Breaking Bad's characters are fucking distinguished mentally-challenged

[MyNameIsMethodis]

FOREST FUCKIN WITTASKER

[OptimoPeach]

Let's do this nerds

The Shield > BB all day

[Himu]

Funnilly, those are my least favorite parts of BB. Jesse going emo over Gale was the last straw. It's like every season he hits rock bottom, and it's so repetitive, because Jesse will always have some new kind of understanding on life, and the whole process repeats. He has zero character development and always reverts to this depressed shell. I'm not sure if that's what they're going for on purpose, but man is it repetitive and tiring.

Jesse is an ADDICT who RELAPSES whenever he can't cope with the fucked up bed he has made for himself.  Its not that outlandish, really. 

I find this to be a cop out and doesn't excuse the repetition. We get it. Jesse is going to relapse. Doesn't mean you have to dedicate ANOTHER 3-4 episodes towards it.

[EmCeeGrammar]

I just got done with season 4 and I don't find Jesse's story bits eat up all the screen time.  Its just a setup for Walt's endgame plane re: gus.  The episodes do a good job of showcasing the various story threads going on.  There's nothing wrong with repetition anyway if its done right. 

[ZephyrFate]

I don't think the repetition in the first three seasons is done well. When they finally break the fucking cycle of Jesse/Walt in a different way in season 4, it's much better.

[Boogie]

You say that, but I watched season 2 as well.

First problem is a feeble plot loosely based around the Baltimore docks. It never gets any traction, continually scratching around for something to latch on but never coming close to the intensity and concentration of the First Series. Secondly, even this semblance of plot is unconvincing and surprisingly conventional. Guess what? The dockers are ripping off some of the containers! And there are some Bad Men behind the scenes with sinister foreign accents and sinister monikers like "The Greek" who calmly assure the people they torture that they have their solemn word that they'll be spared if they offer the information they're being tortured for but then have them garroted anyway. You'd think this is "Die Hard".

And then the acting is often ridiculously over-the-top. "Season One" was remarkably understated in this regard with exemplary performances throughout but here various characters vie for who can chew the scenery with more aplomb. It's more and more evident that the central character, McNulty, is miscast: Dominic West far more readily suggests that he'd be more naturally attuned to the pages of "Gentleman's Quarterly" than as a sleep-in-his-clothes self-destructive (but dedicated) cop; his drunk scene is about as unconvincing as it gets. And although many of the characters are clearly meant to be eccentrically loveable, I have to admit I find them irritating. The writing is contrived, attempting to capture the Poetry Of The Streets but failing ignominiously. Of course there is "earthy" humour in abundance but it continually falls flat; to compensate, we are shown lots of reaction shots of people laughing uproariously to let us know humour WAS intended. In fact, there's a constant straining for effect rather than natural story-telling. It's as if the writers are vainly shooting the plot up with adrenalin when it is so plainly dead.

wat

edit:  dammit, should have kept reading. lol

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

The Wire Season 2 gets shat on unfairly. 

[Mupepe]

Breaking Bad as pulp television 

how is it not?  it's a fantasy.  bigger than life characters (Gus and even Walt) doing crazy shit with little or no realistic repurcussions.

Not all fantasy is pulp.

Cool.  I don't think anyone said all fantasy was pulp.

I guess I misinterpreted your post. I thought you were saying it's pulp because it isn't entirely realistic.

Anyway, pulp, as used today, generally implies a certain lack of quality, which I don't think applies to Breaking Bad in the slightest.

I don't know.  I don't think pulp has meant that in a while.  Not since the 90's when throwbacks came into fashion full force.  Since then from what I can tell it's meant extremely self indulgent, self aware and a fantasy.

[Dickie Dee]

Breaking Bad as pulp television 

how is it not?  it's a fantasy.  bigger than life characters (Gus and even Walt) doing crazy shit with little or no realistic repurcussions.

Not all fantasy is pulp.

