Breaking Bad

[Anton Gramscescu]

Breaking Bad

My assumption on the Thai thing was that the video was made for the purpose of luring a Thai mate and the subtitling done by one of those companies that specializes in the mail-order bride business.

[Quincy]

Breaking Bad

Lego video game parody.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

Even better, AG.

Even. Better.

Quincy - Something about seeing the Lego faces is even more scary and unsettling than the show. And somehow more intense in some bizarre way.

Citizen Brick made the Chemistry Enthusiast a little while back.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

From the LA Times, 2001:

http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/25/local/me-61374

Largest Meth Dealer in O.C. Is Convicted
Crime: $1 million of John Ward's property may be seized. His parents also face prison.
October 25, 2001|MONTE MORIN | TIMES STAFF WRITER

A jury Wednesday convicted a man described by authorities as Orange County's largest methamphetamine dealer, whose enterprise was so powerful that it had a deputy district attorney as a tipster and generated weekly sales sometimes exceeding $1 million.

John Ward, 30, of Orange was found guilty of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute "ice" methamphetamine as well as cocaine, prescription pills and ephedrine. The jury's verdict caps a five-week trial in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana and a federal investigation that included more than 12,000 hours of wiretapped conversations, discussions that revealed the inner workings of the drug network.
"We believe that a major . . . distribution ring has been dismantled," said Assistant U.S. Atty. James Spertus. "Typically, these labs are small, mom-and-pop operations. This one, though, made millions in proceeds."

Ward, who faces life in prison, was described during the trial and in court records as a larger-than-life figure who taunted undercover officers staking out his home and who once gambled away $400,000 during a Las Vegas weekend.

Ward's parents--Dianne, 53, and Steve, 54, of Orange--were convicted of money laundering in the case and face up to 20 years imprisonment. Defense lawyers had argued that the parents had no knowledge of their son's drug business and were simply tarred by an "avalanche" of negative evidence presented against their son.

Much of that evidence came from drug-ring members who pleaded to lesser sentences and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Former Deputy D.A. Tipped Off Ward

A key prosecution witness was Bryan Kazarian, a former Orange County deputy district attorney who kept Ward one step ahead of the law by providing him with insider information. Kazarian's arrest in 1999 proved key in getting inside Ward's organization, officials said.

Kazarian pleaded guilty and received a reduced sentence of less than 10 years in prison in exchange for his testimony.

Immediately after the jury verdict, prosecutors moved to forfeit more than $1 million in Ward's property, including vintage cars, dune buggies, jeweled watches, a briefcase containing $150,000 in cash, and a Gucci dog collar with a $5,000 casino chip affixed to it.

Throughout the trial, Ward insisted that he made his living as a high-stakes gambler, as a dealer in vintage autos and as the owner of a T-shirt company. But prosecutors said Ward lost money on those pursuits and that his gambling debts at one point totaled roughly $2 million.

Spertus told jurors that Ward made his money by manufacturing a pure form of methamphetamine called ice and marketed the product in Hawaii. The drug was produced at Ward's two estates in Orange and Anaheim, Spertus said.

Following his conviction Wednesday, defense lawyer Ronald Richardson said an appeal was certain. "John's a fighter," Richardson said.

Ward Is Unshaken After Verdict Is Read

Ward appeared unshaken shortly after the verdict was read and even laughed and smiled. He immediately urged the judge and jury not to allow the federal government to seize his property. His skin pale from prison confinement and his hair slicked back, Ward insisted that many of the dozens of items were gifts from Las Vegas casino operators. But the only piece of property that the government relented on confiscating was a 1920s-era train set that belonged to Ward's grandfather and was given to him by his mother. The jury will decide the fate of the rest of Ward's property Friday, when it resumes deliberations.
Richardson said the government's attempt to seize Ward's property was overkill. "Once the knife is stuck, there's no reason to twist it even more," he said.

Officials said Ward's drug operation was aided by Kazarian, who passed along confidential information about a police investigation and told him about a law enforcement informant within the drug ring. On the stand earlier this month, Kazarian said he considers Ward a friend who treated him to several "high roller" weekends in Las Vegas.

