New Walt, bigger gun (blog post from Ep 501)
Ep 501 (4:08) – Teaser image – M60 machine gun in a car trunk
In the opening teaser for season 5, we see Walt eating breakfast at a Denny’s restaurant and breaking his bacon into small chunks to make the number 52. It reminds of the scene back in the pilot episode when Skyler made the number 50 out of veggie bacon on Walt’s 50th birthday. Much has changed even since the end of season 4. His full head of hair suggests that he’s not been undergoing chemotherapy recently. He’s wearing dirty jeans and a rugged jacket with a T-shirt, different than the sharp clothing we’ve been accustomed to on him recently. So what’s happened to Walt?
Walt reveals to the waitress that it’s indeed his 52nd birthday. She prompts him to pull out his ID to get a free meal. He does so, revealing the New Hampshire driver’s license and a last name of Lambert. Why fake identity? Walt must have contacted the man that Saul suggested for a new life. He must have called and asked for a “dust filter for a Hoover Max Extract 60 Pressure Pro,” the magic phrase that we’re told grants its user a new life.
Walt leaves the counter to meet with Lawson in the bathroom. Lawson is the illegal gun salesman who previously sold Walt the 38 snub which he tried to use to kill Gus. Walt slides Lawson an envelope and mysteriously asks if there’s an instruction manual. Walt then goes to his car, grabs a bag and unlocks another car. Opening the trunk of this car reveals an M60 and several ammunition boxes. What could Walter be doing with the type of gun? An M60 is a large machine gun used for suppressive fire. It isn’t typically carried due to its size and weight.
The scene leaves the viewer with many questions. It’s been roughly a year since we last heard from Walt and it seems that a lot has changed. His hair, his clothes, and his car are all different. We have no choice but to continue watching the series and searching for the answers to several questions regarding the transformation before us. — Alex P.
Dinner with the Whites (blog post from Ep 506)
Ep 506 (33:20) – Jesse joins Walt and Skyler for dinner
In episode 506 (Buyout), Walt invites Jesse to stay and have dinner with Skyler and him. Though it might be pleasant to think that Walt genuinely wanted to spend quality time with Jesse, this is not the case. Walt as the master manipulator has ulterior motives behind this seemingly kind invitation.
One of Walt’s goals is to irritate his wife to get back at her for what he sees as insufficient support and loyalty. Walt feels as if his Skyler’s behavior is unreasonable and unnecessary. She simply believes that she’s doing what is best for the family. Skyler removing their children from the house so that Walter could not see them was the last straw for Walt.
An even stronger motivation for Walt here is to get Jesse to rethink his decision to quit the meth business. Throughout the dinner, Walt and Skyler’s broken relationship is on display front and center. When Skyler leaves the table, Walt tells Jesse that she’s taken his children from him and that he’s no longer allowed to see them. He tries to play the pity card with Jesse: “This business is all I have left now. It’s all I have. And you want to take it away from me.” After working with Jesse, Walter knows how to manipulate him to get what he wants. In this case, it’s the continuation of their partnership so he can continue building his meth empire.
This scene clearly depicts where Walt’s priorities lie. He acts as if gaining back his family is completely helpless, when in reality he no longer fights for his family. What he fights for time and time again is his meth, his money, and his empire. — Caroline M.
The devil shows his face (blog post from Ep 507)
Ep 507 (23:24) – Jesse parts ways with Walt
Jesse may not be the smartest kid on the block, but he sure has heart. We see this in his confrontation with Walt in episode 507 (Say My Name.) Even when Walt has him in his grasp and makes it seem like he’s Jesse’s life-line “success,” Jesse manages to turn his back, repent from the drug business, and say no to Walt’s devilish threats.
Jesse is able to see that he and Walt have gotten in far deeper than they ever imagined, causing the deaths of criminals as well as innocent children, and dealing with sums of money that neither of them could have dreamed of before their “business” took flight. In the previous episode, Jesse and Mike told Walt that they wanted out. Walt knows he can’t tell Mike what to do, but he believes he still has Jesse in the palm of his hand. All of Walt’s most devilish traits are on display here in his response to Jesse who’s come to try to collect his share of the methylamine money.
Walt uses several tactics in attempt to manipulate Jesse. He assures Jesse that there will be no more killing, that things will (somehow) be different from here on out, but Jesse knows better. That doesn’t work, and Walt sounds frighteningly similar to the snake in the desert–telling Jesse that his life is meaningless without meth. Walt also tries to capitalize on Jesse’s fears, reminding him that he has nothing, no chance without Walt.
When Jesse finally says “no” to Walt, it’s a pivotal moment for him. Jesse has been trying for the past few seasons to say no to Walt, but he somehow always comes back. This is understandable behavior for someone who struggles with addiction. Deep down, though, Jesse knows that the longer he stays on Walt’s side, the further he will be dragged towards Hell. — Frances M.
