Not since M*A*S*H ended its legendary run with 125 million viewers tuning in for the final episode Goodbye, Farewell, Amen have we seen a show go out with an almost perfect finale. ‘Felina’ may not have produced the numbers M*A*S*H did but it will go down as 1 of the greatest finales of all time. The similarities don’t end there, on the surface it seems they are very different but if you look deeper you can see how alike they are. Both are trying to take content that is very brutal and unforgiving (War vs. Meth/Drugs) and turn it into something entertaining. Both had amazing, powerful lead actors that the rest of the cast/crew just fed off (Cranston vs. Alda). Both were able to surround their stars with an outstanding supporting cast that brought out the best in each other. And both were able to maintain an almost unmatchable level of quality for their entire run. M*A*S*H ended its run the year I was born so I didn’t get to experience it the way the previous generation did but G,F,A always felt like it was different than all the other TV shows, something special. 1 of those things where everything just comes together at the right time, all the luck/breaks go your way and you create a masterpiece. You don’t know how you did it and the prospect of trying to do it again has you curled up in a corner, but you did it and that’s all that matters. Goodbye, Farewell, Amen is at the top of the TV masterpiece list. And now ‘Felina’ will join that list giving M*A*S*H some company at the top.
Trying to figure out how to end 1 of the greatest stories ever told on TV without disappointing a very dedicated fan-base must have seemed impossible at times but they did it. No loose ends left hanging, no major questions important to the main story were left hanging. They didn’t try and do something for the sake of surprise or b/c the right choice might have been predictable, they stayed true to the stories/characters and went out with a FN bang. The fact that this show had/has so much life still left in it was a big hurdle I felt they had to overcome. How do you create a satisfying conclusion to something that people don’t want to say goodbye to? Every TV show wants to end with people wanting more rather than being ok that it’s over but there is a danger of leaving too much story on the table. But that’s where Breaking Bad was different, there was so much more they could have done with the story but at the same time gave us more than enough to be satisfied with. I was a big supporter of fleshing out the Gray Matter/Gus backstories, neither of which happened and I’m still more than satisfied with the ending. I’m ok with using my imagination to fill in the blanks, sometimes it’s impossible to meet the expectations of your imagination. The final 16 episodes were some of the most intense hours of TV I’ve ever watched, I was on the edge of my seat with bated breath waiting to see where this train ride was gonna wreck.
The second to last episode, ‘Granite State’ is going to get lost underneath all the praise for ‘Felina’ but its greatness should not be blunted. I can’t imagine a finale being set up better than that. Finales are like having 1 swing to hit an underhand high lob pitch, everybody thinks a Home run is a given but it’s tougher to hit than you think. Most lose concentration and don’t even come close but Breaking Bad CRUSHED it b/c they couldn’t have had a better pitch. Everything about the episode clicked, but the decision to use the Breaking Bad theme to end ‘Granite State’ was a perfect call, other songs could have worked but there was only 1 that fit all corners perfect. It took the energy from all previous episodes, wrapped it up and put it out there for everyone to deal with. When it hits the main theme and focuses in on the glass of whiskey, you know the end is coming and it’s gonna be bad. From Crazy 8 to Tuco to Gus to Hank, everything has led to this moment and there is no getting out of it. No more close calls, no more Heisenberg power plays to save the day, just 1 final stand to try and make something good come out of Walt’s series of bad decisions.
