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With 'No Mas' honestly I really didn't get the crawling to the altar at all the first time I watched lol and I think I was too 'wtf is going on' to really appreciate it at the time, but I liked seeing the Cousins a lot more on rewatch once I better got who those characters were and what the point of them all crawling was :P Beautiful cinematography as ever
Walt's speech at the school assembly was sooo awkward and horrible that I was just cringing heh, especially when it kept cutting to everyone else's wtf reaction shots. At the same time though it did suggest that he must feel SOME personal responsibly for it still if he's going to work that hard at rationalising it to himself and looking up all of the worst plane disasters to compare it too. Hmm. Also of course burning the money, even if he does later change his mind. I don't know how much of it is feeling guilty for the meth manufacturing and plane crash though, and how much of it is just wanting to end the the meth manufacturing because he blames it for losing his family. Probably more the latter? When he turns down Gus's offer he does say it's because he wants his family back. He also points out to Gus that he has more money now that knows what to do with, which takes away the excuse that he will have to get back into the business to make more money...
I did aww at Walt picking Jesse up from rehab and Jesse noticing that 'your windshield's broken' hee. And aww, this really is the start of subdued and broken Jesse :sighs: And Walt trying to suggest to Jesse that 'in spite of how bad things got it really could be looked at as a wake up call', again reinforces my suspicion that that's what he hoped the death of Jane would be for Jesse. And typical Walt arrogance with him trying to tell Jesse that he's very up to date on the plane crash, far more than you are, and there are many factors at work there and he blames the government. And there's Jesse looking so sad and saying you either run from things or you face them, and he's accepted that he's the bad guy
With 'Caballo Sin Nombre' was I the only one who didn't get why the cop overreacted the way he did?? I mean yeah Walt was acting like a big baby having a tantrum lol, but it's not like he was physically threatening the cop in any way whatsoever, I really didn't get why he suddenly pepper-sprayed him. Surely that wasn't legal? Walt did have a lot of rage issues this episode what with throwing the pizza (lol!) on the roof as well when Skyler wouldn't let him in
Oh and I wondered if it was meant as a callback to his conversation with Jesse last episode when Walt talks about he can't be the bad guy...
I loved the last five minutes with the Cousins already tracking Walter down (something I did not expect to happen as fast as did when I was first watching!), and then how unbearably tense it gets with Walt singing in the shower as they're juust sat on the bed waiting for him to come out. With an ax.
And Jesse's parents really are irredeemably awful in this episode. I defended them in season 1 when their portrayal was a lot more balanced I felt, but his Dad was way too cold here to not even let Jesse in to see the house or agree to have him over for dinner, even though Jesse clearly was clean and very different from when they last dealt with him. It just seemed like his parents didn't care any more? It was all about the money from the house for them, so I LOVED Jesse getting the house back from them with Saul's help by revealing the meth lab in the basement
I was so upset on Skyler's behalf in 'I.F.T', the position that Walt put her in with the police was just painful to watch. (I'm amazed tht Anna Gunn never got nominated for an Emmy for season 3 as she was astonishingly good there at making you feel what Skyler was feeling!) Urgh that was the most loathsome I've found Walt so far, I hated how he backed Skylar into a corner and forced her to stay married to him, so I was cheering at 'I fucked Ted'. How lame having to bleep out the 'fuck' on the DVD though, especially in the same episode when we see a guy about to have his head cut off, but god forbid we hear one swear word???
I don't think it was all about Walt missing his family by any means though, I got the feeling that Walt also needed an outlet for his need to feel powerful and in control now that he's quit the drug world, and establishing his place in the family home was the next best thing. He was so pathetic in the previous episode when Skylar called about the restraining order and he had to grab his genitals and shout "restraint this" LMAO. Oh and more spiteful anger in this episode when Skylar locks him out of the bedroom, so he pees in the sink. Really thought why doesn't Skyler just make something up about why she threw Walt out and is so angry at him?? It's not like he can call her on it when he has to keep the real truth hidden, but it seems like she just expects Walt Junior to understand why she threw his cancer-striken father out, never bothered with ANY explanation, and is then hurt when he takes his father's side??
