Kind of disappointed with the last episode. Seemed very filler to me. Did we really need another episode to have Walter White decide that Jesse "needs to be dealt with in a more extreme way" and have Jesse debate whether to work with Hank. Hasn't both of those options been mulling around all season? With 4 episodes left I expected this episode to move the story forward more. Not crawl.
I agree Chris, it felt out of place with the prior three episodes pace wise.We all sort of saw all of this coming right ? The scenes with Marie could have been cut and I don't think anything would've been lost. Also, as much as I enjoyed the out of sequence style this episode took I think I would have liked it more if it was traditional and linier to fit in with the rest of the prior episodes.
Yeah I just thought that episode contained every BB cliche' there ever was. Walt's fumbling excuse lies that have sort of become comical and the look on Skylar's face was probably the same as yours and mine......enough already! Walt & Walt Jr hug it out, Skylar tells Walt to deal with it, Jesse misinterprets Walt for the umpteenth time (thought he was going to kill him but it turns out to be just a big scary dad waiting for his daughter), Hanks still dealing with a big hand of nothing (but at least we know he's getting more recklessly ruthless in the pursuit of Walt). I just wanted some progression, frankly if we never see Marie again unless she's collateral damage I'd be happy. I need some twists, like Gomez was always working as a double agent with the cartel, something, anything.....I guess it's too late for that but with 4 episodes left and from the scenes we've seen of Walt & the big gun in his trunk my mind is just like- something very bad has to happen and soon.
I've always been suspicious of Gomez, something seems off about him... This episode, when Marie passes out the coffee mugs, Jesse gets a white one with "DEA" while Gomez gets a completely black one
Sorry to keep referring back to Tim Goodman's deconstructions, but I honestly think he's the smartest television reviewer writing these days. His thoughts on "Rabid Dog" are a good rebuttal to the "not enough happened" sentiment. http://bit.ly/133vEiC
OK so I'm not the only one good. I thought I was crazy for awhile as I've been waiting to hear him get a shady call for about 3 seasons!
Watch the episode again.....This is Marie we are talking about. The mug that Gomez gets is Purple. It may be a semi-deep Purple, but it is Purple none the less. You can see it clearly as she is handing Jesse his mug. I'm not saying that Gomez can't still be dirty, and boy what a twist that would be, but it isn't because of a Black mug Just thinking back I can't see how he could be dirty, but I sure would love to see that thrown in.....
Oops, my bad then on the mug color! I don't remember all the instances but I think there was something with the promotion and other little instances...need to go back and rewatch after the series ends
Even with so few episodes left and a couple of recent unexpected plot twists, I'm expecting even more craziness to come. A straightforward narrative conclusion from this point just wouldn't be "Breaking Bad."
We started with Walt holding a gun in his tighty-whiteys, I think we can fully expect the fecal matter to hit the oscillating air movement machine.
Yeah, end times are near. The pieces are moving into place and about to make their attack. This will not end well. Things are going to get messy.
did anyone pay attention when walt goes into the house on episode 1 if by chance the lottery ticket is still on the fridge? just occured to me, if its on the firdge, and all he cares about was the ricin... then it makes you think!
It all makes you think if you overthink like some of us. I've been enjoying the books and art at the Schrader residence. "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" picture on the wall, books about horses and money management, a "Deadwood" DVD box. The props crew has a lot of fun.
However this series ends someone major is going to end up dead floating in a pool i.e. Great Gatsby style. That much I know. I mean how many pools have been shown foreshadowing this since the series started to make that abundantly clear?
It's not up yet in CA but I really do hope Walt lives. I may be in the minority but Walt dying wouldn't be satisfying for me. He's a complete antihero/villain. This show has no heroes. I would impressed if the writers went in the bold direction and made him survive.
Unbelievable episode! leaving this in spoilers for now for west coast viewers Spoiler The whole cat and mouse, trying to best one another scenarios remind me of The Wire and why I loved that show so much. I was thinking that someone was going to die this episode once they all met up in the desert and Walt made the call to the uncle. Most likely Hank because of the phone call to Marie...but killing Jesse would also spark a rampage from Walt. Most likely scenario I think is Hank dying, Skyler leaving Walt and taking the kids with her, Walt realizing he has lost everything that truly mattered due to Todd's uncle, and then Walt goes after the uncle's group The weird part of this episode is the gang shooting at the car Walt is in to try to get him out alive
I'm 100% with you on this Bryce. I'm thinking some characters won't make it out of the desert (except Walt). Here's whats next I think: Spoiler Kiss Hank & Gomez goodbye. Then the Aryan brothers execute Jesse after the shootout in front of Walt. Walt feels a lot of anger and remorse, touching off events that lead to that big gun/New Hampshire flash forward they've teased us with. The gun is probably to get revenge on that whole crew. Finally maybe someone like Marie kills Walt (probably near a pool) for the Gatsby type ending (but I'm hoping not and Walt lives or goes out via his own hand via ricin). Not sure where Walt's family fits in or if maybe the Aryan brothers kill them adding to Walt's bloodthirsty revenge. That's my theory on how this ends.
I find how this show questions our desires in this episode. Do we root for Walt or Hank? Walt finally getting bested, is that what we wanted all along? But do I want Spoiler Hank (and maybe even Jesse) dead because of their failure? I'd hope not, but it looks like that's where we're going. Seems Walter has slowly been losing control, and will start losing everything else next week....
I want Hank and Jesse to die also. For awhile I figured one or both would die but I had empathy for Jesse. Now he seems to view Walt in the same black and white way Hank does. That's what bothers me about Hank. He only sees right and wrong, black and white, no in between. He's so driven to catch Heisenberg he's pretty much abandoned all his principles and rule of law. Miranda rights, entrapment all out the window. You could argue well so has Walt (abandoned principles) but I see him much differently. Walt has become what Jesse and Hank refer to as 'evil' only out of necessity. It stems from always being under the gun, under pressure, and dealing with the nefarious individuals he's always had to deal with. People like Gus, Tuco, Aryan Brothers etc....Walt has cancer and is dealing with a life of unfulfilled potential. Does he get carried away? Sometimes. But him overcoming these shortfalls and the cards he's been dealt makes him one of the best anti-heroes ever. He's had to think on his feet in alien territory since day 1. Even in this episode he still holds on to the idea of family (wanting a painless death for Jesse, not wanting the white power guys to blast Hank & Gomez). Hank & Jesse fail to see any of that, an only view Walt in their own small minded filter. I mean I was cheering at the screen when Walt was yelling at Jesse on the phone that he killed a lot of those guys to help save him too. It wasn't for selfish reasons. Thanks! Jesse doesn't get it and is too immature emotionally to see the big picture.
I've been watching the final episodes twice each. Unsurprisingly, you catch a lot more on second viewing. I'm not sure that's going to be the case with this episode. It was fairly straightforward plot advancement. There's no longer any need or time for symbolism, clever indications, character clues, references to cinema history or the presaging of events-to-come. These are the end times. The circles are almost complete.