“I’ve still got things left to do”
I think most people had guessed as to what Walt was referring to when he said that to Skyler but it was all cleared up in the finale. The M60 that started this final season on high alert most definitely did not disappoint. The ricin Walt went back for had many potential recipients but it ended up going to Lydia via her ‘Stevia’ packets. That was brilliant, bravo to whoever made that call. Loved that they threw in the ‘it’s easy money, till we catch ya’ scene from the pilot. You could almost see it on his face as he walked out of his house for the last time that he wished he could go back to that moment and never go on that ride-along. Walk back in to that birthday party and maybe accept the offer to work with Gray Matter again and have his treatment paid for. Todd, the nicest murderer in TV land finally got what he had coming. These days it seems villains rarely get what they deserve from who they deserve it from but thankfully Vince Gilligan gave us a great, satisfying death. I hope George RR Martin (Game of Thrones) was watching. Uncle Jack found out the hard way that when it comes to Walter White, you don’t use half-measures, you go all the way. I could feel my heart beating in my chest when Walt was trying to get his keys, the thought that they built up the M60 to keep Walt heartbreakingly close to using it was messing with me haha it was a great touch to have Walt “save” Jesse before unleashing hell on the Nazis. I’m glad Jesse didn’t kill Walt and just left him to die, after everything it wouldn’t have felt right. I loved that last ‘head nod’ moment between them, despite everything that has gone down I still see them as having a Father/Son/Teacher/Best Friend type relationship. It probably would have hit me harder if not for everything Walt has done to Jesse but it was great to have that final moment of ‘see ya on the other side’ closure. Didn’t get any closure on the Gray Matter story but what we did get was an unbelievably intense scene with Walt forcing Gretchen & Elliot to get his money to his family. That was just awesome, you knew Walt would do something to make sure that it wasn’t all for nothing. When those red dots appeared I almost stood up off the couch, unreal intensity. What did hit me harder than I would have expected was Walt saying goodbye to his family. We never got to see much of Skyler/Walt romance but I know how much love they had for each other. Too much had happened for them to have a proper goodbye but he was able to save her 1 more time giving her info to trade for freedom. I’m glad we know they got Hank and Gomie out of there. Walt saying goodbye to his baby girl that he would never get to protect from boys or watch grow up was tough to watch. But the one that really got me was Walt saying his goodbye to Walt Jr. It was tough to remember all the love they had between them and then seeing the cold, distant goodbye at the end. I don’t know whether it was knowing how much Walt loved his big man or the fact that the last time he saw his only son was at a distance through a dirty window but wow the tears wouldn’t stop. I wear my heart on my sleeve so it’s not uncommon for me to tear up at things but I can usually control it, not this time. I’m glad I was watching by myself haha but what a powerful scene. Knowing this amazing show was ending, that Walt would not be walking away from this, taking everything that has happened over 6 years just kind of came out in that moment. And it was a scene with no words, just facial expression and the energy that had been created by the show. That right there is why we watch TV and invest our time, energy and imaginations, to be rewarded with something that makes us feel and create and experience a rollercoaster of emotions. And it all ends with Heisenberg dying in a chemistry lab, surrounded by the blue meth that filled some of the holes in his soul but created a vacuum that sucked all the good out of Walt’s life. Absolute perfection of an ending, couldn’t have asked for better. Had a big smile on my face as Jesse yelled and sped away. He has been emotionally and physically punished over and over the past 5 seasons so I’d like to imagine his luck changed and lived happily ever after.
So that’s it. Our great show that has given us so much has ended. Like I said, it’s rare that a show can give back just as much if not more than what the viewer puts in so it’s pretty tough to say goodbye. You never know if the stars will align again and someone will create another show that can do what Breaking Bad has done so when it happens you gotta appreciate it to the fullest. I know I have and will continue to do so going forward, this is a story I will be watching many times. Can’t wait to get that big complete series barrel set, looks awesome. Before I end this I want to talk about each character a bit:
Walter White – Don’t know that there has ever been a character quite like Walter White. Seems like a nice enough guy you should want to root for but when you look closer you realize he has always been kind of a dick. Always passing the buck off himself, blaming everyone else for the career he didn’t have or the life he couldn’t provide for himself/his family. And then when he actually breaks bad, he almost becomes more selfish the whole time convincing himself he is doing this ‘for the family.’ As the main character I rooted for Walter a lot longer than I should have but deep down you know he is a nice guy, just needed a few things to go differently earlier in life. It was a very love-hate relationship with WW, you would love him at times and then he would do something that made you want to reach into the screen and smack the shit outta him. Words can’t describe the mastery of this performance by Bryan Cranston, role of a lifetime. Vince Gilligan successfully completed his goal of turning “Mr. Chips into Scarface” b/c Heisenberg is now an Icon with the likes of Scarface. Heisenberg was responsible for a lot of my favorite moments on the show and was really what kept me on Team Walt. In the end he dove on Jesse to save him and get a sliver of redemption for himself when he could have just let him die with everyone so you know he cares about Jesse a lot. I’ll miss cheering for/against this character.
