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Monday, July 23, 2012

Arts: Breaking Bad Season 5

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Breaking Bad Season 5
Mike's soft spot will cost him.
By June Thomas
Posted Monday, Jul 23, 2012, at 11:15 AM ET

Could it be that I'm finally coming to respect Walter White? As I mentioned last week, for the first four seasons of Breaking Bad, my main emotion was ever-escalating aggravation with the show's central figure. This week's episode, "Madrigal", forced me to accept that for now at least, he is tougher and more focused than any of the other criminal geniuses in his orbit.

I'm with you, Emily. Walt's motivation for getting back into the lab is all about self-image. Saul's observation that a lottery winner does not celebrate his big score by going out and buying another ticket was absolutely on point. Mike, Saul, and Skyler (with her almost catatonic depression) are all correct: The smartest move would be for them to part ways, forget about meth, and just get on with their ordinary, boring lives. But they can't.

Sure, Walt owes Jesse what normal people would consider a serious chunk of change, but I bet Pinkman would be willing to forgive the debt, even without Walt doing too much puppeteering. But then how would Walt live out his superman fantasies? Ordering around the help at the car wash wouldn't provide the ego boost he needs as much as meth needs precursor chemicals. At the strategy session in Saul's office—which reminded me of a Flight of the Conchords band meeting—Walt demanded that they cook inside the city limits because he didn't want an irksome commute. When the ...

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