Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
12-21-11, 02:55 PM
#126
Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
I've rewatched S1-3 on Netflix recently, and from what I can tell, it's only the first episode that's been cut. Any swearing has been silenced, and there are at least three scenes that noticed were missing right off the bat:
1: There's a scene after Walt's birthday party where his Skyler gives him a handjob in bed. She's on the computer the whole time (checking an eBay auction, if I remember correctly), and obviously kind of phoning it in.
2. At some point before Walt's cancer diagnosis, some of Walt's students end up getting their car wiped down by him. There's lots of laughing, and I recall one of them taking a picture with their phone. Basically yet another embarrassing situation for Walt.
3. After Walt passes out at the car wash, there's a scene that takes place during the ambulance ride to the hospital. Walt's asking the EMT who's checking him out if they could just leave him outside the hospital, since he doesn't have the best insurance. The EMT says that he can't do it, and asks if Walt smokes, foreshadowing that something's seriously wrong with him.
Now, none of these scenes are absolutely essential, but they're all good scenes in and of themselves, and really help paint a picture of Walt before he finally breaks bad.
1: There's a scene after Walt's birthday party where his Skyler gives him a handjob in bed. She's on the computer the whole time (checking an eBay auction, if I remember correctly), and obviously kind of phoning it in.
2. At some point before Walt's cancer diagnosis, some of Walt's students end up getting their car wiped down by him. There's lots of laughing, and I recall one of them taking a picture with their phone. Basically yet another embarrassing situation for Walt.
3. After Walt passes out at the car wash, there's a scene that takes place during the ambulance ride to the hospital. Walt's asking the EMT who's checking him out if they could just leave him outside the hospital, since he doesn't have the best insurance. The EMT says that he can't do it, and asks if Walt smokes, foreshadowing that something's seriously wrong with him.
Now, none of these scenes are absolutely essential, but they're all good scenes in and of themselves, and really help paint a picture of Walt before he finally breaks bad.
12-21-11, 03:26 PM
#127
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
I am really dissapointed with the new direction the show is gonna take in 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtZpo89mmJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtZpo89mmJo
12-21-11, 04:19 PM
#128
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
Actually, it was more for time than for content. When the pilot originally aired, it was longer than the standard episode. For re-airs, though, the edited version that's currently on Netflix was put together, so it would fit into the standard TV-length timeslot.
12-21-11, 05:02 PM
#129
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
I'm with the original poster on this one, watched 3 espisodes of season 1 on Netflix and gave up, none of the characters were likeable and the overall plot was boring. I had the same reaction to Weeds, where I lasted for an entire season, Mad Men same story.
12-21-11, 08:31 PM
#130
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
12-22-11, 02:13 AM
#131
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
I don't know how anyone could be bored by Breaking Bad, but to each his own.
12-22-11, 08:46 AM
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
Yeah, that's the thing that's really baffling me. Sure, I can see someone maybe not liking the characters, or finding the subject matter too dark, but boring? Especially after only the first three episodes? Given how much stuff happens in them, I can't quite see how they can be anything even remotely approaching boring.
12-22-11, 07:46 PM
#133
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
Yeah, that's the thing that's really baffling me. Sure, I can see someone maybe not liking the characters, or finding the subject matter too dark, but boring? Especially after only the first three episodes? Given how much stuff happens in them, I can't quite see how they can be anything even remotely approaching boring.
12-22-11, 10:27 PM
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
Compare that to the Shield where I would imagine most people get hooked by the end of the pilot, for obvious reasons if you have watched it.
12-23-11, 12:35 AM
#135
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
How far did you get with The Wire? I watched the first 4 or 5 episodes and then stopped watching it because I wasn't that impressed. I then went back and started again a bit later and ended up loving it and rank it as one of the absolute best shows I've seen. They spend a heap of time on character development during the first season that they don't need to spend as much time on in later seasons.
Compare that to the Shield where I would imagine most people get hooked by the end of the pilot, for obvious reasons if you have watched it.
Compare that to the Shield where I would imagine most people get hooked by the end of the pilot, for obvious reasons if you have watched it.
Yeah, a lot of people got bored by Mad Men as well as The Wire. I love Mad Men now, and I've been told to revisit the Wire and I'll be rewarded.
If those HBO box sets weren't so damn expensive I'd probably buy it.
12-23-11, 02:13 AM
#136
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
Think of each season of The Wire as a novel with each episode being a chapter. It will start out slow and then build to something great.
12-23-11, 01:49 PM
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
Well I have just signed up to this forum because I have spent the last few hours trying to find some people who share my views on Breaking Bad and it looks like I found some!
I agree completely with the OP. I have just finished watching episode 6 and am considering just throwing in the towel. The final straw for me was the introduction of the character of Tuco. What the hell? So much of that character doesn't make any sense.
1. He lets complete strangers walk straight into his compound carrying huge bags of meth?
2. He is a complete psycho yet he manages to dominate the drug trade and not get caught.
3. He beats up Jesse, but when Walt comes in and asks for more money and then blows up his compound he gives him the cash?
4. He doesnt kill Walt for blowing up his compound?
Compare Marlo Stanfield, Proposition Joe, or any other drug dealer type from the Wire with Tuco. Breaking Bad is not a good show. Over acted and badly directed.
Also, can someone explain to me why Walt's son has CP? Do they try and turn that in a plot line at all? I don't understand that casting decision at all.
