Breaking Bad - Season 5, Episode 8 "Gliding Over All"

Only a half season remains of this brilliant show, and I couldn't be more sad.  But there is something to be said for going out on top, and Breaking Bad definitely remains at the peak of its powers.  After this final season finally does wrap, I imagine that the debate between The Wire and Breaking Bad will continue for many years.  I myself firmly come down on the side of The Wire in that conversation, but there is no arguing with just how damn good Breaking Bad has become. 

For me, and I imagine many others, the ending of "Gliding Over All" was far from surprising.  Towards the end of the episode, Walt seemingly takes himself out of the meth game, and the final scenes takes great pains to establish his contentment with both life and family.  But we know that will never be the final outcome for Walter White.  When Walt first announced to Skyler that he was "out", I had my doubts.  After all, despite all the money he has earned (a pretty astronomical sum for less than 3 months of work), viewers of Breaking Bad know that Walter has never been driven by the money, but rather the power, and the recognition. 

For that reason, I assumed that the season would end with the big reveal that Walter was only pretending to be out of the game, or with some revelation that would force Walt (in his eyes) to continue cooking meth.  But during that last scene with Hank, with the time running down on the episode, I knew that Hank would discover something or have some epiphany that would lead to his suspicion of Walt.  I was ready for anything, even a Usual Suspects-style montage that results in Hank dropping his coffee mug. 

The actual result was far less predictable, and pretty clever.  Poor, innocent harmless Gale came back to haunt Walter instead.  It is rather fitting.  Before that point on the show, Walter, Jesse, and their associates had done many terrible things.  But the murder of Gale had been the point of no return for those two in terms of dubious acts.  It's also appropriate because, although we know Walter to be immensely clever, his hubris at time leads to carelessness, and leaving a book laying around that potentially links him to the murder of Gale definitely falls into the category of "careless".  This leads to the showdown that has seemed inevitable since the early stages of the show: Hank vs.  Walter.  Now this show loves to undo our expectations, so the final half-season could go in a completely different direction, but it certainly seems like that will be the theme of the final leg of Breaking Bad.

On to the other great stuff about this episode. As usual, there was a lot.  First, the montages.  Breaking Bad has long been at the top of the game in terms of montages, and I can't really say they've topped themselves, because I don't think that's even possible at this point, but this episode featured some phenomenal montages.  We got another great meth cooking one (which was a little sad for some reason.  As much as I want Jesse to escape from the clutches of Mr. White, it never feels right when Walter is cooking with another sidekick, in this case Todd).  In addition, we got a great time elapsing
 montage, as well as an absolutely brutal montage of the prison killings orchestrated by Walter.  This show has always owed something to the mafia film genre, and those influences were very much on display on this episode.  Walter ordering the synchronized hits was very Godfather.  And the time elapsing montage was like something out of Goodfellas.  Those scenes were so good they gave me goosebumps.

I don't want to end this without giving some appreciation to Aaron Paul. With Paul and Bryan Cranston crushing it performance-wise every single episode, it is always difficult to award MVP to any one person in any given episode, but for my money, Paul was the star of "Gliding Over All".  The scene where he visits Walter in the garage was heart-rending, given especially what we the audience know about the contents of Walt's trunk.  And the scene at his house when Walt visits him, and especially his reaction after Walt leaves, was equally as powerful.  Congratulations to Mr. Paul.  Now, with the last half-season of Breaking Bad seemingly light-years away, comes the most difficult part of watching this show: waiting.

Breaking Bad - Season 5, Episode 7 "Say My Name"

Wow.  I've talked before about how the creators of Breaking Bad have mastered the art of ending an episode on a high note, and leaving you wanting more.  "Say My Name" is one of the greatest examples of this ever.  Truly one of the most unexpected endings to an episode of Breaking Bad ever, and one of the best TV deaths in recent memory.  The number of lives that Walter White has destroyed continues to grow rapidly  

I fully expected that this episode would end with Mike disappearing, only to pop up again later on down the line this season. After all, this wasn't a season finale, or a series finale.  Killing off a character like Mike would normally be reserved for that type of landmark episode, and that made it all the more shocking.  Adding to the effect was the fact that the entire sequence leading up to his death was beautifully directed.  When Walt goes stalking through the tall grass at the end of episode, I definitely thought the heretofore indestructible Mike would come jumping out at him Jason Voorhees-style.  Alas, that wasn't to be.