For Kazarian's protection, authorities have refused to say where he is being held.

[Benjm]

Breaking Bad

jasoñ voorhees wrote:
The hat walks the line of being as awesome and iconish a hat as it gets, but it's something that no normal person could wear for fear of looking like an absolute tool. Like the Crocodile Dundee hat...what asshole got one of those and walked down Broadway without being clowned. I'm saying this because it's for sale. I suppose the statute of limitations is 10 years, so maybe you can put it away for 2023.

That is a bit much. For everyday wear it may be safer to stick with a Popeye Doyle.

[Quincy]

Breaking Bad

jasoñ voorhees wrote:
Citizen Brick made the Chemistry Enthusiast a little while back.

That's pretty cool, got to get one when it's back in stock.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

I actually saw a 14-year-old with a Grey Goorin Heisenberg Hat this past weekend, so the kids may end up making it cool...like they did with the mini Fedora renaissance.

3 days away...

[VTTBoscombe]

Breaking Bad

Just got my binge watching on Netflix in time, finished the last episode a few mins ago.

Aside from it being a wonderful series, last question was why at the last meal by the pool , just before Hank excused himself, they were listening (or it could have been background music) to "Up the Junction" by Squeeze?

The sound of the word Clapham, in such surroundings was very jarring.

Anyway looking forward to the rest - I am beginning to heart Netflix.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

********SEASON 5 5POILER5************

**************SPOILED BATCH**********

Didn't hear that song, but I did notice Walt's line to Hank this time. When Hank was talking about marking trees to get chopped, and he said how that would be better than chasing monsters, Walt gives his "you puny worm" shrug before saying "I used to love camping." When he first said it, I was thinking of tents.

It's funny when there's a moment as memorable as Hank on the bowl, you forget everything else. There's Walt whistling - thus showing Jesse he doesn't really care, and the astonishingly creepy Crystal Blue Persuation montage.

*Now, Ep 9****WALTER WHITED OUT***HIGHLITE TO LITE UP******

That scene was everything it had to be and then some.

It's not that Hank knows, and that Walt knows Hank knows, but that Hank doesn't know Walt.

Because Walt was seen as So Fresh and So Clean Clean and tall and strong, towering over Hank, and because Hank threw down his cards and laid his best shot on Walt, and Walt ends up taking his best shot and showing Hank how good he is at being a sociopath, it completed the dichotomy/trajectory of the two characters from Hank looking down on Walt to the reverse.

Jesse's breakdown was absolutely terrifying (never has throwing $5 million out of a Subaru like newspapers been so sinister.) Aaron Paul always had bugged-out eyes, and he was so much fun in the first season from how frazzled and behind the 8-ball he was. Now his bugged-out eyes have taken on a much scarier tone. Not only does Hank know who he's dealing with, but Jesse does as well.

The opening was horrifying as well. I never liked Skateboarders, so seeing them squat on a house was more scary than usual. I've always loved the foreshadowing in the show, and there was nothing better than "Hello Carol."

The standoff between Skyler and Lydia was also great.

Ep 9 Spoilers Over

[Amor de Cosmos]

Breaking Bad

Pedant's corner,

Jesse's car's a Toyota Tercel. He would probably have wanted a WRX, but Walt would never let that happen. Their vehicles have their own little subplot going on throughout the series.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

Thought it said Subaru. Jesse actually wanted it as he realized it was smarter to lay low. He bought it from Badger's cousin, the one who fixed the RV.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

Adc - I've said that BB is William Shakespeare and Jean-Paul Sartre co-writing a Spaghetti Western directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and starring Stone Cold Steve Austin. Would you agree with this ? When you said that The Wire was Greek-influenced, and The Shield Victorian-influenced, what would you say with BB ?

Here's the transcribed scene WALTER WHITED OUT...

Walt – (Walking into Garage) Hey, Good to see you up and about...how ya feeling ?

Hank – Well you know, been better.

Walt - Did you get to see a Doctor ? I mean none of these things last more than 3 days...you really...
….you should get that checked

Hank-Yeah...I did, I'm fine...I'm what they say 'on the upswing'

Walt - ...mmm...Good...Good ta hear.