Cool.  I don't think anyone said all fantasy was pulp.

I guess I misinterpreted your post. I thought you were saying it's pulp because it isn't entirely realistic.

Anyway, pulp, as used today, generally implies a certain lack of quality, which I don't think applies to Breaking Bad in the slightest.

I don't know.  I don't think pulp has meant that in a while.  Not since the 90's when throwbacks came into fashion full force.  Since then from what I can tell it's meant extremely self indulgent, self aware and a fantasy.

I think "pulp" means the opposite of that. It's straightforward (usually) genre stories that are clear they aren't striving to rise above the genre.

[Mupepe]

Breaking Bad as pulp television 

how is it not?  it's a fantasy.  bigger than life characters (Gus and even Walt) doing crazy shit with little or no realistic repurcussions.

Not all fantasy is pulp.

Cool.  I don't think anyone said all fantasy was pulp.

I guess I misinterpreted your post. I thought you were saying it's pulp because it isn't entirely realistic.

Anyway, pulp, as used today, generally implies a certain lack of quality, which I don't think applies to Breaking Bad in the slightest.

I don't know.  I don't think pulp has meant that in a while.  Not since the 90's when throwbacks came into fashion full force.  Since then from what I can tell it's meant extremely self indulgent, self aware and a fantasy.

I think "pulp" means the opposite of that. It's straightforward (usually) genre stories that are clear they aren't striving to rise above the genre.

I think that means generally the same as what I said (or tried to say).  Like look at action or gangster pulp from the 50's and 60's books/comics.  I don't mean self aware or self indulgent like "oh i'm so clever".  I meant it like they know what they are and are trying to be nothing more.  Maybe I used the wrong terms to describe it.  But I mean more like how even the emotional scenes in Breaking Bad and the "character development" are usually extremely shallow and downplayed except for moving the plot forward in some way.  It's never dwelled on and is strictly a plot device.

[Dickie Dee]

"It's never dwelled on" wha?

[Mupepe]

It's really not.  For a drama there isn't a lot of emphasis on the drama.  Entire seasons aren't dedicated to Walt's and Skylar's marital problems.  It's a sideshow that provides added tension and pressure.  The show has always focused on Walt's insanity and upping the ante.  It's a thriller more than anything.

[fistfulofmetal]

watching season 4

everyone on this show is dumb.

[Himu]

haha how far are you?

i'm on ep 7

[Himu]

omg, the more i watch the more i like jesse and the more walt becomes a fucking moron

why do people have fascination with walt?

[bdoughty]

omg, the more i watch the more i like jesse and the more walt becomes a fucking moron

why do people have fascination with walt?

What season are you on?  Jessie becomes more annoying each season where Walt becomes more awesome each season. There is only one constant and that is Walt's wife who is annoying throughout.

[Himu]

Halfway through season 4.

I fail to see how Walt becomes "awesome".

[bdoughty]

I guess for me it is transformation throughout the series.  He goes from guy wanting to make money because he thinks he is dying to what he has become. I also think he is one of the best actors on TV. You remove him from Malcolm in the Middle and the show is unwatchable.

[Himu]

SKYLER

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Skyler definitely redeems herself in this season.

I think Season 4 is amazing except for Walt, who becomes more and more of a dead weight.

[fistfulofmetal]

FUCK WALTER WHITE

[Himu]

hahahaha Walt is distinguished mentally-challenged

why does everyone go along with his shit?

[fistfulofmetal]

have you finished all the episodes? i have.

[Himu]

HANK

[Himu]

Season 4 is GREAT. Only dead weight character is Walt. Everyone else has seen growth.

[Phoenix Dark]

jesus christ

Walt is not growing because the fucking show is about his emotional and moral descent. I think some might have been able to justify his actions at one point, but he has become more violent and manipulative with each passing season.

