Breaking Bad on AMC (4 Viewers)

[IvanKaramazov]

I took the glasses glint as misdirection by the director, the viewer worrying that Gus would see the glint, Walt not being aware of it, the tension for the viewer... then it didn't factor into what happened.

Gus already knew Walt wanted to kill him, and was determined to never be in Walt's presence again. Gus didn't get to where he did by not being smart, and not having great intuition. As soon as he learned that Jesse thought Gus had poisoned Brock, Gus's radar went off and the while situation suddenly felt "off" to him, hence his increased awareness and hyper-vigilance in the garage.

That's fair. Walt himself knows and says out loud that Gus is several steps ahead of him for most of that conflict.

 

[belljr]

i took for he realized crap i didnt leave anyone at the car but who know

 

[bentley]

Ivan getting a standing-8 count.

In the link that 3C posted, Esposito felt obliged to address the "glare off of Walt's glasses" thing. That ought to be enough to establish that I'm not imagining things when watching this scene.

No, you definitely were right to notice it, I did too the first time watching.

I though the exact same thing IK did when I watched that scene for the first time.

 

[Steed]

Plus I don't recall Walt ever wearing his glasses like that at any other part of the series. But Walt's too smart to leave his glasses like that on a clear sunny day.

 

[belljr]

I don't know why I do this with good shows. I don't watch from the start and then kind of give up on them because I fell behind so I don't bother.

I did the same thing with the WIRE. Instead of catching up I just don't bother because I missed the first season or 2.

I need to process all the seasons as it's one jumbled mess right now, but man I'm glad I finally watched this, just a great series.

 

[dparker713]

The marathon has me thinking I'm gonna rewatch the Wire. Or maybe season one of Game of Thrones to see Emilia Clark naked.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Plus I don't recall Walt ever wearing his glasses like that at any other part of the series.

They were only like that, on his forehead, because he took them off so he could look at Gus through his binoculars. The idea that the focus was on his glasses...I don't see it. The focus was on Walt peering from just above the ledge, and since his glasses were on his forehead, we noticed them, but I don't think special attention was supposed to be paid to them, or that it meant anything story-wise. But that's me.

 

[Sarnoff]

But yes, it's very possible for a writer or director or actor to misinterpret his own work. Christopher Nolan completely misunderstood Memento, for example.

More info on this?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

But yes, it's very possible for a writer or director or actor to misinterpret his own work. Christopher Nolan completely misunderstood Memento, for example.

More info on this?

I'll use spoiler tags just in case. I'm guessing everybody who's going to see this movie has already seen it though.

Spoiler

At the end of the film, when Teddy explains to Lenny how he (Lenny) killed John G a long time ago and keeps creating little puzzles for himself so he can do it over and over again, Nolan's interpretation (scroll down) is that Teddy is lying and just manipulating Lenny into doing his dirty work for him.

Granted, Teddy is definitely a manipulative character and there's no question that he's been using Lenny, but I think the whole films works far better both in terms of the basic narrative and especially in terms of theme if Teddy is telling the truth in that scene. If you take Teddy's end-of-the-movie explanation at face value, like I do, then Memento is making a depressing but satisfying statement about how Lenny is making a conscious choice to live in a never-ending quest for revenge as a way of giving his life meaning. If you go with Nolan's interpretation, that theme evaporates and the whole movie becomes about what a #### Lenny is, which isn't anywhere near as good IMO.

It's funny looking back on it, but I remember listening to that part of the commentary and just beside myself for a couple of days over Nolan could get his own film -- and his brother's book no less -- so badly wrong. I remember various English teachers/profs talking about how authorial intent matters but isn't definitive when it comes to interpretation. This was the first time that really clicked in for me. I'm very strongly of the opinion that my interpretation is better than the director's.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Spoiler

I always interpreted Memento the way IK prefers. Didn't know that about the way Nolan interprets it, might need to rewatch to see how that theory works. If Teddy was just making it all up, why did Lenny get all those tattoos and stuff?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Right on, IK.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Interesting. Yet still has nothing to do with whether Gus saw a reflection from Walt's glasses.

