In the Season 5 premiere of television's best show, Walter White is left to deal with the immediate aftermath of his resounding defeat of Gus Fring. To do so, he and Jessie must solicit the reluctant aid of lovable hitman Mike to wreak some havoc on Gus' personal computer. Actions are never free of consequences on 'Bad,' but the challenge of removing incriminating video footage of meth cooks from Gus' computer is an especially interesting one for the show to explore. It demonstrates the writers' attention to even the smallest details. Something so small carries so much significance, both physically and emotionally.
Walt has no time to celebrate being on top of the world. Just as he's about to have his self-congratulatory drink, he remembers that he must get rid of evidence--namely the plant he used to poison a child and the aforementioned laptop. Part of what drives Walt in this episode is the idea that he must get rid of any trace of Fring's hold on his life. He won't be completely out from under the thumb of the chicken man until he disposes of the computer. This is Walt's dangerously overinflated pride showing itself yet again. He cannot stand the thought that Gus--even in death--continues to exert pressure on his life. Walt thinks to himself: "I'm the king now, how dare this man inconvenience me this way. I should be free to do what I want."
This "my way or the highway" hubris is now seeping into his personal relationships. Here is a man who has just blown up three men in a nursing home with the smug reaction, "I won." Not, "It was terrible, but I did what I had to do to save our family." Not, "It's going to take a while to process what just happened." No, Walter White shows no remorse, regret, fear, or humanity. Yet, he cannot understand why his wife expresses reservations around him. He even expects a thank you. Walt has no self awareness, no concept of the impact that his actions and attitudes have on others. Skyler is petrified of the man she used to love, and he doesn't even bother to try and understand why that is. His marriage is poisoned, and it will be uncomfortable, yet satisfying to watch this new dynamic play out between the "couple." That's not to mention how darkly pompous Walt has gotten with Saul. He's pushing his weight around and so far, he's been successful at intimidating and/or alienating nearly everyone in his life.
The fact that it was Jessie who came up with the idea to use magnets to erase the computer's hard drive represents the culmination of an ongoing shift in his character. Jessie began the show as an idiot junkie, a man of many yo's but little common sense. Over the course of the series, his compassion and heart have been revealed, making him the misunderstood softie of the group. Now, given his transformative experience with the Gale tragedy, he has become someone who thinks carefully about how he affects those close to him. He is the opposite of Walt, willing to take less risks and smaller piles of money if it means keeping his humanity intact. Being the idea man is an extension of this. He wants to help everyone and to be thought of as helpful. He has rediscovered his sense of self-worth, and wants to feel as though he is contributing to the solution and not the problem.
The magnet caper itself was ripped right out of the good old days of the show--back when bumbling heists were the biggest obstacles the "heroes" encountered. It was fun, funny, and weird, calling back to those black comedy roots. But perhaps the most significant part of the Great Hard Drive Wipe of New Mexico was its aftermath. Remember that whole "actions always have consequences" thing from earlier? Even in triumph, the group is not out of the frying pan. Those Cayman Islands bank account numbers hidden behind a picture frame broken in all the chaos are bound to lead to some very unpleasant things for Walt and co.
"Live Free or Die" effectively resolved leftover issues from last season while simultaneously introducing the viewer to new and exciting themes. Heisenberg is king, and Walt carries himself with a chilling new demeanor, the sense of entitlement palpable in Bryan Cranston's portrayal. The question the writers ask of the audience is, "How long can Walt remain at the top of the hill while those below him are ruined by association?" My guess is not long. Not long at all.
Cannon's Rating: 9.5/10
Walt has no time to celebrate being on top of the world. Just as he's about to have his self-congratulatory drink, he remembers that he must get rid of evidence--namely the plant he used to poison a child and the aforementioned laptop. Part of what drives Walt in this episode is the idea that he must get rid of any trace of Fring's hold on his life. He won't be completely out from under the thumb of the chicken man until he disposes of the computer. This is Walt's dangerously overinflated pride showing itself yet again. He cannot stand the thought that Gus--even in death--continues to exert pressure on his life. Walt thinks to himself: "I'm the king now, how dare this man inconvenience me this way. I should be free to do what I want."
This "my way or the highway" hubris is now seeping into his personal relationships. Here is a man who has just blown up three men in a nursing home with the smug reaction, "I won." Not, "It was terrible, but I did what I had to do to save our family." Not, "It's going to take a while to process what just happened." No, Walter White shows no remorse, regret, fear, or humanity. Yet, he cannot understand why his wife expresses reservations around him. He even expects a thank you. Walt has no self awareness, no concept of the impact that his actions and attitudes have on others. Skyler is petrified of the man she used to love, and he doesn't even bother to try and understand why that is. His marriage is poisoned, and it will be uncomfortable, yet satisfying to watch this new dynamic play out between the "couple." That's not to mention how darkly pompous Walt has gotten with Saul. He's pushing his weight around and so far, he's been successful at intimidating and/or alienating nearly everyone in his life.
The fact that it was Jessie who came up with the idea to use magnets to erase the computer's hard drive represents the culmination of an ongoing shift in his character. Jessie began the show as an idiot junkie, a man of many yo's but little common sense. Over the course of the series, his compassion and heart have been revealed, making him the misunderstood softie of the group. Now, given his transformative experience with the Gale tragedy, he has become someone who thinks carefully about how he affects those close to him. He is the opposite of Walt, willing to take less risks and smaller piles of money if it means keeping his humanity intact. Being the idea man is an extension of this. He wants to help everyone and to be thought of as helpful. He has rediscovered his sense of self-worth, and wants to feel as though he is contributing to the solution and not the problem.
The magnet caper itself was ripped right out of the good old days of the show--back when bumbling heists were the biggest obstacles the "heroes" encountered. It was fun, funny, and weird, calling back to those black comedy roots. But perhaps the most significant part of the Great Hard Drive Wipe of New Mexico was its aftermath. Remember that whole "actions always have consequences" thing from earlier? Even in triumph, the group is not out of the frying pan. Those Cayman Islands bank account numbers hidden behind a picture frame broken in all the chaos are bound to lead to some very unpleasant things for Walt and co.
"Live Free or Die" effectively resolved leftover issues from last season while simultaneously introducing the viewer to new and exciting themes. Heisenberg is king, and Walt carries himself with a chilling new demeanor, the sense of entitlement palpable in Bryan Cranston's portrayal. The question the writers ask of the audience is, "How long can Walt remain at the top of the hill while those below him are ruined by association?" My guess is not long. Not long at all.
Cannon's Rating: 9.5/10