Now, Mike is dead, and the repercussions figure to be far-reaching.  We know that the downfall of Walter has been in the making for a long time, but could this be the first major step in that direction (after Gus, of course)?  I can't wait to see how Hank, and especially Jesse, react to this development.  Clearly, Walter will explain things away somehow, but how many times can the man covertly sabotage Jesse's life before the kid wises up?  Not to mention that Walter still has to deal with the nine Mike associates still living.  I guess it shouldn't be a problem for Walt, the cold-blooded killer.

It used to always be the case on Lost that when a character died, they were given an episode to really showcase themselves before kicking the bucket.  This episode falls into that pattern as well, because it was just a great Mike episode.   He didn't have many bad-ass moments, but Jonathan Banks was fantastic throughout, especially in the park scene, showing the more vulnerable side of Mike as he helplessly bids a silent (and ultimately final) farewell to his beloved granddaughter.  He was also great (as usual) in telling off Walt during the last confrontation between the two.  

I never would have guessed when Mike was first introduced that he would grow to be one of the most loved and appealing characters in Breaking Bad, but that is the beauty of a great show like this one; they can take a seemingly minor character and turn him into a focal point. I don't know if the creators of the show planned to make Mike such a central character from the beginning, but I applaud their handling of the character either way, and the casting was spot on.  Jonathan Banks was brilliant.

After that ending, it's hard to think about much else, but I love how Walter keeps pulling the same routine to get into Hank's office, and I'm intrigued by the character of Todd.  He is obviously a very ambitious young man, and that is a trait that could prove dangerous for Walter in the future if he isn't careful.

Yokohama - August 2012

I had the chance to visit Yokohama recently.  It's definitely one of the more international locations in Japan, no doubt due to the American military base there.  It also has some of the best restaurants and food that I've had in Japan, as well!  Also, all the pictures I took of food are the greatest sign yet that I actually am turning Japanese.

Breakfast at Bills! Absolutely phenomenal!

The best pancakes I have ever eaten in Japan

Pancakes were so good I got them again in a different flavor

Chinatown in Yokohama

As a panda lover, Chinatown was paradise.  Pandas everywhere.

I squished his eye.  Sorry little guy.  Nice strawberry flavor!

Beautiful Yamashita Park in Yokohama.  Lovely view of the bridge.

Breakfast at Eggs 'N Things, great restaurant from Hawaii.

Delicious

Breaking Bad - Season 5, Episode 6 "Buyout"

Few shoes do awkward or eerie as well as Breaking Bad, and that was on full display in this awesome episode.  We got eerie first with the cold opening.  Watching Walter and the crew deal with the aftermath of the Todd incident was among the most bone-chilling moments the show has had to offer thus far.  Later, the show gave us awkward with the dinner table scene at the White household. And boy, was it awkward. I have been consistently blown away by Aaron Paul this season, and he was just phenomenal again in that scene, alternately hilarious and heartbreaking within the span of 10 minutes.  When Skyler drops the bombshell about her affair, Jesse's facial reaction as he sips from his glass gave me my first true belly laugh of the season thus far. 

Overall, Paul had a fantastic opportunity to display his range as an actor in this episode.  His performance when he pleads with Walt and Mike to banish Todd was typically impressive, as was his encounter with Todd during their smoke break.  Later, I cheered for Jesse when he revealed his "retirement" to Walt, although I knew it would never last.  Unfortunately for Jesse, he can never escape Mr. White, the father figure he seeks so desperately to impress (despite everything he knows about Walt's true character).

And would-be father figure Walt does a world-class job of guilt-tripping Jesse in this episode.  We know how proud Walt is, and how personally he takes even the most insignificant perceived slight.  His story about Grey Matter provided some insight into what may have been the genesis of his inferiority complex.  Later, when Skyler walks out on dinner, Walt, who is entirely responsible for the degeneration of his marriage, begins pointing the finger at Jesse, who wants to "take his business" away from him.  Walt opines that the business is all that he has left, never stopping to consider that he can salvage his life and potentially his marriage by simply taking the $5 million offered to him and beginning his anew.  Of course, he never considers that course because Walter is in the business of "building empires" now.

