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Breaking Bad Season 2. - Page 2

post #51 of 213
The thing is Walt has been eating shit for a while, but now he's come to place where he just won't any longer. So, just because Walt didn't call her, or the husband, out at the party last season doesn't mean his anger is unfounded, or really that Gretchen would necessarily know anything about it. Maybe it's something the husband did alone and Gretchen isn't aware of the specifics.
post #52 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Dnim View Post
The thing is Walt has been eating shit for a while, but now he's come to place where he just won't any longer. So, just because Walt didn't call her, or the husband, out at the party last season doesn't mean his anger is unfounded, or really that Gretchen would necessarily know anything about it. Maybe it's something the husband did alone and Gretchen isn't aware of the specifics.
You can't say that Walt is angry about something Gretchen doesn't know about, because then Walt's anger is even more misplaced. Leaning across the table and giving her the big "F YOU" can't be validated if he's mad about something Gretchen doesn't know about. They've gone out of their way to make Gretchen appear to be a genuine and caring person though, she calls the house even after Walt has declined their money just because she wants to make sure he's okay. Even after Walt has involved her and her husband in a lie, she respects Walt's wishes that she wait and not tell anybody (including her husband) until he has a chance to explain. Ever AFTER Walt goes off on her at dinner she's decent enough to remove herself from the situation with his wife without blowing the whistle on him.

There's no way they take these pains to paint this character like this if she's a backstabbing bitch who owes Walt money.
post #53 of 213
I think the point is that his anger and bitterness is out of proportion to the slight. When I say he's been eating shit, I mean that Walt felt slighted by Gretchen at some point and simply walked away, didn't confront her. They say as much with him walking out on her without an explanation. It doesn't have to be a major slight, just one that Walt didn't address, and now the offense that has been stewing all these decades comes out in a bitter sounding fuck you when she expresses what he perceives as condescending pity. We're suppose to think he's a prideful asshole. I wasn't saying Walt isn't being an asshole, or thta he's entirely in the right, but likewise I'm not sure why you think Gretchen is some pure white entity offering help only out of altruism. We don't know much about their past, this is only the second episode to reveal info on that and all we got was two biased views twenty years after the fact.
post #54 of 213
Though this doesn't validate Walt's behavior, one thing that may be 'unspoken' in the story at this point might be the fact that Chemo therapy is packed with steroids, and many patients can have fits of raging assholism. I know I did.
post #55 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabe Powers View Post
Though this doesn't validate Walt's behavior, one thing that may be 'unspoken' in the story at this point might be the fact that Chemo therapy is packed with steroids, and many patients can have fits of raging assholism. I know I did.
That's actually really interesting, and something I didn't know about. Unfortunately I'd also guess most viewers wouldn't know about it either.

Completely unrelated, but I only realized this because of your post. The recruitment officer in Observe and Report is Walt's chemo doctor. I don't know why I couldn't place him when I watched the movie, but when I was thinking of how they could use somebody to explain Walt's anger he popped into my head.
post #56 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by A-Pathetic View Post
That's actually really interesting, and something I didn't know about. Unfortunately I'd also guess most viewers wouldn't know about it either.
That's the reason I think it's not actually being taken into account.
post #57 of 213
That was probably the best episode of the season. So much great acting.
And yeah, Walt's journey is becoming very tough to watch.
post #58 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Dnim View Post
I wasn't saying Walt isn't being an asshole, or thta he's entirely in the right, but likewise I'm not sure why you think Gretchen is some pure white entity offering help only out of altruism. We don't know much about their past, this is only the second episode to reveal info on that and all we got was two biased views twenty years after the fact.
I can only go with what we've been provided. We've been shown absolutely nothing other than a rage from Walt that there's even a possibility that Gretchen was involved in anything not above board. Even that rage she handled with class and dignity. Nothing in this show has led me to believe they're trying to validate Walt's behavior, as a matter of fact it becomes more and more impossible to validate as the show goes on.