 

[Rove!]

Big fan of Lydia.

Big fan of Principal Molina.

Little Rove! is a huge fan of both of these...

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Hey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyxKgafuOHg

 

[Rove!]

http://seriable.com/breaking-bad-giancarlo-esposito-on-gus-weaknesses-amazing-spidey-sense/

Take that, Ivan!

What's on the screen speaks for itself. I agree completely that Gus has an intuition that something is up -- that's obvious from the way the scene plays out, and it makes sense given Gus's character. But yes, Walt's glasses are key in that scene. Either Esposito is misinterpreting it (which is not at all unheard of among actors), or it's an error on the director's part for suggesting it.

Edit: I missed the fact that you were the one who asked about this in the first place. It doesn't matter much either way, so if "clairvoyance" is the most satisfying explanation for you, just go with that. It doesn't influence the story either way.

Not a big deal,just wondering. I basically chalked it up to him realizing his car had been unattended and being hypercautious. Just seemed damn near superhuman sense of impending peril.

Jesse basically accused him of poisoning Brock. Gus knows HE didn't do it, which really leaves one other prime suspect. So Gus asks himself, "self? why would Walter White poison a child? I'm not sure just yet, but this smells rotten, I'd better watch myself because he know I'm here and may try (again) to kill me"

 

[Rove!]

two things about this show

1) every scene is set up and filmed in a way to be epic. Most shows just use scenes to to push plot forward. BrBa is doing so much more and communicating so much more in each scene. They are always looking to ratchet up the tension level...planting time bombs and waiting waiting and increasing the detonation load tbefore set them off

2) no wasted sub-plots...even Marie's Kleptomania was a lead in to get ABQ po-po to talk to Hank and get him engaged again in the Gale Boeticher (sp?) -> Heisenberg case.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Marie's kleptomania was also important in showing the relationship between the sisters, which then became fractured once Hank figured out who Heisenberg was. It showed Marie as a deeply-flawed individual, which played a part in her willingness to give Skyler a second chance after Walt was arrested, since Skyler gave her a second chance after forgiving her for the stolen shower gift.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

But yes, it's very possible for a writer or director or actor to misinterpret his own work. Christopher Nolan completely misunderstood Memento, for example.

More info on this?

I'll use spoiler tags just in case. I'm guessing everybody who's going to see this movie has already seen it though.

Spoiler

At the end of the film, when Teddy explains to Lenny how he (Lenny) killed John G a long time ago and keeps creating little puzzles for himself so he can do it over and over again, Nolan's interpretation (scroll down) is that Teddy is lying and just manipulating Lenny into doing his dirty work for him.

Granted, Teddy is definitely a manipulative character and there's no question that he's been using Lenny, but I think the whole films works far better both in terms of the basic narrative and especially in terms of theme if Teddy is telling the truth in that scene. If you take Teddy's end-of-the-movie explanation at face value, like I do, then Memento is making a depressing but satisfying statement about how Lenny is making a conscious choice to live in a never-ending quest for revenge as a way of giving his life meaning. If you go with Nolan's interpretation, that theme evaporates and the whole movie becomes about what a #### Lenny is, which isn't anywhere near as good IMO.

Spoiler

It's funny looking back on it, but I remember listening to that part of the commentary and just beside myself for a couple of days over Nolan could get his own film -- and his brother's book no less -- so badly wrong. I remember various English teachers/profs talking about how authorial intent matters but isn't definitive when it comes to interpretation. This was the first time that really clicked in for me. I'm very strongly of the opinion that my interpretation is better than the director's.

It might be a better or more satisfying interpretation, but if that wasn't the writer or director's intent, then it's wrong.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Breaking Bad winner arrested on drug charges

 

[Ghost Rider]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

Exactly. Plus, after they left, Walt was able to go and retrieve the bomb off the car (opening part of the cold opening of Face Off), and there is no way that would have been possible had Gus seen Walt.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

Exactly. Plus, after they left, Walt was able to go and retrieve the bomb off the car (opening part of the cold opening of Face Off), and there is no way that would have been possible had Gus seen Walt.