Hank – yeah...

Walt- When I heard you weren't going into work...well...looks like you have the work coming to you...Perks of being the boss, huh ?

Hank-Eehhhhh, you know....How's the...how's the car wash ? (picks up Heisenberg case files)

Walt- Good....Really good.
Hey did you have any of that potato salad ?

Hank- I don't...I don'tknowmaybe...

Walt- Yeah, I mean no one else got sick, so I probably shouldn't worry about it...Well, Skyler will be very happy to hear you're feeling better...which...probably reminds me I should be getting back to it. If there's anything I can do....(Hank nods and looks down)
Feel better (slaps Hank's shoulder. Walks out of garage.)
You know....(Walks back in garage)
….you're going to laugh, but I have to ask you about this (takes GPS out of pocket).
Believe it or not I found this on my car.
I mean it looks just like the GPS tracker that we used on Gus Fring, doesn't it ? Back when we were tracking him, just the two of us ? You wouldn't know anything about this would you Hank ?
(Hank closes garage door)
You okay ? I gotta say I don't like the way you're looking at me right now.
(PUNCH – HANK SLAMS WALT INTO GARAGE DOOR.)

Hank-It was you. All along it was YOU. You son of bitch. You drove into traffic to keep me from that laundry.

Walt – Calm down.

Hank- That call I got, that Marie was in the hospital...that wasn't Pinkman...you had my cell number...You killed 10 witnesses, just to save your sorry ass. You bombed a nursing home....
Heisenberg...

HEISENBERG...

You lying two-faced sack of shit.

Walt- Hank...I don't know where this is coming from, Hank but you...

Hank- I swear to Christ..I will put you under the jail.

Walt-Let's take a breath okay, just listen to yourself....these wild accusations, they could destroy our family AND FOR WHAT ?

Hank- You don't give a shit about family.

Walt- Hank, my cancer is back.

Hank-Rot you son of a bitch.

Walt- I'm sorry you feel that way. I want to beat this thing, I do.
I'm back on chemo and I am fighting like hell.
But the truth is...in 6 months, you won't have someone to prosecute.
And then...even if...somehow...you were able to convince anyone that I was capable of doing these things...you and I both know I would never see the inside of a jail cell.
I'm a dying man.
Who runs a car wash...
My right hand to God...that is all that I...
What's the point ?

Hank- Have Skyler bring the kids here...and then we'll talk.

Walt – That is not going to happen.

Hank – I don't know who you are. I don't even know who I'm talking to.

Walt- If that's true, if you don't know who I am, then...maybe....your best course..
Would Be To Tread Lightly.

Loved the way they used the garage door as a character.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Breaking Bad

Funny, I was think about that in bed this morning. I came to the conclusion that it started as Ealing comedy, and is now full on Euripedes. Greek trag of the heaviest kind. Making that kind of shift, convincingly, takes maximum dramatic balls. And, again, I'm not sure it could be done at all except in long-form TV.

Loved the way they used the garage door as a character.

Yes indeed. Every body, every thing, plays its part. Like Walt's hat, like the cars.

[edit] Did you notice how much smaller/feebler Hank looks in comparison to Walt now — especially in the garage scene?

[VTTBoscombe]

Breaking Bad

Great episode - the Hank/Walt scene is so great , .

great summaries Jason , behind the Pest Control white out sheets - shame we can't do Green and yellow block outs.

Kudos to my eldest lad who has been into this for some time, and has worked hard to get me onto it. took my missus being awy for a week to allow me the time to catch up.

really love it.

Although I miss Mike and even Gus, probably the coolest criminal reptile the world has seen.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

[edit] Did you notice how much smaller/feebler Hank looks in comparison to Walt now — especially in the garage scene?

It was whited out, but...

