Breaking Bad Season 5 Discussion so People like Rusty can Avoid Spoilers

[Stevesie60]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=zIom3LSbB0I

[Stevesie60]

I don't agree with everything in this article, but it brings up some great points:

A character must be absolutely terrible if they’re the most hated character on a show where meth is being made, destroying lives is overlooked (along with murdering innocent people), and everyone manipulates everyone else. Skyler White falls into the “Most Hated Character on a Show” category, but for absolutely no reason other than “She doesn’t like the murdering, manipulating, and meth cooking husband!” She’s not even sided with or understood, she’s completely hated.

Granted, Breaking Bad doesn’t have many characters that abide the law and are morally sound (Holly is probably the only character who hasn’t done anything wrong yet, but she’s just an infant), so for Skyler to get more hate than anyone who is legitimately killing other people and not caring much about it is just flabbergasting. It’s understandable that the audience just wants to side with Walter White, her husband, because he is the main character after all and that’s just what audiences are used to. Nobody rooted for Darth Vader against Luke Skywalker and nobody rooted for Voldemort against Harry Potter, and that’s what makes Breaking Bad so different today. It goes against that formulaic storytelling.

Now the show certainly isn’t the first to have an anti-hero as a main character, and Skyler isn’t the first wife to get unfathomable hate for going against their actually-horrible-husbands. Carmela Soprano was hated exponentially for disagreeing with her mob boss husband Tony Soprano, and that’s the closest comparison one can make for Skyler vs. Walter. Walter has actually killed people, he’s poisoned an innocent child, he’s made bombs to go off in a nursing home, he’s ordered his partner Jesse to kill an innocent man, he illegally makes meth that destroys thousands of lives, creates an abusive relationship with Skyler, and he even blames himself for two planes colliding mid-air. Yet his wife Skyler is hated because of what? She gave him veggie bacon on his 50th birthday and doesn’t like being lied to about Walter’s illegal activity?

“That’s not all she’s done,” said the hateful fans “She cheated on Walter! What a BITCH.” Well, no, she didn’t cheat on him. They were separated at the time so that argument is invalid. But if, for some reason, the audience doesn’t agree with that fact then how about agreeing on disliking Walter for manipulating Jesse, the most loved character on the show?
For an audience that hates Skyler so much and loves Jesse so much, it doesn’t make sense considering that Walter has put Jesse through so much Hell and poor Jesse doesn’t even see it. Whenever he gets close to viewing the real Walter White, he’s lied to again. With that in mind, wouldn’t the Jesse-lovers enjoy Skyler’s standing up against her husband because of the crap he’s done to Jesse? Wouldn’t that actually make some sense to side with someone who has a point?

Skyler White is the audience surrogate, quite honestly. She asks questions the audience is asking and is the voice of logic. All she’s doing is trying to protect her family from the danger (pun-intended) that Walter has put them in. She can’t go to the police or talk to anyone about her situation. She’s trapped.
This article could have gone into a sexism talk, or about how the audience is watching Breaking Bad for the crime show, not the family show, but Breaking Bad speaks for itself so the facts are all laid out. There’s nothing that Skyler is doing that is unwarranted and not understandable. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with liking Walter as a character, but one most keep in mind that he’s a sociopath and is not coming back. Since season three, the situation has changed drastically and so has Walter. Skyler doesn’t recognize the man she married anymore, and it’s only going to get worse from here on out.

[Institutional Control]

People don't dislike Skyler because she's a bad person. It's because she's annoying.

[Stevesie60]

Right, but the reason she's annoying is because she's not okay with what Walt does. She always demands to know where he's been and gets mad when she knows he's lying and that's why people think she's annoying.

[AppleJack]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=zIom3LSbB0I

SEE!

[Stevesie60]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=zIom3LSbB0I

SEE!