Honestly, while for entertainment I loved how Walt took out Gus and the whole Lily of the Valley thing, it was probably the most unrealistic or sloppiest thing of the series how it all worked out.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

two things about this show

1) every scene is set up and filmed in a way to be epic. Most shows just use scenes to to push plot forward. BrBa is doing so much more and communicating so much more in each scene. They are always looking to ratchet up the tension level...planting time bombs and waiting waiting and increasing the detonation load tbefore set them off

2) no wasted sub-plots...even Marie's Kleptomania was a lead in to get ABQ po-po to talk to Hank and get him engaged again in the Gale Boeticher (sp?) -> Heisenberg case.

This is one area where BB is head and shoulders above The Sopranos.

 

[Jaysus]

The actor who played Mike... what is he best know for outside of Breaking Bad? I have seen him in a bunch of stuff, but am not sure what really. A couple sitcoms and such...

 

[belljr]

The actor who played Mike... what is he best know for outside of Breaking Bad? I have seen him in a bunch of stuff, but am not sure what really. A couple sitcoms and such...

i posted in the aha thread, i remember him as victor maitlins goon in beverly hills cop

 

[Don Quixote]

The actor who played Mike... what is he best know for outside of Breaking Bad? I have seen him in a bunch of stuff, but am not sure what really. A couple sitcoms and such...

I don't know what he is best-known for, but he was the radar guy in Airplane! "He's all over the place... What an *******"

 

[shadyridr]

My friend stopped watching in the middle of season 3. He just couldnt get into it.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

But yes, it's very possible for a writer or director or actor to misinterpret his own work. Christopher Nolan completely misunderstood Memento, for example.

More info on this?

I'll use spoiler tags just in case. I'm guessing everybody who's going to see this movie has already seen it though.

Spoiler

At the end of the film, when Teddy explains to Lenny how he (Lenny) killed John G a long time ago and keeps creating little puzzles for himself so he can do it over and over again, Nolan's interpretation (scroll down) is that Teddy is lying and just manipulating Lenny into doing his dirty work for him.

Granted, Teddy is definitely a manipulative character and there's no question that he's been using Lenny, but I think the whole films works far better both in terms of the basic narrative and especially in terms of theme if Teddy is telling the truth in that scene. If you take Teddy's end-of-the-movie explanation at face value, like I do, then Memento is making a depressing but satisfying statement about how Lenny is making a conscious choice to live in a never-ending quest for revenge as a way of giving his life meaning. If you go with Nolan's interpretation, that theme evaporates and the whole movie becomes about what a #### Lenny is, which isn't anywhere near as good IMO.

Spoiler

It's funny looking back on it, but I remember listening to that part of the commentary and just beside myself for a couple of days over Nolan could get his own film -- and his brother's book no less -- so badly wrong. I remember various English teachers/profs talking about how authorial intent matters but isn't definitive when it comes to interpretation. This was the first time that really clicked in for me. I'm very strongly of the opinion that my interpretation is better than the director's.

Spoiler

It might be a better or more satisfying interpretation, but if that wasn't the writer or director's intent, then it's wrong.

false

 

[IvanKaramazov]

My friend stopped watching in the middle of season 3. He just couldnt get into it.

You should get a new friend.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

Not necessarily. He would know that by the time his guys got there whoever had been there would be long gone.

 

[packersfan]

The actor who played Mike... what is he best know for outside of Breaking Bad? I have seen him in a bunch of stuff, but am not sure what really. A couple sitcoms and such...

i posted in the aha thread, i remember him as victor maitlins goon in beverly hills cop

He was also on "Wiseguy," a very underrated show back in the 90s.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

The actor who played Mike... what is he best know for outside of Breaking Bad? I have seen him in a bunch of stuff, but am not sure what really. A couple sitcoms and such...

i posted in the aha thread, i remember him as victor maitlins goon in beverly hills cop

He was also on "Wiseguy," a very underrated show back in the 90s.

