Blame Breaking Bad

Ok, so there’s clearly been a dearth of content here at Fish & Spaghetti for the past few months. I guess I’m sort of the one to blame.

After all, I’m the one who got Jay1 hooked on the current “best show on television” Breaking Bad, which is the thing that completely derailed the blog. Over the past few months Jay1, Pinky and I spend most of our free time dissecting scenes, theorizing where characters would be at the end of the season and just generally waxing Vince Gilligan’s car.

(To be 100% honest we did spend a considerable amount of time listening to Chet explain why Lost was awesome and why we should be paying attention to the final season. I'm pretty sure he gave us an episode by episode rundown for the entire show, but he lost us when he tried to explain why “the Others” were abducting children.)

Actually let me take that back. If you want to assign blame for the disrepair of the blog, here’s where it should go;



Blame the Salamanca clan for being absolutely terrifying.



Tuco encapsulates the terror of unpredictable violent out bursts. Don "Tio" Salamanca provides terror by barely lifting his finger, while the Leonel and Marco Salamanca offer it up via ruthless brutality. For a show called “Breaking Bad” the Salamanca clan are the closest it comes to having actual bad guys.

Blame Hank Schrader who has subtly shifted from being the meathead counter to Walt' brainiac to being a character you root for while at the same time you dread what his success will bring.



In converse to the Salamanca clan, Hank is the only character whose moral compass isn’t compromised and thus a “good guy.”

Blame Gus Fring for his coldhearted business sense and relentless work ethic. Gus is the man with a plan, a plan that he follows. He’s also the man who orchestrates the elimination of anyone who doesn’t go along with his plan. And every time he’s on the screen he’s mesmerizing.



Compared to the coolest criminal characters, Gus’ heart pumps liquid nitrogen.

Blame Gale Boetticher for having the gall to try to fill a completely unnecessay void in Walt's life. And also blame Gale for being so damned perfect. Gail is as close as Breaking Bad comes to having an innocent, so he’s almost impossible to root against. He’s adorable and almost lovable. His collections are intriguing and his naiveté is endearing.

Blame Saul Goodman for stealing practically every scene he’s in.



He’s the best kind of shyster lawyer; the kind who’s good at his job. He provides many services for his clients. He got Jesse a house. He’s helping Walt launder money. And even though Saul’s ethics are shaky, when push comes to shove, he still proves he knows where to find them.

Blame Mike whose demeanor resides somewhere between “experienced” and “world weary.”



His advice is always timely and sage. He’s there to clean up mistakes and tie up loose ends. But man, his delivery of every one of his lines of dialogue is chilling.

Blame Victor who, as Gus’ right hand, has very little to say and only a bit more to do. But the fact that he expresses Gus’ wants is what makes his very presence haunting.

Blame Skylar White for putting Walt though the ringer this year.



She was so relentless that Jay1 plans to name his next dog after her. That’s right; Skylar was so unbending that he’s not calling her a bitch, he’s calling his bitch “Skylar.”

Blame Badger and Skinny Pete. If Spooge and his skank are the horrible underbelly of meth then Badger and Skinny Pete are it’s fun loving side. Badger’s aloofness keeps me in stitches and Skinny Pete’s bravado is actually charming. The life of a meth dealer is dangerous, but if anything happens to Badger of Skinny Pete, it’ll be devastating.

Blame Jesse Pinkman.



He begins the season claiming to be “the bad guy” and ends the season clearly not up for what that entails. And in between he coped with death, abandonment, abuse, addiction and growing responsibility. He even found time to seek vengeance. But it’s look on his face in the final scene that will prove to be the indelible image of the season.

Blame Walter White for being such an interesting character. At various points throughout the season he’s been easy to root for and him. His actions and decisions have ranged from to deplorable and questionable or admirable and commendable.



Walter White is possibly the most complex protagonist since Vic Mackey. His moral quagmire is what makes Breaking Bad so good, so you might as well blame him.

And that’s the reason why the blog has been inactive for the past three months. Blame Breaking Bad.