This was a very good episode.  We got a classic (and very cool) "Walt using his wits to triumph"scene, we had great scenes involving Mike and Saul, and we appear on the verge of another intriguing Walt scheme, all while nicely advancing the story-lines involving both Hank and Skyler.  Not too shabby.  I also get the feeling we haven't seen the last of ol' Todd (what was the deal with him keeping the tarantula jar anyway?).  Next episode should be an exciting one.

Breaking Bad - Season 5, Episode 5 "Dead Freight"

 

Sometimes an ending can really make or break an episode of television.  Game of Thrones and Lost are two shows that mastered the art of the ending that leaves you wanting more.  Breaking Bad is firmly in that category as well.  I was a little lukewarm about this episode at first, but it ended on a great high note to leave me impressed. 

I was initially unimpressed by this episode mostly because there isn't a lot progression of the overall plot.  It felt a little filler-y at times.  The scenes involving Walt, Jr. left me cold.  One thing has been fairly consistent throughout this show and it held true in this episode: if there are scenes with the White family, and Walt himself isn't involved, those scenes will leave something to be desired.

But the last 20 minutes or so are golden.  I'm a sucker for a good heist scene, and this episode nailed it.  The train heist was pulse-pounding and intense.  Clearly, the team of Mike, Walt, and Jesse is a force to be reckoned with.  I loved the triumphant reaction of Walt and Jesse after pulling off the heist.  It makes me all the more sad to think about the inevitable unhappy ending awaiting these characters (all because of Walt, naturally).  I also like how this episode, and all the episodes this season, continue to display the evolution of Jesse Pinkman.  He has truly become the cool-headed thinker of the series, able to come up with solutions when Mike and Walt are too busy arguing to do it themselves.

Not giving myself any genius points for figuring this one out, but it was clear from the moment of Todd's introduction into the series that he would have a fairly major part to play.  That also makes me happy, because I like to see successful Friday Night Lights alums (yes, even Taylor Kitsch).  Now, Todd's actions have landed the crew in hot water.  Of course, Walt is always at his best when cleaning up messes, and I can't wait to see how the crew handles the Todd situation. I also want to know more about this tarantula kid: who is he? where did he come from? what was he doing out there?  Hopefully, those answers will be provided soon.  Either way, the next episode should be an exciting one and I'm really looking forward to it.

Breaking Bad - Season 5, Episode 4 "51"

Another spectacular season of Breaking Bad continues to roll along with this great episode.  Fewer shows have a greater sense of purpose and direction then Breaking Bad and now, so close to the end, the focus of the show really has become razor sharp.  We are watching the slow, inevitable self-destruction of Walter White.  We, the audience, know exactly what is happening and yet Walter himself has no idea, which makes the process all the more unnerving.  

 Over the years, there have been many shows featuring an anti-hero as protagonist.  The Shield and The Sopranos are two that come to mind immediately. One thing about those shows is that as terrible as the main characters were, there was some part of me rooting for them.  Breaking Bad has succeeded in making me hate Walter White.  The writing, and the excellent work of Bryan Cranston have done it.  I really dislike this guy, and I can't wait for him to get what is coming to him.

Those who watch Breaking Bad for awesome moments and one-liners may not find much of that this season, but the sense of dread, and of inevitability that pervades the show this season is truly great.  The pool scene in this episode was the latest example of an ominous scene that had me on edge throughout.  Much has been made of Anna Gunn and her shortcomings, and I must admit I'm not a huge fan of her work.  I think that her role as written this season could have been much stronger with a different actress, but this scene comes off so well nonetheless.  The character of Marie has never been known as a major strength of the show either, but she has been very good this season, and was great in the pool scene as well.  Her sense of legitimate concern for Skyler (as opposed to Walter, more preoccupied with his "business" and sense of pride) is palpable.

A major shout-out goes to Aaron Paul as well.  This season so far has been more Walter and Walter-Skyler-centric thus far, but I suspect Jesse will be getting his time to shine.  In the meantime, though, he has been so unbelievably good this season in a background role.  He has really shined in an understated role as the unexpected and sudden moral center of the show.

Also, I miss Gus.  Every time they show his picture or mention his name in the show, I get a little misty-eyed.  Dang it, Walter.

My Alexey Shved article for The Good Point

 

 It can be found here: http://thegoodpoint.com/2012/09/minnesota-timberwolves-alexey-shved/.