Jesse Pinkman – Bitch! Who knew this mouthy little punk would win over the hearts of Breaking Bad fans and become a main character alongside Walter White? Well, I guess everyone knew the second they saw Aaron Paul perform as Jesse because it is the role he was born to play. His acting was so good that at times you could almost swear Jesse Pinkman was a real person playing himself. His performance brought instant reality to the show right from the start so it’s no wonder that they cancelled plans for his demise in Season 1 and kept him going right to the end and beyond. I can’t say I was always on his side, some of his stupid decisions drove me crazy. And after his ‘you’re my free pass’ speech it would have taken everything I had not to make the other side of his face match haha but I never wanted harm to come to him. Like Walt I wanted him to become a good guy that took care of the bad guys if he needed to. It killed me when Jane died not only for her character but b/c I knew how much Jesse needed her. At that time he had nothing, not even his immediate family to make an emotional connection with. Jesse and Jane gave everything to each other which made it all the more heartbreaking to see Jesse alone again with her death on top of everything else. And as soon as he gets over that he has to kill Gail, and then the kid gets shot and that was the breaking point. Like I said before, I hope that after he got away his luck changed b/c he definitely earned it. You know that he went back for Brock, he has nobody now and Jesse would want to make things right for Andrea.
Hank Schrader – “My name is ASAC Schrader and you can go fuck yourself” You gotta love Hank, always fighting the good fight. It was tough to root against him sometimes b/c he is the kind of guy you want on your side and Dean Norris was great as Hank. I was pretty concerned about how close Hank was getting and how they would deal with that and then BAM the cousins showed up haha that was a great job of realistically getting him off the chase but keeping him in the picture. I’m sure if the show had been longer the fact that Walt paid for his rehab would have been a bigger deal but the way they went with Hank finally figuring it out and being hell bent on bringing Walt to justice worked great. Went 2 for 3 in shootouts, you never want to lose 1 but still pretty damn good if you ask me.
Skyler White – Man the people of the drug world are lucky Skyler never fully embraced the Queenpin role because it would have been bad news for them haha I’m really glad Anna Gunn won an Emmy b/c it was amazing to watch her transform this character over the course of the series. I wasn’t a huge fan of her character at times but I could always appreciate the acting. The scene from ‘Ozymandias’ with Skyler running down the street as Walt takes off with Holly was definitely her finest hour. Just too bad we never got to see ‘Skysenberg.’
Walter Jr – In the end he was probably the only character that never broke bad. I enjoyed watching the relationship between him and Walt, especially as Walt tried to be Heisenberg and loving father at the same time. Watching Walt stand up for his son in the pilot episode showed how much he cared and what kind of relationship they had. I wondered how Walt Jr would react when he finally found out the truth about his dad. A part of me thought he might actually be ok with it but Walt raised him to be a good person so it made sense that he would do the right thing no matter what. His Uncle Hank as well as his dad would be very proud of what he did at the end tackling Walt and protecting his Mom. Walt Jr could have easily been an afterthought character but RJ Mitte put in some great work and made sure his character stood out in every scene. You know he will step up and take care of the family with that 9 million. Gotta say I’m really glad they never did the ‘Walt Jr gets hooked on blue meth’ storyline, seemed like so many fans wanted it but not this guy.
Marie Schrader – Oh man there were times I would have done anything to see Marie sent on a trip to Belize, the whole shoplifting/not apologizing to Skyler stuff was maddening haha she never really got her own central storyline but was an integral part at making the other storylines work. The realism Betsy Brandt brought to the character is 1 of the little things that allows the show to be great but might go under appreciated. Her reaction to hearing ‘you will never see Hank again’ was heartbreaking. They did a great job of establishing their relationship and making people care about Hank and Marie with the limited time they had.
