My Theories On Walter White and Jesse Pinkman

Hey there everyone,

This post I plan to polish off some of the points I brought up last post about Walter White.  This time however, I want to add in a little bit of our second lead character, Jesse Pinkman.  Jesse is Walt's partner, and as a character, was supposed to be killed of in after the first season.  No one who watches the show, can help but to say that this would have been a huge detriment to the show.  As Walt becomes scarier, Jesse seems to become more stable.

You may notice a commonality in their last names, White and Pink.  Jesse was originally a sloppy meth addict that cooked in basements with loose formulas and called himself Captain Cook.  So being an old student of Walt's, Jesse was the perfect person to introduce him into the underground drug world.  The show also often uses the color red as bad, evil, criminality, etc.  and what is the midpoint between White and Red?  Pink.  So Jesse was supposed really only be there for a little while to bring Walt into the drug world, but with so much chemistry and dynamic between the two protagonists, Jesse was here to stay.

Eventually, in my mind, I end up liking Jesse as a character more than any other character.  When he is working with Mike, that is when I really drift towards the character.  He wears a lot of black at this point, and becomes a very level headed criminal.  However when things start to boil down he still shows a lot of heart.  This makes him the most connectable character since he is a very efficient criminal when he has to be, but in the end still a caring person.  This is harder to say for Walter White.

Thanks

See ya next post!

My Theories on Walter White

Hey there all you Breaking Bad fanatics!

I was of course thinking about Breaking Bad the other day, and I remembered something I had lost a while back.  With all this talk about this amazing show here, I have yet to do the best topic!  A sole purpose post about underlying themes displayed in our protagonist, Walter White.  This, as you all know, is one of the most complex not only protagonists, but characters in TV history.  I have found many points about him that have developed over the show that I would like to elaborate on for this specific blog post.

As just stated, there is one thing that is obvious about Walter White, but still must be addressed. Walt, as a character, has developed.  Over four seasons now, he is really never the same as we was the season before, relatively.  Making a leap from a fairly timid chemistry teacher to a terrifying all out criminal, Walter White has us, as watchers never knowing what he is doing next. One characteristic about Walt that is worth noting; hes unpredictable and constantly developing.

Another thing that is just heartbreaking about Walt is his relation to his family.  He originally started cooking meth for his family.  But as the story, and his motives progressed, separate from Skyler, family is not all that stressed.  I have heard people act like this is a downfall for the show, I couldn't disagree more.  Walt is becoming a criminal, he is in the game for the game now.  As sad (and horrible) as it is, family isn't what it used to be for him.  It's a pretty awful midlife crisis, right?

More coming about Walt!

Thanks!
Tommy

The Real Life Walter White

Hey Fans!

Big news has breached the media in the last couple days.  Although not a laughing matter by any means, this is far too odd to not address on a Breaking Bad blog. This is due to the oddly linear topic compared to that of Breaking Bad's overall plot.

On December 4rth, it was released that a Professor at both Boston University and Stuffolk University had been charged for drug related actions.  Irina Kristy taught math lectures at both universities, with up to three classes each semester.  Being 74 years of age and working this much, Irina was a very active member of two universities and now shocking both campuses and the world with her charges.

Accused of running a meth lab in a second story apartment with her 32 year old son, Grigory Genkin, the two cooked their own meth.  Chillingly close to the plot of Breaking Bad, right?  Although not the same type of teacher, and at a different educational level as our Walter White, this is all to direct.  Not much information has been released about the charges, but when more is released I am sure there will be many questions for her related to the show.  In terms of inspiration or drive, it is hard not to wonder if Irina Kristy had been affected by the tones displayed in the plot of AMC's hit show.  If they are disconnected, and Kristy had not ever seen the show, I am sure she was very upset when the show's plot had been announced.  Once protected by image, now teachers were noticed to have intellectual capabilities for such processes.

I plan to stay up to date on this case, and I plan to keep you updated too.  So keep tuned!

Thanks again!

