LMN8R
1621
That’s not exactly an accurate description. Hank directly said he’d been following Jesse. It’s not like he happened to randomly show up through luck.
I saw that in the recap and thought it was cool that A) Huell looks pretty adept at picking pockets and B) I didn’t notice him make the grab the first time I saw it. I only noticed this week during the little pre-episode recap of last week’s episode.
“Todd, I think I might have another job for your uncle.”
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is a hit. But I bet Walt is thinking more along the lines of snatch and detain. I just don’t see Walt bending to the pressure to kill his surrogate son, after all they’ve been through.
I guess Skyler and Marie are both all in now. Is Jesse going back to do some more renovations on the White House, perhaps some new paint (“hit you where you really live”)?
Yes, to both of these. The writers are moving Walt to the moral high ground. He’s not going to kill Jesse, but Jesse might very well be in his last days. The great fun of this show is that it paints Walt as a baby eating monster in the first half of the season, then manipulates you so that you’re cheering for him in the second half of the season. Okay, so often, you’re secretly cheering for him, but somewhere down deep inside you want him to come out on top. Often because the villain he is up against is just so much more evil than Walt. Look how believable Walt’s conversation with Skylar was. “What’s one more?” she asks. And Walt is all “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation!” What a great setup, so believable.
Todd and his uncles are no doubt the reason for the big gun at the end of the season. This is the start of his falling out with those people. My prediction is that Walt gets that gun to protect the last remnant of his family. Maybe Hank or Junior. Possibly Skylar and the baby.
Funkula
1626
I didn’t see Walt’s unwillingness to consider killing Jesse as anything more than an act. He went through the same indignant posturing over Mike in the conversation with Saul last week. He wants to maintain his carefully constructed image as a good guy who does bad things, so he can’t let them see him make an analytical decision to kill someone. Of course, Skyler and Saul both see through his pretense, but his ego has convinced him that he can make them believe him as long as he remains consistent in his facade.
I am surprised by the degree to which Skyler is being corrupted, though. Her actions in the first half of season 5 seemed to show that she understood what a monster Walt was and only tolerated it because she couldn’t figure out an avenue of escape, but with everything collapsing for Walt she’s bizarrely supporting him.
One of the fascinating things about Walt’s character is you never know how much self deception is going on. At some level I think he believes some the crap he says, but you are never sure. I said the beginning of these final episodes that Walt is going to try and kill Jesse if he succeeds I have no clue. I think Skylar has just decide that her only hope for the family surviving is to support Walt, until he dies.
Otherwise known as The Old Yeller Maneuver.
Skylar asked for Jesse’s head last night. I think it’s safe to assume she’s all in now.
tgb123
1630
Skyler turning into Lady Macbeth all of a sudden was so out of character I didn’t buy it for a second.
Really? Guy intends to set her house on fire, where some of her family could have been sleeping in a room or something, and she calls for blood and it’s “out of character”? I disagree.
I did. She’s got no connection to Jesse. She knows she’s not going to do it.
tgb123
1633
Up until these last 4 episodes she just wanted out - couldn’t wait for Walt to die, in fact. I understand the motivation of protecting the kids, but the bloodthirstyness is out of thin air, I think.
I agree. I also think Jesse’s action are out of character. Why would he incriminate himself just to spite Walt? He may not have Walt’s IQ but he surely has a better sense of self-preservation. Also, Hank turning into a manipulate bitch was not out of character but was laid down a little too thickly. I think the writers are positioning everyone (whether it makes sense or not within the context of past actions) to try and resolve the plot-ends in the next four episodes.
tgb123
1635
I’m wondering how admissible in court that recording of Jesse would be. I doubt Hank ever got around to reading him his rights.
Any lawyers in the house?
Jesse’s confession is only interesting because of the emotional wedge it drives between him and Walt.
Funkula
1637
I don’t think it’s out of character, both for the above reason and that she’s been written wildly unevenly over the course of the series. It’s hard for something to be out of character when what’s in character changes dramatically at the writers’ whim. I love the writing overall, but Skyler’s characterization has been the show’s Achilles Heel at least since Walt came clean with her.
Self-preservation? Are we talking about the same Jesse who has destroyed his life multiple times, who has on several occasions gone along with people that he thought intended to kill him without a shred of resistance?
I just saw this Op Ed pieceAnna Gunn published in the NY Times about the hate Skylar has gotten in no small part because she is a strong woman. (Sadly the hate has spilled over to Anna Gunn herself. What kinda of delude mind makes threats against an actress cause they hate the character she plays?). Her character has behaved pretty crazily at times, with the only consistency is protecting her kids. Sarah Palin would be proud of her momma grizzly bear.
In contrast Jesse has been engaged in self-destruct behavior consistently since high school. Occasionally he snaps out of it when there is a new threat or new challenge. But by and large he has been filled with remorse and guilt ever since Jane’s death, and complete despair after Brock death and resigned to his death.
garin
1639
Brock didn’t die. He’s haunted by the kid Todd shot during the train heist.
Or the chemist he murdered.
