Breaking Bad - Season 5

**Shelton** · 07-17-2012, 05:51 PM

Boiler fan, I believe so.

Mcs, I believe it has been about a year from what I have read from other sources.

Regarding Aaron Paul, I think he's a fantastic actor. I think it takes a lot of skill to pull off a character like Jesse. A less skilled actor and you'd just get another version of badger.

**Vonlenska** · 07-17-2012, 09:42 PM

Paul is pretty good, imo.

**Edman85** · 07-17-2012, 09:54 PM

One of the early episodes of Season 5 is entitled "51," probably in reference to Walt's 51st birthday. It's been about a year.

**Yoda** · 07-18-2012, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by Shelton

Seems that most people think the series is currently around walt's 51st birthday, so there is obviously a lot of time left before that diner scene.

Then again, if you were going to take on a false identity, would you do so with the same birthday. Maybe it's a minor thing, but that could be some misdirection. It could happen sooner than walt's actual 52nd birthday.

I wondered about that too, was it really his birthday? Though it would be fitting to end it on his 52nd birthday. In the Pilot they had a surprise party for his 50th birthday.

Originally Posted by Motor City Sonics

Hard to tell. Is Walt still bald from his treatments or is he shaving his head? I think he is shaving his head because he is growing facial hair with no problem.

How much time has elapsed in the world of the show since it started? A year? Two years? Seems like about two years.

And Yoda, I have to strongly disagree with you on Aaron Paul. I thought he was average at first but from about the time that Jane died and on I realized the guy has been pretty good. Maybe he would not be good in other roles, but did you really think Malcom in the Middle's dad was this good an actor? I think Bryan Cranston blows every other (television) dramatic actor, including Jon Hamm, out of the water.......and he'll never get a part as good as this one again. He's made the most of it - with other actors the show might not have worked - there is something sinister and vulnerable about the guy at the same time.

Oh I agree that Bryan is brilliant. For argument's sake, I think Peter Dinklage (Tyrion, Game of Thrones) is up there as well.

**NeedMoreLike84** · 07-18-2012, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by Vonlenska

Paul is pretty good, imo.

we agree.

**Vonlenska** · 07-18-2012, 02:15 AM

to say that Cranston blows Hamm out of the water, is in my opinion, a serious overstatement. He's outstanding, for sure. But -- and this isn't his fault -- Walt, as a character, hasn't been very...dynamic? lately. There's not a wide range for Cranston to play. Sure, taken as a whole, he's up there -- but I don't think he can match Hamm's range, and a part of that is the type of roles they play. Mad Men allows for more character exploration on a week to week basis than Breaking Bad does.

As far as the hierarchy goes, for television actors, the big 3 for me are James Gandolfini, Jon Hamm and Peter Dinklage. I'd probably put Cranston 4th.

**PuNk42AE** · 07-18-2012, 12:20 PM

Conan O'Brien ‏@ConanOBrien

Look for me on next week’s episode of Breaking Bad. I play a beaker of thorium oxide.

This will blow Cranson and Paul out of the water

**Joe Gahona** · 07-19-2012, 12:03 AM

Cranston is brilliant. One of the greats.

Paul is very good, bordering on greatness.

**NeedMoreLike84** · 07-19-2012, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by Joe Gahona

Cranston is brilliant. One of the greats.

Paul is very good, bordering on greatness.

Paul is so effortless. Not the same as nt good. So I agree.

Mad Men is a much more mainstream and accessible show. easier to understand and analyze cause it's much more obvious. BB takes a lot more thought. Cranston's tour de force from nice guy to drug kingpin has the depth and color that most people just can't break through.

**Joe Gahona** · 07-19-2012, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by NeedMoreLike84

Paul is so effortless. Not the same as nt good. So I agree.

Mad Men is a much more mainstream and accessible show. easier to understand and analyze cause it's much more obvious. BB takes a lot more thought. Cranston's tour de force from nice guy to drug kingpin has the depth and color that most people just can't break through.

Oh I agree. It's like REI compared with Wal-mart. Yes, you can get a tent at Wal-mart, but the real outdoorsmen know better.

It is an undisputed triumph what this man has accomplished as Walter White. He took the character where no one else -- especially Hamm -- could have.

B.C. would more convincingly play a 16-year-old Dick Whittman than Hamm did.

**NeedMoreLike84** · 07-19-2012, 12:31 AM

MAd Men is a great show. But it is VERY easy to dissect. BB is so deep. It is like a 30 foot hole.

**Vonlenska** · 07-19-2012, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by NeedMoreLike84

Paul is so effortless. Not the same as nt good. So I agree.

Mad Men is a much more mainstream and accessible show. easier to understand and analyze cause it's much more obvious. BB takes a lot more thought.

