Breaking Bad Season 5 Thread

Perhaps, but how many times does Walt have to outsmart Mike for us to realize Mike isn't the super-bad killing machine we're supposed to think he is?

 

That was one of the things that bothered me. Up to this point Mike has proved to be exceedingly competent at everything he does. Now all of a sudden he's being lax on things?

 

I have no doubt Walt is going to die before the end of the series, but it won't be Mike or Hank or a competitor that kills him. That would be too easy. My money's on Skyler or Jesse.

 

This ...

 

I think Mike is holding back because he realizes killing Walt will just create as many problems as it solves.
Yes, Walt is dangerous. But with the DEA tailing him, does he really need another body to dispose of? Can he even do it without the DEA seeing something suspicious and jumping on him? It's a big risk.
He also needs the money. If Walt stays alive, worst-case scenario is Walt continues to cook and Mike gets a cut. If Mike pulls the trigger, the operation is finished without a doubt.
Mike is pragmatic. He's damn well aware of his options -- none of them are good -- and shooting Walt is the most reckless among them. No matter how satisfying it would be.

 

Is Declan going to end up as another Tuco or Gus?

 

Disagree with this. If anything, it's been a little rushed. Breaking Bad has always used the first five or six episodes of a season to set the stage, had something major happen around the midway point that ramped things up ("One Minute" was episode 7 of season 3; "Salud" was episode 10 of season 4), the kicked into high gear the last three or four episodes. Following that track record, we're right on track for things to ramp up heading into the midseason break. I just hope they keep the pace up heading into the final batch of episodes next year.
Besides, Gilligan has always said there's a rough outline for the show that sometimes leads to major changes on the fly. Killing the Cousins, having Jesse live through Season 1, and keeping Gus around a season longer than originally intended are all examples of that. He and the writers don't have everything mapped out yet -- maybe not even the ending of the series.

 

Anna Gunn can do thinly veiled loathing like few other actors.

The BB story sync popped up a frame from season 1 where Anna found Jesse and laid down the law about him selling pot to Walt.

 

The flash-forward in the premier - wedding ringless, pill-popping Walt in the Denny's buying the machine gun - suggests they pretty much know how it'll end. It's how it gets there I think it fluid.

This is the first Breaking Bad season I've watched as it aired. I got hooked on it through Netflix during the long hiatus last year. It seems like a show that's really hard to judge week-to-week, because so much of it is about building tension and momentum toward major wtf climaxes. The big action set pieces with the magnets and the train did stretch my suspesion of disbelief, but the package has enough cred that I'm willing to roll with it and see where it's going.

 

I don't think Mike is stupid, but I don't expect him to outsmart Walt either...

I didn't like the twist of Mike and Jesse wanting out. The only good thing that came out of that was Walt's explanation about being bought out for $5K by the Cal Tech guys. Skyler probably nagged him into doing that as well...

I have zero sympathy for Skyler. She annoys the fuck out of me.

 

I'm not sure she was even in the picture at that point. She's a good bit younger than him.

 

Her expressions are dead-on perfect. When she walked in and found Jesse there, Walt says "stay for dinner" and she's just blank, like "You motherfucker, on top of learning you told Marie about my affair and now we have a guest, too?"

Sometimes I wonder if she's spacing out or plotting. Maybe both.