I'm kind of at a loss why you think Walt's tirade is more important than all the clues that they've given us so far. It's not like Walt is rational or reasonable at this point.

Edit: I reread your post and I think I understand a little bit better the angle you're coming from. I think we're both seeing things similarly actually, the point is that Walt has really gone off the deep end and is attacking all real or imagined slights.
post #59 of 213
Wow, what an episode. The way things are looking now, it's almost guaranteed that Walt will lose his family in the process of trying to provide for them.
post #60 of 213
Everything with that little kid destroyed me. That was probably the hardest episode to actually watch for me.
post #61 of 213
Thread Starter 
Fuck this show is amazing. The writing, directing performances are all incredible. The stuff with Jessie and the junkies was excruciating to watch; I've rarely seen sequences on TV as tense and nerve racking as that. I'm with Moltisanti on this one: knowing the ATM crush was coming just made it worse.
Jessie bundling up the kid and leaving him for the cops to collect at the end of the episode destroyed.
post #62 of 213
So, what will happen with the principal?
She was certainly coming on to Walter. Will he pursue it?
post #63 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tati View Post
So, what will happen with the principal?
She was certainly coming on to Walter. Will he pursue it?
This show's insanely straighforward as far as I'm concerned, and I definitely didn't get that from their interaction.

I noticed an awkward moment in that conversation, but it struck me more as looking for a way to fire him than being a sexual come-on.
post #64 of 213
The flier on Walt's car told us what that was about. Word about the grocery store incident has gotten around, and she's worried he'll have another bout of "dementia" and do something weird. Walt's lies are gonna start causing him problems with more than just his family, etc...
post #65 of 213
"You look like you've never seen a severed human head on tortoise before."

Jesus.
post #66 of 213
Damn, I was hoping Trejo would be recurring. Good heavens.
post #67 of 213
Hell of a way to go out though.
post #68 of 213
Personally, I've never seen anything like that on television. Wow. Walt doesn't realize what he's messing with.
post #69 of 213
The music video was brilliant. The forshadowing in the opening teasers are great. I wonder what the teddy bear will mean
post #70 of 213
Unreal.

I thought Trejo would be recurring as well. When we saw his head bobbing through the binoculars, I thought it would lead to some wacky gag, and then . . . DAMN.

The ending didn't really affect me at all, primarily because I was processing the earlier sequence. What a show!
post #71 of 213
I was really thinking this one was going to end without anything all that fucked up happening. Skyler was hoping to get a job. Hank was trying to fit in at his new gig. Jesse just wanted to be left alone.

Egg on my face.
post #72 of 213
It says alot that the opening music video sequence wasn't the most memorable moment of the episode.
post #73 of 213
I figure the opening is suppose to be a narcocorrido. Thought it was great.

As Jesse sat there waiting for his satellite signal to acquire I couldn't help but wonder if he had a satellite at all.

Also while we're focusing on the more memorable moments, I'd like to give some praise for the scene between Walt and the student. Don't shit a shitter, apply yourself next time. Great scene.
post #74 of 213
Narcocorridos....neat.


This show is the best TV running right now. I haven't actually been this excited for the next episode of a show since I was in Jr.High.

I even gave a little 'aww' when they started holding hands.

I am really stoked for next week.
post #75 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Dnim View Post
As Jesse sat there waiting for his satellite signal to acquire I couldn't help but wonder if he had a satellite at all.
Yeah, I was waiting for that punchline. Since it was just a TV plugged into the wall with no tuner or anything, he clearly had no satellite. Nice that they went for a sweeter moment.

Walt really is taking the fast path to Kingpin. Gotta have more dealers, take territory, charge more. He's a regular Pablo Escobar in the making.
post #76 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeShaynePI View Post
Walt really is taking the fast path to Kingpin. Gotta have more dealers, take territory, charge more. He's a regular Pablo Escobar in the making.
But look at how quickly that turned. They even softened Walt up this episode, had him leaving the (too late) message for Jesse telling him not to "take care of" the business they'd talked about. They give him that little human moment, then dangle the carrot in front of him that word about Jesse smashing some dude's grape with an ATM has hit the streets and suddenly Walt sees too much opportunity to ignore.