Tommy.

Source: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/12/04/74-year-old-college-professor-charged-with-running-somerville-meth-lab/

The Super Lab

Hey there again you guys,

Just saw a video on AMC's Breaking Bad blog that I found to be extremely interesting.  This video is a behind the scenes look at Gus's super lab, in which Jesse and Walt cook in.  This is a far different pace for the show when this lab came into the picture.  Walt and Jesse were used to cooking in an RV with extremely basic equipment, meaning little yield. With the super lab however, everything is high quality in terms of equipment and safety.

The lab is located in the middle of nowhere in a very secure and secret place.  This place is under another one of Gus's businesses, an industrial laundry establishment.  Being under a laundry mat makes very punctual sense for the show's plot.  Gus is known for his success in the fast food industry for Los Pollos Hermanos, being a fried chicken restaurant chain.  Using vertical integration, Gus could save money on costs if he did his own cleaning of certain aspects, as well as make money on that individual business.  Secondly, at industrial laundry facilities, they use a lot of chemicals and must exhaust these.   So when the meth lab needs to exhaust any fumes, it is covered up by the laundry's. The actual lab is hidden under a few trap doors and about 25 feet of concrete.  Once in the lab, color is a very pronounced aspect of any shot.  Red is everywhere, besides all the stainless steal; this again helping represent criminality and confrontation.

These are only some of the points that can be addressed, so I urge you all to watch this video!





Thanks again!

Bryan Cranston's Previous Work

Hey there everyone,


In my high expectations of Bryan Cranston winning a Golden Globe for this most recent season, I have decided to write about the man as an actor.  Bryan Cranston, obviously a successful actor, has been in hundreds of things, many of which people are unaware of.  


Still commonly known as Hal from Malcom in the Middle, Bryan Cranston is one of the only actor/ actress to be able to pull of a serious role after wards.  But Cranston does this phenomenally, and is probably the best example of such a case.  However, even before Malcom in the Middle, Cranston had appeared in many things that were note worth too!


In Seinfeld, our protagonist can be seen as Jerry's dentist.  The recurring character named Tim Whatley is a very funny and successful character.  Television is not specific to our actor either, he can be seen in film as well.  In the light hearted famous movie 'That Thing You Do' Bryan Cranston can be seen playing the role of Virgil Grisson.  Another film, one that I really love also has a small role for Bryan Cranston as well.  This was as Stan Grossman in the movie Little Miss Sunshine.

Other small time jobs are very funny in retrospect for this amazing actor.  First appearing on CHiPs for one episode, Bryan Cranston started his career here.  One of my favorite tv shows is ALF.  I dont think its any superior quality show, but I have good connections with the show.  Bryan Cranston did appear on the unsuccessful run off show 'Alf's Hit Talk Show' hilariously.  I wanted to post a video of this, however I cannot find a trace of this on the internet in any video form.  

See ya next time!

Season 5 Predictions

Hey there all you fellow fans!

In the absence of the show's airings,  the hype for the fifth and final season is building fast. 
Although many people out there have very good points, I still think people are think far too linearly.  Breaking Bad is only slightly predictable, in certain short-term jaw droppers.  But plot wise, its nearly impossible to do.  To me, it seems like Vince Gilligan doesn't look at the show in separate seasons.  At the draw of the fourth season, the writers don't look at the fifth season saying 'okay, season five needs to address the season finale of four..'.  This is the last season, with side plots and the main plots, Breaking Bad has a lot to work with and bring into the end of this amazing show. 

Example number one of this:  Victor Salamanca.  In the beginning of the second season we meet this character, and hes fairly important for the first couple of episodes of that season.  Now in retrospect though, that character was being built up and defined, and eventually plays a key character in the show overall. It turns out that he is the most direct connection to the cartel and a side conflict with antagonist Gus.  This is how Breaking Bad writes, very developmental and mature, the reason its so phenomenal.