The only argument I've heard why The Wire is better than Breaking Bad is because it's more realistic. That's fine if you care a lot about realism, but man, if that's our only basis for judging movies then why watch anything besides documentaries? Why would we ever watch fantasy or science fiction or any fun action movie? Comic book movies would go out the window. I like Breaking Bad more than any other TV show because it is so unlike anything I've seen. Seriously, watching the first season, would you ever think Walt would become the person he's become in season 5? No way. But there has never been an unrealistic jump in his personality. It is so gradual that it was hard to admit he was the bad guy for the end of season 3 and season 4 (until the final 5 seconds). I've never seen anything like it, and I doubt anyone else has either.

[AppleJack]

I love them both. 

[star seed 7]

Wire is better because everything about it is better. Realism doesn't even need to be brought up.

[ChiComCat]

I love them both. 

Yea, don't know why one has to be better.  They are art.  Nobody runs around trying to call a painting the best ever

[SkinnyBenny]

So now that I've seen every episode and liked almost every episode a ton, I feel like I can disagree with one thing in that article and say this even though I know Jakesie will hate it:

Jessie isn't my fave character. I don't even like Jessie that much. He's a dumb flunky junkie guy who dresses like a complete pud and talks the way stupid people talk. Him dating Epic from Friday Night Lights and playing video games with Brock doesn't make me like him much more, it just kinda makes me think, "Wow, this grown-ass man still LOVES playing video games, what a loser." In fact I don't even really like ANY characters that much except Walt, Jr.  But the show is still so badass. Amazing that any show could make me like it so much while still having so few characters that I find likeable. Incredible writing, I guess. I mean for reals. I plowed through the entire 55 episodes over Christmas break in a span of about a week. So good, even though I hate almost everyone on it for one reason or another.

Oh wait. Know who I liked? Mike. I mean he was a terrible human being, but I also want him in my life because he's a no-nonsense old guy and those guys are cool. And he seems like he's a great grandpa.

But yeah. Flynn is the best character on that show. Loves breakfast, is adorable, guilts his dad into buying him completely irresponsible cars, is still kind and deferential to his mom when she buys him a dumb PT Cruiser, etc.

[8manpick]

But yeah. Flynn is the best character on that show. Loves breakfast, is adorable, guilts his dad into buying him completely irresponsible cars, is still kind and deferential to his mom when she buys him a dumb PT Cruiser, etc.

You should read the Andy Greenwald reviews of BB on Grantland.  Lots of it centers around Flynn's breakfast.

[Stevesie60]

Jessie isn't my fave character. I don't even like Jessie that much. He's a dumb flunky junkie guy who dresses like a complete pud and talks the way stupid people talk. Him dating Epic from Friday Night Lights and playing video games with Brock doesn't make me like him much more, it just kinda makes me think, "Wow, this grown-ass man still LOVES playing video games, what a loser." In fact I don't even really like ANY characters that much except Walt, Jr.  But the show is still so badass. Amazing that any show could make me like it so much while still having so few characters that I find likeable. Incredible writing, I guess. I mean for reals. I plowed through the entire 55 episodes over Christmas break in a span of about a week. So good, even though I hate almost everyone on it for one reason or another.

It's spelled J-E-S-S-E, you Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!).

[SkinnyBenny]

Jessie isn't my fave character. I don't even like Jessie that much. He's a dumb flunky junkie guy who dresses like a complete pud and talks the way stupid people talk. Him dating Epic from Friday Night Lights and playing video games with Brock doesn't make me like him much more, it just kinda makes me think, "Wow, this grown-ass man still LOVES playing video games, what a loser." In fact I don't even really like ANY characters that much except Walt, Jr.  But the show is still so badass. Amazing that any show could make me like it so much while still having so few characters that I find likeable. Incredible writing, I guess. I mean for reals. I plowed through the entire 55 episodes over Christmas break in a span of about a week. So good, even though I hate almost everyone on it for one reason or another.

It's spelled J-E-S-S-E, you Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!).

Only spelled it that way because of your screen name.

[SkinnyBenny]

But yeah. Flynn is the best character on that show. Loves breakfast, is adorable, guilts his dad into buying him completely irresponsible cars, is still kind and deferential to his mom when she buys him a dumb PT Cruiser, etc.

