After months of speculation, AMC announced today that Bob Odenkirk will reprise his role in a spinoff of Breaking Bad, and that said spinoff will be airing on AMC. The series will involve Saul Goodman doing Saul Goodman-y things, like telling young, unsuspecting idiots to not drink and drive, but call him if they do. The series will be one hour, and will presumably consist of 20 minutes of “Better Call Saul” ads, 20 minutes of “Better Call Saul” ads, and 20 minutes of “Better Call Saul” ads.
Vince Gilligan will be involved in the creative process, and the series will most likely air sometime next year. That gives us enough time to finish screaming at the top of our lungs in reaction to Breaking Bad, and will give our families and friends enough time to look at us strangely, then move out of the country. By the time we have digested the series finale and have gone through withdrawal from the show, most of us will probably be a melted puddle of human, almost as if Walt himself dissolved us in a vat of acid.
Those of us that survive will be able to see Saul’s origins, as the series will trace his route from sleazy lawyer to sleazy lawyer of Heisenberg. Hank and Marie will probably guest star so Hank can throw in a “Jesus Christ, Marie!”, and Jesus Christ will probably descend from the skies in the form of Huell. Walt Jr. will also spend the whole series gaping idiotically at Saul.
Credit to AMC and Breaking Bad for all pictures. I own nothing.
Walter White has given up. We’ve seen the cracks in his facade, most noticeably last week, with his flustered demeanor around Skyler and Walt Jr. However, this episode marks the true downfall of the cold, calculating Heisenberg. Or is it?
In a way, it is. Even though he once again finds luck on his side, it’s all due to a rag-tag group of Nazi lovers that are nothing like the foes he deems worthy to oppose. If he ends up having to face off with them for his life, it’d be a final middle finger from everyone to Heisenberg. It would be strangely fitting that he’d fall to the hands of real criminals.
Nevertheless, the episode is a perfect encapsulation of the road Walt’s been heading down. Cranston does tremendous work with Walt’s facial expressions, conveying both a sense of finality and of relief. His rage is transformed into something quieter as he realizes that he’s trapped. He’s betrayed by the sight of Jesse stepping out of that vehicle. He’s underestimated Hank, Jesse, and Gomez, and he just can’t take it anymore.
Now, this is much like Jesse, who has used up every ounce of effort to take down his former boss. He allows himself a small smile as Walt is arrested, yet he’s also astonished at how everything has turned out. How can a nobody like Jesse Pinkman outsmart a criminal mastermind like Walter White? How can Jesse be Walt’s greatest weakness? Those are understandable questions, but the answers have been telegraphed since the start of the season. The first eight episodes were all about Walt’s victory lap, but recently, he’s started to outsmart himself. As he races through the desert (in an expertly directed scene by MacLaren), he’s so overcome with rage that he starts screaming at Jesse. Everything is crashing down around him as he speaks, and he reverts back to his “family” excuse; he tries to hold family and his cancer over Jesse’s head, but he’s too angry to see that it won’t work. Much like his excursion to Brock’s house, Walt still believes in the fact that others care for him. The thing is, everyone else has already figured out his tricks.
That doesn’t mean they’ll be successful, though. The final shoot out is telegraphed throughout the episode, and when Hank picks up that phone to call Marie, we know something’s going to happen. His smugness level is off the charts. He’s waving to Walt, professing his love for Marie, and is smiling gleefully. It’s the mark of a man that can just taste that sweet, sweet success. He is so in the moment that he doesn’t stop to think about his career. This revelation will ruin his life, but he’s won, so he pushes that off to the side.
Then, everything explodes. The smash cut to black prevents us from seeing what has transpired, but we know that nothing will ever be the same.
Grade: A
Other thoughts:
-Walt Jr’s delight at seeing Saul is absolutely priceless.
-“Don’t drink and drive, but if you do, call me!”
-It’s ironic how Walt reverting back to his old ways is actually what helps him get away. He agrees to one more cook, and that earns him the services of the Nazis.