'Green Light' kind of summed up Walt and Jesse's relationship with Walt at first genuinely trying to be supportive and encouraging to Jesse, even calling him son, but I couldn't help but laugh at him not not being able to come up with anything that Jesse is good at (hey he's good at drawing!). It was so sad but expected to see the scene turn around and Walt absolutely lose it as soon as he realises that Jesse is using his formula. It felt like flashbacks to when he taught Jesse at school with 'this is very sloppy work, Pinkman'. I was always surprised when a lot of people took for granted that Walt was telling the truth about Jesse's product being inferior though, I thought it was obvious in that scene that he was grasping at straws trying to pick on a way Jesse went wrong, only for Jesse to come back with the right answer on how he cooked the meth every time. If it was a cheap knock-off then Walt would have just laughed it off as pathetic, it was because it was so close to his own formula that he got as angry as he did
There's a lot more of Walt struggling with his temper in this episode actually, starting from the pathetic attempts to get to Ted (LMAO), and then the fight with Saul, "I'm a big crybaby who won't cook meth!" The show has really been doing a good job of building up how powerless Walt feels without getting to play at being Heisenberg. Not to justify his freak out to Jesse at all, buuut I can kind of understand where it came from after just finding out that his wife was sleeping with another man, AND just getting fired, it couldn't have helped to then see his protege taking over the drug business without him... Especially with his belief of what happened before with Elliot making millions off of Walt's research. Not that that excuses it at all though, poor Jesse he was so proud and excited to show Walt his meth :P
With both Elliot and Jesse it seems that Walt himself wanted to leave the business and wasn't forced out (that's my impression of the Ellion and Gretchen backstory so far at least), but then considered it the worst kind of betrayal for his former partners to decide to go it alone and "steal" his work. But if they've put their own hard work and investment into the business then it shouldn't just be down to Walt alone to decide that everything shuts up shop without him, and Jesse did offer him half the profits, just as we will later found out that Elliot brought out Walt's share in Gray Matter with what everyone considered a fair price at the time. Elliot didn't even seem aware of any friction at his birthday party or that they had parted on bad terms, which suggests that it was only when Elliot made a huge success of the company that Walt started brooding to himself about how all of the research was stolen from his own ideas. And honestly Gray Matter would never have been the success that it was if Walt were running it, he's so obsessed with his own ego and wanting to receive sole credit for any success. In some ways maybe being a high school teacher was the right career for him as it gives him the chance to lord it over slacker students like Jesse and belittle them, something that wouldn't work out nearly so well for him in a professional place of business
"Mas" gets us back to what we've all been waiting for all season with Walt back to cooking! After how pathetic he's been in the first four episodes you can really see how much he relishes putting Jesse in his place with warnings not to even think about cooking HIS formula again (no Elliot issues there!). Plus having Saul back working for him under Walt's terms of 5%, lol at Saul trying desperately to bargain with Walt, "Any lower than ten and I can't respect myself...Five!" Gus played Walt beautifully by getting that it wasn't just about the money for Walt, it was about the pride he takes in being the man and "the man provides". Love the music playing as Walt checks out his swanky new lab :)
And this is a bit of a ramble, but I like how Walt clearly sees himself and Gus as similar because they're both "professionals", even though they're almost exact opposites with Gus only caring about the money and being happy to stay under the radar and just pass himself off as someone who works in fastfood. The total opposite of how angry Walt was last season when Saul offered good alternative suggestions of how his family could get the money without knowing who was behind it. If anything, much as he despised him, Walt is way more like Tuco with his need to be flashy and have power behind the Heisenberg name.
I know those gifs are from season 5, but I couldn't resist using them! Anyways, end ramble :P
And taking a break from the Walt/Skyler marriage drama really helps pick up the pace in 'Sunset' with an almost unbearably tense sequence as Hank waits outside the RV while Walt and Jesse hide inside. And even after his bonding with Gale, Walt still seems sad to see the RV being torn apart. Aww at his sad little glance at Jesse (who looks totally devastated!) Walt was kind of dense though not to pick up on how overqualified Gale was as a lab assistant and how he was clearly training his replacement...I guess that he really does view himself as irreplaceable!
