How about that ‘Breaking Bad’ episode this week?

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What’s Skyler going to say next? WHAT’S SHE GOING TO SAY!?!?!?

What’s Skyler going to say next? WHAT’S SHE GOING TO SAY!?!?!?

The Sunday night episode (which I didn’t watch until last night, via iPad) was probably the most impressive I’ve seen to date. It may have lacked the physical drama of the one with the explosion in the nursing home, for instance, but for sheer suspense in character development, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything to match it.

I can’t remember when I’ve felt so much tension, when I’ve been so completely clueless as to what a character was about to say or do, and so eager for him or her to go ahead and say it, because I can’t wait to find out what happens.

There are a couple of reasons for that. One, there’s all the investment in the characters during the first few seasons. You know how important the next thing this person says is to the story, because of all that has gone before.

Another reason — and this is probably the most important — is that you know that what happens next is going to make sense, in terms of the arc of the character, even though you don’t know what it will be.

And that is rare. Other TV series that are cliffhanger-driven produce suspense through uncertainty by being completely arbitrary about character development. I always felt so manipulated by “Lost” in this regard. Characters would change from “good” to “bad” on a dime, just to keep you guessing (in fact, the entire explanation of existential reality would change, just to drive the plot). Which is cheesy, and unimaginative. “24” was even worse about this. A character would go from being the one most trustworthy person in that universe to being someone in cahoots with the terrorists from episode to episode, and then switch back to someone you had to trust, all within the same season. This was made even more ridiculous because the season was all supposed to be happening within one 24-hour period.

But with “Breaking Bad,” as outrageous as the underlying premise is — a meek, mild high school chemistry teacher becoming a ruthless, feared drug lord — the writing and the acting make you believe in it. And that’s what keeps you watching.

Here were the aspects that grabbed me the most this week (SPOILER ALERT):

  • The meeting between Hank and Skyler in the diner. Waiting for each line that Skyler spoke — will she spill? will she throw herself sobbing on Hank’s mercy? will she deny everything? — was exquisitely suspenseful. You knew that whatever she said next would be logical and consistent with her character, but you didn’t know what it would be. When she changed the direction of the conversation by saying that she thought she should talk to a lawyer — something for which Hank and I were both unprepared — I thought, Yes, of course! That’s exactly what Skyler would do in this situation! But I didn’t know she would until she did.
  • When Marie tries to talk to Skyler, and you see her own dawning realization of just how long Skyler has known what Walt was doing, and what that meant to her and Hank, the viewer himself realizes just how staggering the betrayal has been, from Marie’s perspective — while at the same time fully understanding Skyler’s indefensible position. You really feel the emotions the characters are feeling, because you’re realizing the same things in real time.
  • In any other series, Hank’s reluctance to tell anyone at work would be a cheap device to advance the plot, to keep the tension going. It wouldn’t have to make sense. But in his conversation with Marie, it unfolds perfectly logically. If Hank goes to his DEA colleagues with only his suspicions, it will indeed be his last day on the job, because he’ll be the guy who didn’t see what was happening under his own nose. But it he goes in with proof, he will at least be the guy who got Heisenberg. Even if his career then ends, he will have won. But then, as Marie says, if it comes out that he had these suspicions, and didn’t report them, he’ll go to prison with Walt. This sets up tremendous suspense as Hank goes in to work, cancels the budget meeting and asks for a conference call.
  • Then, there was the ending. I was so extremely anxious to see what effect Hank’s presence would have on Jesse. Surely he will tell him, after turning off the interrogation-room camera, “I know everything you and Walt have been doing.” In his present mental and emotional state, how would Jesse react? He wouldn’t have been ready for it at all. OK, he’s going into the room…

And the episode ends! I almost shouted out loud at the frustration…

For a moment, I considered just waiting until the season was over and binge-watching it.

But I don’t think I’ll be able to wait that long…

 

16 thoughts on “How about that ‘Breaking Bad’ episode this week?”

      1. Brad Warthen Post author

        You know, if they started handing out meth for free, that would threaten Walt’s business model.

        Of course, he could still make money for producing higher-quality stuff…

        Reply ↓
  4. Bryan Caskey

    Sorry, had to do some actual lawyering earlier today, yo. Responsibilities and stuff. As an aside, I also would rather discuss movies than taxes.

    To just go back to the first episode of this season: The scene opened with the abandoned house and Walt pulled up. Remember who he saw and what happened? Carol started dropping some oranges because this show wanted to toss in a Godfather reference. Also, the first episode ended with Walt and Hank in a tight clutch, with Hank confronting Wat with his uncover of the betrayal. Godfather II, anyone?

    Just wanted to start there. Because Godfather references must be observed and recorded.

