I hate how black and white some people view things, regardless of what Walt has done, I still feel for him at times, I still understand his actions. And that, my friends, is damn good writing.
I still liked Walt till the bitter end. I guess I can't imagine in real life how I'd feel about him, but because he was genuinely hurt when Schrader died, and he didn't seem to want to hate Jesse until he went with the DEA ...he is compelling. I love the contrast between him and Jesse who loses it and is constantly flipping out. All the characters are great... Saul. I don't understand why people hate Skylar so much.
I wouldn't call Walter White likable by season 3. But what made the show great was he was still compelling, along with the story. You want to keep seeing how far he will go until he reaches his ultimate breaking point. And the way Vince managed to do that is nothing short of genius, because he could have EASILY screwed it up, and he didn't.
he's such a respectable writer! i love how he describes mechanical plot elements vs character disposition, and how the latter is used to bolster the former.
Nice to see good things happening to a good guy who's done some good things. This doesn't always happen. I'm speaking about Vince who's honest in every interview and has proven that he knows what he's doing. Thank you Vince for making life that much better with your talent.
Just earlier today, I was telling my gf that the whole series happened because Walt refused to accept Elliott's help. Pride and regret started the whole fucking mess. It's nice to hear it was Vince Gilligan's proudest moment at that point.
This has been a recurring theme throughout the show, The episode in season 2/3(don't remember) where he threatens a junkie buying materials for cooking meth to Stay out of his town and again in season 3 where he tells jesse to never cook his formula again.
Interesting theory in the beginning that Vince gives about viewers having an Indignant perception of Walter the badder he gets. The bald cop/Michael Chiklis was always corrupt but I don't think that ever kept the audience down.
very true, that decision to base the show on a character flaw rather than mechanisms of stopping his progress is what has turned Breaking Bad into arguably the best TV program of all time; and a dark, engaging character study. Great decision by the writing team not to take the cop out path
What's so brilliant about BB is that even when Walter is doing terrible things, even when he's making horrible decisions and you want to scream at him -- what the hell are you doing -- you still completely understand where he's coming and why he's doing it -- that this is a guy who's spent his whole life being powerless and stepped on and humiliated and for the first time he has a sense of power and maybe for the first time in his life he's not afraid - and we identify with him.
Which later connected with the revelation about Grey Matter and Walts guilt about having sold out. I wonder if Vince knew this show would get so deep and so intense and so awesome.. =>
In season 4 there was still a conflict between Walt and Gus, and you could root for one or the other depending on who you thought was worse, and the stakes constantly went higher. With season 5, though, there's no one left to root for and it's no longer shocking when Walt does or condones horrible things. It just feels like the writers are treading water until they figure out a way to wrap things up.
a lot of people tuned out after the season 2 episode " Phoneix " evidently. Apperently that was where a line was drawn for some people, as the ending was one of the darkest i have seen.
Self-preservation/Preservation of one's loved ones is not a moral principle. You can try to justify what you did by saying necessity demanded it, but this entire situation was one of Walt's doing. He put his loved ones in the line of fire. He crossed a line trying to undo a fuck up that happened when he crossed a line.
I was thinking exactly this... then, by chance, I came across is video. In which case, I can't be the only one that still likes, and feels sympathetic towards Walt?
I would only ask Vince to explain the hostility Walt had towards Gretchen and why he left her behind on the vacation and ultimately sold his share cheap. I always deduced this was the reason he refused to take their money and not necessarily a character flaw.
We never saw enough of Walter aka Heisenberg White- I never considered him "evil" He did what he had to do-albeit immoral if you want to judge--- But if he didn't your show would have ended when he took Gretchen and Elliot's money
Wow the show could have gone a completely different direction if episode four was just some technical problem for Walt to get his money and that it was to show how Walt hates being a meth cook. Its because of what the writers chose to do instead, by making Walt secretly want to cook, that makes this show far better than most others, or all others in my opinion.
so true. thats what differentiates a normal writer from a genius writer. anyone can come up with "walts money being stolen or lost", but it's that next level, extra mile thinking of "him being too proud to accept his rich friends money, so he's gonna keep cooking meth" which makes this show what it is.
haha I was just gonna reply by saying that the same thing goes to Martin Scorsese's voice and then noticed your name was TheDeparted2006. Funny coincidence :D
I must be the only one that is still rooting for Walt. I guess that's because I root for the best character, not the best person. And if you hate Walt for killing Mike, then think about it like this. Mike wasn't a good person, the world is a better place without him. So if you like Mike and don't like Walt you are a bit hypocritical.
i think the innate characteristic v. mechanical drivers point is obviously something the show manages exceedingly well...my only gripe is that the thing that started walt's final demise was hank randomly finding leaves of grass taking a shit...which seems fairly "mechanical" to me.
