It's a great show, perhaps the best television series I've ever seen in many ways. The writers have done a fantastic job of creating an ensemble cast of 'gray area' characters. We never know exactly how they will react, these living, breathing real people - and yet they still drive the plot, rather than the plot driving their actions (if you know what I mean).
So many great moments (many of them noted at my
Breaking Bad recap/quote site), but one of my recent favorites was Walt's 'blowfish' motivational speech to Jesse, which I've transcribed here for your enjoyment:
Walt: The game has changed. The word is out. And you are a killer.
Jesse: What are you talking about?
Walt: Apparently it’s all over town. Somebody crossed you; you got angry. You crushed their skull with an ATM machine.
Jesse: That’s not how it happened -
Walt: Who cares? Just as long as it’s our competitors who believe it and not the police.
Jesse: Oh, my -
Walt: No, don’t you see how great this is? Look, you, you are - Jesse, look at me. You…are a blowfish.
Jesse: What?
Walt: A blowfish – think about it. Small in stature, not swift, not cunning. Easy prey for predators, but the blowfish has a secret weapon, doesn’t he, doesn’t he? What does the blowfish do, Jesse? What does the blowfish do?
Jesse: I don’t even know what -
Walt: The blowfish puffs up, okay – the blowfish – puffs himself up four, five times larger than normal! And why? Why does he do that? So that it MAKES him intimidating, that’s why. Intimidating! So that the other, scarier fish are scared off. And that’s you – you are a blowfish. But you see it’s just all an illusion. It’s noting but air. Now…who messes with the blowfish, Jesse?
Jesse: Nobody.
Walt: You’re damn right.
Jesse: I’m a blowfish.
Walt: You are a blowfish. Say it again.
Jesse: I’m a blowfish.