-The cold open is hilarious. We can clearly see that it’s not blue, but Todd trying to say it is is a thing of beauty. Speaking of, the way Todd shoots all nonchalant during the shootout scene is a funny shot amidst an intense atmosphere. He may seem like a light-hearted character, but in reality, he’s terrifying. He has absolutely no morals, and he’s essentially a machine.
-I forgot to breathe during that last segment.
-Brock knows! If I was him, I’d make sure those Fruit Loops weren’t laced with ricin.
-It’s been wonderful to watch the work of Michelle MacLaren. She will continue doing amazing things with the camera.
-“Remember, where we used to have cookouts as a family?” Hank has turned the tables.
-Oh, Huell. You’re awesome.
Credit to AMC and Breaking Bad for all pictures. I own nothing.
This is a facetious line said in passing by Saul Goodman, but it is extremely interesting in the context of the other characters. For example, does Walt really care about Jesse? Deep down, do the experiences they’ve shared transcend the suffocating nature of Walt’s current situation? There’s no question that Walt has looked at Jesse as a son, but does he still? That’s something to be debated upon, but I’d argue that it isn’t until he picks up that phone, and the end credits roll, that he truly turns on Jesse. He’s been heading down a path in which his paternal feelings have become feelings of necessity, as his whole family’s been turning on him.
As for Jesse, all throughout this process, his mind is telling him that Walt doesn’t care at all. Walt’s burrowed deep into his brain, filling him with fear and paranoia. He doesn’t look at Heisenberg as a father figure, but he looks up at him; he believes that Walt’s the devil, capable of anything and everything. This is exactly what’s gnawing at his mind as he walks through that plaza, in a scene reminiscent of “Half Measures”: the same angle, the same expression on his face, and the same feeling of “This is the longest walk ever.” Everyone around him is appearing and disappearing, reflecting those “godlike” qualities he’s so afraid of. Then, he’s able to fixate his attention on one person, causing him to completely change his mind and threaten Walt over the phone. Sure, that creepy guy standing there in the plaza is a plot contrivance designed to increase tension, but it works because it gives Jesse a new direction to take.
Let’s back up a bit, though. The set up for that final sequence is extremely interesting; it’s full of conversation, but those conversations shake up the character dynamics. First, we see Walt trying to explain to Skyler and Walt Jr. why exactly gasoline is all over the floor. Then, we see Walt and Flynn bonding by the pool, and later, we see Walt continuing to avoid telling Skyler the truth. Heisenberg’s always been a cold, calculating man, capable of creating an elaborate plan months in advance. However, when he’s confronted by Flynn and Skyler in this episode, he’s shocked. He’s flustered. He’s confused as to why his lies aren’t being lapped up. He’s starting to crack. It’s chilling, though, that in the same episode that Skyler puts off confronting Walt because of the presence of Walt Jr., the father and the son get closer than ever before.
Then, we have Hank. He’s become embroiled in his quest, and he’s entirely willing to bring Jesse down if that means nabbing Heisenberg (ironic, isn’t it, how only Walt seems to care about Jesse in this episode?). His way of responding to Walt’s “confession” is to acquire a confession of his own. However, Jesse’s the voice of reason here. He has no legitimate proof of Walt’s criminal activities, and his full and honest confession has less of an effect than Walt’s “manipulating the truth” confession. We see two different men in these videos; Jesse’s slouched and mumbling, but Walt’s staring straight into the camera, exuding power and confidence.
So, that brings us back to Jesse’s final decision. We don’t know what it will be. Perhaps he’ll claim to be Heisenberg, or perhaps he’ll move to Alaska and build a snow fort. One thing is for sure, though: Walter White cannot be a part of him any longer.
Grade: B+
Other thoughts:
-The episode is “Rabid Dog”, drawing comparisons to Season 4’s “Problem Dog.” It was an episode in which Jesse had to explain why he killed Gale, and this episode serves as a complete shift from that, as Jesse’s now the one being treated like a dog. Who is the dog? Jesse could be, but it can just as easily be Hank.
-“Okay, but, say, you know, just for the sake of argument, the kid’s not in the mood for a nuanced discussion of the virtues of child poisoning…” Oh, Saul. You’re amazing.
