Peter Griffin didn’t get it wrong when he saw fit to remind Stewie and Brian that Breaking Bad wasn’t slowing down, whilst flying a rocket through Space. It really isn’t. With the final few episodes set to grace our screens in the Summer, the magnificent character arc of Walter White will be set to reach an unavoidably tumultuous conclusion.
Its this character arc, that serves as the driving force of the show. Drugs, deaths and exploding wheelchairs aside, its Walt’s journey that interests us and with it, the parallel arc of Heisenberg – the psychotic, reckless alter-ego – the foil to the good-natured, fully-haired, car washing Chemistry Teacher of Season One.
When things go down on Breaking Bad, you can guarantee that the infamous Heisenberg Hat isn’t far away – probably on the head of its psychotic owner. Because it’s true, when he’s wearing the hat, Walt is a nutter. Any other character in any other show and we’d be baying for blood but somehow we always find it in our heart to forgive lovable Walt.
Well no more… I’m going to highlight some of the worst atrocities committed by our empire building anti-hero to the point that you’ll finish this article and hope that Hank comes off that toilet and puts a bullet in Walt’s skull… okay we could never wish that, if just for Hank’s sake… but it’ll certainly raise attention to the twisted acts we’ve witnessed Heisenberg commit!
<SPOILERS ALERT>
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26 Comments
Reading this really amps up the anticipation I have for the ending. I wonder if Jesse will ever find out that Walt watched Jane die and poisoned Brock?
I can’t believe my BF still insists that the whole Jane thing wasn’t at all wrong on any level…
Get a new boyfriend.
Hey, I was pissed too. But, she knew too much and was most likely going to get Jesse killed doing heroin. In a way, your bf is right.
Jane had to go, there was no other way about it. Crack whores die all the time, she was a threat and didn’t know who she was dealing with. She was bad news.
It really wasn’t wrong Jessie was in the bottom doing heroin and Walter saved Jesse by doing that decision
I thought it anyway, but this list just confirms it. Walter White has to go.
Great article! I’m with Dolan, I just can’t wait how for the next load of episodes! I completely agree with the poisoning of Brock as the no. 1 spot but the killing of Gus for me would have been lower! His death was definitely justifiable!
Great run down. Recently watched the Season 4 ending again with the combination of points 1. and 2.
Still firmly believe that whole episode is one of the finest pieces of television I’ve ever witnessed
Can’t wait for next season!
I’d add two scenes. I think forcing Jesse to kill Gale was among the most shocking. Jesse is still haunted by having to do that, and Gale was just a nice, lonely guy working in a meth lab. There was nothing inherently evil about him, he was just making a living, albeit in an illicit trade. I’d liked to have known more about how he got into it, but I think that moment was one of those that I’d never seen coming and one that made me realize that Walt would do whatever he needed to do to keep going. He’s addicted to the money and power just like the meth-heads are addicted to the drug. Skyler has already shown him the pile of money that’s more than she can launder, and yet he wants to keep going. It’s no longer about the security for his family for him, it’s become about being the drug kingpin.
The other scene I’d add was when Walt ran over the gang members who were going to kill Jesse when he went to confront them about having murdered that kid. I think those were among the first people he’d killed, weren’t they? His frantic demeanor when he was heading to the scene and the way he yelled at Jesse to run said a lot about how out of control he was getting, even then.
This series is by far the finest drama I’ve ever watched, from the writing and directing to the casting, acting, and editing. Can’t wait for this summer’s shows…albeit with the sadness of knowing that they’re the last! But there’s not much farther they can take Walt. Those “I-never-saw-that-coming” endings have to be getting harder and harder to top.
Lynn I think you totally missed the reason why Gale was killed. It wasn’t so Walt could keep being in charge like you think, it was because Gale was being trained to run the lab so that they could kill Walt. And the running over of the drug dealers was so that Jesse didn’t kill them and in turn get himself killed by Fring. The reason Walt was so frantic on the way was because he was worried about Jesse. I don’t understand how you could misinterpret those scenes so badly. These scenes show Walt wanting to save his own life and then Jesse’s life.
I’ll gladly justify my reasoning behind the exclusion of both. With regards to Gale, (as Jeremy has mentioned), I honestly believe that his innocence is to be questioned. Gus had placed there for the exact reason that Walt sussed. He was almost like a spy and I think the vulnerable, dorky Chem nerd was at least partly put on.
The car scene too, was birthed from the whole idea that neither Walt nor Jesse were interested in bringing harm to the innocent (this case being children) and as such, Walt’s actions came from his attempt to preserve the last of his rapidly dwindling morals. I believe (and this is just my opinion), that it was one of the last ‘good’ acts that Walt has done in the show.
Good list, but I think the murder of Gale (and that he forced Jessie into doing the actual killing) should be included. Yes, Walt was saving his own skin again, but Gale did not deserve it. Also, it destroyed Jessie (who was racked with guilt through most of season 4).
That was a terrible list. Mostly out of order, and listless inaccuracies. I was infuriated by the end, as so many things were factually wrong or misleading.
It appears that “Toby McShane” hasn’t actually watched the show, and has only read the Wikipedia entry. It’s hard to believe he was paid for this, and that he has a job writing about something he knows very little about.
Poor effort, try again. :)
I’m sorry you didn’t find the list to your liking. I can confirm several things however – I am an avid Breaking Bad fan, I’ve watched each season meticulously, I have never once visited the Wikipedia site as I like to keep my views original, I don’t get paid to write this as I’m merely an amateur writer looking to gain some experience and it is not a job but a past-time.
In saying this, I would love to hear your alternative views as to what would go into the list and the elements that were ‘factually wrong’?
I think this list was pretty good. Walt’s ability to manipulate others is really the key to this series, and this list hits almost all the high points of Walt’s endless ability to pursue his own ends through this tactic. The scene in which we see Walt gazing at the lily of the valley is certainly one of the most powerful in the series, and it has given me nightmares!
Matt,I think you didn’t understand a series… This list is allmost perfect, those 2 which Lynn said are also great examples of Walt’s twisted moments.
Btw guys you might didn’t saw hidden massage in season 4e12 in 6th minute when Walt is spinnig his gun few times and the last time the gun point at plant Lily of the valley :D, there are also hidden massage when Walt whistle in lab, song from Queen called “Lily of the valley”. Vince is really a “sick bastard” xD
Luka you are a bloody genius! Noticed the gun-point the second time I watched the episode, but can’t believe I didn’t spot the song!
I knew about the gun but I had no idea about the Song! That is awesome. Gilligan you nutter!
i think it’s unfair to call jane a bitch
Is it? She’s almost more manipulative than Walt!
Agreed. She was bad. Not that it makes Walt’s actions any more acceptable. Lovely list, thank you. The only thing I would change, is that I would’ve put Crawlspace in first place. Of any show. Of all time.
Agreed. She was bad. Not that it makes Walt’s actions any more acceptable. Lovely list, thank you. The only thing I would change, is that I would’ve put Crawlspace in first place. Of any show. Of all time.
I would have put Killing Mike at #1 and here is why. I just didn’t think that Walter White deserved to be the one to take Mike down. Basically, Mike kicked his ass the whole series, could have killed him 3 or 4 other times throughout the series, and for Walt to get him the way he did, when Mike was free and clear, was a disappointment to me. Of course, Mike was my favorite character in the entire series so maybe I am a little biased. I just think Mike should not have been killed by a guy whose next winning fight will be his first. LOL
Love this idea and upon reflection, I think I may have put it in #2 above Gus! For me, #1 still has to be poisoning Brock but killing Mike was pretty damn twisted on all accounts!