Breaking Bad - Season 5 (AMC) (3 Viewers)

[Greg_S_H]

Just a thought: Breaking Bad is the Star Wars prequels done right.

 

[Lou Sytsma]

Just a thought: Breaking Bad is the Star Wars prequels done right.

I don't see the connection at all. Please expand on this.
As to the midseason finale - what a great episode of misdirection. A series of meetings with layered agendas where our perceptions have been led to imagine the worst possible outcomes and what transpires is much more pedestrian. The last scenes by the pool were so tense as I kept expecting something violent to happen.
The musical montages were awesome as were the song selections.

 

[SamT]

The last scenes by the pool, the moment I saw Hank going inside, I knew he is going to find out and that's how it ends. This is the second time they couldn't surprise me! Last was Mike's death by Walter.

 

[MarkMel]

Argh, the wait is going to kill me.
I don't know how Walt can think he's out. Skyler should have shown him the locker of cash before he made his deal for distribution and the deal with Lydia. I think he could've got out clean at that point.
People are going to be expecting the product and I don't think they'll take kindly to the tap being shut off.
Jessie with the gun after Walt left, he thought Walt was coming for him and his face when he realized that wasn't the case. - awesome
Crystal Blue Persuasion - another great song pic.
The dragged out the scene at the pool, I kept thinking that something was going to happen - like a plane falling out of the sky.
As for Hank finding the book, all Walt has to do is deny, deny, deny. If that's all Hank has, it's pretty flimsy. They made a point to have Jessie and Walt talk about 'burner' cell phones and not leaving messages, so phone records and taps won't show much. Plus, Hank thinks Walt is wimp/pushover - not possible for him to be a criminal mastermind.
I don't think it's going to be Hank that takes Walt down, I think it will be someone that still wants his product.

 

[TravisR]

The last scenes by the pool were so tense as I kept expecting something violent to happen.

Me too. There were a couple shots where you could see the fence and I expected Todd to pop up and start shooting people. That wouldn't make any sense but I was still waiting for it.

As for Hank finding the book, all Walt has to do is deny, deny, deny. If that's all Hank has, it's pretty flimsy.

From a legal standpoint but Hank will just use that book as the catalyst to start investigating Walt. Hank will probably become convinced when he looks at things like Walt's cancer diagnosis coinciding with Heisenberg appearing on the scene, Walt being a chemistry genius, a gas mask the DEA found coming from a Walt's high school lab, Hank believes that Jesse is Walt's pot dealer and he knows that Jesse is involved with the blue meth, Walt just happening to be at a DEA sting when they were surveilling Badger, Walt's huge 'gambling' winnings (Marie will probably reveal that Walt paid Hank's massive medical bills), Walt buying a car wash, Hank having shared snippets of Gale's murder investigation and investigation of Gus with Walt, Walt causing a car wreck when Hank was trying to get a look at Gus' laundry and Skyler's recent erratic beahvior. Once he puts all of those things together, I think he'll start talking to Skyler and that's when things could go real bad for Walt.

 

[Quentin]

My problem is using the W.W. as a 'spark' for Hank. Really? The flashback alone reminded us that he'd already gone down the path of trying to figure out who W.W. was and "Walter White" came up and he dismissed it!
Nothing has happened since then that would cause him to now think W.W. is, in fact, Walter. In fact, I'd argue he has more sympathy for Walter now and be less inclined to be suspicious of him.
I realize they have to use SOMETHING to get Hank back on his tracks. And, this episode was otherwise brilliant. But, that moment on the can rang false to me.

 

[TonyD]

My problem is using the W.W. as a 'spark' for Hank. Really? The flashback alone reminded us that he'd already gone down the path of trying to figure out who W.W. was and "Walter White" came up and he dismissed it!
Nothing has happened since then that would cause him to now think W.W. is, in fact, Walter. In fact, I'd argue he has more sympathy for Walter now and be less inclined to be suspicious of him.
I realize they have to use SOMETHING to get Hank back on his tracks. And, this episode was otherwise brilliant. But, that moment on the can rang false to me.

True, but the the thought was already planted in his mind even
if it was justa throw away quickie joke.
Now he finds the same note in a book In Heisenberg's bathroom the
thought is there again and now he will be very suspicious of him
and will certainly try to make a stronger connection.
What would have been a better way to
make the connection for Hank?

