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Breaking Bad Trailer Sets the Inevitable Tone

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There is less than a week till the final eight episodes of one of the greatest shows in television history. Breaking Bad is by far my favorite drama ever made and it is kind of crazy to think a simple 71 second trailer could get me more excited… but it has. Forgoing scenes from the episodes, we instead get a brooding Walter White’s voice, setting the inevitable, dark and twisted tone that will ensue. Check out the Breaking Bad trailer below.

The poem that Walter White (Bryan Cranston), reads is Ozymandias, which if you didn’t get from the trailer, talks about the eventual decline of all leaders. That could give us a good taste of what we can expect for Walt as we near the end.

Ozymandias

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

– Percy Bysshe, 1818

When we got a flash forward with the gun in his trunk, I don’t think anyone thought he was getting away scot-free. Even more, Vince Gilligan, the show runner, has compared Walt to Scarface multiple times in interviews, so could that mean he could face the same fate. All that said, the more mysterious question on my mind is how is Hank’s reaction to the news going to last 8 episodes. That will be a tricky one for the writers, but if I trust anyone, it would be the writers of Breaking Bad.

Breaking Bad trailer

Breaking Bad returns for its final 8 episodes on August 11, and if you haven’t caught up or haven’t seen any episodes, buy a Netflix account right now, and marathon the hell out of them. Trust me, it’s worth it.

THE INTERWEBS

Pinterest: Last Minute Gift Ideas for the Geek in your Life

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Well the last night of Hanukkah has passed us by and Christmas is coming up shortly, so if you haven’t bought your friends and family gifts yet, then join the club! We here at Grizzly Bomb recognize that there are those who wait until the last possible minute to buy gifts so we’ve compiled another list of gift ideas, ones that you might be able to throw together from things already in your house. Good luck!

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Breaking Bad: 508 “Gliding Over All” Review

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Well, folks, it’s all led up to this. For eight weeks, our heart rates have been unfairly raised and our expectations shockingly shattered. It’s been quite the ride, and it’s not even over yet, but this 6 month break will probably be the cause for a strange decrease in my blood pressure. Fresh from the murder of Mike, Walter and Todd are getting ready to burn his body and discard of all his things when Jesse, who is still not aware of the murder, walks in.

They quickly hide the body and him and Walter speak briefly about what to do regarding the nine men in prison who are now willing to rat them out. Walt says he’ll deal with it and that Jesse’s vote is no longer valid. Walt then meets with Lydia to get the names of the nine men in prison. After doing so AND making a deal with her regarding international distribution, Walt utilizes Todd’s uncle and his prison connections to take out the nine different men in three different prisons in only two minutes. In what is possibly the most hilarious murder montage ever showcased on Breaking Bad (yes, there is more than one), each man is brutally knifed down by multiple men to the tune of a classic jazz standard. It’s brilliant.

Meanwhile, Skyler and Marie talk about how the kids continue to stay with her and Hank. Skyler obviously wants her kids back, and to prove her point, she shows Walt the money they’ve made since they started their business up. A number is never specified, but it looks to be about $20 million dollars. Walt obviously does some serious thinking and makes some decisions he never thought he had to make. Giving Jesse the $5 million he was promised, Walt promises Skyler that he’s out of the business completely.

*SPOILERS*

But, of course, nothing is ever as it seems. In the final scene, which is almost dreamlike in its construction, the entire White/Schrader family is together, but after Hank decides to take a quick dump in the bathroom, he finds a book signed W.W. In a flashback, we see a scene from Season 3 that recounts him and Walter doing a search for Heisenberg. He finds something signed W.W. and says, “Walter White,” to which he replies, “You got me.” Well, now, he’s really got him.

This final episode of the half season is one of my favorites, if not my favorite, so far. While there isn’t a whole lot of Jesse or Saul and no Mike whatsoever, Walt’s attempt to keep everything under control makes for riveting television, and Jesse Plemons’ addition to the cast is one that I was skeptical about at first but now welcome with open arms. The directing, writing, lighting, and acting were all spot-on and top-notch. The final scene, though partially expected, was still a surprise and has me wishing I could fast forward my life to next Summer for the 2nd 1/2 premiere. Five seasons in and I’m as hooked as ever.

5/5 Bears

TV

Breaking Bad: 507 “Say My Name” Review

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With only one episode left after this in this first half of the season, it’s reasonable to think that some proverbial shit would hit the fan. In the episode’s opening scene, Mike, Walt, and Jesse make their way to the desert to meet with the crew Mike had been negotiating with about the Methylamine. Walt promised Mike his $5 million dollars, and after some intense negotiating with the crew, he was able to give it to him.

