Breaking Bad

[Temis the Vorta]

Has anyone else been watching this gem of a show? Last Sunday's episode was one of the best yet - "Saul Goodman" was a great addition to the already crazy cast, and the opening scene ("it's in the Constitution!") was comedy gold.

Walt's method of distracting the cops was inspired, but of course Hank is bound to recall that incident later - very out of character for usually level-headed Walt - and that will be what starts those wheels spinning.

This story just keeps spinning into wilder and wilder territory.

 

[Roshi]

Yes I have! I too like the addition of the lawyer ("for now, you're just Fredo!" )

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Saul Goodman's ads are great, as is his choice of office muzak.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

This show is great. The exploding turtle head? Wow.

 

[Roberto]

Yo! I have watched every episode, BB is a terrific series.

 

[Goliath]

I just started watching the first season on DVD. I liked the first three episodes a lot. Can't wait to see what direction the show takes from here.

 

[gblews]

Has anyone else been watching this gem of a show? Last Sunday's episode was one of the best yet - "Saul Goodman" was a great addition to the already crazy cast, and the opening scene ("it's in the Constitution!") was comedy gold.

I loved Jesse's line to Walt outside Saul's office, (in this situation) "you don't need a criminal defense lawyer, you need a criminal...defense lawyer. That's exactly what Saul appears to be. He is so perfectly sleazy.

When they had Saul on his knees after the little kidnapping and while trying to gain his freedom mentions in passing that Walt's bribe offer was "a little low". I cracked up.

Walt's method of distracting the cops was inspired, but of course Hank is bound to recall that incident later - very out of character for usually level-headed Walt - and that will be what starts those wheels spinning.

Yeah, you catch that look on Hank's face after they arrested the professional prison sitter dude? He didn't seem to be buying it completely.

Can't wait to see how Saul is going to fit into this mess.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

So any comments about the latest episode?

Now Walt is going to try to stop being a meth kingpin and find it ain't so easy. The scumbag lawyer will probably blackmail him.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Remission isn't a cure.

He still needs to tidy away something for later.

Jesse thought they were going to make a robot.

God help us all.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Jesse thought they were going to make a robot.

With him in charge, it would probably be a Cylon.

 

[hyzmarca]

Walt should have brought his brother-in-law in on things. Being a DEA agent, he could have ran interference for Jesse's dealers and it's a heck of a lot better to keep that sort of thing in the family than it is to being in outside help like Saul.

 

[Guy Gardener]

You don't shit where you eat.

Besides, deep down, way down, Walt might think hank is a decent guy, but he also thinks the guy is an idiot because of of that stupid fratboy mentality he seems to think swill cover up all his insecurities.

Hank wouldn't turn to the blue side. He just wouldn't.

 

[SPOCKED]

It's absolutely MUST SEE riveting awesomeness. Before I know it the hour is all over, so lately we've been watching it in 2-hour chunks with Comast OnDemand in HD. We used to have "Galactithons" - now we have "Bad-a-thons" on Friday nights

 

[hyzmarca]

As a cop, Hank isn't a true believer, he's a pencil-pusher. It isn't a calling to him, it's a job, one that he just happens to be good at muddling his way through by dumb luck. He's fairly laid back when it comes to crime, especially within his family. He overlooks his wife's shoplifting like it isn't anything bad. He's perfectly cool with Walt smoking marijuana.
He doesn't actually have any respect for the law and he doesn't believe half the anti-drug propaganda that the DEA spews. Most importantly, he puts his family first.

 

[Flibble]

Waiting for the second season to start in the UK!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

As a cop, Hank isn't a true believer, he's a pencil-pusher. It isn't a calling to him, it's a job, one that he just happens to be good at muddling his way through by dumb luck.

I get the opposite read on Hank: he is a true cop. He just has a jokey persona he overlays on everything he does and says, but if he ever found out the truth about Walt, the cop side of him would win.

 

[hyzmarca]

He already knows that Walt was smoking marijuana. He didn't have a problem with it.
He knows that his wife is a shoplifter. He doesn't seem to have a problem with it.
It's just one small little hop to learning that Walt cooks meth and not having a problem with it. I don't see how he could have a problem with it, it's very good meth.

He doesn't seem to be strongly anti-drug at all. He's just after Heisenberg because it's a big score, not because he has any personal negative opinion about his business.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Making meth is a level of criminality that goes beyond pot-smoking or shoplifting - it's a pretty vile drug when you see what it does to people.

I don't think Hank will be able to rationalize that one.

I don't see how he could have a problem with it, it's very good meth.

"Good" meth still kills people - there's never been any suggestion that this is some kind of sci fi version of meth that doesn't harm your health (there's an idea! )

There's no doubt about it, Walt's behavior is morally inexcusable. Sure, he's trying to help his family but he's destroying other people's lives to do it. He might as well rob a bank and shoot a few folks in the process, it would morally be the same thing. Not that this show tries to argue differently. There's been no glossing over of the issue and we have gotten a good, hard look at some meth users and how fucked up they are, physically and psychologically.

 

[hyzmarca]

Amphetamines, meth included, are only dangerous if they're abused. Used correctly, they are an effective treatment for attention efficient and mental fatigue. The fact that some people choose to abuse beneficial drugs doesn't in any way create moral culpability for those that make the drugs.

Walt's meth, being pure and uncut, is substantially better than most meth in this regard, because the people taking it can know how much they are taking, and measure their doses accordingly. A wise user, sticking to 5-20 milligrams per day, is not going to suffer any adverse health effects outside of rare allergic reactions.
Though, it would be more responsible of Walt to label the product with health information and dosage instructions.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

A "wise user"? Have you seen the folks in this show? The biker thugs and skanks in the background don't look "wise" to me.

You're rationalizing. Walt is destroying people's lives, plain and simple.