I see no chance that Jesse pieces together with their "layers" plan that he's the layer keeping Walt safe. Jesse going down in Walt's big plan will be the true tragedy of this show, which just goes to show how phenomenally they've handled Jesse's drug cooking character. He should be the last person we care about.

Watching Skylar make a decision that obviously puts her in an affair position barely even registers at this point. It's hard to imagine Walt and Sky coming through this.
post #77 of 213
It's interesting that in the opening video both the RV and a mysterious man in a black hat(Walt) are present. It's not really clear at what point in time this video is made, but apparently it is yet another flash-forward, as someone else mentioned, for those two clues have yet to be added to the growing 'Heisenberg' legend.
post #78 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Dnim View Post
I figure the opening is suppose to be a narcocorrido. Thought it was great.
Very interesting! The song was indeed identified as a narcocorrido in the closed captions, though I figured that was just the title.

I can't believe how much plot this show manages to cram into each week's episode while maintaining such a measured pace and a scarcity of dialogue. It's pulp, but it's the most compelling and well-written pulp I've seen on television in several years.
post #79 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by SamTanry View Post
It's interesting that in the opening video both the RV and a mysterious man in a black hat(Walt) are present. It's not really clear at what point in time this video is made, but apparently it is yet another flash-forward, as someone else mentioned, for those two clues have yet to be added to the growing 'Heisenberg' legend.
I think those were just stylistic touches. The song's lyrics addressed the present.
post #80 of 213
Yeah, I didn't really think the song/video was happening in reality.
post #81 of 213
I think it at least represents the rest of the season's arc. Since obviously they introduced the cartel as a major obstacle to Walt's burgeoning drug career, I don't see any reason to think 'Heisenberg' won't become a hunted man in the very near future.

Hank will be in the midst of their feud and may end up being invaluable to Walt. I could see a future time when Walt blackmails Hank(his wife's a klepto at the very least) into getting on his payroll.
post #82 of 213
Awesome show. From the the opening video (the lyrics in spanish were great) to the freaking tortoise. God damn that was hard.

Loved the ending too. Jesse's got a girl!
post #83 of 213
This is the best dramatic show on TV at the moment. Hands down.

I also want to throw out a quick mention of the amazing work Aaron Paul's doing this season as Jesse. As Walt becomes harder, there's almost no doubt he's going to end up being the heart of the show.
post #84 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by Humanoid View Post
I also want to throw out a quick mention of the amazing work Aaron Paul's doing this season as Jesse. As Walt becomes harder, there's almost no doubt he's going to end up being the heart of the show.
I'd argue he already is. He's still a total screw-up, but at least he has a soul.
post #85 of 213
The one and only time I'd heard of those Mexican folk songs was The Shield; very creative way to deliver offscreen exposition.

I'm guessing what happened with Hank was a plot oriented move designed to quickly give him a much higher profile in the DEA than he had before. As Walt's territory expands, so must Hank's position- if he is going to be the guy in charge of hunting down Heisenberg.

It's hard to tell if the landlord girl is attracted to Jesse's doofy vulnerability, or the fact that he now seems like some sort of mysterious badass. Most likely the latter, which wouldn't bode well for their relationship.
post #86 of 213
Too fucking good.

I was concerned in the first half of the ep that Odenkirk might lend an unnecessary wackiness to the proceedings, but his character fell into place by the end of the episode. This show belongs firmly within the "best shows on televsion" argument.
post #87 of 213
Also, I immediately thought of Levy from The Wire when I saw Odenkirk's character. Levy strikes me as a million times more competent.

I also loved how we had an actual cold opening set in the present, as a change-of-tempo from previous cold openings. You get the sense that the producers have found their wheelhouse, and the viewer reaps the rewards.