Also 48 Hours IIRC. Didn't Billy Bear shoot him in the hotel?

 

[Homer J Simpson]

My friend stopped watching in the middle of season 3. He just couldnt get into it.

You should get a new friend.

 

[Plorfu]

My friend stopped watching in the middle of season 3. He just couldnt get into it.

I hate your friend. He's a bad person.

 

[Rove!]

My friend stopped watching in the middle of season 3. He just couldnt get into it.

I hate your friend. He's a bad person.

reminds me of this scene from Community

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYGxEzEm0VA

.

 

[RUSF18]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

Exactly. Plus, after they left, Walt was able to go and retrieve the bomb off the car (opening part of the cold opening of Face Off), and there is no way that would have been possible had Gus seen Walt.

Honestly, while for entertainment I loved how Walt took out Gus and the whole Lily of the Valley thing, it was probably the most unrealistic or sloppiest thing of the series how it all worked out.

I think if they stopped with just the explosion in the hospital, that would have been fine. It was Gus walking out with half his face and adjusting his tie that was a little too much, despite how many articles anyone can show about people living momentarily without heads.

Doesn't mean it wasn't awesome but it made it tougher from an analytical perspective.

 

[Rove!]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

Exactly. Plus, after they left, Walt was able to go and retrieve the bomb off the car (opening part of the cold opening of Face Off), and there is no way that would have been possible had Gus seen Walt.

Honestly, while for entertainment I loved how Walt took out Gus and the whole Lily of the Valley thing, it was probably the most unrealistic or sloppiest thing of the series how it all worked out.

I think if they stopped with just the explosion in the hospital, that would have been fine. It was Gus walking out with half his face and adjusting his tie that was a little too much, despite how many articles anyone can show about people living momentarily without heads.

Doesn't mean it wasn't awesome but it made it tougher from an analytical perspective.

Br Ba has always had a bit of graphic novel feel to me

a larger than life death for a larger than life nemesis seemed appropriate...

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

But yes, it's very possible for a writer or director or actor to misinterpret his own work. Christopher Nolan completely misunderstood Memento, for example.

More info on this?

I'll use spoiler tags just in case. I'm guessing everybody who's going to see this movie has already seen it though.

Spoiler

At the end of the film, when Teddy explains to Lenny how he (Lenny) killed John G a long time ago and keeps creating little puzzles for himself so he can do it over and over again, Nolan's interpretation (scroll down) is that Teddy is lying and just manipulating Lenny into doing his dirty work for him.

Granted, Teddy is definitely a manipulative character and there's no question that he's been using Lenny, but I think the whole films works far better both in terms of the basic narrative and especially in terms of theme if Teddy is telling the truth in that scene. If you take Teddy's end-of-the-movie explanation at face value, like I do, then Memento is making a depressing but satisfying statement about how Lenny is making a conscious choice to live in a never-ending quest for revenge as a way of giving his life meaning. If you go with Nolan's interpretation, that theme evaporates and the whole movie becomes about what a #### Lenny is, which isn't anywhere near as good IMO.

Spoiler

It's funny looking back on it, but I remember listening to that part of the commentary and just beside myself for a couple of days over Nolan could get his own film -- and his brother's book no less -- so badly wrong. I remember various English teachers/profs talking about how authorial intent matters but isn't definitive when it comes to interpretation. This was the first time that really clicked in for me. I'm very strongly of the opinion that my interpretation is better than the director's.

Spoiler

It might be a better or more satisfying interpretation, but if that wasn't the writer or director's intent, then it's wrong.

Spoiler

false

How? It might be poor direction or writing, but if the writer/creator intended things to mean a certain thing, then that certain thing is "right" it just may have been executed poorly. Now, a director may misinterpret a screenplay and then present something in a false light, but if the writer/creator intended something to mean one thing, but the audience interprets it differently, the intent is still correct, the execution just didn't do its job.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

Exactly. Plus, after they left, Walt was able to go and retrieve the bomb off the car (opening part of the cold opening of Face Off), and there is no way that would have been possible had Gus seen Walt.

