It's over. The greatest show in the history of television is over. Usually when shows end, it's a bittersweet moment because they have usually run their course and stayed on for 3 years too long (King of the Hill, Dexter, Family Guy, How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, 30 Rock and many more). Or sometimes, the finale ruins the journey it took to get there (The Sopranos, Dexter, Lost, Seinfeld).
Breaking Bad is so noble and commendable because it didn't overstay its welcome and it gave an ending that made the journey worth it. Of course, the show really ended in "Ozymandias", the final two episodes were more of an epilogue. The downward spiral Walt took from nerdy, lame chemistry teacher working two jobs to a drug emperor was a satisfying one that never had a misstep. Every move was carefully calculated and never dull. Every episode was a domino effect to the finale. There's nothing worse than when a finale doesn't justify the means it took to get there, like when The Sopranos blacked out and left you to make your own ending. We don't spend 60 hours with these characters and watch them grow and develop, to be ripped off in the end, leaving story-lines open.
It should be noted that I did not start watching Breaking Bad until about a month ago. I avoided it for so long because everyone kept saying it was so great, and when someone says that, I wind up disappointed (case in point: The Wire). I finally watched it on Netflix. I was nervous because I am absolutely petrified of cancer and this was what the show revolved around. Needless to say, after a season, the cancer backstory is pretty much gone. It becomes a rabbit hole into the depths of a man we thought was a good person. I tore through 5 seasons in about 3 weeks and caught up a little bit after the mid season break. I'm actually glad I did that because I was able to continue the story from beginning to end without the year long breaks in between.
So, about that finale. (Spoilers ahead)
Walt is near death. He's shriveled up, alone, isolated, and reduced to coughing fits. This is not the man we met in the first season who just wanted to make $700,000 to provide for his family. Walt decides to come back to Albuquerque to handle some "unfinished business". He comes back first for the Grey Matter snakes. I thought for sure he was going to kill them, but he just left them money to give to his son, which has been the recurring justification Walt has used the whole series. He told them he would have hitmen following them if something were to happen to the money. The hitmen? Skinny Pete and Badger. I loved that. It was a very nice callback to two people I honestly forgot existed because of how tense this show has gotten.
So Walt then goes to use the ricin he saved on Lydia, who was distributing his product without his permission/him not getting any profit. This was a predictable, yet VERY effective move by Vince Gilligan once we realized how horrific it was going to be when Walt let her know she was going to dies soon. He speaks to Mother Effing Todd about a new formula for making meth and they decide to meet up at the Nazi hideout.
Before he does that, Walt heads to Skyler's house for one last meeting. While there, Marie calls Skyler to tell her the cops found a car Walt stole in the parking lot of Denny's. Whatever, they needed to wrap up the Marie storyline after they sorta mismanaged it in the last episode by having her show up for a solid 3 seconds. But while talking to Skyler for the first time, Walt was finally self aware and was honest for the FIRST time in the series. He didn't do all this for his family, this was for him. Man. And it was true. This stopped being about securing his family's future, Walt had fun being the best at what he does. This was never about money, this was about being spurned by Grey Matter and never getting the credit/recognition he thought he deserved.
There's only one thing left for Walt to do. Free Jesse and kill the Nazis. He creates a device to kill the Nazis (kudos to Vince Gilligan for not making this a cliche ending. There were so many theories on the internet and I don't think any of them predicted the way Jesse would be saved). One thing leads to another and it ends in a final showdown with Jesse and Walt (Jesse kills
Jesse drives off to his future, while Walt walks into the meth lab the Nazis built. He looks at it all and smiles, he has finally done the right thing. Cooking meth was his baby, it was what gave him purpose in life. And finally, as the cops pull in, Walt takes his final breath.
This was such an effective ending and one that tied up all of the possible loose ends. So where do we go from here? The wait to The Walking Dead isn't that far off, but after indulging myself this past month in Breaking Bad, how am I even supposed to enjoy that show? I mean, we have The Walking Dead and Bates Motel, and a few other semi forgettable dramas, but there's nothing currently out that captivates us the way Breaking Bad has. This show was more pure than the meth Walter cooked. I'm saddened that it's over, but I'm extremely grateful that it went out on top. It never started teetering (Mad Men is currently losing its steam at an alarming rate) and it never veered off into uninteresting territory. We spent so much time rooting for the greatest antihero of all time in Walter White. Then we hated him. And then we were fine with him dying. Has a show ever effectively turned us against its hero and then brought us back to a place where we were happy he died but saddened at the same time?
As with all my reviews, I like to leave a cast report card, and there were very little blemishes if any.
Bryan Cranston: A+
Did you expect anything less? He has given his all these last few episodes and really nailed it as a defeated man who knew he was going to die. The Heisenberg we have grown to know and love is a shriveled up old man who can barely make it without coughing. It's so funny that the dorky dad from Malcolm in the Middle has turned in the greatest acting performance we are EVER going to see in our lifetimes.
Aaron Paul: A
Man. He was really underused in this episode and didn't really wow me with anything, but when Andrea died last week and you saw the face of a man with nothing left...wow. Aaron Paul is a very good young actor who will probably never be able to shake Jesse Pinkman. Although, he may be able to keep a decent career going with Need For Speed. The trailer surprisingly looks good, but I believe Paul works better as a supporting actor.
Anna Gunn: A+
She had one scene and she absolutely nailed it. I was on the "I Hate Skyler" bandwagon for a good chunk of the series but the last few episodes have really changed my outlook on her. She recently won an Emmy for her portrayal of Skyler White and that was much deserved. Although Cranston and Paul were totally screwed. But Gunn's lone scene with Cranston, how small she was and you could see she was a shell of her former self. It was a very vulnerable moment in a very sad scene.
RJ Mitte's Wardrobe: A++++
Timbs. Enough said.
Jesse Plemons: A
Mother Effing Todd. He has become a very intriguing villain, a horrifying emotionless killer, a sweet and sensitive guy. Jesse Plemons played the scariest villain I have seen in a while. But going forward, is he Landry, Ox, or Mother Effing Todd? I'm fine with either.
Matt Jones and Charles Baker: A-
I mean, they were in this episode for 5 seconds. Charles Baker is always great as Skinny P, but Matt Jones was always average as Badger. Alone they were fine, but together they were a comic duo. They are the comic relief glue that held the show together.
Laura Fraser: B-
I've never been that crazy about her portrayal as Lydia. It always seemed...wooden. Even when she found out she had a day or so to live, she didn't sell it to me. She does an adequate job and even shows flashes of really good acting, but the overall product is about like the meth she was distributing before they made Jesse a slave cook (slightly above average).
Nazis: A-
The most interesting one was the guy from WHITE HOUSE DOWN. He's a pretty good villain and I can see him forever being typecast as a stereotypical villain. The Nazis as a whole were pretty solid, but there were too many silent ones for me to be able to give them the full A+.
This one is for you guys and Walt Jr., who will be able to eat breakfast comfortably for the rest of his life.
Final Score: 5/5