 

[Walter C]

Originally Posted by MarkMel /t/319056/breaking-bad-season-5-amc/240#post_3970259
Jessie with the gun after Walt left, he thought Walt was coming for him and his face when he realized that wasn't the case. - awesome

For a while there, I thought that bag would have the body of Todd, since looking at the angle it was shown, and the way Jesse opened it hesitantly.

I said it last season, and just knew that scene from last season (and shown in the flashback) with the initials "W.W.", was a foreshadow of Hank finding out about Walt. What I did not realize that it would be that book that would connect the dots for Hank.

And there is the initials of GB written in the book as well, which I would think, would be too much of a coincidence (sp?) to Hank, to at least look into Walt.

Overall, what a way to close out the 1st half of the season!

 

[TravisR]

Now he finds the same note in a book In Heisenberg's bathroom the
thought is there again and now he will be very suspicious of him
and will certainly try to make a stronger connection.

Plus, Gale Boetticher's initials even close the inscription in the book. Maybe it's convenient for Hank to have found the book or for Walt to have kept it but Hank would absolutely make the connection when he sees what's written in the book.

 

[joshEH]

Had some trouble logging in over the holiday, but it seems to have gotten fixed. So anyway...my belated thoughts (and there's a whole lot of 'em):

• Oh god, so much shanking. I've seen entire series-runs of crime shows with less shanking than that montage.
• Good Lord, the murder of the lawyer will haunt me for a few months. That is "Casino"-level carnage.
• To think this all could have been averted with a better magazine-selection.
• ...Well, Hank, that's what you get for having a "buyer's market" mentality with one of the biggest drug operations to ever exist (on cable).
• I cackled when the opening notes to "Crystal Blue Persuasion" started. I'll probably listen to that another 10 times this week. And how long have they been keeping that track in their holster? Bet that one was burning a hole in Gilligan's pocket.
• Hank cockin' on the pot -- a very Stephen King-ish place to have a show-altering, Keyzer Soze-type scene. Have they ever done a flashback like that? I mean, I know they've done flashbacks before, but I mean one that uses actual previously-seen footage and dialogue. It was hilariously fitting that Hank is taking a shit when he has this "oh shit" moment.
• Also, I love that he's going to end up taking a year-long shit. Jack Bauer's so jealous right now.
• The quick Saul-scene was gold. Nice to see him having a real moment, alone, without having to put on his whole lawyer-act.
• I loved the callback to the time Walt punched the shit out of that towel dispenser. That often popped into my head whenever somebody would act like the guy had always been an evil sociopath waiting to happen. At that moment, Walt hated himself so much, he was actually angry he was going to live.
• Jesse seems to actually understand the danger inherent when Walt knocks.
• During the big cookout, I didn't know if I should expect a grenade to get tossed onto the patio, or if Todd was going to show up and mow everyone down, or what. I was especially tense after the "baby car-cam" view of Walt Jr. pushing Holly around.

My complaint about the episode is that it felt like a season's worth of transition in about 30 minutes.
But oh, oh holy sweet goddamn. Finally, Hank knows. And now, knowing, no one else knows that he knows, so now he has to weigh the possible collateral damage to his life and career if he spills it and arrests Walt, or does he just let him go off into the sunset?
I mean, by now, 3+ months after all of the shankings, no one can really say that there was much else that could have been done if all of their leads were dead and gone. OH, MAN, THIS IS GONNA BE A SLOW FUCKING YEAR.

 

[joshEH]

Plus, Gale Boetticher's initials even close the inscription in the book. Maybe it's convenient for Hank to have found the book or for Walt to have kept it but Hank would absolutely make the connection when he sees what's written in the book.

In Episode 3, Walt officially moved back into the White family-house. Unpacks a box, takes out the book, and goes "heh":

Gale Boetticher got the last laugh.

 

[TravisR]

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/content/type/61/id/166419/width/500/height/1000

4, 3, 2, 1. Earth below us...

 

[TonyD]

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/content/type/61/id/166417/width/500/height/1000
. Finally, Hank knows. And now, knowing, no one else knows that he knows, so now he has to weigh the possible collateral damage to his life and career if he spills it and arrests Walt, or does he just let him go off into the sunset?
I mean, by now, 3+ months after all of the shankings, no one can really say that there was much else that could have been done if all of their leads were dead and gone. OH, MAN, THIS IS GONNA BE A SLOW FUCKING YEAR.

He cant arrest him yet there is no evidence.
Hank will investiagte, probably on his own. I doubt he will confide that info to anyone right away.