So since its pretty much impossible to predict where the show will be at the series finale, I plan to just point out some things that are bound to happen.  However this, I promise you, will not be the most heart pounding points in the show:


Gus is dead.  However Mike is not, he was still in the hospital from the attack on the cartel and was absent for the struggle between Walt and Gus.  Mike will NOT be after Walt for this: he is practical, and will work for anyone who will pay him (maybe Walt?).

Hank and Walt illegal connection is bound to come together.  Being the last season, this is necessary conflict to address.

Walt will at least have a chance to be the kingpin of the southwest.  This in turn will make him up against distributors around the nation.

These are three pivotal yet obvious predictions.  However Breaking Bad is never obvious, so expect a whole lot more!

Til next time!

What I learned in ACC 255

Drawing near the end of this semester at Illinois State University, I have obtained many experiences and new skills in my classes.  Specifically to accounting 255, or Electronic Business Management, I have had immense amount hands on experience in a field that was I was previously oblivious to.   Here are just some of the skills and experiences I have obtained in this class:

1)  I have never blogged before, now after diving straight into it and learning the benefits of such communication means, I feel that I have improved as a blogger.
2)  This blog is very content driven, however since in order to write quality posts, I had to put a lot of thought into my blog.  In terms of television, due to the topic of my blog, I have developed into a specialist in this area.
3)  I learned what an e-book was, and how to properly assemble it.
4)  Not knowing that e-article websites existed, I am now very familiar with how such services work.
5)  I learned how to use webs.com and in turn about web site management
6)  I discovered how to promote my website via search engine submission.
7)  On top of search engines, I learned the importance of keyword selection and placement in determining internet traffic.
8)  In this class I also learned about websites like Clickbank and how to promote their products to make money.
9)  I discovered the role of online websites that allow the custom design of products in a private e-store, while printing as a core competency, and using these sites to an advantage.
10)  I learned the easy and important uses of widgets on websites that eliminate time consuming web development.
11)  I also learned how to partner up with online powerhouses such as Google to deliver adds on websites, and in turn create revenue streams through Adsense.
12)   Also with Google I learned how to use their Analytics to track the success and influence of my website.
13)  Working as an affiliate of Amazon, I now understand how easy it is to promote these products.  This is extremely beneficial since commission can be earned very easily for website owners!
14)  I also learned the importance of website counters to improve influence on my website and in turn blog, which allows for development of a better e-business.
15)  Until now, I thought having a Paypal account was an expensive process only  already successful websites.  Learning that this was not true, I instantly applied this to a couple of my real life websites to increase their profitability.
16)  I learned about the importance of design and color in optimizing clarity and readability on a website.
17)  In this class, I was also able to develop my writing skills immensely in a context that I have not been able to focus on before.  I feel this has made my writing more well rounded than ever before.

Good News About Breaking Bad!

Hey there again, all you fans!

Being on the off season of Breaking Bad, it would seem that not much excitement is surrounding the show.  This is very false though!  For a devoted fan, some new information has created a lot of hype for the show and in turn, all of its fans!  Ill go over just a few of these new advancements that are allowing me to sleep at night!

Forbes Magazine, one of the most reliable and respected business magazines has given great feedback about the show.  Covering, of course the television industry, this is even more relevant to the show!  Written by someone who is still only in the second season of the show, Forbes calls Breaking Bad the best show on television.  They agree with myself when they say the show takes television as a whole to a new level.  In the article, the author gives six reasons why the show should be everyone's favorite show.  All of which I agree whole heatedly on!
1)  It's Visually Stunning
2)  The Writing
3)  The Acting
4)  Humor
5)  Science
6)  The Soundtrack

To read in detail about these visit: http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/11/21/six-reasons-why-breaking-bad-is-the-best-show-on-television/


The Hollywood Reporter gives good news about the beloved show as well.  On top of being probably one of the most sensible and respectable magazines in terms of entertainment, what they had to say is extremely exciting.  Claiming that its obvious that writer Vince Gilligan is destined for a Golden Globe, more must be looked out after.  The Hollywood Reporter says that Bryan Cranston and Breaking Bad as a whole may be on the road to a couple Golden Globes as well!