Maybe earlier in the series but that was perfectly placed at that time. In walts mind he had quit the business and only thought of family. He thought he was free and clear and let Heisenberg guard and persona of attention to details slip.
Oh Walt was evil alright-as we all know by now. But we still watched. I was not rooting for him to get away with it, I wanted him to recognize what he'd done and find redemption........this could also be called a story about obsessive compulsions/addictions and how they can take over your life....amazing show....but he still had a decent part of himself there as well.....the dual aspects of himself... And still I would feel sad for him at times too......I loved Jesse.....the moral center....
Personally I can't stand Walt and his psychopathic narcissism/massive ego, but find myself rooting for him only because his downfall would devastate the good surrounding him.
yes but you are deliberately putting all of those actions out of perspective. We understand Walt more and more as the episodes progress, and therefore (for me at least) these seemingly terrible actions become justifiable - or at the very least, raise interesting questions about evaluating moral judgement of a person you empathise with deeply.
Nobody on breaking bad is a 'good person' bar Walt Jr. Mike was nothing more than flawed by the standards the show sets, and as evidenced by his granddaughter nothing more than another guy capable of love and all that.
You know in a way it makes sense. Walt wants to be remembered, which is one of the reasons why hes cooking crystal meth. If Elliot softened the financial toll Walt would not be looked at as a provider, he would just die.
There isn't anything bad about turning down freebies from someone who has previously stabbed you in the back and who is essentially giving money that should be yours anyway to you, in favor of making the money yourself regardless of means. This show is as popular as it is, especially among young men, because many of us understand that the dollar we earn ourselves is worth 10 of the dollars someone gifts us.
I couldn't stand Walt a few episodes into the season but that wasn't going to keep me from watching the series because I'm waiting to see Walter get his just desserts
@myfacesp Because he has killed people and felt NO remorse, he's manipulative, he lies, he still after earning over a millions dollars still "manufactures" meth when he doesn't have to. He chose meth over being there for the birth of his daughter. So I guess that's a reasonable excuse.
Walt: "No, no, it cannot be blind luck or some imaginary relative who saves us."
Saul Goodman: "Yeah, there's no deep-seated issues there."
Vince is a boss. He is self-aware, tactical, modest, and analytical. Traits that are too rare in a person of his popularity.
This guy. . .fucking gets it
but like gets it on a whole new level of getting it.
I bow to your awesomeness.
I hate how black and white some people view things, regardless of what Walt has done, I still feel for him at times, I still understand his actions. And that, my friends, is damn good writing.
I still liked Walt till the bitter end. I guess I can't imagine in real life how I'd feel about him, but because he was genuinely hurt when Schrader died, and he didn't seem to want to hate Jesse until he went with the DEA ...he is compelling. I love the contrast between him and Jesse who loses it and is constantly flipping out. All the characters are great... Saul. I don't understand why people hate Skylar so much.
I loved Walt the whole time.Even after Brock's poisoning, because I think that Walt knew the amount to give him, without killing him.
Yes he's a great and interesting character who was really alive and awake
I love Vince's voice. I could listen to this guy talk for days and days on end.
It's so brilliant to see them sacrificing views for storyline.
I love you, Vince Gilligan, for giving us one of the best shows in the history of television. Love its story.
I wouldn't call Walter White likable by season 3. But what made the show great was he was still compelling, along with the story. You want to keep seeing how far he will go until he reaches his ultimate breaking point. And the way Vince managed to do that is nothing short of genius, because he could have EASILY screwed it up, and he didn't.
I love Vince's reasoning for his proudest moment.
he's such a respectable writer! i love how he describes mechanical plot elements vs character disposition, and how the latter is used to bolster the former.
Vince you are Genius!
I love interviews with Vince, he seems like the kind of guy I would have hung out with if I had known him early in his life.
Nice to see good things happening to a good guy who's done some good things. This doesn't always happen. I'm speaking about Vince who's honest in every interview and has proven that he knows what he's doing. Thank you Vince for making life that much better with your talent.