Honestly, while for entertainment I loved how Walt took out Gus and the whole Lily of the Valley thing, it was probably the most unrealistic or sloppiest thing of the series how it all worked out.

I think if they stopped with just the explosion in the hospital, that would have been fine. It was Gus walking out with half his face and adjusting his tie that was a little too much, despite how many articles anyone can show about people living momentarily without heads.

Doesn't mean it wasn't awesome but it made it tougher from an analytical perspective.

Not everything has to be hyper-realistic. That little extra dramatic flair added so much to the scene.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

Exactly. Plus, after they left, Walt was able to go and retrieve the bomb off the car (opening part of the cold opening of Face Off), and there is no way that would have been possible had Gus seen Walt.

Honestly, while for entertainment I loved how Walt took out Gus and the whole Lily of the Valley thing, it was probably the most unrealistic or sloppiest thing of the series how it all worked out.

I think if they stopped with just the explosion in the hospital, that would have been fine. It was Gus walking out with half his face and adjusting his tie that was a little too much, despite how many articles anyone can show about people living momentarily without heads.

Doesn't mean it wasn't awesome but it made it tougher from an analytical perspective.

The conclusions drawn by Jesse and Gus were a little out there. Walt somehow poisons Brock with Lily of the Valley. We don't know how. He had Saul steal the ricin so that Jesse would suspect Walt, so that Walt could try to convince Jesse that Gus poisoned him? If Gus poisoned Brock, why would he have, and if it was to intimidate Jesse into cooking, why wouldn't he just tell Jesse that he poisoned the kid?

I still loved it. Just a lot of info for Jesse to process.

 

[RUSF18]

Yeah no problem from my end but it opens the show up to that type of criticism. Not from me...I sure as hell was just enjoying it as it happened.

edit: Just to clarify, the point I was originally responding to was about Walt taking out Gus being among the most unrealistic things the show has ever done. I jumped in to say it wasn't necessarily the "act" of taking him out that I think people found unrealistic, but that one scene of the after effect. Carry on!

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Yeah, I liked the thing with Gus's face. Realistic? Probably not. But definitely cool. When I watched it the first time, my reaction was "Wait, how the hell did he survive that unscathed? . . . Oh!!!"

 

[Long Ball Larry]

But yes, it's very possible for a writer or director or actor to misinterpret his own work. Christopher Nolan completely misunderstood Memento, for example.

More info on this?

I'll use spoiler tags just in case. I'm guessing everybody who's going to see this movie has already seen it though.

Spoiler

At the end of the film, when Teddy explains to Lenny how he (Lenny) killed John G a long time ago and keeps creating little puzzles for himself so he can do it over and over again, Nolan's interpretation (scroll down) is that Teddy is lying and just manipulating Lenny into doing his dirty work for him.

Granted, Teddy is definitely a manipulative character and there's no question that he's been using Lenny, but I think the whole films works far better both in terms of the basic narrative and especially in terms of theme if Teddy is telling the truth in that scene. If you take Teddy's end-of-the-movie explanation at face value, like I do, then Memento is making a depressing but satisfying statement about how Lenny is making a conscious choice to live in a never-ending quest for revenge as a way of giving his life meaning. If you go with Nolan's interpretation, that theme evaporates and the whole movie becomes about what a #### Lenny is, which isn't anywhere near as good IMO.

Spoiler

It's funny looking back on it, but I remember listening to that part of the commentary and just beside myself for a couple of days over Nolan could get his own film -- and his brother's book no less -- so badly wrong. I remember various English teachers/profs talking about how authorial intent matters but isn't definitive when it comes to interpretation. This was the first time that really clicked in for me. I'm very strongly of the opinion that my interpretation is better than the director's.

Spoiler

It might be a better or more satisfying interpretation, but if that wasn't the writer or director's intent, then it's wrong.

Spoiler

false

Spoiler

How? It might be poor direction or writing, but if the writer/creator intended things to mean a certain thing, than that certain thing is "right" it just may have been executed poorly. Now, a director may misinterpret a screenplay and then present something in a false light, but if the writer/creator intended something to mean one thing, but the audience interprets it differently, the intent is still correct, the execution just didn't do its job.