Thanks again and keep looking for exciting news about the show!

Til' next time!

Television Actors

Hey there fellow fans!

In the absence of our beloved show, I feel the need to explain reasons why reading up on the show is not a waste of time!  TV shows are obviously like movies, but in more ways than many people realize.  Because the media plays out televisions to be more highly respected than their fellow movie stars, this is only the case.  I believe that this isn't completely true.  This portrayed element and connection between the two starts an exponential stride towards such truths.  Instead, I believe that in many cases it is the other way around.  More specifically, I am speaking of Breaking Bad actors such as Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, and pretty much any other main character in the show.

With proper direction and decent support, television actors have more limitations all while having more overall capabilities.  This may sound strange, but allow me to exaggerate.  While only have 15-45 minute spurts of acting, both writing and acting must be specific and most of all, powerful.   This is why much of current television is of such poor quality, no one wants to spend time or money on great, quality actors and writers.  Instead its easier to pay under qualified eccentric people to star in reality shows.  In terms of capabilities, television actors have time.  Time, in any artistic field or context, is a driver of quality art.  This allows for skill, deep thought, and taste to take its abilities to sharpen every aspect of the piece.  The same goes for acting, having 5 seasons thus far, characters have been able to slowly develop.  This is something that a movie will not be able to accomplish as fluidly, possibly ever.  Having this time to SLOWLY develop characters along with plots allows for extreme connection between audience and characters.  Keeping this build up of actual character, however, is another point focus.  Subtlety is a key in this.  Fluid advancement must be apparent, otherwise it is cheap plot scares brought not by any previously established conflicts, but rather characters themselves.

Breaking Bad should be, and probably is, the main focus of how these shows should be written.  Another reason it is the greatest show in TV history.

Thanks again!

More Cool Things

Hey there guys,

After showing you the AMC video customizer with Walt motivating some friends of yours, I really wanted to keep looking for some more fun interactive things all over the web. Now I really have to say that AMC and Breaking Bad really put out awesome toys via the web.

So I have decided to show a couple more!
'Walt's Warning'
This is a cool interactive flash video that starts off with you running through the desert, then being struck down. You wake up in Walt's RV with the man himself standing in front of you. You can move your mouse around to look all around the room while Walt yells at you. He gives his famous speech that really sums up a good portion of the background needed for the first season!
Give it a try!


Check all of these out and I will put some more up soon!

Thanks and see ya soon!



'Gale's Case file'
Here you can experience what was running through Hanks head while investigating Gale's case.  This interactive player is nostalgic and funny at the same time.  This expands Gale's character as well, since we really only knew him while at work!

http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/gale-boetticher-case-file


'Hank's Interrogation'
I have written a post about Jesse's interactive graphic novel before, but I overlooked something.  Hank already had one of these, and it has been nominated for awards!  Its a great game that allows you yo experience a side plot surrounding Hank, while interacting to build and promote the story!  Check it out!

http://blogs.amctv.com/breaking-bad/2011/02/interrogation-sxsw-peoples-choice-award.php

Walt's Wisdom

Hey there fans,

Today i found something on a little bit of the lighter side of the show.  It is hilarious and really funny.  It is an interactive customized video maker.  I really suggest you try this and send it to your friends, its really fun!

First it asks you for a friend's name:   Choose another fan, but context being understandable is key.

Second it asks you for your friends email:  This sends it to them, but can also be considered a (cheap) price for the interface!

Third it asks for an age group for your friend:  teens, twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, etc.

Fourth it will as you for where the friend lives:  Dont worry it is just for the video, and maybe some target research (which is good for you).

Then comes the fun part: Choose a subject or action that your friend spends too much time doing.  I chose more or less sarcastic things, because that actually creates an awesome climax to the video.  Some include: On their Apperance, On their Cell Phone, On Ebay, On Facebook, Gambling, On Myspace, Reading Comics/ Magna, Shopping, Worrying, on Second Life, Smoking Up, and even On World of Warcraft.  In other words, they have pretty much every demographic covered in some way!

