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Archive for the ‘Breaking Bad’ Category

Jul
05

Some Breaking Bad fans are asking whether we will see Mike in Breaking Bad season 5. The answer is yes and he will play a big role in the first two episodes.

 

 

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Jun
06

Take a look at the new promo poster of Breaking Bad season 5.

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May
17

May
17

Jesse Plemons is headed to Breaking Bad season 5 to play a recurring role.

 

 

Plemons (Friday Night Lights) will play Todd, a dependable, innocuous, working-class guy in the show’s fifth and final season (which is slated to kick off in July and will be broken up into two eight-episode chunks). However, his character may not be what he appears to be.

 

Since putting down the pigskin, Plemons has been rushing non-stop, on the big screen (Battleship) and small (NBC’s Bent). Besides bagging Bad, he’s also landed a part in the upcoming film The Master, alongside all-stars such as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.

 

Check Breaking Bad season 5 spoilers and news HERE.

Sep
26

This season is on fire! Episode 11 titled “Crawl Space” gave us intense moments plus surprises!

It seems impossible to comprehend that last Sunday night concluded with Gus being rushed to the hospital and here he was more alive and in control than ever before. That’s what happens when you take out the head of the cartel.

He taunted Hector, he threatened Walt – the infant daughter truly sold his steady, menacing warning – he made it clear that Jesse really is part of the family. Seriously, both Walt and Skyler could learn something from Gus. This is a man that plans for every conceivable obstacle, preparing a blood supply for each important member of his team, having a fully-briefed, loyal doctor on call.

The contrast with Walt and his reactionary fits of anger couldn’t be more stark. Same for Skyler, now that her desperate plot to force Ted to pay the IRS went as wayward as possible. (Between this and her infamous “I f-cked Ted” line, Walt really must be sick of hearing about that guy.)

It’s also worth noting, as I have before, the differences in how Gus has treated and molded Jesse. Walt used intimidating and manipulation, while Gus has actually crafted a new chemist and a committed soldier. Ironically, Walt likely cares more about Jesse than Gus ever could – that appeared to be a hint of a legitimately grateful smile on Walt’s face when Jesse opened the door to his house – but his hubris and ego got in the way of forging any kind of true father/son bond. And now we see where that has gotten him: pushed away from the only ally he ever had.

Somehow, though, Jesse still won’t abandon his first mentor completely. When this series started, could you ever have envisioned Jesse being the show’s moral compass? He really is a good guy.

But it all comes back to that incredible ending. It was the stuff of (terrific) season finales. But that doesn’t even take place next week. There are two more episodes remaining this season. And then 16 more after that. Something major has to go down because Walt has finally reached his breaking point. There’s no Heisenberg any longer, there’s simply the realization of all he has wrought on himself and his family. That can’t go on for too much longer.

What can you say about this wonderful episode of Breaking Bad?

You can check other Breaking Bad Season 4 Reviews and Spoilers HERE.

Sep
19

What the! Last night’s episode of Breaking Bad titled “Salud” is extraordinarily astonishing! Wow! The said episode showed us how far this show can go. Brilliant.

TV Fanatic: Think about all the show accomplished in just one hour: Jesse concluded the installment as a hero, Gus as a strong-willed leader beyond anything we’d ever seen before and Walt as, dare I write it, a sympathetic figure with father issues.

And these evolutions took place without bashing the viewer over the head with monumental developments or out-of-nowhere twists. The series can do so much by placing its characters into various situations and having them simply talk.

On this episode, we were treated to a fascinating monologue by Walt, an inspired speech by Jesse (my proud smile was even broader than that of Gus and Mike) and a subtitled exchange between Don Elario and Gus that – due to the history between these two, the performances by the actors, and the build-up of the season – was more suspenseful than any action sequence on any other show could ever be.

But we need to return to Walt for a moment and his stunning admission: “It’s all my fault.” Yes, this was uttered under heavy medication, but does anyone doubt its honesty? I truly never expected to hear such words from Walt, the guy who believes he’s the one who knocks. Has the fight with Jesse, his surrogate son (sorry, Walt Jr.), caused Walt to do a 180?

I doubt it. I can’t imagine Heisenberg is a persona of the past this quickly. Still, the brawl and the subsequent, overt anger/pain expressed by Jesse, has clearly had an effect. When was the last time we saw Walt this vulnerable, or as Walt Jr. so aptly put it, this “real?” He’s no lovable protagonist now, but Walt has undergone a transformation of some kind at least.

