I remember reading an interview with Vince Gilligan during which he expressed surprise that Skylar was so widely reviled. He thought that people would be more understanding of her reaction to finding out what Walt was doing. That might have been true, had she been likable or sympathetic to begin with, but she was unlikable from episode 1, IMO.
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H and I got into this debate - he hated Skylar and, while I didn't particularly like her for the reasons you listed, I was completely in her corner with her reaction when she found out.
That was solidified when she said something to the effect of "someone has to protect this family from the man trying to protect this family"
Spot.On.
My issue with that, though, is that she didn't end up protecting anyone. She just kept going along with it. I do have to admit however, that I am one of those people that rooted for Walt throughout the series (even to the end) so maybe my perspective on Skylar is a bit skewed, lol.
Post by saraandmichael on Apr 4, 2014 7:49:01 GMT -5
i should also say that i was a bit disappointed that there was little storyline about jesse's family (though i suppose that was necessary to show his station in life) and i was always curious and sad that the pot incident with his brother wasn't brought up again in some way.
H and I got into this debate - he hated Skylar and, while I didn't particularly like her for the reasons you listed, I was completely in her corner with her reaction when she found out.
That was solidified when she said something to the effect of "someone has to protect this family from the man trying to protect this family"
Spot.On.
My issue with that, though, is that she didn't end up protecting anyone. She just kept going along with it. I do have to admit however, that I am one of those people that rooted for Walt throughout the series (even to the end) so maybe my perspective on Skylar is a bit skewed, lol.
i think she did. she protected her kids the best way she knew how. she protected herself from law enforcement and the reality that her children would truly have nobody by continuing to protect walt. she was backed into a corner and dealt the hand she was given. she wasn't really in a position to be honest with flynn-waltjr, so she bottled up and took blame for why they couldn't stay at home. she made sure that the tax evasion was handled so that the irs wouldn't come looking at her. she distanced herself from her sister (the only other family she had) because she knew she couldn't tell her the truth. and she lied to herself in order to keep going while she waited for walt to die so that she could finally have her life back.
Skyler was probably in the most difficult position out of all the characters. There was really no way she could be likeable and still do what she needed to do.
First, generally boo on Skyler. What an unlikable character. LOL.
I'm sure she told the DEA about the coordinates right away.
I remember reading an interview with Vince Gilligan during which he expressed surprise that Skylar was so widely reviled. He thought that people would be more understanding of her reaction to finding out what Walt was doing. That might have been true, had she been likable or sympathetic to begin with, but she was unlikable from episode 1, IMO.
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I agree she was unlikable from the start, even when there was no drug dealing. She simply isn't the type of person I would befriend.
Her reaction was understandable.
But she is still not somebody with whom I'd choose to have coffee.
And that goes tenfold for nutter Marie. Lolz.
Frankly, there was not one female character that I even halfway embraced, not that there was much offered. (I can only think of Jane, Andrea, Gretchen, and Lydia as the remaining women.)
I found Skylar insufferable from the start and had real trouble feeling sorry for her, despite the circumstances.
I did change my mind about Hank and Marie in the later seasons. I had started out hating them both and ended up screaming at the tv when he got killed.
H and I got into this debate - he hated Skylar and, while I didn't particularly like her for the reasons you listed, I was completely in her corner with her reaction when she found out.
That was solidified when she said something to the effect of "someone has to protect this family from the man trying to protect this family"
Spot.On.
My issue with that, though, is that she didn't end up protecting anyone. She just kept going along with it. I do have to admit however, that I am one of those people that rooted for Walt throughout the series (even to the end) so maybe my perspective on Skylar is a bit skewed, lol.
In her own warped way she tried to protect everyone. She protected her son's image of his father, she tried to keep the family together by protecting Walt's business. Was it the right thing to do? Probably not. But she tried to keep things from falling apart.
Miso, I was confused by how many seasons there were, too! But I did figure it out before the end
I was sadder when hank and Mike died than when Walt did. Bryan Cranston did such a good job though - any time he got sincerely emotional/teary, my heart softened toward him again.
Aaron Paul was perfection as Jesse.
I just watched the last few episodes last weekend and the one where Walt takes holly killed me. The faces that she made at the fireman who found her, omg. Give that baby an Emmy!
Flynn was the worst. I hated him more than Skyler because he was a little asshole without even knowing the circumstances.
I agree. I hated the way he acted towards Walt after Hank died. He had his moments but I was Team Walt throughout the whole thing, I was sad that he died.
Post by game blouses on Apr 4, 2014 9:49:15 GMT -5
I felt like Skyler was always the antagonist to Walt. First he has to keep secrets from her, then he has to straight up lie to her, then she finally finds out and has that dumb affair, and gives away the money, and ugh. I get why she did all of it, but she always felt like one more wrinkle in Walt's life, and I was rooting for Walt.
ETA: Mike's death was the second most devastating scene to me, only because it was less of a surprise to me than Hank's death. I loved Mike so much.
I couldn't like Mike. I don't understand the Mike love.
And I always loved Hank so much! Why do some of you hate him?
I loved Mike because he got shit done! Walt and Jesse were such screw ups in a lot of ways, and it was so refreshing to have a guy there who could just get it done. I also really liked Gus so I'm not the most reliable viewer.
I loved Hank too, but his obsession with catching Heisenberg (and then Walt) turned his character into something much darker. He was a good foil to Walt because they had so many similar traits.
I just re-watched the episode where the Nazis kill the 10 guys in jail that Mike was paying. I don't remember it being so freakin' graphic. Or maybe hormones have made me extra sensitive. But gah.