    The saddest character is Hank. He used to be so happy. He was hanging out in his garage, making his own beer, laughing with the guys, wearing Hawaiian t-shirts all the time, maybe grilling some steaks for the family with a Bobby Flay recipe, and generally having a great life. He’s broken now, and the person who broke him is Walt. It was somewhat fitting that the inner sanctum for Hank (his garage) was where the confrontation occurred, as it shows the full depths to which Walt’s criminal empire has destroyed Hank.

    Brad, you had a post earlier about the landscape of Breaking Bad. It kind of got me thinking about the everyday nature of the show.

    One of the most appealing aspects of the show is who everything is so average. You can relate to it. The setting of the confrontation between Walt and Hank is a garage of painted sheetrock and framing. It has all the same well-organized tools that I buy at Lowe’s (where Walt probably buys his pick and shovel), and the homes are identical little cookie-cutters at the end of a cul-de-sac in a development similar to ones I’ve been to a hundred times. It’s the completely accessible surroundings. You know the little air-fresheners that Walt is futzing with at the car wash? I’ve seen those a hundred times at carwashes. I can even imagine how Walt’s house smells (before it’s ruined). All of the plates and stuff at Hank’s house look like they’re from Pottery Barn or Target, or World Market, or something like that. It’s all something that I recognize. It’s almost more disturbing that way, as in your mild-mannered neighbor could actually be a crime kingpin.

    Hank’s character is probably my favorite. He started out as a typical meat-head, but he’s so much more complex now. He’s finally found his “White Whale” (see what I did there?) but it hasn’t turned out like he thought it would. It’s betrayal, and he’s been doomed as the guy who let it happen right under his nose.

    Skyler’s confrontation with Hank in the diner in the second episode was great. I didn’t think she was going to crack, because that’s not who she is. I thought she might have broken out the “Isn’t there some kind of spousal immunity?” in regards to testifying against Walt. She didn’t, but if she did, that would have been awesome. I’m guessing they’re going to throw that little bit of criminal procedure in soon. I can’t wait to see Saul start negotiating with Hank, because you know that’s going to happen soon.

    I thought the part where Marie took Skyler’s baby (can’t remember the kid’s name) was also a pretty high point of drama. It also reminded me that Marie is a kleptomaniac, and now she’s trying to steal Skyler’s child in a way. Aren’t Hank and Marie childless because of some medical issue of Marie’s? Not sure. But they don’t have children, right?

    Jesse is kind of the loose cannon (and loose end) right now, which makes him probably the most likely character to “Go to Belize” as Saul would say. However, he isn’t talking. Literally. Did he have even one word of dialogue in that second episode? I can’t remember one. Just like you, when the credits flashed right when Hank walked in to the interrogation room I said Dammit! out loud. I think Hank is going to snap him out of the trance that he’s in. Could the new partnership now be between Jesse and Hank against Walt? That would be interesting. You could have the whole dynamic again of Jesse talking like a thug while working with the feds to provide some comic relief.

    Reply ↓
    1. Brad Warthen Post author

      Thanks for engaging so fully!

      But… I hate to point this out… you missed a Godfather allusion (although, I confess, I missed the oranges).

      I almost did a separate bullet on the scene in which Skyler is hovering over Walt as he wakes up after having passed out on the bathroom floor.

      You realize what scene that is, don’t you? It’s the one in which Michael goes to the hospital, finds his father unprotected, suddenly makes his big shift from the son who didn’t want anything to do with the business, and tells his father, with powerful double meaning, “I’m here, Pop. I’ll take care of you now. I’m with you now. I’m with you.” Skyler does essentially the same, although far less directly. (And in another testament to the great writing and acting, Walt doesn’t know she will do that until she does it. And you believe he doesn’t know it; their relationship has become so believably opaque.)

      And yet it’s not derivative. It’s distinctive, unique. And it harkens back to the Season 1 episode in which Walt spends the night being sick in the bathroom, while Skyler is outside wondering what’s gotten into him. Now, she’s in there with him. And, like the double entendre from The Godfather, with him in more ways than one…

      Reply ↓
        1. Brad Warthen Post author

          Lottery ticket? That was a lottery ticket?

          OK, now I’m really confused. I didn’t know what that was, but I found it weird that Walt would post anything with the coordinates on it on the fridge.

          But… here’s an image of the ticket. If it’s a lottery ticket, why does it say “GPS coordinates,” and why does it have the symbols for degrees, and feet, and inches?

          Even if you could include such symbols on a lottery ticket, why would he want to?

          To me, it looks like he’s prominently posted a map to his hoard. After the Walt Whitman book fiasco, why would he do something this sloppy?

          Reply ↓
      1. Silence

        It sho’ would be nice to have an open thread now and then, or at least a VFP…

        “You can get much further with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.” -Al Capone

        Reply ↓

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