I must admit something and it's not something that I like or even want to admit, but there have been a few episodes of Breaking Bad this season, that I have not liked as much, and last night was one of them. I have spent some time thinking about it, and I'm not sure if it is because I am used to watching the show in marathon form, and I just forgave and didn't notice these episodes, or if they are actually more prevalent this year. Anyways, what I am talking about is these random "caper" episodes. We started out the season with "Magnets, bitch!" and now last night we spent half the episode watching them rob a train of its methylamine. I know they are necessary in some ways now, because Walt and his crew are having to get scrappy to find ways to re-build the meth-making business, but it feels like we are spending so much time on these heists, that it is taking away from some of the character development and drama. Last week's episode was one of my favorite's of the season, especially because we saw such a dynamic change and interaction between Skyler and Walt, but I felt a bit of that lacking this week. It is nothing that diminishes my love for the show, and if I know the writer's I am sure this will come back and be incredibly important in some way, so I should probably just shut my mouth and keep watching, but I did feel like I needed to mention.
However, I one thing I must give major props for this season is the movie references that keep popping up throughout. First, we had Scarface and this week we got a very clear nod to Heat. Since Heat is one of my favorite movies of all time, I was kind of psyched to notice this and see it brought up in one of my favorite television shows of all time. We didn't actually seen a scene from it as we did when Walt and his family watched Scarface, but Hank did ask Walt Jr. if he wanted to watch it with him. It was funny to me, because at first that line really stood out to me and sounded kind of strange, but then as the "robbery plot" unfolded, I understood. There are also several references throughout the episode (and even series) that can be linked back to the movie. We definitely have a similar theme of hunters and their prey as Hank and his team are trying to find and stop Heisenberg and the meth crew…and Walt and his new team doing everything they can to pull off another "heist". It also is yet again making me worry about the fate of our main character as the two biggest film references have been to movies in which
One smaller reference that I'm not sure if was on purpose, but I still loved, was the shot of Lydia in her house with the lights twinkling in the background. It looked very familiar and similar to many of the shots in Heat of Robert De Niro's character at his house. Could this tell us something about her?
Speaking of Lydia, I am very curious as to see where her character is going. Every time we see her on screen, she has been set up as a pretty weak and scared woman that is just trying to make it through this alive, and without getting put in jail. However, I really wonder if that is all a façade and she is giving the performance of a lifetime. Mike repeatedly tells Walt and Jesse that they don't know her like he does, and I am beginning to think he is right. When looking at it logically, if she was working with Gus Fring, there is no way that she could have been an integral part of his successful business if she did not have more strength and power than we have been shown. She put the hit out on Mike, which was a pretty bold move, and while she didn't actually put the trace on the methylamine, I wouldn't be surprised if she has been making some other underhanded plans that we are just not aware of yet.
Also, looking at performances, I began to wonder, who is the better actor…Bryan Cranston or Walter White? I know that they are one and the same, but the way in which Walt was able to put on a front for Hank in this episode was stunning and shows, yet again, how pathological he has become. I must say, I almost started to feel sorry for him and believe that he was really sad about the break down of his relationship with Skyler, but the moment Hank left the room, we see that it truly was all an act and he was just pretending to be sad to get Hank out of there. I shouldn't be surprised, but sometimes I still can't help but note how diabolical he has become.
Now, although I do have some problems with these caper themes, I did think it was a pretty cool scene and I was biting my nails the whole time. It was a bit frustrating, because Walt again takes unnecessary chances as he has to go to the last minute filling up, but I was happy to see that I was right and Jesse Plemons' character will have a bigger part this season. However, I don't even know if I can discuss how the episode ended, because it was so traumatizing I shouted out loud, and more than anything, I really hope that it doesn't once again send Jesse on a downward spiral.
Okay, now this is one of my questions that I have been trying to figure out and I have some ideas, but am curious what you guys think. What is the meaning of symbolism of the color purple and Marie? It is always present in everything she wears, but usually is in somewhat of a subtle way, but last night it was so obvious in their house it could not be ignored. When we saw Marie and Hank with baby Holly and talking about Walt Jr, every single accessory in the house was purple. Is it symbolizing royalty and as Walt attempts to build his empire, it is really Hank and Marie who are going to come out on top?
As we only have three more episodes left in this set of Season 5 episodes, I think we can expect for the action and drama to keep ramping up and personally, I don't know how I will wait until 2013 for the conclusion of the series…that is going to be brutal.
I think that one one of the commentaries that was on one of the previous season DVD's they did explain why everything in Hank and Marie's house is purple.
I'm always trying to look for the new object in Hank and Marie's house that is purple. It's sort of like a game now.
But man, the ending. The ending! Jesse will probably be the one most upset and affected by this because he seriously hates child killers.
Couldn't disagree with the first paragraph more. This episode was an absolute treat to watch. There's no doubt the writers had way too much fun coming up with new ideas (giant magnets destroying an evidence room, cooking drugs using pest control as their cover, robbing a goddamn train), and because of it, it let the cinematographers go nuts. Sweeping cameras as the train passed by, point-of-view shots of the three under the creaking bridge as the train passed by, etc.