Is Walt actually blinded? (blog post from Ep 507)
Ep 507 (42:35) – Walt and Mike’s confrontation
Since Walt killed Gus, his pride has been rising uncontrollably. In each episode, I’ve been shocked at the new level he reaches. By the end of episode 507 (Say My Name), my aggravation over Walter’s blind pride has reached a peak. There are four characters I like in this show, and Walter is about to kill one of them. Listening to the dialogue between Walter and Mike moments before he shoots Mike, I can’t help but wonder–Is Walt actually blinded to his own faults?
Walt is incapable of accepting the blame for any of his actions. Frustrating as this is to watch, I now find myself thinking that he’s not just covering for himself, but that he actually believes that he’s not to blame. This is far worse than if he knows he’s at fault and won’t admit it. If he can’t see moral and ethical reality, it means that he’s some type of psycho-or socio-path.
After Walt reluctantly hands over Mike’s drop bag, he screams, “You’re welcome!” and says that Mike “owes” him. After Mike tells Walt point-blank that everything falling apart is on him, Walt responds with, “Wow, wow, oh that’s some kind of logic right there Mike. You screw up, get yourself followed by the DEA, and now suddenly this is all my fault!”
I was shocked at first when he said this. I thought: “How can you be so dumb, Walt?” But I should have expected as much from Walt. He’s either not willing to admit, or is simply blinded to the fact that the death of Gus is what led the DEA directly to Mike. At first, I thought Walter was simply displaying his infamous pride, which is Mike’s view when he tells Walt: “You, and your pride and your ego–you just had to be the man.”
But after this led to Mike’s murder, I had my doubts. For the rest of the scene, Walt’s expression seems to be one of shock and even fear at his actions. The absolute obviousness of the consequences of Walt’s actions in destroying Gus’s empire coupled with his own surprise at his pride-driven actions leads me to believe that Walt may actually be psychologically blinded to his own faults. I can’t help but think that Walt is so deep into this that his mind is actually twisting out of his own control. Continuing to watch season 5, viewers might ask themselves: “Does Walt actually believe he is wiped clean of blame?” — Brett W.
We liked Mike (blog post from Ep 507)
Ep 507 (38:07) – Mike agonizes over leaving Kaylee
We just can’t help the way we feel about him. What does anyone expect when we watch a television show featuring an old, bald guy who turns to the meth business to provide for his loved ones? How else should we react when this guy calmly contemplates his next step, then faces his enemies, guns blazing, in order to finish a job, even if it means murdering a few people along the way? What can we say? We like the guy.
Seriously, who doesn’t like Mike?
One of the most alluring aspects about Mike is his intrinsic knowledge about the way the world works. At every step, Mike seems to know something nobody else does, or at least something no one else bothers to notice. Consider, for example, the first time we meet Lydia. She takes several precautions that we as (hopefully) uninformed audience members perceive as reasonable–she wear large sunglasses, sits at a different table from Mike, speaks softly, etc. Mike makes it clear that he knows better. Brushing aside everything Lydia thinks she knows about covert criminality, he boldly moves to her table to chat face-to-face. To totally dispel any impression that he may be concealing himself, he speaks to the waitress using her first name (while she uses his), making it clear that he has no problem with people knowing that Mike Ehrmantraut is sitting at the table. The message is clear–Mike knows exactly what’s going on and exactly where his limits are at all times. It’s not so much that he’s manipulating the world by pressing all the right buttons, but rather that he’s responding to the world in the way that makes the most sense.
This frankness appeals to us. Mike doesn’t need some mind-boggling display of force to showcase his abilities. He’s simply the man in charge. We inherently want to mimic these qualities in Mike. We desire to be the one who simply knows what’s happening, who brushes aside all idiocy and points to the heart of the situation. We want to be the one who, like Mike, pulls out brilliant anecdotes to accentuate a moral point, declaring with confidence something like: “No more half measures.” There are very few moments in which we see Mike confused.
Several times, we’ve seen other characters weighing their options unsure of what step to take next. But not Mike. The moment he glances back at Kaylee before leaving her alone at the park to escape the police dragnet is the rare exception. Even here, his response is more remorse than uncertainty. He’s torn up at abandoning Kaylee, but he also knows it’s his only option. The scene brings to mind his behavior in episode 313 (Full Measure) and 401 (Box Cutter.) Though Mike is surprised by certain events in both episodes (Walt’s dispatching of Jesse to kill Gale, Gus’s brutal murder of Victor), he never really appears unsure of what the next step ought to be. Anger, shock, despair, and fear can be seen in his demeanor, but never hesitation or doubt.
While this deep understanding about the world around him is desirable, in itself it’s not enough to make Mike admirable. He still plays a critical role in a major meth industry and murders many people. We hate Walt for doing such things. Why is it okay when Mike does it?