 

[Greg_S_H]

I don't see the connection at all. Please expand on this.

It's not really worth taking up more thread time, but I mean it's a much more realistic portrayal of a character's corruption and fall. Granted, they have 80 hours versus 7 and a half.
I guess everyone had their own fear of what might happen by the pool. I had the irrational idea that the ricin was somehow in the sunscreen that Walt Jr. Was putting on Holly. Of course, when Holly coughed at Hank's house, I thought, "Oh no."
I'm thinking maybe Hank will say, through gritted teeth, "Take your family and get out of here." That's how they're in New England (via Saul's guy). Maybe Declan and Co. will kill Hank, and that's why Walt is back to take care of them.

 

[joshEH]

Rewatching this last night, I quite like that they didn't feel the need to have everyone in the prison-massacres each killed in a unique, creative way. There was the guy who got incinerated, but the majority of them were just brutally stabbed, which rings way more true.
(And I kept waiting on Raylan Givens to bust through the door during the meeting with Todd's "family.")
When Chazz Palmenteri realized Keyzer Soze had been sitting right in front of him all along, he dropped a coffee mug.
Hank dropped a deuce.
Advantage: Push.
Also, I loved Jesse's collapse and unloading the gun. Paul really sold the terror in that scene.

He cant arrest him yet there is no evidence.
Hank will investiagte, probably on his own. I doubt he will confide that info to anyone right away.

Yeah, that's pretty much my thinking, too -- there's no way in hell Hank's gonna tip Walter off that he's finally onto him, especially not when he's proved so incredibly adept at covering his own tracks for the past year-and-change. In my mind, there is only one antagonist left: Hank. With only 8 episodes left, I really can't see them developing another antagonist for Walt, on top of Hank.
It felt to me like the episode properly cleaned the deck, and tied up as many loose ends as possible, so we could get to and focus on the only showdown that now matters: Walt vs. Hank.
How long before Hank's toiletface becomes an internet-thing?

 

[joshEH]

It's not really worth taking up more thread time, but I mean it's a much more realistic portrayal of a character's corruption and fall. Granted, they have 80 hours versus 7 and a half.
I guess everyone had their own fear of what might happen by the pool. I had the irrational idea that the ricin was somehow in the sunscreen that Walt Jr. Was putting on Holly. Of course, when Holly coughed at Hank's house, I thought, "Oh no."
I'm thinking maybe Hank will say, through gritted teeth, "Take your family and get out of here." That's how they're in New England (via Saul's guy). Maybe Declan and Co. will kill Hank, and that's why Walt is back to take care of them.

Haha, I thought I would pass out from the tension during that pool-scene. When Flynn was driving Holly around the pool, you're just thinking, "AHHHHH!! What's going to happen??" And then the Dump of Destiny™ occurs. What an amazing episode.
Also, my God...I would absolutely wreck Lydia. I am not alone in this notion, either, as I've seen so many others across the 'net commenting on it. She's really, really hot, in this uptight, hypochondriac-way. (The topics of meth and the Czech Republic are clearly aphrodisiacs for her.)

 

[joshEH]

http://thedroidyourelookingfor.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/breakingbad_deathtoll1.jpg (even bigger version)

 

[Walter C]

Originally Posted by joshEH /t/319056/breaking-bad-season-5-amc/240#post_3970411
Haha, I thought I would pass out from the tension during that pool-scene. When Flynn was driving Holly around the pool, you're just thinking, "AHHHHH!! What's going to happen??"

That scene, I could not help but think of the ending of "The Pearl", thinking a similar fate would happen to Holly.

Also, I can't imagine Todd would take it kindly that Walt is really done and the operation over, just like that, since he wanted to be a part of it so badly. Either Walt lied, or he did not bother to tell everyone else in the operation that he was done.

ETA: Nice chart, Josh. Funny how it is done in a periodic table format, with the "elements" that caused such a high body count.

 

[TravisR]

The funniest part of that periodic table is Tortuga's graphic. The plane passengers and Gus ones are good too.

 

[Greg_S_H]

Also, my God...I would absolutely wreck Lydia. I am not alone in this notion, either, as I've seen so many others across the 'net commenting on it. She's really, really hot, in this uptight, hypochondriac-way. (The topics of meth and the Czech Republic are clearly aphrodisiacs for her.)

That scene made me think Walt is going to bone her down eventually.