I liked Skylar in S4 a lot, although a lot of her arc exposes how dumb Walt is. He didn't think of laundering his money? Lying to your wife about where you got money is one thing, but lying to the IRS is another thing - and until S4 there was no mention of how he was explaining his finances. But maybe I'm just a nerd for that shit...

[Himu]

I know that. Doesn't stop Walt from sucking and being a fucking idiot.

[Himu]

Why did Walt decide to disappear when Gus said he'd kill his family? Didn't Gus say he'd kill his family ONLY if Walt bothered Jesse? Or was he talking in general?

Just take it and die. You've dug your grave, baka.

[Phoenix Dark]

Why did Walt decide to disappear when Gus said he'd kill his family? Didn't Gus say he'd kill his family ONLY if Walt bothered Jesse? Or was he talking in general?

Just take it and die. You've dug your grave, baka.

Because Walt realized that Gus was replacing him. Gus was going to have Walter killed regardless, since Jesse could cook nearly as well plus was more controllable. It seems like you're trying harder to find plot holes than to actually watch the show.

Walt being an arrogant asshole is the point. He's a genius in many regards, and has come up with some calculated brilliant shit. But he also constantly overlooks some small (and big) details that could easily fuck him over.

[Himu]

I know the point of the character and the show is that he's full of his own hubris.

That's not a plot hole. Gus flat out said,"if you bother Pinkman, ever..." Walt says,"or what? I bother Jesse or what?" and Gus replies,"I'll kill your wife, son, and your infant daughter." Afterwards, Walt decides to make his whole family disappear? Dude. Gus gave Walt an ultimatum: bother Pinkman or die. If you haven't bothered Pinkman yet, why round up your family?

Why can't Walt just lie in his grave and die?

[Phoenix Dark]

I'm done after this: Walt suspected through the entire first half of the season that Gus wanted to replace him. He saw through Gus' plan to manipulate Jesse/earn his trust. Ultimately Walt was fired for being so unstable, unreliable, and dangerous. Jesse was easier to manipulate and control, hence him being promoted.

Do you think Gus was simply going to let Walk go his merry way after replacing him? He was going to have him killed one way or another, and even seemed ready to take out Jesse once the recipe was secured.

[Himu]

Gus said it was ultimately down to Jesse and in order to replace Jesse, Jesse would have to teach his own replacement how to cook. So he needs Jesse alive, and Jesse won't do it on the condition that Walt is kept alive.

I didn't say Gus wouldn't let Walt off alive. Walt is dead to Gus, that doesn't matter.

What does matter is Walt running immediately to Saul, telling he wants to hire the guy that makes people disappear, when Gus specifically said not to bother Jesse or he'll kill his whole family. What were the condition Gus used against Walt's family? Read this again, PD: Walt's family. F-A-M-I-L-Y. With the one caveat of killing Hank. Not Walt, himself, Walt is dead no matter what he does.

I'm asking for clarification. Did Gus say he'd kill Walt's family if he got in the way of the hit on Hank? Or did he say he'd do it if he bothered Jesse? Or was it just a general threat?

[Phoenix Dark]

He told him to stay away from Jesse, something Walt clearly could not do. So Walt panicked and decided to run. Again, Walt was not going to be allowed to live, and eventually Gus would have killed Jesse too if he had his way. Hence why Gus sent Jesse to Mexico

[Mupepe]

Not to mention that Walt will take any excuse to escalate the situation.  That's part of his nature.  He's a dramatic woman.  How many times throughout Season 4 did he actively try to make Gus seem insane and unstable when it was clearly Walt taking something out of context or overreacting?

[Phoenix Dark]

Honestly Walt was right more than he was wrong on Gus. He realized Gus was trying to create a rift between himself and Jesse, correctly guessed that Mike set up the robbery to make Jesse a hero, realized Gus wanted the recipe for his own production, etc

The major time he was wrong was on purpose, to manipulate Jesse's emotions

[Mupepe]

Yeah but those were all usually because of situations that Walt put Gus in by being a dumbass.  Walt dug his own damn grave.

