All posts by Tactictoe

<div class="quote">Kenevil83 wrote:
<div class="quote">Tactictoe wrote:
Of course he set him up...he was unhappy with Gus calling the shots and taking power away from him, which hurt Walt's considerable ego. Not only that, WW also correctly deduced that Gale was there to eventually replace him, so he had to do something to buy time.</div>Walt set up Gale to ruin the batch in episode 307 "One Minute." It wasn't until the end of episode 312 "Half Measures" that Walt killed the dealers, which started Gus' attempt to eliminate and replace Walt. </div> <p>
Ahh, that ignores the fact that Gus had serious reservations about Walter White from minute one...(the reluctance to meet Walter over perceived sloppiness in WW's operation, namely Walters loyalty to 'druggie' Jesse)...ergo Gail and Walter were expendable if one or the other proved problematic. </p><p>Can you not see that Gus was thinking ten steps ahead just like Walter? However, Gus was eventually killed by his weakness, IE his hatred of the cartel for killing his partner. THAT'S WHY THEY SHOWED HIS PARTNER BEING MURDERED! I had to caps that, just really spell it out that BB was all about foreshadowing. </p><p>The storyline was allegorical of how becoming blinded by revenge can become a mans downfall...that's literally it, debate over, thank you for tuning in, please don't download the podcast. </p><p>The game was rigged from the start. </p>

<p>It would be cool to see his opus comprise of elements (See what I did thar?) of his previous little masterstrokes, and ideally it would end with a freight train running Lydia and dem goddamn nazis over. Or Walt dropping a freight train on their compound with a helicopter. </p>

<p>BrBa: I have no idea! Take those posts as me projecting my consciousness onto what may happen/what I'd like to see happen, coupled with what I've seen writers quoted as saying, particularly the whole thing coming full circle. </p>

<p>And yeah, I was meant to write bittersweef, honest... </p>

<p>I don't think it'll be done with the ricin...as others have mentioned in other posts, and I think has been mentioned by Walter himself, ricin is slow acting, thus not giving us the dramatic finale...now, the pistol that has been cropping up at several points in the various seasons, (the pistol Walt was hiding in the vending machine, btw, was that the gun used to kill Gale?) I could see Jesse using that on himself in front of Walt. That would be some bittersweef biz right there. </p>

<p>And initally, he looked genuinely hurt when they distanced themselves from his input, as though he couldn't even get dues for what he'd done legitimately...but the way Bryan Cranston managed to contort the sadness into instant anger was nailed on. </p>

<p>Lisbeth, I hadn't even factored in the massive impact Walt Jr would have had on their lives, of course, that alone would be a game-changer right there...it'd be safe to assume that Walt and Skyler are unaware of Walt Jr's condition at that point. </p><p><span style="font-size:13px;line-height:21px;">And it is scummy of G & E to only seem inclined to help Walt after 1. being prompted by Skyler and 2. helping on the basis that Walt had cancer...as on the surface, they don't seem to be complete scumbags, which leads me to believe that Walt did something back then that would leave G & E less inclined to keep in touch with him, as though they were aware of an aspect of his character that would reinforce their seeming distance toward someone whom had helped to make them. This would relflect more on the WW we have seen develop. Failing that, if the truth reveals itself as them merely being a pair of people with poor consciences, then we have the seed of what turned a good man bad. </span> </p><p><span style="font-size:13px;line-height:21px;">WIth the writer's assertions that this thing of beauty, this masterpiece, this Shakespeare for the modern ages will come full circle would apply to the very thing that started to snap Walt's brain strings. Something suppressed up to the point where Walt realised that he was on borrowed time, and subsequently had nothing left to lose. This is where we find ourselves in season one. Here's a man who has lost his one big chance, knows he probably won't get another one, and in addition to that, now knows that he is going to die. It was one too many thing taken out of his hands - he'd lost his dream, he was stuck in the same place for eighteen years, his first-born looked up to his uncle (Hank being the classic loud and proud male figure, riding in on wings of justice, a hero for Flynn) more than his father (that was the single reason Walt ratted Jesse out to the nazi's btw, he'd seen Hank replace him in flynn's eyes for eighteen years, there was no way he was going to let it happen with Jesse as well). His wife was also with him out of obligation, something they seemed aware of (remember that excrutiating scene where she masturbated him as a birthday 'treat'? I'd rather have just had another slice of cake - it was so cold, but looking back, it was so perfect)</span> </p><p>So yeah, there you go, the life and times of a man who is a bonafide genius, letting that intelligence stagnate and mutate into something resentful, bitter, and rotten, the cancer being the embodiment of that, yet it was also the pressure valve to allow Walt to take that step to breaking bad. </p><p>I say/write all of that, as the line about Walt once being a 'sweet man' to paraphrase G struck me as a soundbite for a rolling camera - but it was at the point that Gretchen made that claim that Walt's expression once again changed to one of a man who was baulking against her claim, as if to suggest that she was somehow responsible for his initial corruption of soul (a broken heart), it was that, or something along the lines of: 'sweet? I'll fucking show you sweet, GET ME MAH GUN BRRRRRRAP'...it was a face of pain, anger and betrayal. </p>

