Breaking Bad Commentary IV
This commentary focuses on Breaking Bad season 2 Episode “Phoenix”. If you haven’t already seen the episode, I’d suggest you don’t read this, as I will completely spoil it for you if you haven’t seen it.
SPOILER WARNING
Okay, now that that’s taken care of let’s chat.
MORALITY and LIKEABILITY
Walt lets Jane die?
For all the terrible things Walt has done up until this point, I was still with him in a sense. I still cared about the guy, I found him a tragic protagonist instead of simply a hugely selfish asshole.
Now, I’m not so sure.
To this point Walter has definitely been in some morally dubious entanglements, but I think this was definitely the series low for him.
He could have easily saved her life.
For him to choose to let her die was without a doubt, a horrible thing to do. But unlike some of the other horrible things Walt has done, I don’t buy any alternative self-delusional explanation.
Yes she had previously threatened to snitch on him, but that threat was gone, or at least he was assured by Jesse it was gone. Obviously either way it’s not justified at all, but the argument is whether or not Walt even had justified it to himself.
I think in general Walt is a character who practices self-deception, but I think here he made the intentional decision to do something horrible not even with some fake rationale behind it.
He’s Selling Drugs For His Family, Right?
Bull. Walt is a character defined by that most classical flaw: pride. He has been offered financial assistance by his brother-in-law, old friends and even in this episode a website soliciting donations, but always rejects help.
Skyler finally overtly confronts the issue, asking Walt, “Why do you say that like it’s a dirty word? when he calls Walter Jr.’s website for him “Charity.”
He even monologues to Saul Goodman about how he doesn’t want it to seem like anyone else made his money, he wants credit. So he’s proud in both not accepting money from others and needing to receive credit for making the money himself.
But basically, I buy that Walter at least has convinced himself this is why he sells crystal meth. I think the show has repeatedly made clear Walt actually enjoys doing this and enjoys the power it makes him feel, where he formerly felt powerless.
Which Brings Me Back To
He lets Jane die? Really? It was too much for me. I now actively dislike Walt to the point I actually am not as interested in watching him.
I will be watching the season finale soon, and we’ll see if Vince Gilligan and Co. can’t regain my interest in Walt.
Their courage in taking him to such a dark place is remarkable, but for once I think maybe too much. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I think people need a reason to still care about this guy.
If he leaves that apartment and Jane dies later, having it be a total accident (he could have simply not realized his mistake in leaving her on her back), this all still works in terms of plot mechanics. The story can move forward, and some viewers (like this viewer) don’t come to hate Walt.
What Now?
I will certainly watch the season finale, this fantastic show has earned enough of my goodwill to guarantee that. And I may come around.
But I think Breaking Bad has taken a big chance with this move, I respect their guts, but I also may now dislike Walter so much I don’t care to waste my hour watching him.
It’s very possible Breaking Bad has lost at least one devoted viewer.
-Dan Benamor
One response to “The Episode That Walt Lost Me”
Interesting point of view, Dan. AMC was loathe to that storyline twist as well and suggested she choke AFTER Mr. White leaves. But in the end the writers got their way…
I have to go with the writers. I wanted her gone once she messed with Mr. White, so I would imagine he would even feel more inclined to allow her to die.
So if you’ve watched the final episode by now you see how Jane’s death was catalyst for the karma/butterfly effect. I wonder if you dislike Mr. White as much now, or do you dislike him even more…? 😉
I personally was surprised by how Jane died as well, however I thought it a passive sort of murder (it really was murder letting someone die when you know dang well that putting her on her side – as he showed his sister in law when handling the new born – was all that was required to save her).
I figured he would smother her with a pillow, give her tainted drugs, shoot her or something – anything. Instead he serandiptously just fell into the circumstance of doing nothing – which solved his problem with her. He’s nicer than I – in that he had to stop himself from helping her. I wouldn’t have had that instinctive reaction for her. If I were in his shoes I would have stepped into the room planning on killing the little junkie and would have had no second thoughts about it. She was a lose cannon and had a mean spirit about her once she got back into using.
BTW – I thought she was cool before that though – she transformed from cool and level headed to self absorbed and manipulative. She was a threat to his survival.
Great actress btw! Would like to see her scope of skills in something else…
Jesse would never have cleaned up had they left town together with the loot. They probably would have killed themselves within weeks shooting up. She had it coming when she fell off the wagon and then even more when she had the audcity to threaten Mr. White.
She became evil – and no longer herself. Most addicts go right back to where they left off as a bottom feeding caricature of their sober selves when they fall from the wagon. I’m glad she’s gone. Such a pretty gal – in reality – wouldn’t remain attractive within a year of hard drug use. Actually, it seemed to me unrealistic that she would have looked like that after the 10 years of abuse she had put herself through… Windy Wendy is more the outcome with hard users.
Had she lived – they would have continued to use, blackmail Mr. White, take stupid risks, blown themselves up in a meth lab, or on a positive note – wound up the mirror image of that couple where the wife pushed the ATM on top of Spoodge’s head! This was best for Jesse AND Walt that Junkie Jane choke on her own lack of self control. And Walt realized it. It’s sad but she was 27 and beautiful, was set up in life, a dad who adored her (and whom she manipulated) and had true talent + she had beat addiction. Then she tossed it all – thus she choked on her own tossed cookies. Bubye Apology Girl.
Don’t cry for Jane. Mr. White ROCKS and he did the right thing! I am starting to like Jesse more and more – and would love to see him clean. Think of how they could rule the school if they were BOTH focused, sober and learned from their mistakes.
I hope you are as enthusiastic for season 3 as I am! I just hope Jesse never learns that Mr. White stood by as Jane died.
Great writing -the best TV has to offer now that Boston Legal is off the air! 🙂