If you know me in real life, there is a good chance I've asked you if you watch "Breaking Bad." It's that little show on AMC that wins all of the awards, and yet, it seems no one watches it. Except Brian and I, and we are kind of obsessed with it. It's that good. It's mind-boggling, "oh-my-god-did-that-just-happen?" good. And in honor of the season finale this Sunday night, I thought I would give everyone a brief synopsis of this season using Play-doh frogs as actors.
(yes, this is the entry that either launches the blog onto a national stage or gets me committed. Right now, it's a toss-up).
Quick overview if you've never watched the show:
Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher who finds out he has terminal brain cancer. Knowing death is imminent, he decides to "provide for his family" (the over-arching theme of the whole show) by becoming the best meth cook New Mexico has even seen. He recruits a former druggie student named Jesse Pinkman to help him sell his product. Walt and Jesse quickly realize that in order to be successful in the drug trade, they have to think like a criminal - something that does not come naturally to either of them. They both have too much conscience. But slowly, over time and with lots of money at stake, they continue to compromise their morals and start doing really, really, really bad stuff. It's like a slow progression into the darkest recesses of the soul, and watching them "break bad" is both fascinating and horrifying. Walt's meth is eventually discovered by the biggest drug kingpin in all of the Southwest, the Chicken Man, and in order to make the big money, they find they have to play by this guy's rules.
At the end of last season, the Chicken Man wanted to kill Jesse (mainly b/c he's a massive screw-up), but Walt ended up convincing Jesse to kill his future replacement, another meth cook (and brilliant chemist) by the name of Gale Beticker.
All of this is further complicated by the fact that Walt's wife Skylar (who just found out about the meth and is none too happy, but swayed by the money) has a sister (Marie) who is married to Hank, a DEA agent.
Jesse shot Gale in the face in cold blood, thereby ensuring his survival (since I guess it takes two people to cook meth) and Hank was gravely wounded by two Mexican drug cartel guys.
All of that brings us to this season.
Anyways, this is Walt.
(yes, this is the entry that either launches the blog onto a national stage or gets me committed. Right now, it's a toss-up).
Quick overview if you've never watched the show:
Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher who finds out he has terminal brain cancer. Knowing death is imminent, he decides to "provide for his family" (the over-arching theme of the whole show) by becoming the best meth cook New Mexico has even seen. He recruits a former druggie student named Jesse Pinkman to help him sell his product. Walt and Jesse quickly realize that in order to be successful in the drug trade, they have to think like a criminal - something that does not come naturally to either of them. They both have too much conscience. But slowly, over time and with lots of money at stake, they continue to compromise their morals and start doing really, really, really bad stuff. It's like a slow progression into the darkest recesses of the soul, and watching them "break bad" is both fascinating and horrifying. Walt's meth is eventually discovered by the biggest drug kingpin in all of the Southwest, the Chicken Man, and in order to make the big money, they find they have to play by this guy's rules.
At the end of last season, the Chicken Man wanted to kill Jesse (mainly b/c he's a massive screw-up), but Walt ended up convincing Jesse to kill his future replacement, another meth cook (and brilliant chemist) by the name of Gale Beticker.
All of this is further complicated by the fact that Walt's wife Skylar (who just found out about the meth and is none too happy, but swayed by the money) has a sister (Marie) who is married to Hank, a DEA agent.
Jesse shot Gale in the face in cold blood, thereby ensuring his survival (since I guess it takes two people to cook meth) and Hank was gravely wounded by two Mexican drug cartel guys.
All of that brings us to this season.
Anyways, this is Walt.
Walter White, the play-doh frog version
The Chicken Man (real name: Gustavo Fringo) is the worst kind of bad guy - he's the bad guy that hides in plain site. He is a successful business owner of a fast-food chicken restaurant. The super-meth lab that he built is hidden under the laundry facility that he owns. Walt and Jesse go to work at the facility every day. The Chicken Man was not pleased to find out Gale was murdered, so he crafted a plan of his own: to break up the alliance between Walt and Jesse.
He separated the two of them frequently, so Walt was left alone in the super-lab while Jesse was out playing hero with one of Gus's henchman (Mike.) Jesse, clearly dealing with unresolved father issues, begins to feel better about himself and starts to align with the Chicken Man. Walt tells Jesse the only way out of this for both of them is to kill the Chicken Man. This results in lots of arguments between Jesse and Walt.
He separated the two of them frequently, so Walt was left alone in the super-lab while Jesse was out playing hero with one of Gus's henchman (Mike.) Jesse, clearly dealing with unresolved father issues, begins to feel better about himself and starts to align with the Chicken Man. Walt tells Jesse the only way out of this for both of them is to kill the Chicken Man. This results in lots of arguments between Jesse and Walt.