Gus's final speech with the cousins was kind of annoying just because I don't speak Spanish! I could pick up the gist of it when Gus mentioned Hank's name, but really could have done with some subtitles there
I really liked how "One Minute" dealt with Hank wrestling with his conscience and how he insisted on telling on telling the truth on what happened with beating up Jesse. Dean Norris really deserves at least one emmy nod for BB! The moment of Hank crying in Marie's arms is one of my favourites, Marie's support of Hank was so touching in this episode when he talks to her about how he's been unraveling for a while and it wouldn't be right to try and lie and cover up the beating. Hmm actually I did think Jesse's speech about how he would ruin Hank's life went on a bit too long and was kind of OT though, although I suppose it got across the point effectively enough at just how angry he was. It just felt too obviously scripted and overwritten to me I guess. I liked the contrast with Jesse blaming Hank and Walt for his misery and looking for revenge, while Hank is totally ready to take responsibility for his actions and even willing to risk losing his career rather than cover up what he did
And well does it even need saying how intense that final minute was with Hank waiting for the cousins to appear!!! Opening up to Marie about how badly he's been coping with the panic attacks actually seemed to help Hank as he dealt with the Cousin's pretty well and didn't have another panic attack like you might have expected.
And this is probably a very unpopular opinion but, while Jesse's speech to Walt is heartbreaking and brilliantly-acted, I think I've just seen that speech used one too many times in YT video's with people taking it at face value. And just no. Yes we the viewer are all too aware of how Walt left Jane to die, but as far as Jesse is aware Jane died because they were both using drugs and she OD'd from it (if anything Walt was the one to express concern about them doing heroin and warning Jesse off it...), and then Jesse lost contact with his parents because of one too many failed trips to rehab causing them to give up on him. Well that and the house deal-breaker. So I don't agree with Jesse blaming losing everything and everyone in his life on "ever since I teamed up with the great heisenberg". I don't know if I'm explaining myself well, I suppose I just see this speech as a good example of how much of the audience then started seeing Jesse as this lost and hurting little kid whose life was ruined because of Walt, but I just don't think it's as simple as that
If anything I thought the speech was more about expressing Jesse's hurt at Walt cutting him out of the business in the way that he did, it was really being told that his cook was garbage that he was lashing out at Walt for. Which granted was a shitty thing to do no question, but at the same time that doesn't equal being responsible for all of the misery in Jesse's life IMO and Jesse losing his family. I'm not saying that it wasn't moving though seeing how much pain Jesse was in, and I liked how Walt had nothing to say in response except to finally give Jesse the approval he was asking for, it was as close as we've ever seen him come to a real apology with Jesse. Even if he doesn't always like Jesse all that much, it's clear that he is still emotionally invested in Jesse's well-being
It was kind of a cool parallel I thought with Jesse being so angry at Walt because of being disrespected and told that his meth was garbage, just as Walt previously flew off the handle because of perceiving Jesse as disrespecting him and stealing his formula. A lot of comments get made about Walt's need for respect and validation from his family and the people around him, but in "One Minute" Jesse is just as desperate to hear a good job from his sort of mentor Walt, and was so hurt at his previous dismissal that he threated to use Walt as his free pass with the DEA. The difference between the two of them being of course that by season 5 Jesse has grown a lot and really gets that being able to cook meth well is nothing to be proud of, while Walt gets ever more deluded with his belief that building a meth empire will be his way of making up for being cut out of Gray Matter
And Walt attempting to discredit Gale was obviously because he needed Jesse back working with him, but there was also a suggestion that he wasn't thrilled at how well Gale had everything running without him. I don't think it was about finally waking up to Gale being a possible threat of replacing him one day though, but more about Walt always needing to be the smartest person in the room. Walt might have first thought that Gale was the ideal partner for him as he was more of an equal than Jesse ever was, but there is definitely a part of Walt that needs to feel indispensable after the indignity of seeing Gray Matter thrive without him
Walt's speech at the school assembly was sooo awkward and horrible that I was just cringing heh, especially when it kept cutting to everyone else's wtf reaction shots. At the same time though it did suggest that he must feel SOME personal responsibly for it still if he's going to work that hard at rationalising it to himself and looking up all of the worst plane disasters to compare it too. Hmm. Also of course burning the money, even if he does later change his mind. I don't know how much of it is feeling guilty for the meth manufacturing and plane crash though, and how much of it is just wanting to end the the meth manufacturing because he blames it for losing his family. Probably more the latter? When he turns down Gus's offer he does say it's because he wants his family back. He also points out to Gus that he has more money now that knows what to do with, which takes away the excuse that he will have to get back into the business to make more money...