But instead of just giving them the methylamine, he offered his cooking services. They reluctantly agree, but only because the money is too good to resist. Walt and Jesse (who is still set on leaving the business), make one final run to transport the Methylamine from the car wash to the new lab that they’re building. Meanwhile, Mike is working with a non-Saul Goodman lawyer to get money to the nine men who worked for Gus Fring, as well as Haylee, Mike’s granddaughter. Mike then listens in on a conversation with the DEA and abandons his laptop and his dirty guns before they have a chance to search his house.

With a warrant, the DEA does what they said they would but, of course, find nothing. Walt and Jesse talk about doubling down, but Jesse remains firm about getting out. This is when Walt switches into Heisenberg mode and tries to manipulate him into staying. Jesse, who seems to impervious to that kind of thing by now, stands firm and then walks out when Walt refuses to give him his money. Walt enlists the help of Todd who, as of now, is the only person to stick with him.

This decidedly unspectacular episode of “Breaking Bad” exists not to move the plot forward in a significant way, but to serve as a build-up for a final scene that, while I knew it was coming, still surprised me when it actually happened. The thing that really shines in the episode is the lighting. While the camerawork itself isn’t Vince Gilligan/Rian Johnson good, the way the light is manipulated makes for some fantastic still shots and layered visual metaphor.

Say My Name also marks the first time Jesse and Walt have had any real conflict since the pilot episode, and to be honest it was a little disappointing. Their teamwork is what made this season so great and seeing them truly break their partnership was a shock in many ways. The biggest shock of all, though, came in the last five minutes.

*SPOILERS*

Vince Gilligan promised that episodes 5 & 7 would be the most shocking in the season’s first half and while episode 5 was definitely a shock, I’m still unsure how I feel about the twist at the end. After promising Mike that he’d get him his “go bag”, which is a bag filled with money, his passport, and a holstered gun, and then bringing the bag to him, Walt demands the names of the men Mike’s been paying off. When Mike refuses to give them up, Walt shoots him with the gun that was in the bag. Mike attempts to speed away in his car, but quickly crashes into a rock. Running down a nearby hill, Walt finds Mike sitting on a rock with a fatal gunshot wound in his stomach.

Walt realizes that he could have just gotten the names from Lydia and he apologizes to Mike, who replies with, “Shut the f*** up, Walter, and let me die in peace.” A few seconds pass and Mike falls to the ground, dead. Now, the entire Breaking Bad fandom predicted his death, but I’m still not sure that I agree with it. Of course, no one gets out clean here, but if Gilligan and Co. are willing to kill Mike, a fan favorite, how far can we expect things to go? Some fans are predicting the death of Holly White, while others are predicting a Scarface-style shootout at the end of the series.

I’m definitely not condemning the bravery of the writers, but I guess I’m just disappointed that my favorite character had to go. In a narrative sense, this may be Breaking Bad‘s most accomplished episode of the season. From a personal standpoint, I am, in some strange way, mourning the death of a character that I’ve grown so accustomed to over the past year.

3.5/5 Bears

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Breaking Bad: 506 “Buyout” Review

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In this sixth episode of Breaking Bad‘s final season, tensions are rising after last week’s episode, which ended with newcomer Todd (Jesse Plemons) killing a kid for the sake of the business. This episode opens with Mike, Walt, and Todd chemically decomposing the kid’s body and his bike, while Jesse waits outside, unable to bear the atrocities taking place. Todd comes out next to him and lights a cigarette as well, complaining about the smell that accompanies the process. Jesse punches Todd square in the face, and the opening credits roll.

It’s decided that Todd will be able to stay on the crew with close supervision, much to the dismay of Jesse who has always advocated for the safety of children, regardless of whether he knew them or not. From there, Mike and Jesse agree that they’re pulling out of the business. The heat on them has the potential to grow exponentially, and their already guilty conscience is getting worse by the minute. Of the 1000 gallons collected, with Mike and Jesse pulling out of the business they’re only able to give up 666 gallons to a former partner that Mike became acquainted with through Gus. The partner says that he wants the blue meth off the market and will only pay for the full 1000 gallons.

Despite hearing about Tony Scott’s death literally ten minutes before this episode aired I was still able to enjoy this episode of Breaking Bad very much. Like most of the previous episodes, this one hits the mark. There’s even an awesome scene with Saul in it! “Buyout” is everything one can want from an episode; all of the cast is given the best of the best material, there are a couple of great surprises, and there’s even a scene that I never thought would EVER happen. Yes, you know what I’m talking about. Walt, Skyler, and Jesse all having dinner together at the White household.