Brilliant insight. And eventually the admission much much later in the series "I did it for me".
A very clever man. This is without a doubt my favorite show. How it's not being shown on UK television is beyond me...
Vince comes over as a really, really nice bloke. Good to see nice guys finishing first.
beautiful. just beautiful
Just earlier today, I was telling my gf that the whole series happened because Walt refused to accept Elliott's help. Pride and regret started the whole fucking mess.
It's nice to hear it was Vince Gilligan's proudest moment at that point.
I love how they dont care if they lose Viewers!!! :D THEY ARE STAYING TRUE TO WHAT THEY WROTE
This has been a recurring theme throughout the show, The episode in season 2/3(don't remember) where he threatens a junkie buying materials for cooking meth to Stay out of his town and again in season 3 where he tells jesse to never cook his formula again.
Interesting theory in the beginning that Vince gives about viewers having an Indignant perception of Walter the badder he gets. The bald cop/Michael Chiklis was always corrupt but I don't think that ever kept the audience down.
Man is a genius. He, Bryan and Aaron deserve the world.
Vince..you genius!
very true, that decision to base the show on a character flaw rather than mechanisms of stopping his progress is what has turned Breaking Bad into arguably the best TV program of all time; and a dark, engaging character study.
Great decision by the writing team not to take the cop out path
Isn't it episode 5 of season 1 that he talks about....'Gray Matter'??
He really thought he would shake people off if Walt became more "evil"? We were all part of the ride
I think Mike is fabulous!
I wonder if they lost any viewers though, I think most people who made it through one season had to see the rest.
What's so brilliant about BB is that even when Walter is doing terrible things, even when he's making horrible decisions and you want to scream at him -- what the hell are you doing -- you still completely understand where he's coming and why he's doing it -- that this is a guy who's spent his whole life being powerless and stepped on and humiliated and for the first time he has a sense of power and maybe for the first time in his life he's not afraid - and we identify with him.
Which later connected with the revelation about Grey Matter and Walts guilt about having sold out.
I wonder if Vince knew this show would get so deep and so intense and so awesome.. =>
In season 4 there was still a conflict between Walt and Gus, and you could root for one or the other depending on who you thought was worse, and the stakes constantly went higher. With season 5, though, there's no one left to root for and it's no longer shocking when Walt does or condones horrible things. It just feels like the writers are treading water until they figure out a way to wrap things up.
Well thank fuck it dawned on them - good to get an insight into how writers work
Excellent comment prodprod, bravo!
I watched this video because i thought that LittleFinger was talking about "Breaking Bad"
How did Vince, of all people, mess that up? Gray Matter was the fifth episode, not the fourth!
a lot of people tuned out after the season 2 episode " Phoneix " evidently. Apperently that was where a line was drawn for some people, as the ending was one of the darkest i have seen.
nailed it.
I still find myself feeling sorry for Walt at times.
I still root for walt despite there only being one episode left. Even though he's super evil by now I still want him to win.
Self-preservation/Preservation of one's loved ones is not a moral principle. You can try to justify what you did by saying necessity demanded it, but this entire situation was one of Walt's doing. He put his loved ones in the line of fire. He crossed a line trying to undo a fuck up that happened when he crossed a line.
Ouch!
i like him more and respect him more, im happy that he is finally winning
Wow you're a smart one!
I was thinking exactly this... then, by chance, I came across is video. In which case, I can't be the only one that still likes, and feels sympathetic towards Walt?
Walt is my hero.
I would only ask Vince to explain the hostility Walt had towards Gretchen and why he left her behind on the vacation and ultimately sold his share cheap. I always deduced this was the reason he refused to take their money and not necessarily a character flaw.
Well everybody he murdered directly was also a murderer, drug dealer or criminal in some way.
makes sense
this show frikn rules!!..hey Aug.11..would you hurry the fuck up and get here already!..Im dyin to find out how this all plays out...
So, I hear you like burials.
We never saw enough of Walter aka Heisenberg White-
I never considered him "evil"
He did what he had to do-albeit immoral if you want to judge---
But if he didn't your show would have ended when he took Gretchen and Elliot's money
I love how you can go and judge people
One is fictional and caused harm to fictional people. The other is fictional and caused harm to real people.
I'm pretty sure it's there to show that Gus is arming Jesse against Walt.
Wow the show could have gone a completely different direction if episode four was just some technical problem for Walt to get his money and that it was to show how Walt hates being a meth cook. Its because of what the writers chose to do instead, by making Walt secretly want to cook, that makes this show far better than most others, or all others in my opinion.