I did aww at Walt picking Jesse up from rehab and Jesse noticing that 'your windshield's broken' hee. And aww, this really is the start of subdued and broken Jesse :sighs: And Walt trying to suggest to Jesse that 'in spite of how bad things got it really could be looked at as a wake up call', again reinforces my suspicion that that's what he hoped the death of Jane would be for Jesse. And typical Walt arrogance with him trying to tell Jesse that he's very up to date on the plane crash, far more than you are, and there are many factors at work there and he blames the government. And there's Jesse looking so sad and saying you either run from things or you face them, and he's accepted that he's the bad guy
With 'Caballo Sin Nombre' was I the only one who didn't get why the cop overreacted the way he did?? I mean yeah Walt was acting like a big baby having a tantrum lol, but it's not like he was physically threatening the cop in any way whatsoever, I really didn't get why he suddenly pepper-sprayed him. Surely that wasn't legal? Walt did have a lot of rage issues this episode what with throwing the pizza (lol!) on the roof as well when Skyler wouldn't let him in
Oh and I wondered if it was meant as a callback to his conversation with Jesse last episode when Walt talks about he can't be the bad guy...
I loved the last five minutes with the Cousins already tracking Walter down (something I did not expect to happen as fast as did when I was first watching!), and then how unbearably tense it gets with Walt singing in the shower as they're juust sat on the bed waiting for him to come out. With an ax.
And Jesse's parents really are irredeemably awful in this episode. I defended them in season 1 when their portrayal was a lot more balanced I felt, but his Dad was way too cold here to not even let Jesse in to see the house or agree to have him over for dinner, even though Jesse clearly was clean and very different from when they last dealt with him. It just seemed like his parents didn't care any more? It was all about the money from the house for them, so I LOVED Jesse getting the house back from them with Saul's help by revealing the meth lab in the basement
I was so upset on Skyler's behalf in 'I.F.T', the position that Walt put her in with the police was just painful to watch. (I'm amazed tht Anna Gunn never got nominated for an Emmy for season 3 as she was astonishingly good there at making you feel what Skyler was feeling!) Urgh that was the most loathsome I've found Walt so far, I hated how he backed Skylar into a corner and forced her to stay married to him, so I was cheering at 'I fucked Ted'. How lame having to bleep out the 'fuck' on the DVD though, especially in the same episode when we see a guy about to have his head cut off, but god forbid we hear one swear word???
I don't think it was all about Walt missing his family by any means though, I got the feeling that Walt also needed an outlet for his need to feel powerful and in control now that he's quit the drug world, and establishing his place in the family home was the next best thing. He was so pathetic in the previous episode when Skylar called about the restraining order and he had to grab his genitals and shout "restraint this" LMAO. Oh and more spiteful anger in this episode when Skylar locks him out of the bedroom, so he pees in the sink. Really thought why doesn't Skyler just make something up about why she threw Walt out and is so angry at him?? It's not like he can call her on it when he has to keep the real truth hidden, but it seems like she just expects Walt Junior to understand why she threw his cancer-striken father out, never bothered with ANY explanation, and is then hurt when he takes his father's side??