Mike Ehrmantrout – I miss Mike haha but really I do miss watching the character. For me there were 2 cast additions that were key to the realism and longevity of the show; Mike and Gus. And to think Mike was only created b/c Bob Odenkirk was busy and couldn’t play Saul for the Jane cleanup scene. That’s the kind of luck going their way I’m talking about. But from the 1st scene he was in Mike provided a calmness for me like, alright as long as they have Mike they will be ok. Mike is 1 of those guys you wish you knew, that can do pretty much anything and just flat out get shit done. When all seems lost, Mike finds the way. As Season 5 started I knew Walt & Jesse would be ok for the time being b/c they had Mike. It was mind numbingly frustrating to watch Walt not appreciate what Mike can do/does for him (and he doesn’t even know about the cousins!) and then straight up kill him. To top it off he rubs salt in the wound by saying he could have just asked Lydia and didn’t have to kill him. Mike also goes out like a boss with a badass line “Shut the fuck up and let me die in peace.” The way he finally put Walter in his place at the end was very satisfying, someone needed to tell him. They had a great thing going but Walt just had to be the man and ruin it.
Gus Fring – IMO, the addition of the character Gus to the show is the most important thing they did. I remember around the time he was introduced wondering how they were going to realistically keep Walt in the business without being killed b/c he was moving up and going to start stepping on toes that shoot back. The performance of Giancarlo Esposito going from mild mannered fast food manager to Meth Kingpin was absolutely incredible. When Gus explained the details of his operation you believed every word. Every time he had a scene I wouldn’t want it to end, he commanded your attention with everything from his voice to his expressions. I was hoping we would get to see the Walt/Gus Empire have some good times before everything started to crumble, it was just such a treat to watch Giancarlo work as Gus. He didn’t get a last great line but he might have the most badass death of them all, doesn’t get much better than a face/off death. 1 of my personal favorite moments is the Gus power play on the cartel. When Gus stops Jesse from getting a shot you knew shit was gonna go down. Only thing I didn’t like was his being ok with guys that use kids as drug mules/hitmen, didn’t seem like it fit his character.
Badger, Skinny Pete and Combo – Jesse’s boys. I loved when these guys had scenes, especially Badger and Skinny Pete this final season. Their Star Trek talk and showing up as Walt’s “hitmen” was awesome. These guys, like Marie, provided the show with realistic characters that made everything flow smoothly. Combo’s death was 1 of the 1st really shocking moments for me, started to really hammer home that this was about to get real and anything can happen. I was really happy Skinny Pete and Badger had a role in the final episode.
Saul Goodman – You know, I spoke too soon when I said there were only 2 character additions that were key b/c I should have said 3. The introduction was another one of those safety nets of calm that as long as the guys had Saul to keep the cops in line they were ok. I didn’t like to see Saul’s confidence and whole set up start to crumble, he had it working so well it was really fun to watch. Really happy we are getting a ‘Better Call Saul’ spinoff. Bob Odenkirk is on the long list of supporting actors on the show that deserve Emmys and added crucial realism to the story. Saul Goodman is now an iconic character in his own right, another case of almost acting as himself. The way he made his exit from the show with Walt unable to physically intimidate him anymore was really a perfect way for him to go.
Jane – I LOVED sober Jane, druggie Jane not so much. I was so into her character when she first came on the show I just wanted to learn more, no way was I thinking she wasn’t going to last the season. I’m sitting there trying to think of where the story will go with Jesse & Jane after getting the money and then just like that she is gone. Her death really got to me, thought about it for days after. Felt almost like I lost someone I knew personally. That really made me realize how good the show was but also how good it could actually get. Combo’s death made me realize anything could happen but Jane’s death hammered home that like Roddy Piper, just when you think you have the answers, Vince Gilligan changes the questions. Being introduced to her dad and seeing his heartbreak plus Jesse made it hit really hard.
Andrea – What started as a background character became a character I really cared about. Seeing how good she was with Brock and how much she truly cared for Jesse, I really enjoyed her scenes. I should have seen it coming but I was totally shocked by her death. When Todd got her out of the house I’m thinking that they’re going to kidnap her and BOOM it’s over. Heartbreaking scene, especially with Aaron Paul’s reaction. Poor Brock has Jesse Pinkman luck.