******EP 9 SPOIL***********

(what I wrote) Because Walt was seen as So Fresh and So Clean Clean and tall and strong, towering over Hank, and because Hank threw down his cards and laid his best shot on Walt, and Walt ends up taking his best shot and showing Hank how good he is at being a sociopath, it completed the dichotomy/trajectory of the two characters from Hank looking down on Walt to the reverse. (end of what I wrote)

What I also loved was that with the garage, Walt walks in, and they have the last conversation they will ever have as brothers-in-law. The cracks are showing...moving the boxes away from Walt, the "you were the only one who got sick so you're probably lying" from Walt, but it's the same conversation they've probably had over a few decades: Wives, Work, Health. Walt walks out of the garage...

...looks out into the world for the last time as a brother...

...then walks back in. The door shuts. They slam into the door. They are trapped inside that door. They end inside of that garage door. They are forever locked into this new relationship of mortal enemies. Marvelous staging.

*********EP 9 OVER********************

As I read some Euripedes and Shakespeare, that's all I have of a high brow take of drama. But for me, when I say BB has a touch of Ric Flair or Stone Cold, I think it has a lot of pro wrestling in it.

For years, I've wondered why tv or movies didn't use pro wrestling as a model. When V. Gilligan says "never in tv has there been a character who was cheered for before becoming evil," well, that was every Saturday morning on WTBS-Atlanta.

The same goes for the Walking Dead (especially the comic.)

Here you have the new babyface in town. He's a plucky youngster. He's a mentor to his plucky tag team partner who backs him up. He's an ultimate underdog. His brother is a Heavyweight contender (Hank,) who looks down on him. He is weak, but very crafty. He wins his first match (Crazy 8). He wins an incredible match over a Superstar (Tuco Jr.) He wins the Tag Team Title with his partner at the end of season 1. (Gets the money at the end of season 1)

He then wins a Loser Leaves Town match over the Star Heel (killing Tuco.) He then loses the Tag Team titles (to Lil' Kid and The Black Car Crew.) The Tag Team breaks up, he struggles in the mid-card for a while, the younger going with a female valet, the older going with a manager (Saul.) He gets a non-title match with the Heavyweight Champ, and is beaten down (The Gus Rebuff.) Through grit and determination, he gets another chance at the title. To get the match, he has to beat his partner, and beats him (stealing the meth from Jesse then killing/not saving his girlfriend/not giving his money.) He wins the Intercontinental/US/Secondary Belt (winning the million dollars from Gus,) but turns heel as he joins the Four Horsemen-like stable of the Champ (causes plane crash, joins Gus.)

Realizes he doesn't like the Four Horsemen stable (Gale,) and a past nemesis comes to avenge his victory over Tuco (The Brothers) along with their elderly manager. The Mentor gets rid of the Champ's Handpicked Partner, and gets to have his Young Partner back. He successfully lobbies and gets his partner into the Four Horsemen stable. They all ride high, winning all titles. (Heavyweight title for Gus, Tag Team titles for Jesse and Walt. Mike as Arn Anderson-like Enforcer.)

Heavyweight champ engineers screwjob of other heel group (the brothers,) and takes out the badder badguys (the cartel.) The Four Horsemen become babyfaces. the crowd loves them. The Brothers are run out of town, leaving their elderly manager to the wolves.

Walt's brother is injured in a beatdown by the brothers, leaving Walt as the more powerful contender. Walt uses his winnings from being a member of the heel group to pay for his treatment. The Heavyweight Champ has a flaw which is discovered by the younger tag team partner (he does something dishonorable to the young partner - using children as drug dealers and killers but in pro wrestling this would be shown by forcing a kid to kiss his boot because he didn't cheer for him, or pushing a grandmother down because she got in his way.)

The young partner shows his code of honor that is more powerful than his older partner. He finds out their old nemesis The Black Car Crew is paid by The Champ.

He is beaten down by the group to be humbled (the killing of his gf's brother, shown in pro wrestling as the whole group beating and whipping his with their belts.) The Mentor does nothing, but has to make a choice. With nothing to lose, as he can't live on his knees, The Younger is going to fight the Black Car Crew in a handicap match...until his tag partner comes to save him in the most incredible beatdown ever administered. The crowd is in a frenzy. The Black Car Crew are beaten so bad they are never seen again.