When Gus’ employee pulled up and reminded Walt about the job that, for the last year, has turned him into someone who his son does not want to remember, I almost felt bad for Walt. Mere days ago, I couldn’t fathom feeling such a way.

And that’s what Breaking Bad does so well. It takes you in directions you never imagined you’d go, places you never even realized you were heading until you found yourself watching Jesse and Mike carry a poisoned Gus to a car and actively hoping they’d make it. How did we get here? Earlier this season, Gus was nothing more than the even-keeled boss behind a multi-million dollar meth operation.

He’s still that person, but he’s also morphed into a man with a past. Did he kill the cartel members purely for business reasons? Or because he’s developed a relationship with Jesse akin to the mentor/protege one that Don Elario destroyed many years ago? Probably a little bit of both.

Like Walt, Gus created his own Heisenberg a long time ago. He’s just a lot better at it, and the drug boss hat he puts on isn’t that of a foolish narcissist. It’s of a businessman. That meticulous bathroom scene? With Gus folding each towel and taking precious care to clean up after himself? I doubt that side existed in Mexico. It’s been cultivated over the years. It’s the habit Gus has perfected in order to succeed in his world of fast food and high stakes drugs. The “real” Gus, however?

Business is not business for him. There was no way he was gonna allow Don Elario to crush his dreams again, especially not with a young, loyal cook by his side.

Just tremendous stuff all around, without me even getting to Skyler and her boneheaded decision to first help Ted, and then let him in on her wealth. No way we’ve heard the last of that.

Overall, this episode of Breaking Bad is superb. It’s one of the best episodes of any shows. Mark that!

You can check other Breaking Bad Season 4 Reviews and Spoilers HERE.

Sep
12

Another interesting episode for Breaking Bad last night. So what happened in “Bug?” Let’s find out below.

Walt has been lying to his family about the extent of his drug involvement for months, while Skyler has never been as clean as she would likely wish to believe. There was Ted’s shady accounting and now, of course, the car wash.

On “Bug,” these deceptions caught up to both characters. One can only manipulate books and former proteges for so long.

We’ve gotta start with the fight. Just brutal staff, an extended scene and blow-up that has been in the making all season long, yet I didn’t think would actually come out in such a way. Once I moved past the shock of how violent these two got with each other, my first thought was: Good for you, Jesse.

This is a young man who has seemed utterly detached from life since killing Gail. He’s been as close to suicidal as one can get without pulling any triggers or writing any notes. He’s felt used by powerful people, manipulated, worthless as a human being.

And he may very well still feel all of these things, but reacting with such anger toward Walt’s car bugging proves there’s life in Jesse yet. There’s fight there, literally and figuratively. For almost two seasons now, we’ve watched Walt act as anything but a father figure to Jesse, reminding him at every turn about the poor decisions he’s made and the consequences that have been the result.

Any amateur psychologist could diagnose this as Walt deflecting, but Walt never sees it that way, of course. He legitimately believes the world revolves around him, that he’s the man in charge and Jesse has been letting him down, holding him back, siding with the enemy.

Never once has Walt stopped to truly ask how Jesse is doing since the Gail incident – his attempt at small talk this week was laughable, to viewers and to Jesse – while we’ve been seeing how the shooting has affected this already unstable individual.

Did he ever plan to poison Gus? I think so. I think he was torn, but he did want to go through with it, both for his survival and because, deep down, he still wants to please Mr. White. But we’ve watched Jesse struggle with the ramifications of actually killing someone. It’s not easy, no matter how circumstances might make it appear necessary. Has Walt taken a moment to consider this difficulty, this life-altering action? No. He just thinks Jesse has turned against him.

Conversely, Gus is cooking Jesse dinner. He’s actually being honest with his employee, laying out every detail of his problems with the cartel. It’s unusual to say this about the head of such a major drug operation, but do we have any reason not to trust Gus?

And that Terminator-esque stroll through sniper fire? Badass. Awesome.

Where do things go from here? I can sincerely say that I have no idea. Jesse might still murder Gus, if only for his own self-preservation because he doesn’t want to go to Mexico. Skyler, meanwhile, will definitely be making a mess of the business from stealing from it and handing wads of cash over to Ted. And Walt will learn his lesson, realize how deeply he’s hurt Jesse and beg for forgiveness next week.