Check it out!
 http://www.waltswisdom.com/blog/2008/09114hv8sq

And he is mine for my cousin Kev (or Kevbot)!


As you can see, the video ties in with the actual plot from the first season.  So this one is probably best kept for real Breaking Bad fans!  This, I believe, would be taking place in the first episode right before Walt goes out and waits for his seemingly approaching fate.


Enjoy, and I will see you next time!

Thanks!

Breaking Bad's Awards

Hey guys,

As I was sitting in class today, I realized I have overlooked a huge aspect of being a fan writer of Breaking Bad. Being my very very favorite show, I must show how much everyone else reacts to the show.  Not only on fan level either, I mean overall.  I am going to dedicate this post to Breaking Bad's winnings.  Having many awards for writing and other categories, This show deserves some special attention.

Here they are!

Nominated fields:
Emmys:

Outstanding Dram Series- for Production Staff on season 3
Outstanding Directing in Drama Series - for Michelle MacLaren
Outstanding Drama Series- for Production Staff on season 2
Outstanding Supporting Actor in Drama Series for Aaron Paul
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for Vince Gilligan
Outstanding Cinematography for a One Hour Series (2010) for Michael Slovis
Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series for Skip MacDonald
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
Outstanding Cinematography for a One Hour Series (2009) for Michael Slovis
Outstanding Cinematography for a One Hour Series (2008) for John Toll

Winning Fields:
Emmys

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Bryan Cranston for 'Full Measure'
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Aaron Paul for 'Half Measures'
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2009) for Bryan Cranston for 'Pheonix'
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2008) for Bryan Cranston for 'Pilot'
Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series for Lynne Willingham for 'ABQ'
Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series (2008) for Lynne Willingham for 'Pilot'


I learned some things that i actually was unaware off before this.   Breaking bad kills it even in the creative arts categories, and rightfully!  I like the cinematography awards!


See ya soon!

thanks!

Saul Goodman

Hey there everybody,

Today I have decided to talk about our protagonist’s crooked lawyer, Saul Goodman.  ‘’Better Call Saul” says his TV ad, which is a bad sign for a lawyer.  However, being criminals Saul is a perfect match for Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.  As an awesome actor, and a really awesome character, Saul Goodman has added a lot of value to the overall show with both comedy and criminality.

                Walt and Jesse first contact Goodman for his services after becoming their own distributors of the blue meth.  Badger is hit by an undercover cop while selling the product, and Walt and Jesse know they must do something quick.  So they call Saul.  The new lawyer meets with Badger and informs him to turn in ‘Hesseinburg’ but not Walt.  Sounding like a lazy idea, we viewers are put on edge.  However Goodman’s plan unveils and it’s a smart one as well.   After giving a  description of Hesseinburg, Badger is let free, but what about Walt?  Saul hires a man who enjoys going to jail to take the bail for them, and the team of meth dealers is again safe thanks to Saul Goodman.

                My favorite thing Saul does is in the third season.  Skylar and Saul are at each other’s throats about where Walt should launder his money.  Eventually once things start to boil up with Gail and Gus, Saul’s character really shows through.  He goes up against the kingpin of the southwest, showing that he actually does care about Jesse and Walt.  After hiding out in a lazer tag business, Saul helps cover up and plan with the two protagonists to lead up to one of the best episodes of the entire series.

Keep watching!

Thanks!

Hector Salamanca

Hey all,

I'm currently re-watching the second season of Breaking Bad, and have noticed something that I moderately over looked previously.  Actually, not something but rather someone.   In the beginning of the second season, when crazy man Tuco Salamanca by force, takes Walt and Jesse to a home in the middle of the desert.  Tuco is taking them because they witnessed a murder that was unexpectedly exposed.