The result is the intersection of the viewer and the creator(s). If the creator makes a film where the only thing that character does is walk into a bank and withdraw $10,000 and says that the intent is to show how dogs would make cannolis on Jupiter 30,000 years in the future, would we accept that interpretation? For the art to have meaning with any merit, the viewer's perception and the creator's intent have to have some overlap. And the viewer's perception can not be completely ruled out of the equation.

This notion may or may not be applicable in the particular case(s) argued above, but I still believe in it as a theory.

 

[Rove!]

Whether or not Gus actually sees something isn't entirely relevant, IMO.

If he does see something, his nonchalant reaction is pretty ballsy. He's essentially saying, "Yeah, you're watching me and might even have me in your sights...literally. But I'm Gustavo ####### Fring and I don't panic for anybody."

If he doesn't, he acts differently than most people would. Most people a) wouldn't have the gut feeling of something being "off" and b) even if they did, they'd probably ignore it or not recognize it for what it is and walk into the trap.

Either way, GF is badass.

Yea, if he saw somebody, he would have sent guys to check it out.

Exactly. Plus, after they left, Walt was able to go and retrieve the bomb off the car (opening part of the cold opening of Face Off), and there is no way that would have been possible had Gus seen Walt.

Honestly, while for entertainment I loved how Walt took out Gus and the whole Lily of the Valley thing, it was probably the most unrealistic or sloppiest thing of the series how it all worked out.

I think if they stopped with just the explosion in the hospital, that would have been fine. It was Gus walking out with half his face and adjusting his tie that was a little too much, despite how many articles anyone can show about people living momentarily without heads.

Doesn't mean it wasn't awesome but it made it tougher from an analytical perspective.

The conclusions drawn by Jesse and Gus were a little out there. Walt somehow poisons Brock with Lily of the Valley. We don't know how. He had Saul steal the ricin so that Jesse would suspect Walt, so that Walt could try to convince Jesse that Gus poisoned him? If Gus poisoned Brock, why would he have, and if it was to intimidate Jesse into cooking, why wouldn't he just tell Jesse that he poisoned the kid?

I still loved it. Just a lot of info for Jesse to process.

Walt had to convince Jesse that he was the "good guy"

The only thing he had going for him was that Gus had put an implicit hit out on a kid.

Brock turns up with signs of Ricin poisoning and Jesse's ricin cigarette is missing. Easy for him to think that Walt took it...

 

[Psychopav]

My friend stopped watching in the middle of season 3. He just couldnt get into it.

I hate your friend. He's a bad person.

reminds me of this scene from Community

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYGxEzEm0VA

.

Community is back tonight!!

 

[Rove!]

The actor who played Mike... what is he best know for outside of Breaking Bad? I have seen him in a bunch of stuff, but am not sure what really. A couple sitcoms and such...

I hear Jonathan Banks (Mike) will play a professor of Criminology on the upcoming season of Community and appear in most episodes...

 

[Homer J Simpson]

The actor who played Mike... what is he best know for outside of Breaking Bad? I have seen him in a bunch of stuff, but am not sure what really. A couple sitcoms and such...

i posted in the aha thread, i remember him as victor maitlins goon in beverly hills cop

He was also on "Wiseguy," a very underrated show back in the 90s.

Also 48 Hours IIRC. Didn't Billy Bear shoot him in the hotel?

My bad. It was Ganz that shot him.

Oh, and yeah...watching 48 Hours because of this thread.

 

[kardplayer]

My friend stopped watching in the middle of season 3. He just couldnt get into it.

I hate your friend. He's a bad person.

Bryan Cranston would describe your friend differently (note, there's foul language in the link)

 

[Das Boot]

My friend stopped watching in the middle of season 3. He just couldnt get into it.

I hate your friend. He's a bad person.

Bryan Cranston would describe your friend differently (note, there's foul language in the link)

Perfect.