<p>I'd like to see Walt take out Gretchen and Elliott by managing to implicate them in the meth scandal...I wouldn't put it past him. And it would be wonderfully ironic if they took the rap for it, the thought of them wailing in protest as they're led away in cuffs, completely bamboozled by the fact they've just been out-geniused by Walt is something i'd like to see, and would be a nice use of Walts intelligence against those who are taking credit for it. </p><p>I say that purely on the basis that on the surface, it appears as though G&E have shafted Walter White, but this being breaking bad, I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a little more complex than that. </p><p>And that leads me why I'm still wrestling with why WW walked away from grey matter whilst on the cusp of success and greatness. </p><p>The two main theories i've had have been 1.) That Walt became aware of a relationship that had developed between Gretchen and Elliott, and he did not want to be the third wheel, so rather than cause any drama, a younger and more reasonable WW walked away with a small amount of cash and let fate take it's course. Let that resentment simmer for twenty years, turn up the heat et voila, that's a spicy meatball right there. And to tie into that, Elliott's offer of employment when Walt first fell foul of cancer, was it an attempt to temper his own sense of guilt? </p><p>The second has been that WW simply bottled his big chance, and at the point he could have become successful, simply walked away, finding the pressure of success too much to handle, as the early seasons made it clear that there would have been no grey matter without WW's input. </p><p>I also recall the flashback scene where Walt and Skyler are walking around the condo that is to become their home. Walt dismisses it, mentioning that there's no need for a starter home as they're going places, which doesn't lend itself to my second theory, as he seems confident in his abilities at that point (this was when Skyler was pregnant with Walt Jr), long before Walt has had his hopes sidelined by a career in teaching.  </p><p>That apparent confidence in his younger days also curtails my other thought about Walt, namely a theory that combines my other two, in that Walt didn't think that he was good enough for Gretchen, what with her coming from a wealthy family, and that he convinced himself that Elliott would be more suitable, what with him coming from a similarly comfortable background to Gretchen. If that's the case, then why the confidence with Skyler when house hunting? Was it an early sign of Walt's hubris? I dunno. It's fun as hell thinking about it though. </p><p>If this was any any other show, I would happily accept the evidence in front of us, IE that Walt poisons Gretchen and Elliott, and that he machine guns the nazis, but this breaking bad, and I fully accept and expect to sit there and have my little theories pissed on. </p><p>Either way, I'm sure we'll be impressed. </p>

<div class="quote">Gvercillo wrote:
The show makes Hank's character seem like a incredible DEA agent who will see through a lier and knows a meth dealer when he sees it. The fact that he had suspicions of Gus the whole time shows his intelligence. I feel like Gilligan got it wrong in the fact that Walt and Skylar came up with a story of Walt's gambling addiction which led to large sums of money. They bought the car wash, and Hank the boss of the DEA believed it the whole time. The marriage problems, Skylar's suicide attempt etc. The show got it wrong, because theres no way that Hank's " character" woudlve believed Walt's story and not even have any suspicions is beyond incredible. After Hank was shot when Hank got a call and Skylar and the kids went to Hanks for safety and Walt did not go, which ultimately was Gus's death, and Hank had no suspicions of Walt??? Vince Gilligan got the story wrong and is not a believable story. Big mistake. They made Hank's character look like a genious DEA agent and figured out every meth dealer in ABQ and could not figure out his own brother in law with many obvious signs pointing at Walt. They got this massively wrong.  </div> <p>I think it's because of a number of factors. First of all, Hank has always seen Walter as an affable loser, right up to the point he read the book. I mean Walt walked away from the biggest opportunity of his lifetime with grey matter, passing up a chance to become highly successful in his field of expertise, and that oversight is something that WW's family is aware of...once somebody has done something like that, most people, including DEA agents, would then rule out that individual becoming a criminal overlord at ANY point. Remember, they have a past prior to Breaking Bad starting, and Walter White was a loser. A big loser. </p><p>When there had been chances to pin something on Walt, such as the chemistry equipment going missing from his school, there was always Jesse to deflect suspicion. </p><p>Now, here's another salient point, namely the fact that WW has been battling cancer, whenever Hank may have half-suspected Walt, he would forgiveably think 'a cancer riddled loser? Nah' </p><p>Not only that, I don't think Hank is the genius that you make him out to be. In the first season, he is headstrong and dismissive, a man comfortable in his bubble, a bubble that was burst in later series when he was brought in to investigate the cartel (remember the panic attacks?)...he wasn't a genius by any stretch, more when he became incapacitated, he became obsessive (THEY AREN'T ROCKS, THEY'RE MINERALS!), and conversely became far better at his job. But it was temporary, and with external factors such as madrigal, the cartel, and also Gus's business front, there were many avenues for Hank to go down without ever suspecting Walt. </p><p>Hank showed his limitations in 509, by planting a bug on Walt's car. He genuinely didn't know who he's f*cking with. Hank is good, but he isn't crazy-ass supervillian good. And that is what burns within Hank's soul. He knows that. His need for revenge may become his undoing. </p>

