'Breaking Bad' Recap: Jesse Endures Yet Another Unspeakable Loss

maandag 23 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota

Did anyone consider taking a prophylactic medication from the benzodiazepine family before watching tonight's Breaking Bad? I'm not saying that would have been an advisable decision, I'm saying that it would have been understandable. Sadly for me the strongest thing in my household is a sticky years-old bottle of generic Nyquil, so I had to make do with sitting on the edge of the couch and anxiously grinding every speck of enamel off my teeth.

By the end of last week's episode, a major character was dead and Walt's life had taken a dramatic turn, to say the least. Here's what went down in tonight's episode, titled "Granite State."

(Spoilers ahead.)

We start with Saul joining Walt in the vacuum store/new-identity-making location, where he learns that 1) he's destined for a future in Nebraska ("Probably managing a Cinnabon"), and 2) Walt wants to take out Jack and the Nazis in order to steal back his cash. Walt tries to strong-arm Saul into joining him in this effort, but before he can deliver his intimidating speech about things not being over until he says so, he collapses into a lung-rattling fit of coughing. "It's over," says Saul sadly, and walks away.

Jack's gang tears apart the Schrader's home and finds Jesse's taped confession, which they watch with great enjoyment. Skyler faces the authorities and acknowledges she's aware of just how deep of a pile of shit she's in, then goes home to smoke moodily until she's interrupted by a fussing Holly, who turns out to be fussing on account of the masked men lurking in her bedroom waiting to scare me half to death. I'm 99% positive Todd's going to kill someone in this scene, but he's satisfied with terrifying Skyler into promising she'll never talk to the cops about Lydia.

Todd -- dressed up like a kid on a date -- meets Lydia for one of her signature Awkward Top Secret Cafe Conversations, where he tells her his meth quality is super-awesome again thanks to Jesse. He gazes lovingly at the back of her head and gently plucks a bit of lint off her shirt, and if he's nearly likable in this moment, he's even more strangely compelling later, when he bring Jesse ice cream (lowered via "It puts the lotion on its skin" bucket) and lingers as if reluctant to leave Jesse's company. "Have a good night, Jesse," Todd says warmly, as if he's, you know, not talking to someone he's personally bludgeoned to the point of deformity and imprisoned in a concrete pen.

Saul's make-a-new-life guy drives Walt out to a remote snow-covered cabin in New Hampshire. He warns Walt not to leave the cabin, and leaves with the plans to return in a month. Walt immediately grabs some cash and attempts to head into town, but stops at the gate and coughs weakly. "Tomorrow," Walt promises himself. "Tomorrow."

Jesse makes an impressive attempt to escape, but just as he's scaling the fence he's caught. He screams for them to go ahead and kill him, because there's no way in hell he's going to cook any more. Next thing you know, Todd shows up at Andrea's house, oozing charm and saying he's a friend of Jesse's, and entices her to step out on the porch. As she peers around confusedly, we see Jesse inside a vehicle, bound and screaming behind a gag. “Just so you know, this isn’t anything personal,” Todd says, then shoots her in the back of the head.

Jesse, who's now suffered so much I don't even really know if I want him to survive the finale, because jesus how much can one man take, completely freaks out. Jack tells him to simmer down. "Remember, there's still the kid," he says, evilly.

Back at Walt's cabin, time has passed. He's got a beard, he's gaunt, his interaction with Saul's guy makes it clear a few months have gone by. Despite it all, I can't help but feel sorry for him: he's wasting away, so lonely he's willing to pay Saul's guy $10K to stay one hour.

We learn that Skyler's using her maiden name, and when Walt's wedding ring falls from his bony finger he seems to collect himself for a risky endeavor: he packs up some money and makes his way into town where he gets Walt Jr. on the phone. I lose my sympathy for him as he unspools the same old excuses about why he did what he did, but I gain it back when Flynn finally snaps, shouting that he doesn't want Walt's money, that Walt should just leave them alone, and why hasn't he died yet? Just DIE.

Shattered, Walt dials the DEA and leaves the phone hanging so it can be traced. He sits at the bar and catches sight of the television, where Charlie Rose is interviewing his former friends Elliot and Gretchen from Grey Matter. They neatly dissociate themselves from Walt, claiming that the only thing he ever contributed to the company was the name. Gretchen pours salt on Walt's myriad wounds by saying, "Walt's gone. The sweet, kind man that we used to know is gone.”

Walt burns. The police show up and storm the bar (atmospheric points for the masterfully extended theme song here), but all that's left is his unfinished drink. We know Walt goes on to buy an M60 and a car from an arms dealer, and we know he eventually makes his way back to his own house and to that hidden ricin … but as for everything else, we've got exactly one more episode to tie up Breaking Bad's various loose ends.