EDIT: For whatever reason, I think Hank finds out about Walt this season, and I wouldn't be surprised if he joined the enterprise.
post #88 of 213
No way Hank goes dirty. If they're setting up Hank to be in position to take Walter down, they're also establishing his humanity, masked by the tough guy exterior, as Walt gets harder. As I see it, right now they're on a collision course, and Hank's decency may just cause him to hesitate, whereas 'Heisenberg' probably won't.

I too was worried Odenkirk's character would come off as out of place, but he was great... and I'm hoping they put him to good use. Walt and Jesse's enterprise can only expand so fast with their limited experience and three knuckle-headed dealers working under them. With a sleazy attorney sharing his knowledge with Walt, he should be able to catch on much quicker to how the game is played.
post #89 of 213
"Ice Station Zebra Associates."

Odenkirk was indeed great. Not a shabby turn from DJ Quals either.
post #90 of 213
This show continues to amaze me. I love the growing dichotomy between Hank and Walt (and how far the show has come since its pilot where Hank was alpha-male to Walt's omega-male) and they utilized Odenkirk brilliantly.
post #91 of 213
I love every episode of this show, but I hope they can get back the madcap quality it had in the first season. One of the best things about it was that you started every episode having absolutely no idea where the show would leave you in an hour, but now it's definitely settled into a more predictable overall arc, even if every episode has a few moments of inspired lunacy. We've seen "small-time criminal becomes underworld king" so many times in film already; the show is definitely at its best when it's finding ridiculous ways to spin Walt's life completely out of control, and forcing him to find solutions that will come back to haunt him.

Also, they've done an amazing job of transforming Hank from a completely unsympathetic jerk into one of the most likeable characters on the show.
post #92 of 213
Is Badger Penn Jillette's son or something? He looks and sounds like him.

Great episode, can't wait to see how things progress from here.
post #93 of 213
He isn't, and I honestly don't see it.
post #94 of 213
I loved Odenkirk. The show really needed somebody to break the news to Walt that for all of his careful planning he's completely vulnerable. With Hank back so quickly I assume his promotion was really to show us the difference between the podunk drug trade that Walt is currently involved in and the cartel drug trade not too far away. At some point Walt's world will have to clash with people who mount loaded heads on turtles.
post #95 of 213
It sucks clicking to page 2 before I can start discussing this show. DON'T YOU PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE MISSING?!?

Amazing again.
post #96 of 213
Boy did I wince when Jesse dumped out the water.
post #97 of 213
Yeah, I've been thinking what a jerk he is everytime Walt says something condescending to Jesse, and then he does something like that and you think he deserves it. At least he inspired Walt to save their asses at the end.

That good news of course had to come, otherwise the show would be over, so the kind of dread that built up to it was a bit dulled.
post #98 of 213
Walt has been the desperate man fucked over by fate and the system, then we got glimpses of him as a coldly calculating kingpin, and now we're going to see how he handles possibly having the time to take a deep breath and let some remorse for what he's doing enter into the equation.

Loved the progression of the final moments in this episode. From the emotional celebration in the doctor's office, to washing his face with the (doubly significant) water, and then surprising me with that angry outburst; smashing and distorting his reflection. Powerful stuff.
post #99 of 213
....we're gonna build a robot?

Awesome episode.
post #100 of 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rando View Post
....we're gonna build a robot?

Awesome episode.
That was the best. Jesse spitballing all of his ideas, from a flare to a robot to a battery to a dunebuggy. It's easy to see the relationship that Walt and Jesse had when they were student/teacher though. Jesse being bright enough but not caring and not applying himself, and how much that frustrates Walt. Really, their relationship has barely evolved from that.

So with that marathon cooking session, Walt has essentially nearly tripled what he felt his family would need without him. From the preview for next week it seems like they're really setting him up to step out of the trade, which of course means something is going to need to push him back in. It seems like they've almost exhausted the ideas for why Walt wouldn't have his money though.
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