I asked Bob the other day if he’s been finding the season of Breaking Bad as awesome as I think it’s been. His reply was that the season’s been great, but Walter has become such an unlikeable douchebag. I had to agree, adding that Jesse is more of a complete ass this season as well. Then it hit me: how long before we run out of likable characters on this show?
Many times I don’t necessarily agree that a show is all about characters in order to consider it “good.” I believe a show can be utterly enjoyable, even when you take a step back and realize that you’ve got nobody to root for. Take The Sopranos, for example. Was there really anyone likable there? I say there wasn’t, yet it survived many seasons and much critical acclaim.
The thing about Breaking Bad is that, from the start, we were led to believe we should be fully on Walter’s side. This was a guy who was dealt a bad hand, both career-wise and with his health, and he decided to take a stand against it all to find a way to provide for his family when he’s gone. It wasn’t via admirable means, though his endgame was a noble one. Walter wasn’t out to make a fortune, he was just out to make sure those he’d leave behind were taken care of when he met that early grave. We pitied him and shocked ourselves at how we admired him, for the world he was diving into head first was the lowest of the low.
Now, though, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to side for Walter. We can throw out the idea that Gale’s presence in the lab was to steal Walter’s formula — at this point that would just be weak. So, we’re left to conclude that Walter threw this nice, extremely intelligent guy out on his ass for an even bigger ass, Jesse. Walter appears to have done this to stop Jesse from suing Hank, but he seems pretty convincing to everyone that he’s somehow shifted his outlook on Jesse, and considers him capable and worthy of taking Gale’s place. I believe Walter’s just showing us once again that he’s not only an incredible chemist, but he’s a skilled and convincing liar who’s borderline compulsive.
I would not put it past Gale to come looking for comeuppance here. Then again, with his knowledge of where the lab is, what’s going on there and the procedure for making the blue meth, he’s either going to be left in a grave in the desert or … well, I don’t know what else is left for him. Why would Gus simply let him go about his life now, especially with Walter saying he messed up the entire process and is the reason for the late first batch?
The most interesting part of the story now is what Gus’s ultimate plan is. He seems to have cunningly eliminated his primary competition, looking mighty pleased by the results of all that went down. We — and Walter — also know Gus clearly is aware of Walter’s ties to the DEA, and he was likely the one who made that warning call to Hank (now that a commenter last week helpfully reminded me that Gus did meet Hank once before, so disguising his voice was a wise idea). So why is Gus risking it all on Walter, a guy who shows he is capable of lying to a drug lord without a second thought?
So, Gus’s motive is the part of this story I’m most interested at this point, though I hope Walter becomes more likable in the process, because right now he’s just a huge ass.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on May 09, 2010 @ 23:34 EST5EDT