Gomie – Those early scenes with Hank N Gomie are pure gold. I always enjoyed when he was on screen, he helped bring realism to the other side of the law on the show. Too bad there wasn’t more episodes/seasons, would have liked to see what he could have done with an expanded role. At least he was able to be by Hank’s side as he made what would be their last stand.
Tuco – 1 of the early stars, usually stole the show in the scenes he was in. You want to talk about realism, Tuco is a character I’m ok with not being in real life haha but man did Ray Cruz crush this performance. Lucky for Walt, Hank is a good shot b/c you don’t want a guy like Tuco out there seeking revenge as his cousins proved. The scenes with Tuco in S2E1 were the 1st time I’ve ever had a show/movie move me to the edge of my seat. I snapped back to reality during a commercial and realized I had moved to the edge of the couch. It was a cool moment. Then those scenes in the desert with that damn bell, almost too intense haha
The Cousins – As soon as they showed up my heart jumped into my throat and stayed there. Watching them move closer and closer to Walt while he had no clue was unbelievably intense. They couldn’t have found better actors to play these 2, Luis & Daniel killed it. (Pun intended haha) When Mike sees them pull up you’re almost thinking this is it for Walt but you know it can’t be. Unreal storytelling. Their shootout with Hank and subsequent death was awesome, a fitting end to their characters.
Crazy 8 – The first opponent of Walt. A guy we found out was a DEA snitch ironically responsible for the meth lab takedown Walt is along for. He did a great job of making us believe that he just wanted to go home and wouldn’t hurt Walt. Everything I knew told me you had to kill him b/c there is no way he wouldn’t come back for revenge and considering he was a DEA snitch it would have been the end for Walt for sure. But still, the way he sold it left a little shred of doubt that he might look the other way to go home. Walt got lucky and noticed the broken plate shard missing but in a situation like that Crazy 8 should have played it cool until his safety was secured and come back later. Besides what Walt did was in self defense so how mad can he really be haha
Ted Beneke – Lucky bastard got to sleep with Skyler but I suppose he paid for that haha The sight of Ted after his fall was 1 of the most shocking moments on the show for me, did not see it coming and was not ready for it. I thought he would be a bigger thorn in Walt’s side after he spent the tax money on other things. Another 1 of those characters that was so well acted it added realism to the story.
Lydia – Man did she pay for her crimes in the end. When we 1st saw her about to be killed by Mike I really wanted her to survive, I liked her character and her involvement in the story. The fact that she is beautiful might have had something to do with it haha but they drew out a lot of emotion for a character we had barely been introduced to. By the time the finale aired we had learned she was a pretty cold individual that would do what it takes to survive whatever/whoever the cost. In the end her meticulous nature, the thing that kept her alive and free for years was what gave Walt the opportunity to kill her.
Gale Boetticher – What a great, unique character Gale turned out to be. Such a shame he had to go but when you make a man replaceable you also make him very dangerous, especially a man like Walter White/Heisenberg. It would have been fun to see how Walt/Gale would have worked together long term. Add in Jesse and we could have had the 3 stooges of meth cooks haha Gale almost figured out what Gus wanted in time to warn Walt and become an ally to save himself but just ran out of time.
Elliot & Gretchen Schwartz – Walt’s oldest friends and ex-business partners. Always loved the scenes involving them, they both had great chemistry with Walt onscreen. 2 of the more believable, realistic characters on the show. Sometimes I have to catch myself and remember Eliot Schwartz is not the real person haha after 6 of the last 8 episodes without them I didn’t expect to see them again but there they were on TV in the Breaking Bad world. Beautiful idea for Walt to get a little revenge on the Schwartz’ and make sure his family was taken care of and this wasn’t all for nothing. I’m pretty sure that Walt doesn’t have to worry about them not delivering the money, message sent loud and clear.
Todd – Man for such a disgusting piece of shit murderer he is a really nice guy haha you can’t ignore the brutal things he has done but somewhere in there is a good person. After everything he did I was hoping he would get what’s coming to him and nothing less. He was that good of a villain where you just have to see him face the consequences and pay for his crimes. When the scene was reaching the climax I was kind of disappointed Todd might only get shot but then we were given the gift of Jesse choking the life out of that scumbag. So weird to feel good about something like that but this is Breaking Bad baby haha Jesse Plemons did such a great job he might some work to do to wash the Todd stink off him.