The Four Horsemen are split. The face turn was a tease. The Horsemen are back as heels. The Heavyweight Champion and his chief enforcer and valet force the younger member out (forcing him to leave town,) and force Walt to accept the new tag partner (Gale.) The Heavyweight Champion doesn't really care about the tag team title, however, and wants the new member to win his own TV or Intercontinental titles. Walt knows, and goes at the Heavyweight champion. In the Championship match, The Mentor is up against The Champ, His New Partner, The Enforcer, and the Valet. Suddenly, to return the favor, Younger comes in to permanently injure the new tag partner in the corner of the Champ, and against all odds- against every member of the Champion's stable...Walt wins his first Championship.

It is short lived, as the champ injures him and punishes his valet for allowing the defeat (like the Million Dollar Man getting rid of Virgil.) Walt loses the title the next night on Monday Night Raw. The Champ apologizes, and realizes he needs the two strongest available members. All is forgiven...ONLY IT'S NOT. The Horsemen are back together.

The Ric Flair-like Champ goes to work on Barry Windham, the younger of the two. He puts him under the Enforcer's wing. The youngster wins a match on his own against a formidable opponent. He wins another match with sheer genius and craftiness. He earns the respect of the Champ and Enforcer. They are starting to become babyfaces again.

An old nemesis suddenly shows up with his brutal and terrifying enforcers, a nemesis from when the Champ was a youngster of his own. A nemesis who destroyed his tag team partner, and beat him like no one else has beaten him. He is back from being world champion of another territory. He comes to claim this championship (Terry Funk v Ric Flair 1989.)

The Champion and the Four Horsemen become full babyfaces again. The crowd loves them like never before. The Champion is brave, he is high-flying, limousine-riding, awesome. Now he is up against an even more powerful stable. There is a War Games-style double steel cage match. With a crazy move unseen in professional wrestling until that point, he destroys his former nemesis in the highest-rated PPV of all-time.

The Mentor is chumming around with his Brother. They are both in the mid-card, trying to get their career started. They become an odd couple tag team. His Brother becomes a major rival to the Championship. Walt is still breaking rules in his matches, but teaming with his brother, and The Champion doesn't like it.

The Champion then tells the Younger he must get rid of his older partner. In a fight like Marty Jannety and Shawn Michaels in the Barbershop, the younger one turns on the elder after some dumb things are said. Because of the controversy, the Mentor gets a shot at the Heavyweight Title the next night on Raw. The Mentor gets a shot at the title, and is destroyed like never before and left in the desert. He is as low as it gets. He is beaten and broken.

But like Dusty Rhodes, he will always get his comeback. He goes to work on his training, with vignettes showing him with welding and lifting iron. He has a match with the Younger after a controversial incident in which a child was found beaten or a grandmother was found pushed down in her chair, and it looks like the Mentor did it. The Younger has the steel chair over the Mentor's head, and the Mentor convinces him it was the Champ who actually did it - because he's done it before. (The beaten partner raising his hand in mercy a shades of Bret Hart v Roddy Piper from WM VII, when Piper has the ring bell over the beaten Hart and can't bring himself to win in a way he used to win as a heel.) The youngster can't finish his mentor.

The Mentor is in a major push for the title. He gets another shot at the title, and right when he's about to get the explosive victory, the Champ walks out of the ring and keeps his title.

The Younger tells the Mentor about the one person who could give him the skills and ability to beat the Champ. He must hire his former enemy, the evil manager Tio. Against all odds, the Mentor becomes the Champ, and breaks the Champ's bone in a Wheelchair Leglock to permanently injure him.

However, like Ric Flair winning the belt as a babyface, he turns heel quite quickly. The power has corrupted him almost on contact. They form a new stable - The Gang of Three (Enforcer, Younger, Mentor.) However, the Brother becomes embroiled in a feud with the Enforcer, and kicks his ass. The Enforcer is run out of town by The Mentor.

The Younger is losing his stomach for the cheating and underhandedness, and starts losing matches to everybody. He becomes a jabroni. He loses his heart. The Mentor makes new alliances with his money and power, and gets a new female manager (Lydia) and a new crew - The Vamanos Boys. After the new crew slaps a grandmother, the Younger loses all heart and starts acting more and more crazy.