The last 15 minutes was some of the coolest TV I've ever seen because this show has no problem throwing it's characters into a corner and having them just barely get by. The first half of the robbery just went too perfectly, and you knew something terrible was bound to happen, and I could barely handle the suspense any longer. And the last 30 seconds were something else too. My only complaint for the entire episode was how quiet the gunshot was. Drive had maybe my favorite gunshot of all-time when Standard walked out of the pawn shop and the thundering BOOM came out from silence. Even watching the movie now, I jump out of my seat a little from the crack of the gun.
Watch Inside Breaking Bad for this week if you must. At the end of it, Aaron Paul says "next episode, shit hits the fan." You have to appreciate these slower episodes since they are what drive the show forward and make it what it is. Without the first 30 minutes, the last 15 wouldn't have been so awesome, and that's just how the show works.
Usually, purple means death..but why would they kill Marie?
I enjoy these articles immensly but I just can't get on board with your criticisms of this show!
Even the slower moments are so well written and always contribute to the characters and their growth in a certain way that no time is ever wasted. This is one of the few shows I've ever seen where time has not been wasted for one single second. Everything we see is important to the show, the characters or the strength of the episode itself.
The Skyler Walt situation you know hasn't been disregarded, it is now just simmering under the surface after coming to boil in the open last week. Infact, it even opened up a new, darker avenue with Skylers grudging acceptance of Walt if the kids remain out of the house. Part of me was wondering if Walt is actually becoming so selfish and arrogant that he was considering Skylers offer with regards to keeping the kids away from home if she agreed to be any kind of partner he wanted.
If that was the case, it shows just how lost he has become.
Also the antics of rebuilding the business aren't taking away from character growth in any way shape or form, they are just letting them develop in new and interesting ways.
With cancer and Guss Fringe no longer looming over Walt, he is becoming his own worst enemy and truly losing himself. I get chills everytime we see just how dark a person he has become, as displayed with his faked breakdown to spy on hank and even more telling, in a far more haunting way, his complete silence when Todd (Jesse Plemons) murdered the innocent kid.
Imagine season 1 Walt witnessing such an event transpire in front of him. He wouldn't have remained silent by any means.
P.S As much as I'm with you on the Jesse Plemons Friday Night Lights love, you might want to ease up on the name dropping. The otherwise great articles can become a big bogged with e-love for him, even more so that a main character shares his first name. Makes the read slightly less fluid, but as a FNL fan, here's to hoping his character becomes more prominent.
Really loved the cinematography when they shot the train sequences. I also racked my mind to the cold open in the beginning and I head the train horn and I guessed it might have something to do with that and then when Lydia mentioned the train I knew they were gonna have an unsuspected witness but I wasn't really expecting it play out, well like that.
This might have been my favorite episode of the season so far. But don't think it will be that for very long with how Breaking Bad usually saves the best for last.
One of the most intense episodes of any tv show that I've ever seen. When the episode started with the kid on the bike, I assumed it was a flashback of Jessie as a kid or something. And the reaction on the trio faces at the end! Such a fantastic moment. Another great episode.
Why was Todd even carrying a gun? I don't think he's simply a worker for the extermination company.
Each character has their own color pallet, Maries being purple and hanks being orange (watch season 4 and you will see Hank in orange all the time). Walts color pallet originally had no color to his character then around season 3 he began to go blue while Skylar went into the greens. Jesses was red/black (think to his red shirt when he shoots Gale, his red car with the red dice, etc.) And as they descend further down the criminal rabbit hole, I feel Walt and Jesse are wearing deeper colors, more blacks this season. Maybe thats just me, but it has been said that each character has their own colors, with Walt and Skylars changing the most.
Good thing the train carriage they wanted was the right length away from the crossing to be under that bridge.
Yeah, I think Todd's not a cop.
@TopSteer said:
That company's a bunch of crooks. They were stealing from the contaminated houses all the time and none of them really looked like an upstanding citizen. I bet Walt, in his infinite wisdom, got Todd on the job by saying basically "YO WE'LL BE ROBBING A FUCKING TRAIN DAWG" and he just did the sensible thing by taking a gun to a heist.
On a different note, I'll be surprised if Mike survives this season. Walt met Lydia, who has connections and also isn't thrilled about Mike's crew in prison and now he also has Todd - a soldier willing to get his hands extremely dirty. Kid's got his brain fixed on one thing: to get in with the big shots, and that's why he's also a much safer bet than Jesse at this point, since he doesn't have his own opinion. Yeah, Mike's going.
Still, I'm intrigued how Walt will react to this shit. Todd's decision was an incredibly dumbass and created more problems than it solved. I'm talking about Jesse and his attachment to kids here, because no one will connect a and b here with a dead kid in the desert. If Walt reacts with a calculated rationalization of killing a child, I think Jesse will quickly get the memo of "Walt is insane".
Also, BREAKING BAD BITCH
Favorite episode of the season. I loved the tension waiting for them to be spotted. Walt's greed or OCD almost throwing the entire operation away. Plus I want them to become succesful and the stress of seeing them so close to failing their first large goal.
I like heists, certainly more than watching a stressful relationship.
I could punched Walt for waiting so long before ordering the disconnect. If he only had a few gallons, I could understand needing wanting a little more - but he already had 90% of it. No need to blow the whole thing, but oh no Walt needs it all.
@Armoes said:
The weight of the methylamine would only be equal to the weight of the water if they finished what they came to take. Finishing early would mean that the tank would weigh less than it started with.
@TopSteer said:
No shit, he's a burglar man.