Breaking Bad returns August 11! (spoilers?)

[Washoe]

In an alternate universe, Breaking Bad was a family drama that aired in the mid-1990s. Here is the intro…

[SykoSkotty]

OK Season 5 is now on Netflix - I just rewatched the opening scene. Questions:

[spoiler]1. When the waitress comments about a small town outside of Boston, Walt says “great science museum there.” Does this mean Walt’s actually been to New Hampshire?

2. For the first time EVER - we see Walt wearing jeans. (just an observation)

3. When Walt puts the $100 on the counter for his meal, it looks like the last of the money in his wallet…does this mean he’s giving his last $100 thinking he might not be alive much longer?

4. Another small observation : when Walt’s walking to the car, he coughs again. This makes me 100% certain his cancer has returned.[/spoiler]

[gigi]

@Munch

Breaking Bad Season 5 has just been put on Netflix Instant.

I got the DVDs from the library Is the seventh or eighth episode of S5 really only the first time they used “Crystal Blue Persuasion” in the soundtrack…?

[Don_t_Panic]

For everyone gearing up for the final episodes, I can also highly recommend the Breaking Bad Insider Podcast (also on iTunes), where editor Kelly Dixon and creator Vince Gilligan, joined by various members of the cast and crew, chat about each episode, starting with season 2.

[well_he_s_back]

If they knew everything he’s done, who would hate Walt more - Jesse or Hank? It’s really a toss up who he’s hurt more.
I’m rewatching some episodes & am struck again just how great this show is. Hope the ending won’t disappoint but they’ve set the bar pretty darn high.

[standingwave]

@coremelt

The Breaking Bad mythbusters episode has already been broadcast in Australia. It’s “available”.

The two myths tested are can HF eat through a body, bathtub and flooring and can mercury fulminate produce the explosion in Tuco’s hideout.

Results are probably not what you expect.

Just watched it and have a question for the chemistry experts here. I’ll put it in spoiler space since it hasn’t yet aired in the U.S…

Dissolving the pig: They had the best results when they used sulfuric acid combined with a “special sauce” provided by their friends at Berkely Labs. Supposedly this secret ingredient “turbocharges” the sulfuric acid. Any quesses as to what this “special sauce” might be?

[interface2x]

@SenorBeef

The scene you’re thinking of talks about phenylacetic acid, not methylamine.

Oops, you guys are correct, my mistake.

[Washoe]

@standingwave

Just watched it and have a question for the chemistry experts here.

IANACE, but I’ll bet the farm that it was just a mixture of sucrose and water. I don’t think it would ‘turbocharge’ anything. I’m guessing that it was added just for effect.

[Svejk_1]

@marshmallow

The worst long running plot point was Hank’s inability to connect the obvious dots. He figured out Gus was the kingpin from a freakin’ napkin, but when it comes to Walt he’s useless. Let’s compile a list.

1. At minimum Hank should know that Walt is good at chemistry and they are in dire need of money because of the baby and Walt’s cancer.

2. The mask and jars were missing from Walt’s lab. Later found at the cook site.

3. Badger’s description of Heisenberg matches Walt.

4. Jessie’s connection to Walt as a former student and marijuana supplier. Hank was certain Jessie was involved with blue meth in some way.

5. The Whites are suddenly rich. Their laughable explanation is that Walt is a card counting genius. I might be able to let everything else slide, but this one is just too much.

6. Walt drives by just as Hank was on a stakeout to catch the fake Heisenberg.

7. Walt acting weird every time Hank brings up his meth investigation, e.g. interrupting him repeatedly to ask questions.

8. Walt’s mysterious injuries and disappearances. And to a lesser extent, his second phone.

9. Walt’s insistence that Gale wasn’t the genius behind it all and his equations were just rote copying and that Heisenberg is still out there.

10. Walt’s initials in Gale’s notebook.

11. Walt refuses to turn into the laundromat and then drives into another car. Said laundromat later turned out to be a giant meth lab.

12. Hank once lifted a heavy bag for Walt, which he jokingly told him was a half a million in cash.

13. The Whites buy a car wash, a cash heavy business and perfect method for money laundering.

14. Walt is flustered when Hank brings up his theory that Fring is behind it all.

15. Walt acts weird about installing the bug on Fring’s car.

Any others?

I think you have nothing. Especially #7, #14 don’t amount to much, I think. Also, as for #15, he’s being asked to illegally plant a covert device on a car in plain daylight, how is he supposed to react? As for #13, in the show it turns out the car wash is a pretty lousy place for money laundering as it simply does not have a lot of capacity, it can only move a few hundred bucks a day, perhaps up to $1000. I think it would have been a plot-point if Hank had figured things out before seeing the book of poetry, not the other way around. The only reason these are clues for you is because you know all the rest. We see all this from Walt’s point of view, and he’s obviously nervous about, but Hank doesn’t know a lot of this stuff, I don’t even think he knows that Walt knows Jesse (although your point #4 suggests differently - someone refresh my memory please!). I don’t blame him for not looking for dirt in his own family and for not suspecting his nerdy, naive, wimpy brother in law, and it sure as shit isn’t anything like a plot-hole.

@hajario

Hank by turning in Walt screws himself. All of this crap happened right under his nose. That could be what drives the end of the series.