The Brother finds out The Mentor won the title by cheating (he's a little dopey, because he didn't notice the thousands of people booing him for years when he was with the Horsemen.) He gets a shot at the title. The Champ beats him. The Champ is top of the world, alone in his glory. However, he's pissed off his manager and his former Tag Team partner is more and more erratic...like when Road Warrior Hawk climbed and fell off the TitanTron because he was too drunk.

[Toro Toro]

Breaking Bad

Magnificent,JV.

[VTTBoscombe]

Breaking Bad

Loud Applause for Mr Voorhees

I wonder if JJ Abrahams will be considering carefully the stoner Star Trek script.
Seemed a winner to me.

As an overview of a programme, I have just consumed in one big lump, and like all over eating, takes a time to digest, one thing sticks in my mind....
I just want to take issue with Walt and his so called good Industrial practices.

Specifically, around the rather liberal use of fucking Hydrofluoric Acid.

Speaking as someone who for a time, in a previous life, had to decant from 200l containers, HF into 5l and 10l containers, I think he is rather sloppy ('tho less sloppy than Jesse) ,
We had complete toe to head protection, with air supply /space man city, and this was in the late '70's, with it's then PPE policy..
I was crawling up the walls when Walt/Jesse were handling it, and cleaning his "mess" up, like it's only Nitromors or something, wearing what seemed little more than a pair of marigolds and a filter mask.

But the bath scene consequences looked just as I would imagine.

By the way, you can always tell a Fluoride chemist by shaking his hand, and counting his remaining stumps.

Sorry, in a programme with such violence and dubious moral practices, it's seems a strange thing to be hung up; but that shit is bad news, and my skin still crawls about that decanting operation I used to do.

[rick derris]

Breaking Bad

myth busters do breaking bad with Jesse

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

I wonder if JJ Abrahams will be considering carefully the stoner Star Trek script.
Seemed a winner to me.

The animated version of Checkov's Pie-Eating Contest was made within hours.

[Reed John]

Breaking Bad

I'm only on Episode 5 of season one.
At first I found it too slow, but now I see that I'm merely impatient. The set-up is fascinating and there are so many intriguing angles that I wish it would get to it a bit faster.

[garcia]

Breaking Bad

brilliant post JV.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

Thanks g, tt, vttb. I just saw it as the same set-up as weekly wrestling, which is a form of theatre that has been ignored in filmmaking, but has the capacity to be a model for many longform shows.

As I said to Purves, mainly introducing strong and threatening forces, and making the choice to betray or stand by your friends. Being that BB is able to straddle the gap between Shakespeare and Spaghetti Westerns, I'd like to find out exactly all of the influences that Vince Gilligan had.

Reed - Season 1 was my favorite, especially the opening of episode 6 (my favorite opening of any in the series.) It contained my favorite ending scene other than the "when times were good" speech from Season 1 of the Sopranos.

Ep 6 is the beginning of the rocket launch to where the show goes over the next 30-40 eps.

[jason voorhees]

Breaking Bad

Here's my circumstantial evidence about the Four Horsemen's influence on Vince Gilligan:

-He was born in 1967 in Richmond, Virginia - Prime territory of Jim Crockett Promotions, which was the main promotion of the Four Horsemen and Dusty Rhodes.

-In one of the X-Files episodes he wrote, Millineum, four people try to commit suicide in order to come back as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

That's as far as I'll go with any more rasslin' theories.

[Reed John]

Breaking Bad

I'm on about episode 18. It is addictive now.

I can't recall episodes 1&2 clearly. Have they explained why Walter got pushed out of the business by that Eliot guy and/or why he left industry to go into high school teaching? He clearly isn't happy about that.

[Cal Alamein]

Breaking Bad

Reed John wrote: I'm only on Episode 5 of season one.
At first I found it too slow, but now I see that I'm merely impatient. The set-up is fascinating and there are so many intriguing angles that I wish it would get to it a bit faster.

No no no. In this age of annoying, ADD-handheld shots and rapid edits, Breaking Bad rules as it is such a joy to see a program that holds onto shots for many seconds and where there are periods of actual silence.

We are at episode 6, season five.