I completely disagree with this, but hey, we've certainly been down this road before. What exactly takes a lot more thought about Breaking Bad? It's a pretty surface level show. There aren't very many characters, there's really only one narrative, and it's been the same one for awhile. Mad Men's theme, in and of itself, might be easier to relate to, but I don't think it's as accessible. Breaking Bad has a lot more violence, a lot more action, a lot more in your face type stuff (I am the one who knocks, Gus' death, Gus going "hit me" in the midst of gun fire, etc)

As far as mainstream, they're about the same, popularity wise. I see different types of people that like Breaking Bad as opposed to Mad Men. Most of my friends and family think Mad Men is boring, but love Breaking Bad. Sure, that's anecdotal evidence, but this whole "Walt is a badass" deal is being marketed to its extreme, and in my experience I've seen a lot more people casually watch BB than MM and enjoy it. Sure, you're missing out on a lot either way, but like I said, this is my experience.

I've definitely been critical of Breaking Bad in the past. It does some things that annoy me, more things to annoy me than Mad Men does. But it's still a fine, fine show, and I'm not trying to belittle it by disagreeing with you. I will give you, however, that Mad Men's subtlety was almost completely gone in season 5, and Weiner's never been one for extreme subtlety -- but I still think it's moreso than Breaking Bad, again, not a direct criticism.

They're two different shows that really shouldn't be directly compared, but are because they're both on AMC and they're two of the best shows running. I think they shoot for different audiences, and succeed for the most part.

**DTroppens** · 07-19-2012, 02:08 AM

I don't see how Breaking Bad takes any great thought to watch it. You can provide great thought if you'd like, but on the surface, it's just an entertaining show.

**Yoda** · 07-19-2012, 02:34 AM

I agree that Mad Men is a MUCH deeper show than Breaking Bad. Breaking Bad is certainly more thrilling, though. It's apples and oranges.

**Motor City Sonics** · 07-19-2012, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by DTroppens

I don't see how Breaking Bad takes any great thought to watch it. You can provide great thought if you'd like, but on the surface, it's just an entertaining show.

Who said everything had to require great thought to watch? I want to be entertained. Its' not exactly as dumb as Who's The Boss here. I compare Walt to Michael Corleone. He tried to be a good guy, only to realize he really is a bad guy and he's good at being a bad guy. But I think Michael Corleone actually had more guilt about it.

**Antrat** · 07-19-2012, 09:20 AM

Jersey Shore makes me think.
About how maybe an asteroid striking the earth might not be a bad thing.

**Yoda** · 07-19-2012, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Motor City Sonics

Who said everything had to require great thought to watch? I want to be entertained. Its' not exactly as dumb as Who's The Boss here. I compare Walt to Michael Corleone. He tried to be a good guy, only to realize he really is a bad guy and he's good at being a bad guy. But I think Michael Corleone actually had more guilt about it.

I think DTrop was merely commenting on this post:

Originally Posted by NeedMoreLike84

Paul is so effortless. Not the same as nt good. So I agree.

Mad Men is a much more mainstream and accessible show. easier to understand and analyze cause it's much more obvious. BB takes a lot more thought. Cranston's tour de force from nice guy to drug kingpin has the depth and color that most people just can't break through.

**NeedMoreLike84** · 07-19-2012, 10:32 AM

Mad Men gives the guise that it's very deep and layered but it's really not. It's really more of the fans that want to try and make it that way. The characters themselves are not that deep, really. He just puts them into surprising situations. Seeing Walt go from nice guy to ruthless killer has been a character transition that has never happened on Mad Men.

**Joe Gahona** · 07-19-2012, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by NeedMoreLike84

Mad Men gives the guise that it's very deep and layered but it's really not. It's really more of the fans that want to try and make it that way. The characters themselves are not that deep, really. He just puts them into surprising situations. Seeing Walt go from nice guy to ruthless killer has been a character transition that has never happened on Mad Men.

You're forgetting the transformation of a 40-year-old Jon Hamm playing a 14-year-old Dick Whittman.

**thefunk** · 07-22-2012, 03:49 PM

Skyler has been the most annoying actor in this series. Maybe it's her, maybe it's the writing for her character but she's never done the job for me.

I can deal with Jesse's drug friends because they're not huge roles.

Watched them in marathon style on Netflix over the last year, and the 4th season really picked things up. I'm extremely interested to see how they resolve everything.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 07-22-2012, 11:24 PM

Big fan of this show.

**NeedMoreLike84** · 07-23-2012, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by thefunk

Skyler has been the most annoying actor in this series. Maybe it's her, maybe it's the writing for her character but she's never done the job for me.

I can deal with Jesse's drug friends because they're not huge roles.