What did you think of tonight's episode? After last week's "Ozymandias," this one wasn't quite such a jaw-dropper for me, but god, it was so relentlessly devastating. I cannot wait to see where this story goes next Sunday.

Image via AMC

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Sandra Bullock's 'Gravity' Oscar Buzz Builds and We're Cheering for Her to Reclaim What Jesse James Took (VIDEO)

maandag 9 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Linda Sharps 3 hours ago

I've been looking forward to seeing Gravity, the Sandra Bullock/George Clooney space film, ever since I saw the first nail-biting teaser. The full trailer is out now, and it's a doozy -- Bullock plays an astronaut stranded when space debris damages her shuttle, and in just two minutes of action, the panicky claustrophobia is nearly overwhelming.

Now that Gravity has premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, there's a lot of buzz building that we'll be seeing this movie as a top contender at the Academy Awards this year. It's likely to get nominated for best visual effects, but some are saying that Bullock's powerful emotional performance in the film makes her a shoo-in for a Best Actress nod.

I'm hoping the rumors are true, because who wouldn't love to see Sandra Bullock accept an Oscar … WITHOUT that dirtbag Jesse James in the audience?

As you probably remember, Bullock won Best Actress in 2010 for her role in The Blind Side. Bullock now says the honor never quite sunk in:

I think most people have that out-of-body experience when they win the Oscar. I had a little newborn at home, so my body was already out of itself. I still haven’t gotten around to having my moment with it yet. Maybe one day it will come.

Maybe it really was because she had her adorable new baby Louis at home, but I'm guessing the reason she didn't get to fully celebrate her Oscar had more to do with her then-husband Jesse James. Bullock accepted her award on March 7, 2010, and just over a week later the story of James' infidelity exploded all over the tabloids. On March 18, James issued the following statement:

There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me. It's because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way. This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them. I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me.

I feel like in a lot of ways Jesse James totally ruined Sandra Bullock's biggest achievement as an actress. It's impossible to think back on the accolades she received for that film without remembering how she honored James during every acceptance speech. Like at the Golden Globes when she said,

There's no surprise that my work got better when I met you, because I never knew what it felt like for someone to have my back.

Oh man. Jesse James, you are such an asshole.

Anyway, it would be awesome to see her get another win, so she can fully bask in the moment this time. Assuming her performance in Gravity really is Oscar-worthy, I'm convinced the audience would go completely insane with joy to see her step back on that stage and accept the golden statue, knowing she has her OWN back this time.

Here's the full-length trailer for Gravity:

Are you rooting for Sandra Bullock to get a Jesse-James-free Oscar?

Image via Warner Bros

Click the "Like" button below to get Linda Sharps's stories on Facebook. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Linda Sharps

lives in Eugene, Oregon with her family, where she works from home while wrangling two rambunctious boys. She always has a caffeinated beverage in hand and a LEGO embedded in her foot.

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'Breaking Bad' Sneak Peek: Has Jesse Finally Teamed Up With Hank? (VIDEO)

maandag 2 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Linda Sharps Yesterday at 8:01 AM

All of Breaking Bad's 'next on' synopses are maddeningly brief, but the description for this Sunday's episode 12, titled "Rabid Dog," is so vague I kind of suspect the network is just trolling us. Here it is: “An unusual strategy starts to bear fruit, while plans are set in motion that could change everything.” Jesus, AMC, why not just post a Magic Eight Ball result instead? REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN.

Speculating about what's going to happen in this episode isn't going to be easy, but *cracks knuckles* I'm up for the challenge. We've got a 30-second teaser video to analyze, too, so let's get to it. SPOILER WARNING: stop reading now if you're not caught up with the latest Breaking Bad.

Here's the promo video:

Okay, we've got exactly five lines of dialogue to ponder, so let's break them down one by one.

"You. Need. To deal with this." -- Skyler. This glimpse may be deliberately misleading, but we hear Skyler's voice as we see Walt walking through a corridor … in his house? His non-burned-to-the-ground house? What happened with Jesse and the gasoline? Maybe Walt, who appears to be moving with a great deal of caution, is arriving home to a gasoline reek while Jesse waits with a match?

"Do not float that idea again." -- Walt. Honestly, I have no idea who he's talking to here, particularly since the promos so frequently cut dialogue to seem like something they're not. Maybe it's him responding to someone's suggestion that he kill Jesse?