Lots of animosity between Walt and Jesse
Hank, the DEA brother-in-law, was given the Gale file while he recovered from his terrible injury. Hank begins to investigate the connection between Gale and the Chicken Man, and talks to Walt about it during family dinners. Hank reports to Walt (whom he thinks is nothing more than a good brother-in-law; he has no idea he is legally related to a legendary meth cook) that Gale must have been the mastermind behind all of the blue meth that has infiltrated the Southwest. Having drank too much wine and still reeling from the many confrontations with Jesse, Walt tells Hank Gale sounds more like an "assistant" and the real guy is probably still out there.
Hank (in his wheelchair) sharing details about the case over too much wine
So instead of closing the case, Hank keeps it open. As Chaucer once commented, pride comes before the fall. Oh, Walt....
Meanwhile, the Chicken Man drags Jesse to Mexico to show the drug cartel that Jesse makes good meth. (He's now had a few years to practice with Walt). It's becoming increasingly obvious that Walt is on his way out - but is Jesse okay with this? Despite their disagreements - and one very contentious fist fight -
Meanwhile, the Chicken Man drags Jesse to Mexico to show the drug cartel that Jesse makes good meth. (He's now had a few years to practice with Walt). It's becoming increasingly obvious that Walt is on his way out - but is Jesse okay with this? Despite their disagreements - and one very contentious fist fight -
"I'm sick of you, Mr. White!" ::punch::
- Jesse still calls Walt "Mr. White" and cares about him. Or at the very least, he doesn't want to see him dead.
While in Mexico, the Chicken Man manages the coup of all coups. He met with the head of the cartel, Don Elidas, and through a series of flashbacks, you learn that the Chicken Man was once a young man (hard to believe) who had just started the chicken/meth business. Don Elidas, a sociopath through and through, felt as though the Chicken Man disrespected him and shot his meth cook (and good friend) in the head in front of him.
In present day, the Chicken Man has a bone to pick with Don Elidas (pictured here)
While in Mexico, the Chicken Man manages the coup of all coups. He met with the head of the cartel, Don Elidas, and through a series of flashbacks, you learn that the Chicken Man was once a young man (hard to believe) who had just started the chicken/meth business. Don Elidas, a sociopath through and through, felt as though the Chicken Man disrespected him and shot his meth cook (and good friend) in the head in front of him.
In present day, the Chicken Man has a bone to pick with Don Elidas (pictured here)
Hola. Me llamo Don Elidas. Me gusto tequila.
and serves the entire cartel poisoned tequila. The Chicken Man drinks it himself (or else the cartel wouldn't have joined in) but manages to escape and get to a hospital before death. The rest of the cartel dies a grisly death. Jesse, who is supposed to be trying to kill the Chicken Man, per Walt's orders, actually helps to save him.
Close one, Chicken Man.
With Hank investigating the whole operation - and Walt charged with getting him off the trail - the feds are getting closer and closer. Jesse has shown himself to be a good meth cook, prompting the Chicken Man to take Walt to the desert and scare the crap out of him. He can't kill him, or Jesse will stop making meth, but he can threaten him.
Close one, Chicken Man.
With Hank investigating the whole operation - and Walt charged with getting him off the trail - the feds are getting closer and closer. Jesse has shown himself to be a good meth cook, prompting the Chicken Man to take Walt to the desert and scare the crap out of him. He can't kill him, or Jesse will stop making meth, but he can threaten him.
The Chicken Man and Walt (with a hood on) in the desert
In what can only be described as the most horrific speech by a bad guy in the history of television, the Chicken Man tells Walt, "I cannot kill you. But if you intervene [and help your brother-in-law], I will kill your wife. And your son. And your infant daughter."
Oh heavens.
Oh heavens.
The White Family
Walt races home, ready to pay for the entire family to "disappear" by someone who knows how to make things happen...only to find out Skylar has spent the money (all of it...) to pay off her shady boss, who was about to be investigated by the IRS. With no money and no new identities, Walt realizes that he can either wait for the Chicken Man to come after him...or go after him himself.
With the final episode titled "Face-off," I think Walt and the Chicken Man will finally have their showdown. But at what cost??
Tune in on Sunday night's to AMC's award-winning Breaking Bad. Check your local listings for show times. And then comment on the blog and let me know what you think!
Credits
I would like to thank Deana for providing additional green play-doh and childcare (in addition to the creation of the best tadpole I've ever seen). To my child, for letting Momb play with play-doh for most of the day, and to my husband, for supporting all my very silly ideas (including this one.)
With the final episode titled "Face-off," I think Walt and the Chicken Man will finally have their showdown. But at what cost??
Tune in on Sunday night's to AMC's award-winning Breaking Bad. Check your local listings for show times. And then comment on the blog and let me know what you think!
Credits
I would like to thank Deana for providing additional green play-doh and childcare (in addition to the creation of the best tadpole I've ever seen). To my child, for letting Momb play with play-doh for most of the day, and to my husband, for supporting all my very silly ideas (including this one.)
RSS Feed