is truly the boss?

Our cats.

I think I stopped breathing for a few minutes there.

Wow. Just wow.

And a couple of nice Heat references: Hank mentioning the Blu-ray, the heist at the end worthy of Mann's work. And not to mention...

Spoiler

Todd totally pulled a Waingro on that kid.

Perfect hour of television

Season Two of FNL 4 lyfe

Spoiler

Did I just see a train robbery!? I did! That's just one reason why this show is awesome.

And yes, I also stopped breathing during a few moments of the episode.