On the other hand, maybe it will be Walt being careful as Hell gathering evidence on his own and making damn sure that Walt doesn’t get away.

No matter what, it’s going to be awesome.

I’ll accept that in-universe the DEA might work in this way but like I said, I don’t agree that things happened ‘right under his nose’ to the extent that he really should have known. As for his potential reaction to finding the book of poetry, in the panel at Comic-con (I think it was linked to in this thread) Hank is described by Vince Gilligan…

… someone who will do the right thing even if it damages himself. Like when he beat up Jesse and turned himself in even if it meant losing his badge and taking the heat.

I don’t anticipate there’ll be a long struggle on Hank’s part between his duty as a DEA agent and his commitment to his family or his career. But then again I don’t think that Hank turning in WW is a career-ending move, and some people here obviously do, so YMMV.

@Agent_Foxtrot

Funny, I think it’ll end with Walt Jr. shooting Walt. The kid may be crippled, but he’s not stupid. He knows what’s going on.

I’m not saying he’s stupid but I don’t think he knows what’s going on. What evidence do you have to argue otherwise? Incidentally,…

…at that same panel, RJ Mitte pretty much says he believes his character doesn’t know what’s going on

@Sampiro

Who thinks the pile of cash is going to be burned (possibly intentionally by Skyler)?

Me! Me!

[Don_t_Panic]

@Sampiro

Who thinks the pile of cash is going to be burned (possibly intentionally by Skyler)?

That would be a good scene.

I’ve been re-watching the beginning of season 5 now, and holy shit, Bryan Cranston is one hell of an actor as well. I’m amazed at the subtlety of his performance when Walt lies, or pulls someone’s strings to his own advantage, in such a way that the other characters believe him (and we believe that they would), but the audience still knows he’s being a scheming scumbag. I’m not sure if that many actors can pull off that kind of two-faced performance. I’d love to see Bryan Cranston play Richard III.

[3trew]

Wikipedia says the final episode is titled “Felina”. Several sites are making the point that this is an anagram of finale, but I wonder what the Marty Robbins fans out there might have to say about it.

Not enough to google it, obviously, but it seems worth mentioning.

[scabpicker]

@Martian Bigfoot

I’d love to see Bryan Cranston play Richard III.

Damn, that’s a good idea.

@3trew

Wikipedia says the final episode is titled “Felina”. Several sites are making the point that this is an anagram of finale, but I wonder what the Marty Robbins fans out there might have to say about it.

Not enough to google it, obviously, but it seems worth mentioning.

Wow, I’d consider myself a Mary Robbins fan, but I didn’t think of it. I like your interpretation, the series is too aware of where it’s set, and too musically aware for a better explanation. Plus, it’s better than an anagram, IMHO.

[Don_t_Panic]

@3trew

Wikipedia says the final episode is titled “Felina”. Several sites are making the point that this is an anagram of finale, but I wonder what the Marty Robbins fans out there might have to say about it.

Ooh… totally.

[QUOTE=Marty Robbins]

Just as fast as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the bad-lands of New Mexico
Back in El Paso my life would be worthless
Everything’s gone in life nothing is left
It’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death

[/QUOTE]

[sco3tt]

If Walt hoofs it into West Texas I hope they work this into the Ozymandias episode somehow. It’s 4 hours due east of Albuquerque so would be a fitting stop on his journey.

(ETA: For clarification, that’s a statue of a pair of legs out in the middle of nowhere, commemorating the poem Ozymandias.)

[Munch]

n/m

[Don_t_Panic]

@Munch

I don’t believe there’s going to be an episode titled “Ozymandias” - just that they named that trailer that. Just like if they were going to feature a bunch of gigantic explosions and set it to “Carmina Burana”, they’d entitle that trailer “Carmina Burana”.

No, the antepenultimate episode will indeed be titled “Ozymandias”.

Edit: Sorry about that, Munch has edited his post now (but I got to use “antepenultimate” in a sentence, so my reply stays. :p)

[Lakai]

@3trew

Wikipedia says the final episode is titled “Felina”. Several sites are making the point that this is an anagram of finale, but I wonder what the Marty Robbins fans out there might have to say about it.

Not enough to google it, obviously, but it seems worth mentioning.

Looking at that Wikipedia page, it looks they’re bringing out the big guns to direct the final episodes. Bryan Cranston, Michelle MacLaren, Michael Slovis, Vince Gilligan, and Rian Johnson will all be directing episodes. The one new comer is Sam Catlin, who is a writer for the show. Don’t fuck things up, Sam!

[Fiveyearlurker]

@3trew

Wikipedia says the final episode is titled “Felina”. Several sites are making the point that this is an anagram of finale, but I wonder what the Marty Robbins fans out there might have to say about it.

Not enough to google it, obviously, but it seems worth mentioning.

Iron Lithium Sodium?

[gigi]

@Martian Bigfoot

but I got to use “antepenultimate” in a sentence

That’s hot.

Anyhoo, I’m glad to see “Granite State” on one of them, and to see the preview of him with his NH-plated car. Can’t wait to find out what happened there.

[interface2x]

Here is a funny children’s musical version of “Breaking Bad” - mild spoilers if you haven’t seen all the way through.