What can you say about this episode of Breaking Bad?

You can check other Breaking Bad Season 4 Reviews and Spoilers HERE.

Sep
05

Sometimes it’s also good to have a break. An episode which will bring flashbacks and side stories. The same is true on “Hermanos” in Breaking Bad season 4.

TV Fanatic: Without any warning, and without viewers even aware we’re missing key pieces of information, the Breaking Bad team knows when to sprinkle in flashbacks or side stories that change our view of the bigger picture. Such was very much the case on “Hermanos.”

Following last week’s episode, I wondered what would happen to Gus. Hank was on to him, the cartel was making demands, Walt was pushing Jesse to end his life.

I never stopped to wonder who Gus was, how he ended up as the richest, most devious fast food chain owner in the Southwest. It wasn’t a tidbit I felt necessary, not when Breaking Bad already offers such well-layered, defined characters. Gustavo Fring was simply the icy businessman behind it all, I figured. And that would have been enough.

But that all changed with one fascinating flashback.

We discovered a new dimension to this man, a time when he cowered in fear and when he learned a lesson that he uses to this day: a cook may be the most important cog in this operation, but that’s all you can see him as. A cog. The same goes for all employees, as Gus certainly doesn’t shed any tears over the loss of them at this point. RIP, Victor.

But Gus still mourns for Max, of course. That chemist scholarship? Likely more than a mere cover. It’s a tribute to his fallen friend, a man who served as his student in much the same way Walt thinks Jesse serves as his. At one time, Walt may even have been as shaken up as Gus if Jesse had been killed (which was the original first season plan, Gilligan has said).

And bravo, Giancarlo Esposito. Great, emotional work by the actor who hadn’t been asked previously to do much except give us a calm, collected version of his character.

Breaking Bad didn’t merely take us inside the life of Gustavo Fring here, though, it also posed a question and possibly forecasted the future. First, the question: What is Gus asking of Hector? Now, the forecast: I don’t see Gus surviving this season. Among many other reasons to provide us with background on him is to make his inevitable death all the more impactful.

From the actual boss to the man who thinks he’s boss… we got another example of Walt talking a good game this week, while walking a frightened one. That sure was a nice, inspiring speech Walt gave to his fellow cancer patient: take control of your life! Always be in charge! Live on your own terms!

Too bad Walt can’t comprehend how little he actually follows his own words. His level of narcissistic ignorance is ratcheted up on a weekly basis, as Walt is anything but in charge of the meth business, pleading with Gus to spare Hank’s life (because he cares about Hank or because it could lead to Walt’s demise?) and even learning that Jesse is no longer his loyal protege.

Yes, it was a convenient plot device to have Jesse use the bathroom just when a relevant text came in, but whatever. I’m excited enough to see how Walt reacts to Jesse’s lie that I can easily overlook such a detail.

Very little storyline movement overall on “Hermanos,” but the seeds are planted, the tension is mounting and the cliches are pouring out. We have Hank on Gus’ tail and, as a result, on Walt’s tail. We also have this question for fans: Does Hank suspect his brother-in-law at all? Or was he truly just in need of a driver? For a dogged, intelligent DEA agent, it’s hard to imagine some part of Hank doesn’t wonder about Walt’s involvement in all this.

We have Gus fighting off the cartel and Jesse having to decide where his loyalties lie. We also have Skyler is need of a new clothing bar for her closet.

What can you say about this episode of Breaking Bad?

You can check other Breaking Bad Season 4 Reviews and Spoilers HERE.

Aug
29

Pride issues haunt Walt again on episode 7 of Breaking Bad season 4 titled “Problem Dog.”

TV Fanatic: It’s his downfall, from turning down an offer to pay for his treatment years ago to pretty much every problem he’s encountered since. On “Problem Dog,” he reacted like a child at being told by Skyler to return the Challenger, wheeling it around like a five-year old dead set on proving he’s a big boy.

Now contrast Walt’s reaction to having his manhood questioned to that of Hank. He’s been shot, incapacitated, bed-ridden, forced to ask for help when using the bathroom. He’s watched his former partner climb the professional ladder, achieve the kind of success Hank was too scared to go after a couple seasons ago.

Has he reacted with fury and bitterness? A sarcastic quip here and there? Of course. But he’s also bared down when it mattered, extended a hand to his friend and put together the puzzle pieces of a global drug operation.