'Green Light' kind of summed up Walt and Jesse's relationship with Walt at first genuinely trying to be supportive and encouraging to Jesse, even calling him son, but I couldn't help but laugh at him not not being able to come up with anything that Jesse is good at (hey he's good at drawing!). It was so sad but expected to see the scene turn around and Walt absolutely lose it as soon as he realises that Jesse is using his formula. It felt like flashbacks to when he taught Jesse at school with 'this is very sloppy work, Pinkman'. I was always surprised when a lot of people took for granted that Walt was telling the truth about Jesse's product being inferior though, I thought it was obvious in that scene that he was grasping at straws trying to pick on a way Jesse went wrong, only for Jesse to come back with the right answer on how he cooked the meth every time. If it was a cheap knock-off then Walt would have just laughed it off as pathetic, it was because it was so close to his own formula that he got as angry as he did
There's a lot more of Walt struggling with his temper in this episode actually, starting from the pathetic attempts to get to Ted (LMAO), and then the fight with Saul, "I'm a big crybaby who won't cook meth!" The show has really been doing a good job of building up how powerless Walt feels without getting to play at being Heisenberg. Not to justify his freak out to Jesse at all, buuut I can kind of understand where it came from after just finding out that his wife was sleeping with another man, AND just getting fired, it couldn't have helped to then see his protege taking over the drug business without him... Especially with his belief of what happened before with Elliot making millions off of Walt's research. Not that that excuses it at all though, poor Jesse he was so proud and excited to show Walt his meth :P
With both Elliot and Jesse it seems that Walt himself wanted to leave the business and wasn't forced out (that's my impression of the Ellion and Gretchen backstory so far at least), but then considered it the worst kind of betrayal for his former partners to decide to go it alone and "steal" his work. But if they've put their own hard work and investment into the business then it shouldn't just be down to Walt alone to decide that everything shuts up shop without him, and Jesse did offer him half the profits, just as we will later found out that Elliot brought out Walt's share in Gray Matter with what everyone considered a fair price at the time. Elliot didn't even seem aware of any friction at his birthday party or that they had parted on bad terms, which suggests that it was only when Elliot made a huge success of the company that Walt started brooding to himself about how all of the research was stolen from his own ideas. And honestly Gray Matter would never have been the success that it was if Walt were running it, he's so obsessed with his own ego and wanting to receive sole credit for any success. In some ways maybe being a high school teacher was the right career for him as it gives him the chance to lord it over slacker students like Jesse and belittle them, something that wouldn't work out nearly so well for him in a professional place of business
"Mas" gets us back to what we've all been waiting for all season with Walt back to cooking! After how pathetic he's been in the first four episodes you can really see how much he relishes putting Jesse in his place with warnings not to even think about cooking HIS formula again (no Elliot issues there!). Plus having Saul back working for him under Walt's terms of 5%, lol at Saul trying desperately to bargain with Walt, "Any lower than ten and I can't respect myself...Five!" Gus played Walt beautifully by getting that it wasn't just about the money for Walt, it was about the pride he takes in being the man and "the man provides". Love the music playing as Walt checks out his swanky new lab :)
And this is a bit of a ramble, but I like how Walt clearly sees himself and Gus as similar because they're both "professionals", even though they're almost exact opposites with Gus only caring about the money and being happy to stay under the radar and just pass himself off as someone who works in fastfood. The total opposite of how angry Walt was last season when Saul offered good alternative suggestions of how his family could get the money without knowing who was behind it. If anything, much as he despised him, Walt is way more like Tuco with his need to be flashy and have power behind the Heisenberg name.
I know those gifs are from season 5, but I couldn't resist using them! Anyways, end ramble :P
And taking a break from the Walt/Skyler marriage drama really helps pick up the pace in 'Sunset' with an almost unbearably tense sequence as Hank waits outside the RV while Walt and Jesse hide inside. And even after his bonding with Gale, Walt still seems sad to see the RV being torn apart. Aww at his sad little glance at Jesse (who looks totally devastated!) Walt was kind of dense though not to pick up on how overqualified Gale was as a lab assistant and how he was clearly training his replacement...I guess that he really does view himself as irreplaceable!