All i hear is Badger when Vince talks,.
so true. thats what differentiates a normal writer from a genius writer. anyone can come up with "walts money being stolen or lost", but it's that next level, extra mile thinking of "him being too proud to accept his rich friends money, so he's gonna keep cooking meth" which makes this show what it is.
haha I was just gonna reply by saying that the same thing goes to Martin Scorsese's voice and then noticed your name was TheDeparted2006. Funny coincidence :D
Walter White never became totally unlikable.
His only particularly annoying habit was b'tching at Jesse, even though Jesse was a drug dealer/addict.
I must be the only one that is still rooting for Walt. I guess that's because I root for the best character, not the best person. And if you hate Walt for killing Mike, then think about it like this. Mike wasn't a good person, the world is a better place without him. So if you like Mike and don't like Walt you are a bit hypocritical.
I AM.. THE DANGER!
Vince Gilligan sounds like Badger.
i think the innate characteristic v. mechanical drivers point is obviously something the show manages exceedingly well...my only gripe is that the thing that started walt's final demise was hank randomly finding leaves of grass taking a shit...which seems fairly "mechanical" to me.
Maybe earlier in the series but that was perfectly placed at that time. In walts mind he had quit the business and only thought of family. He thought he was free and clear and let Heisenberg guard and persona of attention to details slip.
Walt is awesome, I love everything he's done. He isn't bad at all. The world is bad, Walter is sane and good.
maybe not but it's vince fucking villigan
Oh Walt was evil alright-as we all know by now. But we still watched. I was not rooting for him to get away with it, I wanted him to recognize what he'd done and find redemption........this could also be called a story about obsessive compulsions/addictions and how they can take over your life....amazing show....but he still had a decent part of himself there as well.....the dual aspects of himself...
And still I would feel sad for him at times too......I loved Jesse.....the moral center....
NO, YOU !
Who the hell is that 1 person who disliked?!
Except now that's changed with Hank.
I don't think 'sympathisable' is a word.
that's like cursing somebody because they talked shit about santa claus.
Personally I can't stand Walt and his psychopathic narcissism/massive ego, but find myself rooting for him only because his downfall would devastate the good surrounding him.
yes but you are deliberately putting all of those actions out of perspective.
We understand Walt more and more as the episodes progress, and therefore (for me at least) these seemingly terrible actions become justifiable - or at the very least, raise interesting questions about evaluating moral judgement of a person you empathise with deeply.
the kid was actually 6
Dat facial hair.
Nobody on breaking bad is a 'good person' bar Walt Jr.
Mike was nothing more than flawed by the standards the show sets, and as evidenced by his granddaughter nothing more than another guy capable of love and all that.
Fucking Genius, love this guy!!!
As time goes on I like Walt less and respect him more.
I don't really respond to stupid shit but krag3r nailed that shit. Deal with is.
You know in a way it makes sense. Walt wants to be remembered, which is one of the reasons why hes cooking crystal meth. If Elliot softened the financial toll Walt would not be looked at as a provider, he would just die.
that's taken out of context....
Valar Morghulis
i sympathized and liked walter white till the very end
Don't lie.
Sorta ironic that he describes Walt's pride to be a character flaw... And then says that it's his PROUDEST moment.
BREAKING BAD
Or Badger lol
Also was that God's true intention behind creating the universe?
God help you.
What are you talking about?
and a third time?
Really? At the beginning I loved him and felt sorry for him. But now I almost don't like him..
There isn't anything bad about turning down freebies from someone who has previously stabbed you in the back and who is essentially giving money that should be yours anyway to you, in favor of making the money yourself regardless of means. This show is as popular as it is, especially among young men, because many of us understand that the dollar we earn ourselves is worth 10 of the dollars someone gifts us.
wrong
Are you watching the same Breaking Bad that I am?
I couldn't stand Walt a few episodes into the season but that wasn't going to keep me from watching the series because I'm waiting to see Walter get his just desserts
yes he is, but i bet he doesn't consider himself as one
yes he is, but i bet he doesn't consider himself one
not as big as you though
@myfacesp Because he has killed people and felt NO remorse, he's manipulative, he lies, he still after earning over a millions dollars still "manufactures" meth when he doesn't have to. He chose meth over being there for the birth of his daughter. So I guess that's a reasonable excuse.