"Please, can you just tell the truth?" -- Walt Jr. Theory: Walt Jr's asking why his house/breakfast location is drenched with gasoline. It's about goddamned time Walt Jr. started figuring out that something's more than a little wrong at home, don't you think?

"There's nothing to be done, okay? He won." -- Marie. Marie's trying to convince Hank to drop his pursuit of Walt after watching that damning CD confession.

"Mr. White. He's the devil." -- Jesse. Where is Jesse walking to or from in that scene? Is it Hank's office? Is that who he was talking to, maybe?

As for what that "unusual strategy" is … truly, I have no idea at this point. Maybe that's referring to Walt's decision to give Hank the CD? Or maybe it has to do with Jesse talking to Hank?

One of the many things I love about Breaking Bad is how difficult it is to anticipate what's going to happen next. I mean, who could have possibly predicted Walt's video confession? That came out of nowhere, and was so incredibly brilliant. I can only guess we've got more holy-shit-no-WAY! curveballs coming, probably starting with tonight's show.

What do you think is going to happen in the next Breaking Bad episode?

Image via AMC

Click the "Like" button below to get Linda Sharps's stories on Facebook. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Linda Sharps

lives in Eugene, Oregon with her family, where she works from home while wrangling two rambunctious boys. She always has a caffeinated beverage in hand and a LEGO embedded in her foot.

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'Breaking Bad' Recap: Jesse Finally Knows About Walt's Most Heinous Deed

maandag 26 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota

The last couple weeks I've been posting a Breaking Bad sneak peek/speculation post on Sunday morning, followed immediately by my recap of the actual episode that airs in the evening. This is a GREAT way to see firsthand just how terrible I am at predicting what's going to happen each week, by the way.

This morning I theorized that Skyler and Walt may be meeting with Hank -- or possibly Jesse? -- to deal with AMC's teased 'unexpected demand.' Was I even in the flipping ballpark this time? Let's get to the recap of tonight's show and find out.

(Spoilers ahead!)

There's a cold open with Todd leaving a phone message for Walt, discussing the recent "change of management" that's come about with Lydia's meth business, before bragging to his gangbanger uncle about the great train heist. Interesting stuff, but you know what, let's just fast-forward to that restaurant scene and what happened after that, because HO. LY. SHITBALLS.

It turns out that Walt and Skyler are in fact meeting with Hank and Marie for the world's most uncomfortable taqueria meal. (How hilarious was the Office Space-esque waiter who was kind of slow on the update to key in on the palpable tension at the table? "Hi! Can I start you with some margaritas and fresh-cut guacamo --- uhhhhh, you know what, I'll be back later.") Skyler and Walt ask that their family be left alone. Hank's like, not by the hairs of my chinny-chin-chin. Marie provides what I'm certain is going to be the most shocking moment of the episode (WRONG AGAIN, SELF) when she suggests that Walt should just go ahead and kill himself. Hank growls that Walt should "Step up, be a man, and admit what you did. There is no other option."

Walt sighs, pushes back his chair, and slides a DVD towards Hank. Based on an earlier scene of him talking into a camera (as Skyler frets, "Are you sure?"), it seems Hank has to be right: Walt's only possible choice here is to suck it up and admit that he is Heisenberg.

Cut to the Schraders standing in front of their home television watching Walt's confession, as the lower jaw of every single Breaking Bad viewer in the entire world hits the carpet. Walt puts on a performance of a lifetime for the camera, describing how his wicked brother-in-law forced Walt to be his chemist for the past year, and that Hank was the true meth mastermind all along. Walt is meek and believable, even haltingly describing Gus's murder from the perspective of an innocent victim dragged into a horrific mess beyond his understanding: "I guess you'd call it … a hit?" He lies that Hank took his children away, he describes being forced to provide money for Hank's rehabilitation, he weeps crocodile tears and chokes out, “I can’t take this anymore."

Goddamn. I mean, goddamn.

Back in the interrogation room scene we closed with at the end of last week's episode, Hank tells Jesse what he knows. Jesse's taken aback, but manages to dig up some classic Pinkman reserves and tell Hank "Eat me," before Saul bursts into the room, blustering about lawsuits.

Saul brings Jesse out to the desert to meet with Walt, where Jesse stares emptily at a tarantula crawling along. It's a creepy eight-legged reminder that he'll never escape the things he's seen and done.  Walt gives him a bunch of fake-warm malarkey about how Jesse should start his life over. "Maybe it's time for a change," Walt coos, in the same way he manipulated Walt Jr. into staying away from Marie because his dad's cancer is back. "I don't like to see you hurting like this."