-The shot of Jesse out cold in Hank’s bed is a powerful image. He’s lost, beaten down, and emotionally drained.
-Of course, he wakes up to a picture of Walt as Santa. His reaction to that is golden.
-When Jesse’s phone went off, I thought that we were going to get a montage of Marie making lasagna. Maybe next week.
-Marie goes to therapy, and we see more purple stuff.
-The directing of the show always impresses me, and Breaking Bad directors in particular are brilliant at “hallway shots.” The framing, the pull backs, and the zooms are pitch perfect, and I’d like to point out the scene after Jesse wakes up. He’s at one end of the hallway, and Marie’s at the other end. It’s a wonderful shot.
-The B+ doesn’t mean the episode is bad, but I think it does move a bit slow. However, that’s what piece-setting episodes do, and while the episode is less compelling than the last three, it sets up for what should be an explosive episode 5.
Credit to AMC and Breaking Bad for all pictures. I own nothing.
Walter White is a despicable person. He’s cheated, lied, and manipulated his way to the top, and in order to keep his position, he has to do so to a greater extent. In fact, he’s not just lying now; he’s manipulating the truth. In the wonderfully directed confession scene, some of what he says is actually what has transpired. However, it’s also an absolutely brilliant act of fiction. It’s the only way to get Hank to back down, and we feel the wrenching effects of the message in Dean Norris’ face. Strangely fitting, isn’t it, that Walt exudes the most power through a TV screen? He’s become a caricature of himself, the Heisenberg persona permeating every single aspect of his life. The dinner scene beforehand shows us, however, that Hank will never forgive Walter. Unlike last week, he pushes Skyler away right off the bat. He’s only hell-bent on taking Walt down, but he has one flaw: he’s smart.
It’s a strange thing to say, I know, but consider Walt’s personality for a second. He’s cold, calculating, and manipulative in ways that Hank has never anticipated. In fact, he was able to outsmart Gus Fring, the previous cold, calculating, and manipulative mastermind. He should be able to outsmart Hank, and he does. Now, what Walt doesn’t expect, though, is unpredictability. This comes in the form of Jesse Pinkman. He has no friends, no family, and no restraints, and it’s a dangerous situation for Walt because Jesse just doesn’t care. Walt realizes this, though, but he deals with it in the same manner he would for someone like Skyler. He hugs Jesse, trying to strengthen that father-son bond he wants to believe is still existent, much like he hugged Skyler back in “Live Free or Die.” However, Jesse breaks down because he just can’t take it anymore; we can see he wants to acquiesce to Walt, but it’s much too difficult.
Then comes the explosion. All that pent-up anger, fear, and sadness manifests itself in a beautiful, yet frightening, sequence of events in which Jesse beats up and threatens Saul, realizes Walt’s role in the ricin poisoning, and rushes to Walt’s house to douse it in gasoline. It’s an abrupt ending, but that’s kind of the point.
Grade: A
Other thoughts:
-The cold open is interesting to analyze. We have Todd exaggerating the details of the train robbery, then leaving a message for Walt. I find it interesting how in the same episode Jesse completely turns on Walt, Todd’s still sucking up to him. He’s like the former Jesse.
-I also liked the tarantula that appears later on, especially given that Todd leaves the murder part out of his story.
-I loved the shot of Walt racing to the car wash all in a panic, then composing himself outside of the door. It’s, once again, some great direction by the crew.
-Walt and Flynn’s scene is, once again, a prime example of Walt continuing to use his family to hold over Hank and Marie’s heads. Of course, the dinner scene reflects the failure of that plan.
-The dinner scene is wonderful. I love the juxtaposition of the cheery exterior, complete with Trent and his guacamole-making ways, with the tension at the table. It’s a fantastically-acted scene.
-Saul just standing in the background of Jesse and Walt’s desert scene was amazing.
-The episode really made me nervous for the characters. I’d imagine the next few episodes will once again have that “anyone can go down” mentality. It’s going to be a ride.
-I hope Walt Jr. wasn’t home at the end.
Credit to AMC and Breaking Bad for all pictures. I own nothing.
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