I felt like Skyler was always the antagonist to Walt. First he has to keep secrets from her, then he has to straight up lie to her, then she finally finds out and has that dumb affair, and gives away the money, and ugh. I get why she did all of it, but she always felt like one more wrinkle in Walt's life, and I was rooting for Walt.
ETA: Mike's death was the second most devastating scene to me, only because it was less of a surprise to me than Hank's death. I loved Mike so much.
im kinda wondering how you think he should have told her about the meth making and when. i think walt was so booksmart (even hank said this before he was killed) that he miscalculated how much he would have to make and how long. IF he could have just supplied combo and badger and jesse and skinny pete and made his 700k in a month or so, there would have been no need to tell her. or if he had died in six months. he might have been able to hold it all together before he died and the family would have had all the money and everyone would have been ok.
but for as badass as walt was, he miscalculated a hell of a lot and things turned to shit in the end.
Well, his ego destroyed his original plan. Like he said in the finale, he did this for himself - even though he really did start out doing it for the family. That's why he's furious when his cancer goes into remission. He knew he was going to have to go back, or live an ordinary life again.
Given her character, I can see why he'd never want to tell her. This was HIS thing and he knew she'd control it, which she attempted to do. I liked the idea of her finding out on her own but I felt more sympathy for Walt than for Skyler during the secret-keeping.
DH and I watched this series like Meth Heads jonesing for another bump. G*d I loved it. And I am so relieved its over.
But why in the world couldn't they "vacation" in the Cayman Islands with a suitcase full of money?? Isn't that what all of the outrage is for the Cayman's "tax shelters". Why did they warehouse it in a storage locker and keep burying it in the desert?? And WHY ONLY IN ONE PLACE?! I know I'm way too invested - I really have to let this go.
but for as badass as walt was, he miscalculated a hell of a lot and things turned to shit in the end.
I actually loved this about the show. It really showed that even thought Walt was a genius, he was not a man who had an extensive criminal background and made a lot of newbie errors. It made it feel a little more real- that's stuff he really couldn't know without being steeped in it, and they did a good job of showing that.
I loved the Walt/Jesse dynamic. It was so incredibly fucked up and manipulative, but there was definitely real emotion there- certainly from Jesse, but obviously from Walt, too. I think Walt loved Jesse as a surrogate son, as he saved his ass multiple times and showed genuine concern and remorse (killing Jane, finding Jesse in the meth house, "Jesse is family")...but when push comes to shove, I think Walt cared about his legacy more than anything (or anyone).
I also loved Mike. And Hank. I really loved what they did with Hank's character. And having Hank tell Uncle Aryan to GFY, and then show Uncle Aryan begging for his life with Walt was a very satisfying ending.
And Jesse killing Todd while Walt watched was pretty much perfect.
I still think about the scene with Gus in the nursing home. That may have been my most visceral reaction to TV ever. *explosion* ::gus walks out:: Me: OH COME ON!! Even in this show of far-fetchedness, there is NO WA-- ::camera pans:: Me: HOOOOOOOOOOOO LEEEEEEEEEEEE FUCCCKKK.
I still think about the scene with Gus in the nursing home. That may have been my most visceral reaction to TV ever. *explosion* ::gus walks out:: Me: OH COME ON!! Even in this show of far-fetchedness, there is NO WA-- ::camera pans:: Me: HOOOOOOOOOOOO LEEEEEEEEEEEE FUCCCKKK.
Oh that was a good part! I think my biggest reaction was to Walt letting Jane die. I was standing up and yelling at the tv "No! Come on, Walt!!!!!!! Save her!!!!!!"
I love you guys! Your enthusiasm makes me feel more normal about my recent obsession!
Loved or hated, the characters were multidimensional and multifaceted. They actually evoked emotions from us all, which is really incredible because we are all such different people.
Even though the plot was extraordinary, I really think the true beauty of the show was the depth of each main character and the audience interest generated by even the most minor characters.
I still think about the scene with Gus in the nursing home. That may have been my most visceral reaction to TV ever. *explosion* ::gus walks out:: Me: OH COME ON!! Even in this show of far-fetchedness, there is NO WA-- ::camera pans:: Me: HOOOOOOOOOOOO LEEEEEEEEEEEE FUCCCKKK.
Oh that was a good part! I think my biggest reaction was to Walt letting Jane die. I was standing up and yelling at the tv "No! Come on, Walt!!!!!!! Save her!!!!!!"
oooh yeah. I was totally (over)invested at that part too. lol
Last Edit: Apr 4, 2014 11:54:22 GMT -5 by pedanticwench
I have all the books I could need, and what more could I need than books? I shall only engage in commerce if books are the coin. -- Catherynne M. Valente
I couldn't like Mike. I don't understand the Mike love.
And I always loved Hank so much! Why do some of you hate him?
Mike, while being a criminal, had an admirable morality about him, as warped as that may sound. He was extremely loyal and trustworthy. He cared deeply about people who needed his care (e.g., his granddaughter and Jesse).
Hank was brash, crass, and just not my cup of tea. As crazy as this is going to sound, there was something honorable about the deep family ties that all the bad guys had -- the Salamancas, the Aryan Nation, and Mike and his granddaughter. Hank didn't have that. Once he knew that Walter was Heisenberg, it never even crossed his mind to keep quiet about it.
If you can't count on family to protect you, what do you have left?
It is no wonder that Walter considered Jesse his family. At the end, even after all that had transpired, it was only Jesse who had a modicum of love for Walter. The watch Jesse gave Walter for his birthday -- when nobody else gave Walter a damn thing -- was so meaningful.
And that's why I love Mike and hate Hank (and all of Walter's family).
I mean, seriously. Even slimy Saul treated Walter better than Walter's own flesh and blood.