I agree completely with the OP. I have just finished watching episode 6 and am considering just throwing in the towel. The final straw for me was the introduction of the character of Tuco. What the hell? So much of that character doesn't make any sense.
1. He lets complete strangers walk straight into his compound carrying huge bags of meth?
2. He is a complete psycho yet he manages to dominate the drug trade and not get caught.
3. He beats up Jesse, but when Walt comes in and asks for more money and then blows up his compound he gives him the cash?
4. He doesnt kill Walt for blowing up his compound?
Compare Marlo Stanfield, Proposition Joe, or any other drug dealer type from the Wire with Tuco. Breaking Bad is not a good show. Over acted and badly directed.
Also, can someone explain to me why Walt's son has CP? Do they try and turn that in a plot line at all? I don't understand that casting decision at all.
12-23-11, 11:22 PM
#138
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
How far did you get with The Wire? I watched the first 4 or 5 episodes and then stopped watching it because I wasn't that impressed. I then went back and started again a bit later and ended up loving it and rank it as one of the absolute best shows I've seen. They spend a heap of time on character development during the first season that they don't need to spend as much time on in later seasons.
Compare that to the Shield where I would imagine most people get hooked by the end of the pilot, for obvious reasons if you have watched it.
Compare that to the Shield where I would imagine most people get hooked by the end of the pilot, for obvious reasons if you have watched it.
03-16-12, 05:00 PM
#139
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
Just thought I'd chim in since I just started through Breaking Bad and have finished the first season. I thought every episode was fantastic so I'm excited that it gets even better. Not sure how anyone could find it boring! I'm glad the show has a good amount of humor mixed in with the dark subject matter.
03-28-12, 11:30 AM
#140
Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
I can't stop watching it. I'm just a few episodes into Season 2 where Walt's brother in law kills Tuco.
I have a couple of nagging questions which I suppose I should just let go but here goes:
- Walt is a school teacher. Why would he not have insurance or why would his insurance not cover his cancer treatments? Public school employees have excellent benefits.
- They are depicted as living paycheck to paycheck. So why is Skyler sitting around the house all day and not working? (They also have a pool which destitute people usually don't have.)
- Did I miss what happened to Walt and Gray Matter? Does that explanation come later? Did I doze off?
I have a couple of nagging questions which I suppose I should just let go but here goes:
- Walt is a school teacher. Why would he not have insurance or why would his insurance not cover his cancer treatments? Public school employees have excellent benefits.
- They are depicted as living paycheck to paycheck. So why is Skyler sitting around the house all day and not working? (They also have a pool which destitute people usually don't have.)
- Did I miss what happened to Walt and Gray Matter? Does that explanation come later? Did I doze off?
03-28-12, 12:04 PM
#141
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03-28-12, 12:28 PM
#143
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
It is not outside of the realm of possibility that he simply can't pay it even with the insurance. That isn't exactly explained, but good health care is affordable...if you want Magic Johnson level care, these things cost money.
03-28-12, 03:28 PM
#144
Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
Hmm. Bummer. It seems that Walt and that dude created a company that he's entitled to half of. They show Walt with that woman who is now the wife of the owner of Gray Matter. I'm assuming the woman went with the owner and Walt walked away.
03-28-12, 04:16 PM
#146
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
I agree with this for the most part. It really hit its stride in season 2 and peaked creatively in season 3. I view season 4 as staying on the same peak instead of establishing a new one (if that makes sense).
Either way, such an impressive show in nearly every level.
Either way, such an impressive show in nearly every level.
03-28-12, 06:34 PM
#147
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
That's the general understanding, yeah. You got it.
03-28-12, 07:26 PM
#148
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
I just watched the Negro y Azul episode in Season 2, and that's what it sounded like. I was/am still confused about why someone would turn down free money for cancer care and instead decide to undertake an extremely risky/dangerous/illegal activity to pay for it instead. There must be something more going on than just pride and not wanting someone else's charity. I'd ask if this was explained further on in the series but I don't want to be spoiled.
And the scene with the tortoise in the desert...
And the scene with the tortoise in the desert...
03-28-12, 08:50 PM
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
- They are depicted as living paycheck to paycheck. So why is Skyler sitting around the house all day and not working? (They also have a pool which destitute people usually don't have.)
As far as the pool, I don't know how it is in Albuquerque, but pools are fairly common in some areas. I lived in the Orlando area for a bit a few years back, and pools seemed to be a LOT more common in even the mid-level homes (like the one shown in Breaking Bad) than they were in other areas I've lived.
- Did I miss what happened to Walt and Gray Matter? Does that explanation come later? Did I doze off?
I'll let you know that your guess is a bit off, though
I was/am still confused about why someone would turn down free money for cancer care and instead decide to undertake an extremely risky/dangerous/illegal activity to pay for it instead. There must be something more going on than just pride and not wanting someone else's charity. I'd ask if this was explained further on in the series but I don't want to be spoiled.
Spoiler:
03-28-12, 09:09 PM
#150
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Re: Does Breaking Bad ever get good?
I just watched the Negro y Azul episode in Season 2, and that's what it sounded like. I was/am still confused about why someone would turn down free money for cancer care and instead decide to undertake an extremely risky/dangerous/illegal activity to pay for it instead. There must be something more going on than just pride and not wanting someone else's charity. I'd ask if this was explained further on in the series but I don't want to be spoiled.
And the scene with the tortoise in the desert...
And the scene with the tortoise in the desert...