Watched them in marathon style on Netflix over the last year, and the 4th season really picked things up. I'm extremely interested to see how they resolve everything.

Why is skyler annoying?

**Yoda** · 07-23-2012, 12:15 AM

That was a nice "oh, ****" moment when they asked Mike about the 2 mil in his granddaughter's name.

So a few things:

A) Lydia = Mrs. Fring, I presume?
B) Loved the connection to Hank when his boss said "He was right there, under my nose"
C) I take back every bad thing I've said about Aaron Paul, wow.
D) Walt has gotten really good at making people feel guilty for things that he, himself, has done. My long-shot prediction is that someone close to him, maybe even Jesse, will eventually kill him/herself because of guilt that he's falsely forced them into.

**NeedMoreLike84** · 07-23-2012, 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by Yoda

That was a nice "oh, ****" moment when they asked Mike about the 2 mil in his granddaughter's name.

So a few things:

A) Lydia = Mrs. Fring, I presume?
B) Loved the connection to Hank when his boss said "He was right there, under my nose"
C) I take back every bad thing I've said about Aaron Paul, wow.
D) Walt has gotten really good at making people feel guilty for things that he, himself, has done. My long-shot prediction is that someone close to him, maybe even Jesse, will eventually kill him/herself because of guilt that he's falsely forced them into.

I am not trolling. I dunno how else to ask this so don't take it as a confrontational question. But have you ever seen an interview with Aaron Paul? He is so NOT Jesse. That is what convinced me. He is so believable and yet it is just not him.

**thefunk** · 07-23-2012, 02:04 AM

Originally Posted by Yoda

That was a nice "oh, ****" moment when they asked Mike about the 2 mil in his granddaughter's name.

So a few things:

A) Lydia = Mrs. Fring, I presume?
B) Loved the connection to Hank when his boss said "He was right there, under my nose"
C) I take back every bad thing I've said about Aaron Paul, wow.
D) Walt has gotten really good at making people feel guilty for things that he, himself, has done. My long-shot prediction is that someone close to him, maybe even Jesse, will eventually kill him/herself because of guilt that he's falsely forced them into.

yup. While I've always been a fan of his role in this show, tonight's episode was awesome. He's getting better I think.

**thefunk** · 07-23-2012, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by NeedMoreLike84

Why is skyler annoying?

You know, maybe she's being written and acted successfully if she bugs me so much. Man, I don't know, she just ends up pissing. me. off.

Moody, irrational, love you one minute, hate you the next. So schizoid I can't stand it. But then again...look at her life over the past 5 years...

**jaymo** · 07-23-2012, 02:38 PM

Walt used the wrong brand of cigarettes when "finding" the poison. I think Jesse knows not to trust him. I think Jesse takes over the business.

I think Walt and his family have used Saul's relocater. Walt is coming back to kill Jesse in the opening scene of season 5.

**John_Brian_K** · 07-23-2012, 03:03 PM

I kind of missed the first episode and totally missed last nights episode. I am glad they are offering the episodes individually on Amazon streaming so I can hopefully get caught up later this week before episode 3.

**Motor City Sonics** · 07-23-2012, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by John_Brian_K

I kind of missed the first episode and totally missed last nights episode. I am glad they are offering the episodes individually on Amazon streaming so I can hopefully get caught up later this week before episode 3.

Well I will spoil it for you. Walt Jr. has been the brains behind the outfit this entire time and he had everyone killed last night. It will now be a sitcom.....

**Motor City Sonics** · 07-23-2012, 03:36 PM

I just got done watching it. Now I want to know who Lydia really is (yeah, could be Gus' wife) and I also want to know why he had to leave Philly. I don't know, I am getting the sense that they ARE setting up a spin off with Saul and Mike may be part of the deal - they are layering his character a bit more now.

And by the way - the opening sequence - the expressionless dipping sauce tester.......that was so bizarre and so Breaking Bad.

(sorry if you haven't watch JBK...trying not to spoil things for you, I avoided this thread because I didn't have the chance to watch it until this afternoon). It's off to a better-than-usual start this year.

**Euphdude** · 07-23-2012, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Motor City Sonics

I just got done watching it. Now I want to know who Lydia really is (yeah, could be Gus' wife) and I also want to know why he had to leave Philly. I don't know, I am getting the sense that they ARE setting up a spin off with Saul and Mike may be part of the deal - they are layering his character a bit more now.

And by the way - the opening sequence - the expressionless dipping sauce tester.......that was so bizarre and so Breaking Bad.

(sorry if you haven't watch JBK...trying not to spoil things for you, I avoided this thread because I didn't have the chance to watch it until this afternoon). It's off to a better-than-usual start this year.

I'm looking forward to trying some franch dipping sauce! : )