<p>Now...I wouldn't recommend it of course (you got nothing on me, FBI)...but if you were so inclined, you could google 'isohunt.com', and also download a program called 'bittorrent'. Done that? Good, now download a media player that recognises iso. files, ooh, I dunno, say 'VLC media player' from videolan, and you have every thing you need to watch episodes of breaking bad...and anything else you may wish to watch...for example 'a friend' of mine downloaded the latest episode around thirty minutes after it had aired in the US...yes, 'my friend' stayed up until 4 am just to do this...oh, and he downloaded this version as there are a load of versions that don't work. http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/507733881/breaking+bad?tab=summary. Any questions, feel free to message me. </p><p>To summarize: </p><p>1.Download 'BitTorrent' it's a safe piece of software. </p><p>2.Download VLC media player from VideoLan, again, my friend has had this software for five years on his laptop, with no dramas or issues. Same for bittorrent. </p><p>3.Copy and paste, (or just click on the link) into your address bar, then click on 'download. torrent' on the left hand side of the page, DO NOT click on the blue box that says 'DOWNLOAD' </p><p>4.Follow the instructions, they are laid out fairly simply. </p><p>Apologies in advance to mods etc. if this is not allowed. </p>

<p>The three month thing holds no credence with me. This is a highly illegal meth operation, not a temporary work assignment at an office! Gus was never going to let Walt just walk away...this is a man who slit his right-hand mans throat in the blink of an eye. </p>

<p>Installing Gale in place of Jesse was Gus's attempt to control the situation, and it was the underhanded nature in which he carried it out that offended Walter, as Gus hadn't given WW any indication that he would be bringing his own man in. Walt knew that as long as he held the cards regarding the formula, that he couldn't be done away with, and then the spectacular game of cat and mouse went from there. </p>

<div class="quote">LucasLeturiaLecaros wrote:
But gus didn't want to kill him by then, it was just a replacement for after the three months</div> <p>Oooh, I don't know, I think Gus, being a studious judge of character, had calculated that Walt would become a massive problem, and I do not accept that Gus would let such a loose end just walk away, hence the game of cat and mouse that developed, IE the installing of CCTV, taking Jesse away from WW and attempting to align him with Mike...that's why Gus asked Gale in no uncertain terms whether he could run the place on his own, he wanted Walt out of the way asap. </p>

<p>Of course he set him up...he was unhappy with Gus calling the shots and taking power away from him, which hurt Walt's considerable ego. Not only that, WW also correctly deduced that Gale was there to eventually replace him, so he had to do something to buy time. </p>

<p>And Lydia, wow, now she is a bonafide bitch. She is one sick puppy, but is in complete denial of this fact. (Waaah I don't wanna see the dead bodies I am responsible for) I REALLY hope she meets her maker in a spectacular way. Y'know, there have been some sick mo fo's throughout the series, but at least they took responsibility for their actions. </p>

<div class="quote">BrightLightFright wrote:
I got goosebumps from that last episode! What a cliff-hanger! I never would have expected the death of Declan and his crew (was very interesting to see his meth subway-lab by the way), so Lydia did order their execution? Loved the seen with Huell and Kirby laying on the money XD</div> <p>The set-up reminded me of Walt and Jesse's RV, I was surprised at how amateurish it was. Thought it was interesting that Lydia made a comment about the hygeine, that was always an obsession of Walt's when it came to cooking. </p>

I think Walt adopting similar traits to Gus are there to show WW's descent into complete lunacy a la Gustavo.

<p>They are brilliant characters, and the laying down on the money was class...PLEASE LET THEM BOTH BE IN THE SAUL SPIN-OFF! Please, please pretty please... </p>

<p>Just wanted to echo the sentiments that it was clearly telegraphed that Walt was resposible for poisoning Brock...it was a televisual masterclass! </p><p>If you don't pick up on the subtleties, I can imagine that it could pass some people by, and Vince Gilligan doesn't seem to be the kind of writer who is going to garishly signpost what has happened. This is the essence of BB: it forces you to engage with every shot, scene and line of dialogue. </p>

<div class="quote"> <p>As for the ring, it could just be he took it off to match the story to go along with his new identity, Mr. Landers or whatever. But i still think Skyler and possibly Hank are dead by the time we catch up to the flashforward  </p> </div> <p>I need to double-check, but I thought that the surname was Lambert...as in Skyler's maiden name. </p>