Before I wrap this up I just want to have some fun and throw out some prequel/spinoff ideas. I know most have zero chance of happening:
– Los Pollos Hermanos – since we didn’t get any questions about Gus’ backstory answered why not do a whole TV show about it.
– Gray Matter – Following Walt & Elliot as they struggled to build their company and the answers about what happened to make Walt leave.
– Badger & Skinny Pete Yo – These 2 have great chemistry together, I could definitely see a Clerks/Half-Baked style comedy show working great.
– The Salamancas – Pretty crazy characters in that family tree, I’d love to see what their journey through the generations looked like
– Madrigal – We just barely scratched the surface with this company, would love to see the whole picture.
Well we really have reached the end. I still remember when my buddy first gave me the heads up on a show about a high school chemistry teacher that gets cancer and starts cooking meth to leave money for his family. I was immediately intrigued but wanted to make sure they weren’t trying to glorify crystal meth. Those fears were quashed within the first 5 min haha never in my wildest dreams did I think I was about to start watching the greatest TV show ever nor was I prepared for what was to come. These week long waits between episodes and then the month, sometimes year long waits from season to season were absolutely brutal but that helped amplify the experience. Those waits forced me to break down the episodes and think about them deeper than I would most things. It caused me to go deeper and deeper into the world of Breaking Bad, there was never enough conversation or material to satisfy me. On one hand I feel for the Netflix/DVD viewers that got to watch episode after episode because they didn’t get the experience that comes with waiting. But on the other hand they got to experience this rollercoaster ride without any breaks, watching a few episodes in a row must have felt like being in a Heavyweight boxing match for new viewers. I know I felt that way re-watching and I had already seen them. It’s been so awesome to see the viewing audiences grow and grow. I love going on social media and seeing all the comments about the show. Every time you go on somebody new is discovering the show. I can’t remember if there has ever been a show this universally loved by critics and fans together. People that dislike or have no interest in the show are on a very lonely island. After experiencing this amazing story I just can’t imagine how someone wouldn’t want to be a part of it.
The twists and turns of this story have been incredible. Breaking Bad gave us so many iconic characters and quotes. They set their own bar for high quality right off the bat and never failed to reach or surpass it. It is just unreal when you think about there never being a bad episode but its true there really isn’t. I’m so impressed at how they kept the realism in the show so strong when it would have been so easy to fall of the rails and never recover. A show like this about a nerdy high school teacher taking on the baddest of the drug world was gonna need some seriously high level storytelling but Vince Gilligan and his crew of writers were more than up to the task. I can’t thank them enough for giving us this amazing experience. Not only did we get a great story but Breaking Bad introduced us to so many talented actors that will be entertaining us for years to come. It allowed Bryan Cranston the opportunity to remind the world just how good he is. I have so much love for the cast and crew of BrBa, they put just as much into their performances as the fans did watching and it paid off with a legendary run. There is something special about the energy you get from Breaking Bad, I’m going to miss connecting and enjoying this journey every Sunday with all the fans across the world. I’ll miss reading the different perspectives and reviews of episodes. I’ll miss that gut wrenching feeling you get when watching the intense moments of the show, which was pretty much all of it. I’ll even miss the brutal feeling of looking at the long wait until the next episode, b/c the feeling of not having any more episodes to look forward to sucks a lot worse.
With such a great story told and almost perfect finale, it’s hard to say I want it to be longer or to have gone a different way. The story that they settled on was so good that no matter why Breaking Bad only got the number of episodes/seasons it did, it happened exactly the way it needed to in order to bring this story to a satisfying conclusion. Now that I have seen this amazing show play out and looking at all the luck/breaks it got, I have 100% confidence that 62 episodes over 5.5 seasons is the way this story was meant to be told.
I think I can speak for everyone when I say that unlike the characters in this incredible story, we are all better off after Breaking Bad.