Jesse blows the hell up, screaming that just for once, he wants Walt to tell him the truth. Tell him that if he doesn't go, Walt will kill him, just like he killed Mike. "Stop working me!" he yells, every awful moment of manipulative history between he and Mr. White echoing in his voice, and Walt slowly steps forward to embrace him. Jesse weeps brokenly (btw, ALL THE EMMYS FOR AARON PAUL. ALL OF THEM) into Walt's shoulder, but cannot respond to the hug. Jesse is mourning all the blackness Walt brought into his life, and he knows this hug isn't caring or fatherly: it's an acknowledgment of the truth of his accusations.

Jesse agrees to start his life over with the help of Saul's make-people-disappear guy. He waits on the side of the road for the pickup -- can we take a second to give major props for that amazing backdrop of concrete blocks, which feel like lonely gravestones? -- and starts patting himself looking for the dope he'd pocketed back in Saul's office. It's gone. He realizes that Saul's bodyguard, Huell of the truly odd-shaped skull, had snagged his dope back in Saul's office. From there, it dawns on him that it's not the first time Huell has picked his pockets, he'd done it before … when he took the ricin cigarette. I hate to criticize anything about this show, but it does feel like kind of a not-fully-believable jump on Jesse's part to suddenly figure out that Walt poisoned Brock, but whatever, the point is he now knows and he's fucking PISSED.

Jesse storms back to Saul's office, beats him bloody, and gets the most important confession of all: yes, Walt lied to Jesse and told him it was Gus Fring who tried to kill Brock with the ricin. (Of course, we know that Walt actually poisoned Brock with a lily of the valley plant, and the ricin cigarette is hidden behind an electrical outlet in his bedroom.)

In the final scene, Jesse -- having finally completely traded that shell-shocked pit of despair he'd been falling even deeper into for a white-hot suicidal rage -- kicks in the White's door and starts spilling gasoline all over the house. Ohhhhhh, Jesse. I guess it was too much to hope that you were really going to escape to Alaska. JUNEAU, BITCH!

What did you think of tonight's show? Did you think it was believable, the way Jesse figured out the ricin/Brock business?

Image via AMC

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'Breaking Bad' Sneak Peek: Is Walt Going to Get Rid of Jesse? (VIDEO)

zondag 18 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Linda Sharps 6 hours ago

How great was last week's Breaking Bad, you guys? I'm so thrilled the show got right into the biggest confrontation we'd been waiting for, instead of teasing it throughout the last of these final episodes. Now that we're coming up on the second episode of the second half of season 5 -- gah, that's a tongue-twister -- our obvious next course of action is to frantically theorize about what we're going to see tonight.

The preview for the next episode, titled "Buried," included juuuuust enough information to make some guesses about what's next for Walt and the gang. Spoiler warning: read no further if you're not caught up with the season to date!

Let's start by taking a look at the promo for "Buried," which is briefly described as "While Skyler’s past catches up with her, Walt covers his tracks. Jesse continues to struggle with his guilt." Here's the clip:

It sounds like we can assume that Hank is going to be totally consumed with pursuing Walt, based on his line, "I can be the man who caught him. The lives he's destroyed… he's a monster." But who is he talking to? Is it deputy Gomez? Maybe even … Marie? If he tells Marie, that would open up a whole fascinating realm of possibilities based on Marie's reaction. You'd think she would immediately go to Skyler, but they've always had kind of a touchy relationship, so maybe not?

Walt's looking for Jesse ("Just find Jesse," which he's presumably saying to Saul), but I wonder if he's talking to Jesse when he says "You better not be saying what I think you're saying." Jesse's in a hell of a downward spiral, using drugs again to try and mask the depression and guilt he's feeling. If Jesse finds out about what Hank knows, he might be tempted to turn himself in -- hence, Walt's threat.

What is Skyler "so sorry" about? Since the synopsis refers to her past catching up with her, that makes me think the whole IRS/Ted business is coming back to haunt her. Plus, there's this image released by AMC a while back:

I'm thinking the thing they're burying here is their money, pulled from storage?

Of course, there's only one way to know what's really going to happen in tonight's show, which is why I plan to be firmly planted in front of the TV as soon as I get my kids to bed. Happy viewing, fellow Breaking Bad fans.

Are you looking forward to tonight's episode? What do you think is going to happen?

Images via AMC

Click the "Like" button below to get Linda Sharps's stories on Facebook. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Linda Sharps

lives in Eugene, Oregon with her family, where she works from home while wrangling two rambunctious boys. She always has a caffeinated beverage in hand and a LEGO embedded in her foot.

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