At this secluded home, one person accompanied the three characters.  This person was Hector 'Tio' Salamanca, Tuco's uncle.  Hector has seen better days; he is in a wheel chair, hooked up to an oxygen tank, and cannot speak.  Hector communicates through yes or no answers to any of Tuco's question.  He also comes off as very frustrated and mean as well.

Originally the show conveys importance on Tuco, with Hector just there as a half struggle builder.  This, however is far from the truth.  Hector Salamanca turns out to be a vital character all the way up to the shows current state.
After things boil with Tuco, and he ends up dead, Jesse ends up being held at the DEA offices.  Jesse had no evidence against him, until Hector is wheeled in by Hank.  When questioned, however, Hector does not rat out on Jesse.  Why?  Because we ind out later, how much he hates the DEA.  Why again?  Watch the fourth season to understand this great character.  Hector ends up having a phenomenal back story that is so well integrated into the overall plot.  The writing is amazing.

Thanks again!
See ya next time.

Hank

Hey there you guys!


Last night I had a hand full of strange dreams, including helping bears with broken legs and living in my dream house.  By dream house, I don't mean the house that I hope to live in one day; I mean the house that, for some reason, I end up being in my dreams constantly.  However one most down to Earth dream was one about me meeting Dean Norris, the actor who plays 'Hank' in Breaking Bad. After hearing what my subconscious would hypothetically to Hank, I feel like I should press on the character for a post.

Hank is Walt's brother in law, in other words; their wives are sisters.  Hank is very macho and extremely sarcastic.  But above all he is a good guy that cares about his family immensely, including the Whites.  The scarce connection between the Walt and Hank is that they are on opposite ends of the plot.  Hank is a high up DEA (drug enforcement agency) agent.


The show never uses this connection to make easy conflicts.  Instead the connection is emphasized through Hank's sanity, in essence.  Hank is always one step behind Walt, finding his tracks of deaths and product.  Walt produces a product like no-one in the world: Blue Meth.  This is easily singled out by the DEA, however they cannot find the 'Hesseinburg' who supposedly makes this product.  Walt's criminal name is Hesseinburg.  Hank is more and more annoyed with the fact that he cant find this man.  Further and further down the road, Hank dwells over this man (Walt) day and night and eventually starts to loose his sanity. 


After a turn in the third season, however Hanks side-plot takes a turn.  Now us viewers get to put together two feelings conveyed by this great character.


Keep watching!


thanks! 

'I HATE Skylar'

Fans,

After discussing Breaking Bad with others or quite a while now, I have noticed a common comment.  With the popularity of the show growing exponentially over the last two seasons, many more people are avid watchers of the show.  Initially, I would always try to bring it up to people who were on the vague topic of television, only to be met with wandering eyes.

Skylar is Walt's wife, and she's assertive.  When Walt was a much easier going guy, previous to even the first season, he would bow to Skylar in almost every regard.  But Walt loves Skylar. Alot.  So when Walt starts to act strange, and eventually seemingly out of control, Skylar reverts to her assertiveness.  This comes off as really annoying and results in most viewers despising her.  What should be realized however, is this IS the point!

Walt goes through different struggles with other underground drug dealers, which seem to be the conflicts with our protagonist, and the plot overall.  Hank being in the DEA is obviously one, however this is never really banked off of for cheap scares or plot points.  Instead, the conflict that keeps the show seamless between sagas is Skylar.  Skylar is our true antagonist. 

Now with people constantly hearing good things about the show, the views have gone up.  And with with views, common perceptions have arrived.  Nearly every time the show is being discussed, a sentence seems to constantly be present; 'I HATE Skylar.'   However, I do not disagree at all.  What people must realize about the show is the role these feelings have in the show, that only build to the beautiful Breaking Bad program.

This fact is also beautifully conveyed.  Skylar is a good person, she does what is best for her family (most of the time).  This is the same ends that Walt has on the, usually competing side, of what Skylar agrees on.  However, while Walt is able to sacrifice stability and laws for his cause, Skylar is able to sacrifice her husband for hers.

