Ben Kaufman
Editor-in-chief
Vince Gilligan officially wins the award for the best show on television ever. After six years, five seasons, and countless freak-out moments, “Breaking Bad” has come to an end.
I’m sitting here, in shock, trying to put words together to describe how I feel about this episode, and I have no idea where to start.
Unsurprisingly, Gilligan and his team of masterful writers found a way to tie up basically every storyline. To start, we see how Walt even got to New Mexico (by stealing that car in the beginning). Then we see him go to Gretchen’s house. It’s a classic case of Walter White, disregarding all realistic social norms and invading someone’s house to deliver them millions of dollars in cash to give to Walter, Jr. (or Flynn, depending on how much you like Walter). In addition, the fact that he uses Jesse’s friends, Badger and Skinny Pete—who we haven’t seen in ages—to be hitmen is extreme, but well played on his part to make sure that Gretchen follows through.
We also see Walt finally use the ricin he took from his house in the beginning of the season. I don’t really think anyone is too surprised that he used it to kill Lydia, and this at least took her out of the picture for the rest of the episode.
Then, Marie warns Skyler that Walt is back. Little do we know, he is standing in her kitchen as she is on the phone. First, it’s interesting that Walt didn’t try to patch things up with Marie, considering he is basically the reason Hank is dead. I guess the writers didn’t find it necessary to patch that up, and the audience is going to be heartbroken about it. As Walt talks to Skyler, and he finally agrees that while his meth cooking empire started out with good intentions, as time went on, it diverted, and he did it for the power and the money. Thank God. Walt needed to realize that, so better late than never. After a final goodbye to Skyler and Holly, and watching Walter, Jr. (or Flynn) walk into the house, he then goes to see Todd and fights his gang.
Finally, we get to see who will live, who will be the victors of the series, and who will fall and die with the other characters. After Walt almost got shot in the head on the spot for knowing that Jesse was still alive, Jack and Todd bring Jesse in, and the games begin. As Jesse walks in, Walt tackles him while simultaneously pressing the button to open the trunk of his car, revealing a large machine gun that kills everyone around him, except Todd and Jack. In a matter of seconds, Jesse strangles Todd with the chains that he is currently entangled in, and Walt finishes off Jack by shooting him one more time. After that, we see one lone bullet in Walt’s stomach, leading to his inevitable doom as Jesse drives away.
As the camera fades away, the cops run in to find Walt dead on the ground by the meth lab he had helped create. The scene was incredibly well done, and it’s amazing how the writers were able to make the audience sympathize with Walt. Walt started out as a decently nice guy trying to help his family, and then did a complete 180 and became the drug lord of his meth empire. The unforgettable line, “I am the one who knocks,” is the prime example of how this is the case, proving how Walt has become this person with no remorse who only wants to be the best and will do anything to achieve it. It is understandable that Walt should be considered a bad person, to say the least. Despite his issues, I left the episode feeling sad for Walt. I guess I finally have come around, after he has made his peace with the important people in his life and is left to die.
The episode was incredibly well written, and each actor was able to capture the true emotion of the situation. I think we can all say we shed a tear or two at the end, not only because this great show ended, but because of how well it ended and how well everything was summed up. I’m thoroughly impressed and saddened to know that we will never get to see any member of the White family or anyone else from the “Breaking Bad” family again.
Here’s to you Gilligan, Bryan Cranston, and anyone else involved in “Breaking Bad.” You put on quite a show. I’m sure that people will still be talking about it in the years to come, and it will truly be missed.