On Sept. 29, 2013,AMC’sBreaking Badbrought the tale of Walter White to its inexorable conclusion.
Now, it’s the big man’s turn.
Formerly Mr. Chips, now Scarfacea character journey unparalleled in TV history, played brilliantly by the unparalleledBryan Cranston.
Credit: Frank Ockenfels/AMC
(And it managed to keep moving without ever going over the edge, coughcoughHomelandcoughcough.)
But the show established that rhythm by taking things slow.
One problem: One of those bodies is still alive.
(At one point, he jots down the pros and cons of killing Krazy-8.
The only con: “Killing is wrong.")
And it’s terrifying to see Walt finally take action.
You’ll never look at a bike lock the same way again.
“Over” (Season 2, Episode 10)
Good news: Walter’s cancer is in remission!
He gets to live!
But this episode brings Walt’s vanity, and his magnificent loathing, to the forefront.
There are too many great moments to choose from.
But it’s also terrifying, and a bit pitiful.
(When Walt says those words, he’s on very thin ice with his employer.)
It’s the Devil himself, and it’s a bald suburban dad in a shirt with gigantic sleeves.
It’s everything Walt has ever wanted.
It’s his greatest moment.
It doesn’t last.
Mike wants out, tooand ultimately has to go on the run.
But before he does, he offers Walt an angry summation of his character.
“You and your pride and your ego, you just had to be the man.
If you’d done your job, known your place, we’d all be fine right.”
It’s the first time that someone has spat all of Walt’s failings in his face.
In “Say My Name,” it only takes him a second.