Til next time

Gus Fring

Hey fans,

For this post I am very excited to be explaining my view on the character Gus.  Played by Giancarlo Esposito, Gus is the meth king pin of the south west.  He is a very famous and successful business man outside of his illegal industries as well.  Most notable is his fast food chicken restaurant, Los Pollos Hermanos.  He also has a seemingly vertically integrated industrial size laundry plant.  All of these he uses to harbor, launder, and protect his products as a high-end meth distributor.

Gus Fring is first introduced in the third season of Breaking Bad as a very unfamiliar face.  So far in Walt and Jesse's experiences up the drug pyramid, distributors have been over powering and mostly scary.  Gus is a very upright business man, something that Walt immediately assumes to mean stability.  And lucky for Walter, Gus wants him to cook for him as well. Through out the rest of the third season, Gus is a very likable and stable character.

WRONG.  The only difference between Gus and the past distributors is being meticulous.  He doesn't show off that he gets what he wants, instead he takes the time to make sure it happens.  Eventually, after finding out that Gus will even poison children as means to his ends, things start to fall apart.  Soon, Walt is on the other side of Gus's overall intentions.  Of course he wont kill Walt off just yet: that would stop his yield.  Now, by the fourth season, Gus and Walter are in a complete face-off (notice this).

Both of these men's attitudes were extremely absolute.  Working together under such conditions are only fatal, the presence of 'this town is too small for the both of us' is a vital factor of each character.  The best part about the drawing of this dual is shown in Gus's character.  The camera only sees him in his business persona, which is a beautiful writing technique.  The scariest part about the man is his power: shown in the second to last episode.  You find out Gus is on the board of the hospital, making him ever so powerful.  this gives the feel that everything Walt does, has a good chance of coming back to Gus.

see ya next time!

Vince Gilligan Wins Another Award.

Fans,

Credit owed is now being placed properly and righteously at Breaking Bad's feet. Although, feet is not the correct ending to this sentence, but 'brain' does not sound nearly as sleek.  Vince Gilligan has recently received CableFAX Program's Award for best writer.  Good job, CableFAX.

CableFAX is a program that ranks and awards quality cable television, something that should be done more often.  In my opinion it would make programs become more ambitious and write overall better shows.  If these cable dramas didn't get an automatic disregard to premium channel shows, then they would be more motivated.  This season of Breaking Bad has pushed more limits, in context of cable and gore, than even showtime's Dexter. This is worth pointing out, since Dexter IS about a serial killer.

Gilligan took on fellow AMC writer, Matt Weiner, of Mad Men.  This award, is added on to Gilligan's already six Emmy Awards for Breaking Bad.  After the awards, Vince Gilligan sat down with the Irish Film & Television Network for an interview.  The interviewer posed some great questions that I was very excited about:
 (source: http://www.iftn.ie/broadcast/BroadcastNews/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4284389&tpl=archnews&force=1)

Q. Why are you ending Breaking Bad?

A. A big part of me does not want to end ‘Breaking Bad’ because I suspect and feel that it will be a definite highlight of my life and I’m having a wonderful time doing it. My crew and my cast are like family to me and I have such a good time doing the shows so a big part of me indeed, does not want the show to ever end. I’m ending it ultimately because it was always intended to be a very finite story. It’s a story about a man who starts off as essentially the good guy and, by force of will, chooses to become the bad guy. At a certain point, we run out of story. I want to leave the audience satisfied and perhaps, wanting a little bit more. But that is always preferable to me than to have your audience saying “Oh My God, is that show still on the air? End it already, put it out of its misery.”

Q. When you wrote the final episode of season 4 you were still in negotiations with AMC, so there was a chance that this could have been the last episode of the show. Would you have been comfortable or happy with that episode to have been the final ending?

