The AMC series Breaking Bad had its last episode last night. Various people are writing various things about the various themes explored over the course of five seasons and about the character 'development' that went along.
Something that occurs to me is that the whole thing can be viewed as a study in incrementalism. The main character, Walter White, can be seen as a metaphor for the United States and their Vietnam policy in the 1960s. Both went in with good intentions. Both meant to get right back out, as soon as one simple objective was accomplished. Both experienced unintended consequences beginning pretty much immediately and persisting. Both, when faced with a rebuff, committed more resources to problem resolution and renewed pursuit of the objective.
Both ultimately failed. But not before horrifying themselves and witnesses with how low they could go. One day you're pledging to 'protect Democracy' in a far away land, the next day you're dropping napalm on children. And insisting that you're right to do it.
One step at a time.
You could also say it a microcosm of runaway capitalism.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. No shortage of themes and suplots here. ; )
DeleteOne detail I missed from season 1. What did Walt do with 8ball after choking him with the bike lock? Jessie comes back and the basement is empty and the Winnebago is clean. What, where?
ReplyDeleteThat was a great finish, I don't think people who never watched the season would get some of what happened. I don't think Walt went through redemption, or if so a shallow one. It was combination of revenge and a way to end it with him still on top of "his" empire, protecting his blue product. I think he was intending, or hoping to also kill Jessie, but when they were about to kill him before he could get his keys he disrespected the gang leader, who had to first show him he was wrong before killing him, when Walt sees Jessie is a slave then he moves from wanting to kill him to saving him.
ReplyDeleteI also love the fact the story didn't do the usual post shot out trick employed in every damn TV and movie the last 20 years, that the bad guy is not dead afterall but suddenly gains the upper hand. Instead the old man leader was totally incapable, and Todd was totally disoriented and unattentive, Jessie jumped on that and fixed it. And Lidia, that was a sweet ending, she got the worst death, ricin takes ours or days to work.
I still think Walt went there to save Jesse. I'll watch it again when it comes to Netflix. See if I change my mind. ; )
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