You should read the Andy Greenwald reviews of BB on Grantland.  Lots of it centers around Flynn's breakfast.

These are so good. I could look at 'shops of Flynn all day long. And what's up with Flynn, anyway? Did I miss something? Is it a middle name, or a family name, or something? I think I like it better if it's just out of nowhere. Like if the writers were all, "Hey you know what would be funny? If Walt, Jr. just started going by Flynn out of nowhere. Yeah, let's do that."

[8manpick]

But yeah. Flynn is the best character on that show. Loves breakfast, is adorable, guilts his dad into buying him completely irresponsible cars, is still kind and deferential to his mom when she buys him a dumb PT Cruiser, etc.

You should read the Andy Greenwald reviews of BB on Grantland.  Lots of it centers around Flynn's breakfast.

These are so good. I could look at 'shops of Flynn all day long. And what's up with Flynn, anyway? Did I miss something? Is it a middle name, or a family name, or something? I think I like it better if it's just out of nowhere. Like if the writers were all, "Hey you know what would be funny? If Walt, Jr. just started going by Flynn out of nowhere. Yeah, let's do that."

It's his middle name... he started going by it when he was being a rebellious teenager against mean old Walt Sr.

[Institutional Control]

Not his middle name. He just wanted to be called Flynn.

[SkinnyBenny]

Not his middle name. He just wanted to be called Flynn.

That's what I thought. And what I was hoping.

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

I'm not going to apologize for liking Walt and hating Skyler. I'm also not going to explain myself because I don't have to.

Don't care, eff Skyler.

['taterblast]

So now that I've seen every episode and liked almost every episode a ton, I feel like I can disagree with one thing in that article and say this even though I know Jakesie will hate it:

Jessie isn't my fave character. I don't even like Jessie that much. He's a dumb flunky junkie guy who dresses like a complete pud and talks the way stupid people talk. Him dating Epic from Friday Night Lights and playing video games with Brock doesn't make me like him much more, it just kinda makes me think, "Wow, this grown-ass man still LOVES playing video games, what a loser." In fact I don't even really like ANY characters that much except Walt, Jr.  But the show is still so badass. Amazing that any show could make me like it so much while still having so few characters that I find likeable. Incredible writing, I guess. I mean for reals. I plowed through the entire 55 episodes over Christmas break in a span of about a week. So good, even though I hate almost everyone on it for one reason or another.

Oh wait. Know who I liked? Mike. I mean he was a terrible human being, but I also want him in my life because he's a no-nonsense old guy and those guys are cool. And he seems like he's a great grandpa.

But yeah. Flynn is the best character on that show. Loves breakfast, is adorable, guilts his dad into buying him completely irresponsible cars, is still kind and deferential to his mom when she buys him a dumb PT Cruiser, etc.

i guess i kind of agree with this whole thing. i like hank, but don't want him to catch walt, ya know?

[Stevesie60]

If you dorks had to pick either Walt or Jesse to get out clean while the other one died, who would you pick? Would you really pick Walt? Because if you would, I mean good God, go be BFFs with OK Cat and kim carnes or something.

[8manpick]

If you dorks had to pick either Walt or Jesse to get out clean while the other one died, who would you pick? Would you really pick Walt? Because if you would, I mean good God, go be BFFs with OK Cat and kim carnes or something.

Meh. I would have chosen Mike.

['taterblast]

jesse's okay. he was just sooooo stupid in the beginning. and people don't forget.

[ChiComCat]

Jakesie a page ago:  I like Breaking Bad because it surprises me and that is awesome

Jakesie now:  I want the most predictable ending where the crowd favorite gets out alive

[8manpick]

jesse's okay. he was just sooooo stupid in the beginning. and people don't forget.

Yes. I think I like 'smart' more than I like 'good', and first impressions go a long way.

[Stevesie60]

Jakesie a page ago:  I like Breaking Bad because it surprises me and that is awesome

Jakesie now:  I want the most predictable ending where the crowd favorite gets out alive

I'm not saying that's the ending I want. I'm saying if given the choice between only those two that's the one I would want.