A. That’s a very good question and a part of me thinks that the answer to that is yes. I am very proud of the last episode of season four and I feel like that would not have been a bad ending of the entire series.
I have to admit that while negotiations were ongoing during the writing of that episode I sort of suspected that AMC and Sony – our two partners in producing this show – were not going to let the show die. I really suspected that the last episode of season four would not be our final episode.
In a sense you suspect what the outcome will be, but you have to protect against the possibility that the episode you are working on will be your final one and you desire to leave the audience satisfied on some level. You try to do double duty as a writer.

I guess I try to make the end of every season as satisfying as possible, just on the off chance that god-knows-what – a meteor strikes the earth or something and that’s the last episode we ever do! We try to end on a high note with every season and season four was no exception.

Q. Was it particularly difficult to say goodbye to the character Gus and Giancarlo Esposito?
A. It was very hard. I took Giancarlo Esposito into my office in Albuquerque probably about two or three months before we killed off his character, just the two of us and I was very nervous. I had to say it to him; I had to give as much advanced warning as possible and I told him, unfortunately, at the end of this season, we are going to kill off your character. I was so nervous about it. I was humming and hawing and stuttering and he just sort of sat there and very politely listened to me.
The best way I can put it is – sometimes the story dictates what it needs from the writer. In ‘Breaking Bad’ season four it was very much a situation of, “This towns not big enough for the two of us” and then that was sort of the situation with Walter White and Gus Fring. They were very similar in a sense – they were both very brilliant and ruthless men and one couldn’t succeed unless the other one failed. They were playing something of a zero sum game all through season four. Bryan Cranston was really sad that we were loosing Gus Fring but we all kind of knew that on some storytelling level, it was best to kill off the character of Gus so that Walt could come back. The town wasn’t big enough for the two of them. Or if you like the movie ‘Highlander’ – there can be only one!

Thanks Again!

Things to Notice

Hey there guys,

After being in still complete shock of Breaking Bad's season 4 endings, I cant help but to break everything down to its bare bones.  The season was much differently paced than its predecessors, and made it a ground breaking season for television as a whole.  With the conflict buried deep with in the highlights of season 3, the fourth season of Breaking Bad has defined all its characters in a new light, as well as a great breathing point.  Going into the fifth and final season, I feel that some things need to be emphasized on for their importance to the plot.  I will go through some things that I found very crucial to showing the thoughtfulness of the show.

During the second to last episode of the most recent season, which I consider the best, harbored many sub conflicts and tension building scenes.  If re-watched, however, a viewer can really see how beautifully written this show really is.  First case in point: A scene starts out with Walt sitting in his back yard spinning his gun on the table in front of him.  You can tell that Walter White is confused, scared, and most of all; thinking heavily.  The first two times Walt spins the gun, it stops rotating pointing at him.  This conveys beautifully that suicide is a route, yet he keeps spinning.  Walt is looking for something different.  The third and final of the scene, the gun points away from him and out towards his yard; a point that instills 'not him' type feel. 
After the final episode and some thinking, this is not the actual case however.  This fairly minimal scene actually sets the grounds for some of the biggest points made in the show!  Walt was looking for something different, he wanted direction on how to get out of the situation, but suicide wasn't an option ever; he's far to proud.  The gun keeps spinning, just like his through process, until on that last spin when it points away.  If you watch again, however, the gun isn't pointing away at all.  The small handgun was pointing directly towards a flower pot with blooming flowers coming from it.  This is all I care to elaborate, since you if you're not sure what this means; you'll have to finish the season to figure it out.

The second case I am going to discuss is somewhat more obvious, but still probably fairly over looked.  One of the best characters needs to be analyzed at the end of this season.  Mike, Gus's side job man.  Earlier in the season, Walt tries to convince Mike to team up with him and kill Gus.  Mike replies with a punch to the face.  However, if Mike was all that loyal to Gus, he would have told him about this altercation.  Walt and Mike are semi-similar characters in essence, so how does this fact apply to our current situation?  It has not been addressed yet, since Mike was still injured during all this drama.  When we comes back, what will his reaction be?  Loyal to his old boss?  Or find a new one?