First, I’d note that it’s not wholly ok for Mike to behave in this way. While we’re certainly more inclined to like Mike than Walt, most viewers likely condemn many decisions by both characters. What I believe tips the scale in Mike’s favor is his commitment to certain values. Or perhaps it may be more appropriate to say his aversion to certain vices. Mike never commits a crime of passion. He murders and lies only when it seems necessary for the success of a mission. He rejects greed, remaining perfectly content to work for Gus as long as possible. (His views on this subject are made clear when he chastises Walt for disturbing the peace when they “had a good thing going.”) Furthermore, he’s intensely loyal, not only to Fring, but also to the men who work for him. Mike admonishes Lydia when she suggests that they kill the nine incarcerated men who could rat them out. To Mike, these are his guys, and even after Fring’s murder, he has a duty to protect (and pay) them. All of these qualities stand in direct contrast to Walt who often rejects these values. But Mike’s different. We honestly like the way Mike maintains his composure in the face of the events in Breaking Bad. He is, in short, a criminal with principle. We like that. – Jacob E.
A very big pile of money (scene analysis from Ep 508)
Ep 508 (34:37) – Skyler and Walt at the storage facility
In episode 508 (Gliding Over All), Skyler takes Walt to a storage facility and shows him the very big pile of money that he’s made and that she’s laundered. Yet the visuals and acting in this scene make it clear that neither Walt nor Skyler feel any sense of victory or accomplishment.
The camera angles show in stark, cold terms the size of the pile. We see it fill the width of the screen. Then the pile is shot from the side where the viewer can compare the height of the pile of money to the heights of both Skyler and Walt. From this angle, it looks as if the pile of money is about waist-high. Both Walt and Skyler seem stunned by the sheer volume of their money. The dim lighting, too, adds to the cold, sterile tone of the scene.
As Walt tries to process how much money is in front of him, he stares at it with the same expression. Even he’s stunned into silence. Skyler asks Walt, “How big does this pile have to be?” This question perfectly sums up her frustrations with her husband throughout the show. After she quickly realizes that Walt is not doing this entirely for family like he claims, she realizes that he is cooking meth to see how big he can make his empire. All of her frustrations come to a head when she pleads with Walt to stop cooking and to give her, her kids and her life back. She has had enough of Walt’s lies and dishonesty and she simply wants him to get out of the business.
This a pivotal scene because it’s the point at which Walt finally realizes that he has been successful in his own eyes or at least successful enough to stop. It can also be interpreted as the moment Walt’s downfall begins because this is the scene where Walt is seemingly at his highest. He has reached the point where he believes that he has found success. He thinks that he will just stop cooking and that things can return to normal. But little does he know that this realization of supposed success is only the beginning of many things to come that will lead to his demise. – Brady M.
Walt is “up the junction” (blog post from Ep 508)
The soundtrack to Breaking Bad might have the most diverse range of music ever heard on a TV show. If you watched (and listened) from beginning to end, you’d hear world, indie, reggae, funk, folk, hip hop, jazz, doo-wop, and electronic music, among other genres. If you listen carefully during the last few minutes of season 5’s finale, you hear yet another musical style–British “New Wave” band Squeeze, singing their 1979 song “Up the Junction.”
The loosely-defined “New Wave” of the late 70s and 80s included British bands like Squeeze, The Police, and Elvis Costello and the Attractions, as well as American bands like The B-52s and The Go-Gos. Given the way season 5 ends, we might guess that Walt and Skyler or some members of the creative team behind Breaking Bad must be New Wave fans.
As Walt, Skyler, Hank, and Marie are enjoying a meal pool-side casually bantering about home-brew beer and summer hairstyles, “Up the Junction” wafts in the background. Here, the music is used in a diegetic fashion–the characters in the scene itself are listening to the same sounds that we the viewers are. Most of the time, Breaking Bad uses music non- diegetically. For example, in episode 210, Walt’s inner Heisenberg flares up when he considers that a couple of losers will fill the gap he’s temporarily left in the meth market, and he strides out to the parking lot to confront them. As he approaches, we hear TV On The Radio’s “DLZ.” The song is well-suited, although we’re not to think that either the two meth-heads nor Walt are themselves hearing the music. This non-diegetic sound is for the viewers only.
Whether used non-diegetically or diegetically, the musical choices in Breaking Bad are almost always pitch-perfect. This is certainly the case at the end of episode 508. Squeeze’s “Up the Junction” fits remarkably with the story arc of Breaking Bad. In the first few verses, vocalist Glenn Tilbrook tells a tender story of young love, the establishment of a family, and mutual commitment and sacrifice. This is in keeping with much of Squeeze’s music, which John F. Kellydescribes as “pointillist pop that tells heartbreaking stories in three-minute slices.”
But the domestic bliss in Squeeze’s “Up the Junction” doesn’t last. The man telling his story admits that he eventually succumbs to selfishness and emotionally and physically abandons his family. By the end of the song, he’s estranged from his wife and infant daughter. In the last verse, he sings:
Alone here in the kitchen
I feel there’s something missing
I’d beg for some forgiveness
But begging’s not my business
And she won’t write a letter
Although I always tell her
And so it’s my assumption
I’m really up the junction.
There might be no better description of Walter White in all of popular music. By this point in the series, Walt is in deep trouble (or “up the junction,” if you’re British)–even if he doesn’t recognize it. His vices and crimes have led him down a tragic path that won’t end well. In both Squeeze’s song and in Breaking Bad, we see the isolating and self-destructive effects of pride. Asking for forgiveness can be a hard thing to do. — Jim L.
Studying Breaking Bad 