Monday, September 23, 2013

Raw Data: Granite State

Breaking Bad episode 5-15 (#7 this year) "Granite State"

Written and directed by Peter Gould who also pulled double duty on "Problem Dog" a few years ago.

  • I was wondering what the vacuum guy was going to look like.  I figured they'd cast a Jonathan Banks/Mike Ehrmantraut-type person again as in a guy with old man strength.
    • I don't think they ever give the character a name, which would make sense.  Saul said previously he doesn't know the guy, he just has the number
    • I'm betting the character as some sort of Vietnam war service background
      • Maybe they'll tell us on Conan tonigh, but I doubt it.  Too small a thing to focus on.
    • The credit doesn't appear on Robert Forster's IMDB page but I wouldn't be surprised if they were keeping it quiet on purpose
    • But I remember him from The Descendants, specifically, punching that kid in the face
    • So we'll call him Mr. Forster out of respect for his old man strength
  • Mr Forster takes Saul's photo and it all feels a lot like the end of Homeland last season
  • Saul is so deflated.  This season he's been the opposite of his boisterous and loud self, with the colorful pocket squares and such.  Everyone is simply beaten down.
    • Saul's still offering counsel, good counsel, as Walt's consigliere.  
  • These last few episodes, and this is punctuated by the flashback they had to Walt and Jesse's first cook, but you have to take notice about how different the show and characters are now
    • Did you think the show would take us to a bunch of Nazis watching a video of DEA evidence?
    • On that, Todd smiles a bit, proud of his handy work with the kid from "Dead Freight"
  • Todd is liable to fall into that trap of always wanting more.  Like the money doesn't matter and is just a way to keep score at how successful they are
    • Be careful or you'll be like that girl at the end of The Last Crusade trying to grab the grail instead of taking Indy's other hand.
  •  Walt still gives his family as his excuse for everything.  It's to the point where he's so far gone he can't see what the reality is.  After all, it's not a lie if you believe it. 
    • So far his family is 1) Dead 2) facing trial 3) widowed 
  • I think it is safe to go with the initial thought and say the BFG is meant for Jack and company
    • Maybe Walt saves Jesse is some sort of partial redemption?
  • After Jesse survived the shootout at To'hajiilee, I wondered if he wasn't killed there he's not going to get killed.  
  •  Skyler, wearing her whites or cream colors, is utterly drained when talking to the U.S. Attorney.  
    • We don't even need to hear what he said.  Or anything about her public defender.  Just looking at that scene tells you what you need to know
  • Todd cleans himself up and puts on a shirt with buttons and a color for Lydia!  He's even drinking tea to share her interests
  • Walt hasn't been Heisenberg this year.  He hasn't put on the black hat yet.  Until now.  So maybe Walt is going to be able to step into those shoes again, even if it's a crazy suicide mission to get even with Jack
  • Jesse pulls off a Walter White-esque escape plan
  • They tend to pass time quickly in late season episodes and is the only time they do so.  Like immediately before Skyler kicked out Walt, or as they moved things along in "Gliding Over it All"
  • Dimple Pinch does not seem to be a particularly pricey or praised brand of scotch
  • Or maybe Walt's going to gun down Grey Matter.
    • We know his pride and his missed opportunity and unrealized potential are huge motivators for why he does what he does
      • His hubris reaches new heights when he tries to bully Saul into continuing.  Until he's literally brought to his knees
    • The comment that he had "virtually nothing to do" with the company could kill him faster than the cancer.  Or maybe he will anger the cancer out of him.  Both are entirely plausible and either way it re-charges him.
  •  I'm unclear if Walt was going to turn himself into the DEA, or if he planned on misdirecting them the whole time.

The scene where Walt gets treatment from Mr. Forster is interesting.  Walt hasn't had any human contact, and maybe walked to that gate every day with the intention of leaving but could never bring himself to do so.  He grouses at first at the cabin about a $50,000 Costco run, but Mr. Forster's next visit, he's ready to hand him stacks for a couple hours time.  Considering Walt's aversion to spending too much money (such as paying off Mike's guys to stay quiet) and that he quickly accedes to his demand of only one hour it's easy to see how broken Walt is.

Walt hasn't trusted anyone in a long time.  Mr. Forster offers him the cut.  The cut is both practical and an etiquette thing.  It reduces the opportunity to cheat and also puts everything above board simply to make everyone comfortable.  In a non-money game it literally means nothing, but is just one of those things you do when playing cards.  Walt who was not very happy with Mr. Forster doing what was necessary, declines to cut the cards.  Later on, even his attempt to send Junior and Skyler some cash fails.  He's broken to the point of knowing nothing he does matters and there's no changing it. 

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