Gus's final speech with the cousins was kind of annoying just because I don't speak Spanish! I could pick up the gist of it when Gus mentioned Hank's name, but really could have done with some subtitles there
I really liked how "One Minute" dealt with Hank wrestling with his conscience and how he insisted on telling on telling the truth on what happened with beating up Jesse. Dean Norris really deserves at least one emmy nod for BB! The moment of Hank crying in Marie's arms is one of my favourites, Marie's support of Hank was so touching in this episode when he talks to her about how he's been unraveling for a while and it wouldn't be right to try and lie and cover up the beating. Hmm actually I did think Jesse's speech about how he would ruin Hank's life went on a bit too long and was kind of OT though, although I suppose it got across the point effectively enough at just how angry he was. It just felt too obviously scripted and overwritten to me I guess. I liked the contrast with Jesse blaming Hank and Walt for his misery and looking for revenge, while Hank is totally ready to take responsibility for his actions and even willing to risk losing his career rather than cover up what he did
And well does it even need saying how intense that final minute was with Hank waiting for the cousins to appear!!! Opening up to Marie about how badly he's been coping with the panic attacks actually seemed to help Hank as he dealt with the Cousin's pretty well and didn't have another panic attack like you might have expected.
And this is probably a very unpopular opinion but, while Jesse's speech to Walt is heartbreaking and brilliantly-acted, I think I've just seen that speech used one too many times in YT video's with people taking it at face value. And just no. Yes we the viewer are all too aware of how Walt left Jane to die, but as far as Jesse is aware Jane died because they were both using drugs and she OD'd from it (if anything Walt was the one to express concern about them doing heroin and warning Jesse off it...), and then Jesse lost contact with his parents because of one too many failed trips to rehab causing them to give up on him. Well that and the house deal-breaker. So I don't agree with Jesse blaming losing everything and everyone in his life on "ever since I teamed up with the great heisenberg". I don't know if I'm explaining myself well, I suppose I just see this speech as a good example of how much of the audience then started seeing Jesse as this lost and hurting little kid whose life was ruined because of Walt, but I just don't think it's as simple as that
If anything I thought the speech was more about expressing Jesse's hurt at Walt cutting him out of the business in the way that he did, it was really being told that his cook was garbage that he was lashing out at Walt for. Which granted was a shitty thing to do no question, but at the same time that doesn't equal being responsible for all of the misery in Jesse's life IMO and Jesse losing his family. I'm not saying that it wasn't moving though seeing how much pain Jesse was in, and I liked how Walt had nothing to say in response except to finally give Jesse the approval he was asking for, it was as close as we've ever seen him come to a real apology with Jesse. Even if he doesn't always like Jesse all that much, it's clear that he is still emotionally invested in Jesse's well-being
It was kind of a cool parallel I thought with Jesse being so angry at Walt because of being disrespected and told that his meth was garbage, just as Walt previously flew off the handle because of perceiving Jesse as disrespecting him and stealing his formula. A lot of comments get made about Walt's need for respect and validation from his family and the people around him, but in "One Minute" Jesse is just as desperate to hear a good job from his sort of mentor Walt, and was so hurt at his previous dismissal that he threated to use Walt as his free pass with the DEA. The difference between the two of them being of course that by season 5 Jesse has grown a lot and really gets that being able to cook meth well is nothing to be proud of, while Walt gets ever more deluded with his belief that building a meth empire will be his way of making up for being cut out of Gray Matter
And Walt attempting to discredit Gale was obviously because he needed Jesse back working with him, but there was also a suggestion that he wasn't thrilled at how well Gale had everything running without him. I don't think it was about finally waking up to Gale being a possible threat of replacing him one day though, but more about Walt always needing to be the smartest person in the room. Walt might have first thought that Gale was the ideal partner for him as he was more of an equal than Jesse ever was, but there is definitely a part of Walt that needs to feel indispensable after the indignity of seeing Gray Matter thrive without him
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Date: 2013-05-06 12:11 am (UTC)It happens quite a bit. Protagonist privilege gets all the talk in meta analysis, but from my experience in fandoms with bad guy/anti-hero main characters? It's kind of the opposite.
Yeah, I liked Mike (as in I found him interesting) but he was anything but a hero. Dude was going to kill Lydia in her own house with her daughter around.
Meh. Fandoms can be fun, but they can also ruin shows, I think.