One of the most painfully awkward yet intensely engaging scenes of the entire episode was also the quietest. With almost no words, Skyler is able to reinforce her pure hatred of Walt in a way words can’t express. Jesse tries his best to keep tensions light, but his charm is no match for the burning feud between Walter and his wife. The episode ends with Walt promising Mike a way that he can get his cut of the deal while he gets to keep all the methlyamine to himself. Of course, as with every Breaking Bad episode, I was glued to the tv and when the: “Executive Producer: Vince Gilligan” credit came on-screen, I was about ready to scream at the TV, throw my angered fist in the air and ask “WHYYY?!” to the TV Gods. That, my friends, is quality entertainment at its finest.

5/5 Bears

TV

Breaking Bad: 505 “Dead Weight” Review

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Where do I even begin? There’s really no way to start an article like this, but here goes nothing. Thus far, Season 5 has, sans the fourth episode, proved itself to be the best of the entire series. It’s taken chances, it’s given Jesse the time to shine he’s always deserved, and it’s put Mike at the center of everything, something almost everyone wanted in Season 4. The introduction of new characters has been astoundingly well done, and the development of old characters (excluding Skyler because she’s just awful), has been just as perfect.

This leads to Episode 5 of Season 5, one of the most heart-pounding, nail-bitingly intense episodes of TV ever put to air. After another strange opening scene involving a small child on a quad putting a very large spider in a jar, the episode starts at 6th gear and doesn’t stop. By now, Mike, Walt, and Jesse have made a deal with Madrigal that ensures both their safety and as much methylamine as they’ll ever need. Their plan? To rob a train that passes through Albuquerque every so often. Of the many liquids contained on the train, one of them is their precious methylamine. How much? About 1000 gallons.

Enlisting the help of Pest Shop Boys employee Todd (Jesse Plemons, who is turning out to be a much more capable actor than I originally thought), whom we first saw in 503 “Hazard Pay”, the guys plan and pull off what is literally the perfect robbery. In one of the most daring and intense train robberies ever committed to film, “Breaking Bad” has solidified its status in the motion picture hall of fame with this one.

Meanwhile, Walt Jr. (who is once more calling himself Flynn), and little Holly are both staying with Hank and Marie. Jr. spends most of his time in his room, not talking to anyone. When he does talk to someone, though, it’s usually a short answer or a question about why he can’t stay in his own home. But a heartbreaking scene reveals an obviously stressed Walt pulling a little bit of Heisenberg on his kid in a way we’ve never seen before. Whereas Walt is usually very fair and explanatory with Junior, this time he pulls a “because I said so” and basically scares Junior out of the house.

Skyler theatrically announces that she’ll continue to launder Walt’s money and “be whatever partner you want me to be” as long as Junior and Holly don’t stay at the house. She feels that if anyone were to come and kill him or kill her, they shouldn’t be in the house to see that or become a part of the danger. While she actually makes a decent point, her approach is always so cocky and melodramatic that I can’t seem to take her seriously. Ever. She just…needs to go.

*SPOILERS*

This is all fine and dandy, and ending the episode like that would have been perfectly satisfying. But it takes an extremely dark turn, even for a show like this. After successfully pulling off the robbery, the little kid from the first scene reveals himself to the group and waves at them. Stunned, Todd is the only one who waves back but suddenly he pulls out a gun, shoots, and kills the child. Now, if you’ve been following this season, you’ll know that Todd was developed excellently as a loyal addition to the group, and I thought the show would actually take a more Ocean’s 11 direction than anything, but nothing is ever as it seems with “Breaking Bad”.

Usually, I’m not a fan of when well-developed characters suddenly flash their dark side, but this one just seemed, in a strange way…natural. Jesse’s always been a fan of kids (he’s almost gotten himself killed over kids he didn’t even know), and Walt, a father himself, was surely appalled by what happened. But then there’s Todd. He’s a young guy with nothing to lose and we really don’t know his predicament when he enters the scene. Of course, that all changes when he reveals himself to be a ruthless killer. I’m interested if cooking meth will even be a major point of the show anymore, or will the manhunt to end all manhunts ensue, ending with Walt’s demise and Hank’s obvious reveal of the identity of Heisenberg.

I though the show was going in one direction, instead, it took a turn that I never saw coming, and I kind of love that.

4.5/5 Bears