[Phoenix Dark]

Oh totally agreed. I think he clearly miscalculated his value, and thus how far he could test the limits before reaching dangerous territory. His speech to Skylar about being the man with the gun is quite the telling admission.

[Mupepe]

Yep.  I loved that speech though.  Blew me the fuck away.  Watching Walt circle the toilet bowl is one of the greatest things I've ever witnessed on TV.

[Himu]

Breaking Bad is hardly the best show on tv.

But Bryan Cranston plays the best acting on tv this side of Don Draper. Seeing the spiral of Walt down the toilet bowl is nothing short of amazing and Cranston pulls it off amazingly.

[Phoenix Dark]

Cranston is superior to Hamm. His emotional range is better and more convincing. I think Hamm is great as Draper, but the role itself is rather reserved whereas Cranston has knocked every single scene out of the park. One could argue it's one of the absolute best acting roles in television history, and I'm not sure I'd put Hamm on that list.

Breaking Bad is probably the second or third best show on television, behind Homeland and Mad Men.

[Himu]

Hamm acts very well, but Cranston, holy shit dude. He truly deserves them awards.

[Phoenix Dark]

Aaron Paul can't be overlooked either. I think Peter Dinklage is great as Tyrion, but there's really no comparing the roles this year: Paul was significantly better and deserves the best supporting actor award. Whereas Dinklage's performance was more of the same overall - snark, swagger, and a war speech. That's not to belittle him, afterall it's a damn good performance...it just lacks the depth and range seen from a character like Jesse, and an actor like Paul. In many ways Tyrion's role reminds me a lot of Draper - suave and charisma moreso than emotional depth; of course, Hamm knocks all his emotional scenes out the park though, although he doesn't get too many from S1-S3 compared to him just being...Draper.

Content wise, Dinklage will have better material to work with next season, but I have very little confidence in the writers on the show...

[Himu]

Alfie Allen was the standout in GoT this year.

[Phoenix Dark]

Speaking of Allen, he seemed particularly agitated during the GoT comic con panel. Martin came off EXTREMELY creepy with constant sexual jokes or references, and at one point joked about Allen saying his favorite scene was his speech towards the end of the season; Martin wondered why the sex scenes weren't his favorite, or something like that, and Allen was like uhhh because I'm an actor and like the act. I kind of wondered if Allen was upset about likely being snubbed by the Emmys
http://winteriscoming.net/2012/07/game-of-thrones-panel-video/

cringe worthy shit

[Purple Filth]

Gus said it was ultimately down to Jesse and in order to replace Jesse, Jesse would have to teach his own replacement how to cook. So he needs Jesse alive, and Jesse won't do it on the condition that Walt is kept alive.

I didn't say Gus wouldn't let Walt off alive. Walt is dead to Gus, that doesn't matter.

What does matter is Walt running immediately to Saul, telling he wants to hire the guy that makes people disappear, when Gus specifically said not to bother Jesse or he'll kill his whole family. What were the condition Gus used against Walt's family? Read this again, PD: Walt's family. F-A-M-I-L-Y. With the one caveat of killing Hank. Not Walt, himself, Walt is dead no matter what he does.

I'm asking for clarification. Did Gus say he'd kill Walt's family if he got in the way of the hit on Hank? Or did he say he'd do it if he bothered Jesse? Or was it just a general threat?

It was a either/or scenario which guranteed his family being dead anyways as he will try to help hank or will try to keep Jesse in his corner since Jesse is basically whats keeping him alive.

Its fun seeing this guy decending so far and his defense that made the audience somewhat sympatehic to him at first is no longer working.

[Himu]

Speaking of Allen, he seemed particularly agitated during the GoT comic con panel. Martin came off EXTREMELY creepy with constant sexual jokes or references, and at one point joked about Allen saying his favorite scene was his speech towards the end of the season; Martin wondered why the sex scenes weren't his favorite, or something like that, and Allen was like uhhh because I'm an actor and like the act. I kind of wondered if Allen was upset about likely being snubbed by the Emmys
http://winteriscoming.net/2012/07/game-of-thrones-panel-video/

cringe worthy shit

martin

[ZephyrFate]

Yeah fuck no. cranston is not even in the same league as hamm and it's laughable to say otherwise. fuuuck this noise.