For good reason, Breaking Bad is often praised for its tense use of silence and for its unique cinematography (on this episode alone, I counted a microwave cam, a table cam, a floor cam, a soda fountain cam and a coffee machine can). But the series has delivered a couple of engrossing scenes of pure dialogue over the last couple episodes, each a total contrast from the other.

Last week, we had the classic expression of rage from Walt, as he bellowed “I am the guy who knocks” at a frightened Skyler. This time around, it was Hank just sitting at a table with his former colleagues, explaining the entire meth ring to them and to the viewers. With close to half a season remaining, and 16 episodes to come after that, something major is clearly about to go down.

All the pieces are in place for a shake-up. Hank is on to Gus, Gus is backed into a corner by the Cartel, Walt wants Jesse to kill Gus. This isn’t exactly a manageable status quo.

As for Jesse and the concept of pride, that’s nothing but a foreign entity. He has none. He’s a broken man. Contrary to his incredibly-delivered speech in that support group, Jesse does accept who he has become. He just accepts that to be a worthless murderer. He might appreciate the evolving position he has with Mike and the team, but he’s also aware this is a position within a group of drug dealers and killers.

And any hope Jesse might have for redemption? For believing that things can change? Walt, as usual, did his best to knock that down with a speech about all that’s happened over the last few years. But what does Walt care? Absolutely everything is about him, right?

That’s in his mind, of course. On “Problem Dog,” a lot was about Gus Fring. He’s a wanted man now, by the DEA, by the cartel, by Jesse and Walt if the former is up to the job. Can Gus ameliorate his situation? I doubt it. But it will be fascinating to watch him try.

Overall, I enjoyed this episode. How about you?

You can check other Breaking Bad Season 4 Reviews and Spoilers HERE.

Aug
22

Another great episode for Breaking Bad season 4. So what happened?

TV Fanatic: On “Cornered,” he was once again phased out of the business while, perhaps even more damaging, even if the Heisenberg side of him doesn’t want to admit it, he was outed by his wife as the dangerous, prideful, power hungry meth manufacturer that he is.

Someone has to protect this family from the man who protects this family. Not much Walt can say to that, is there?

There’s nowhere for Walt to hide at this point. His relationship with Jesse scarcely exists, his wife finally sees him for who he has truly become and even his son can’t be fooled by a phony, supposedly fatherly gesture.

Walt is simply a poor mentor to Jesse, an irresponsible husband and business partner to Skyler and an ATM to his son. He’s also a major jerk to Bogdan.

It’s unclear where Walt can go from here. But it can’t be any place positive. As he made clear to Skyler in an early scene, and then later to Walt Jr. at the breakfast table, he knows who he is, he accepts and embraces the choices he’s made and, in his warped mind, he is the danger. He’s the one knocking on that door, firing that kill shot.

I can only imagine what sort of reckless move Walt attempts next in order to exert the dominance he believes he has at home, work or both.

This was as self-aware an episode of Breaking Bad as I can recall. Over and over, Walt verbalized what viewers have known for years: he thinks everything is about him, he seems himself as the key to a Nasdaq-level business, he is the hardened criminal the police (and Hank, specifically) are after. Turn himself in?!? He’d rather out himself, present Heisenberg to the world and laugh in the face of all who believe he’s some spineless chemistry teacher.

Elsewhere, Jesse continued to get a lesson in Gus and Mike’s world. And he taught Mike a thing or two about meth heads in the process.

Perhaps this partnership wasn’t merely created to build a wedge between Walt and Jesse. Yes, Gus set up that robbery and, yes, there are ulterior motives at work here. But Gus Fring is a business man before all else. He’s a calm and reasonable man and there’s no reason not to believe that he really does see something in Jesse and is grooming him to be the next Mike.

But will Mike even be around in the near future? Will Gus? Might Walt have a new, even more dangerous set of dealers to square off against next season? Someone actually outsmarted Gus in that (awesomely filmed) opening scene, reminding us how there’s an entire drug world beyond New Mexico and the few people with whom Walt has crossed paths. And these cartel members make Gus’ season premiere execution seem almost tame by comparison.

It also raises the question of whether or not there’s a mole in the operation. It’s hard to see how the cartel could have known about the men in the truck otherwise, isn’t it? They also knew how to locate the bucket with the drugs.

Did you like this episode of Breaking Bad?

You can check other Breaking Bad Season 4 Reviews and Spoilers HERE.