Breaking Bad

spook · 09-30-2013, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Jer

To be honest, immediately after viewing I was a little underwhelmed but the more I reflect on it the more I like it. Yes, there were scenes that defied reality, but unless you're a tard like Benny Shitstain you know that if the show were 100% realistic Walt would have been dead by the third episode.

Also really digging nd's analysis. The reflection in the tank is dead on. Nd - are you a professional? You should be getting paid for that stuff.

holy bejesus! i never expected you to have a tv much less watch a regular series. missing desperate housewives?

**neckdeep** · 09-30-2013, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jer

Sorry for going completely off topic, but neck deep - have you ever seen Andrei Tarkovski's film Stalker?

Nope. I'll put it on my Solarmovie list. Nope, I'm no critic. Just got that useless B.A. in English Lit. I recently read that English lit has become the endangered species of modern academia. But, if you want to know why BB works, the answer is in Aristotle's "Poetica". And much of what made Walt interesting...well, there's a reason Richard III and Macbeth are still frequently staged 400 years after their initial writing, are still assigned reading for Lit. majors and still continue to inspire tales of amoral ambition run amok. Basically, when I come across good writing, I just assume the writers were also english majors and when they write they make conscious choices. I don't take a piece of dialogue, an image or the framing of a shot for granted. It's there for a deliberate reason. That's what distinguishes good writing from mediocrity, imho. Then you just work backwards.

Walt's a bit like Richard III. Richard starts the play by addressing the audience and he wants them on his side. He comes out and says, "I'm morally and psychologically bent just like my hunched back. I'll probably do bad things. But I've been cheated by life and that justifies my grab for power. I will take control of my destiny." The audience begins the play by seeing things from Richard's perspective. But he keeps on doing ruthless things. In the end, his own mother curses him, his allies desert him and he dies.

**truckeelocal** · 09-30-2013, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by neckdeep

Then you just work backwards.

At the risk of getting bounced to PolyAss but if we work backwards none of this would have happened under Obamacare. Walter would have had health coverage ... and enough saved to survive the series without cooking. Do we really want to shut down the government so that we can create more Walter Whites ?

**lionelhutz** · 09-30-2013, 04:58 PM

So the more I think about this the more convinced I am that Granite State was supposed to be the series finale. Gilligan said he knew exactly how he wanted the show to end but he's never said the actually ending was what he wanted. I'm convinced Granite State was the finale.
It tells you what Skylar is doing. It lets you know Walt is hopelessly dying and alone and his great empire is dead (Gretchen's comments on the TV). After Granite state there would have been NO need for anything else but for Jesse. Which could have been tied in easily.

Not that last night wasn't good...but I just think that Granite State was the real finale.

**stevesmith7** · 09-30-2013, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

So the more I think about this the more convinced I am that Granite State was supposed to be the series finale. Gilligan said he knew exactly how he wanted the show to end but he's never said the actually ending was what he wanted. I'm convinced Granite State was the finale.
It tells you what Skylar is doing. It lets you know Walt is hopelessly dying and alone and his great empire is dead (Gretchen's comments on the TV). After Granite state there would have been NO need for anything else but for Jesse. Which could have been tied in easily.

Not that last night wasn't good...but I just think that Granite State was the real finale.

I have Dish dvr. I've been recording all the shows and a while ago I noticed that episode 52 was missing. Last week was episode 64 but last night showed up as 52.
Just another BB thing (Walt's 52nd birthday) or support for your thesis?

**powder fiend** · 09-30-2013, 08:35 PM

So what was with Walt leaving the watch on top of the payphone? That was the watch Jesse gave him, right?

Hugh Conway · 09-30-2013, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by powder fiend

So what was with Walt leaving the watch on top of the payphone? That was the watch Jesse gave him, right?

yeah, same watch. they gave some excuse about they shot that scene after the shoot out (where he didn't have a watch) and needed it for continuity.... not sure I buy it, but could be. supposed to have been a (deleted) scene with one of his students recognizing him at the station as well.

greatness was it told it's story and ended it when it was done.

**TahoeJ** · 10-01-2013, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by neckdeep

So how did Walt know he'd be in a final scenario where a robot mounted M60 would be effective at all, etc..?

He had been there before and he knew they'd have him bring the car in. They also made a point of him parking it strangely sideways instead of pulling straight in like the guy told him to.

Even if they'd met outside somewhere, the gun still would have been effective.