[BlueTsunami]

Yeah fuck no. cranston is not even in the same league as hamm and it's laughable to say otherwise. fuuuck this noise.

smh

Now I have a vested interest in Hamm going 0 for 4

[Phoenix Dark]

Yeah fuck no. cranston is not even in the same league as hamm and it's laughable to say otherwise. fuuuck this noise.

what the fuck are you talking about

[ZephyrFate]

Jon Hamm is an incredible actor and easily my favorite male TV actor. His work on mad men is unparalleled.

[Himu]

Jon Hamm is an incredible actor. Season 5 of Mad Men proves this. It's really hard comparing Hamm to Cranston, and even silly, because their roles on their own shows are like so different. Don Draper hides everything from everyone and tries to fake all emotion, and puts on an act for everyone so he can manipulate them. Walter White is a character dropping further and further away from anything with any sense of morality or ethics, a character who is swimming in his own hubris with very little control of his emotions.

So of course Cranston is going to have more great moments: his character practically requires it, because he's so fucking nuts. Don Draper is cool and collected, and Hamm's acting chops show through in smaller, less bombastic moments than Walter White's crying and then laughing in a psychotic way moment.

I'd say Hamm is also much better at selling key emotional moments, while Cranston is better at displaying anger, frustration, and weakness.

It comes down to:



vs



It's totally apples and oranges.

[BlueTsunami]

The floorboard scene is one of the best scenes I've ever watched on TV. No lie. Cranston was transcendental in that scene and deserves the award for it. It helps that the team in general help elevate his ability even higher.

[Himu]

For me, what makes that scene is the music. Goddamn. Perfect and on cue.

[Phoenix Dark]

Jon Hamm is an incredible actor and easily my favorite male TV actor. His work on mad men is unparalleled.

No one believes that...

Cranston is clearly superior on every level. Hamm is a great character actor, but overall the role doesn't demand the type of emotional scenes Cranston has knocked out the park for four seasons.

[Himu]

I dunno, man. I don't think Cranston really came into his own until season 4. Plus, you haven't seen seasons 4 and 5 of Mad Men.

[fistfulofmetal]

What sold that scene for me wasn't Cranston, or the music. They helped obviously. It was actually Skyler. The rage emitting out of Walt was intense and how she was reacting to it and realizing what it meant made everything work.

[BlueTsunami]

For me, what makes that scene is the music. Goddamn. Perfect and on cue.

Definitely. Feels like a culmination of all the good things about Breaking Bad. Cranston, the cinematography, scenarios put forth (so writing) and the music and SFX.

What sold that scene for me wasn't Cranston, or the music. They helped obviously. It was actually Skyler. The rage emitting out of Walt was intense and how she was reacting to it and realizing what it meant made everything work.

This too which makes me feel bad for not acknowledging her. If it was any lesser actor Cranston's emotional implosion could have fell flat. That moment when he starts to laugh maniacally, the look on her face. Amazing.

[Purple Filth]

That Breaking bad Laughing scene would have made the Joker proud.

[BlueTsunami]

You know the laugh scene is going to be shown at the Emmys when they run down the names. In one scene you're gonna have Cranston giving everyone goosebumps, standing ovation, on the other you're gonna have Hamm being a douchebag savant with that Dreamworks expression plastered on his face to a tepid applause.

[Phoenix Dark]

I dunno, man. I don't think Cranston really came into his own until season 4. Plus, you haven't seen seasons 4 and 5 of Mad Men.

Let me guess, he's still smoking, still suave, still staring down rivals, and throwing in a few puppy dog eyes to chicks when he gets in trouble