**NoPostholio** · 10-01-2013, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by neckdeep

Nope. I'll put it on my Solarmovie list. Nope, I'm no critic. Just got that useless B.A. in English Lit. I recently read that English lit has become the endangered species of modern academia. But, if you want to know why BB works, the answer is in Aristotle's "Poetica". And much of what made Walt interesting...well, there's a reason Richard III and Macbeth are still frequently staged 400 years after their initial writing, are still assigned reading for Lit. majors and still continue to inspire tales of amoral ambition run amok. Basically, when I come across good writing, I just assume the writers were also english majors and when they write they make conscious choices. I don't take a piece of dialogue, an image or the framing of a shot for granted. It's there for a deliberate reason. That's what distinguishes good writing from mediocrity, imho. Then you just work backwards.

Walt's a bit like Richard III. Richard starts the play by addressing the audience and he wants them on his side. He comes out and says, "I'm morally and psychologically bent just like my hunched back. I'll probably do bad things. But I've been cheated by life and that justifies my grab for power. I will take control of my destiny." The audience begins the play by seeing things from Richard's perspective. But he keeps on doing ruthless things. In the end, his own mother curses him, his allies desert him and he dies.

After watching again last night, I noticed most how there were 3 distinct parts/acts - first one ended when he drives away with badger and SP, the second when he watches Jr for last time, then the finale. Each was right around 19 minutes, and although a lot of the previous episodes might have done this - it seemed quite striking in this episode. Like watching a play.

Neckdeep - would be interested in your thoughts on that aspect

**TahoeJ** · 10-01-2013, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by NoPostholio

After watching again last night, I noticed most how there were 3 distinct parts/acts - first one ended when he drives away with badger and SP, the second when he watches Jr for last time, then the finale. Each was right around 19 minutes, and although a lot of the previous episodes might have done this - it seemed quite striking in this episode. Like watching a play.

Neckdeep - would be interested in your thoughts on that aspect

I noticed this too. In each he was closing out a chapter of his life. The past with him getting screwed out of his business, the middle with his family life, and finally his meth cooking / Jesse Pinkman era.

**hawkgt** · 10-01-2013, 03:35 PM

**NoPostholio** · 10-01-2013, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by TahoeJ

I noticed this too. In each he was closing out a chapter of his life. The past with him getting screwed out of his business, the middle with his family life, and finally his meth cooking / Jesse Pinkman era.

Yes - nice.

**Obstruction** · 10-02-2013, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by stalefish3169

Dylan's it's all over now baby blue would have been a good closing song too!

Can't argue that point but the badfinger tune was stroke of genius and now I can't get it out of my head.

But the bottom line is prolly that badfinger (or who ever owns the rights) wanted the dough more than Dylan did.

On the keys over the visor issue -- That far up in NH, a beater Volvo? The only stretch there is that the keys weren't hanging in the ignition. The bigger credibility issue is that there was enough gas in the thing to make a get away.

**flatlander#2** · 10-02-2013, 12:04 PM

I thought Tangled up in Blue the JGB version would have been swell too. How that song opens on the guitar....But, yeah Badfinger version was probably more willing to be associated with meth.

Damn fine song big guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv7DY27aPyk

**nickwm21** · 10-02-2013, 02:56 PM

Best alternate ending I have heard:

- Walter White gives up Jesse and the Nazi's to go into witness protection...
- Next scene, he is the dad in Malcolm in the Middle...

**jtran10** · 10-03-2013, 05:40 PM

https://twitter.com/normmacdonald

Norm Macdonald stating his theory on the finale the past several hours on twitter. Just check out his "full profile" and his tweets and pertinent retweets are all neatly organized.

I think his theory may be accurate, or at least plausible.

**jtran10** · 10-03-2013, 05:53 PM

basically, to summarize, he says Walt dies in the snowed in car in NH, and the subsequent scenes are all the dreams of a dying mind.

**Skistack** · 10-03-2013, 06:31 PM

Really good interview on NPR's Fresh Air today with two of the show's writers.

http://www.npr.org/2013/10/03/228813...theres-no-more

Hugh Conway · 10-03-2013, 06:40 PM

caught a little bit of that. "tom's rule" is part of what made BB good.

**Soups** · 10-03-2013, 06:54 PM

Wish Lost was written that way

**NoPostholio** · 10-03-2013, 07:53 PM

http://www.businessinsider.com/fans-...finale-2013-10

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-finale-639484

**tom111869** · 10-03-2013, 11:18 PM

Fantastic ending.

**Soups** · 10-04-2013, 09:04 AM

In the Albuquerque Journal today...

**jtran10** · 10-04-2013, 11:07 AM

Had no idea so many people hated the Lost ending. I guess I'm part of the 1%

**Soups** · 10-04-2013, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by jtran10

Had no idea so many people hated the Lost ending. I guess I'm part of the 1%

Didn't hate the ending or the show. The show started to get "Lost" in the writing with way too many tangents and loose ends in the last couple seasons. If they wouldve followed the BB code it wouldve been even better.