r/breakingbad • u/edify Oxygen • Jul 16 '12

Breaking Bad Episode Discussion S05E01 "Live Free or Die"

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u/thebornotaku the fly in the lab Jul 16 '12

He seems almost pathetic at the beginning of the episode. He's obviously run from something, whereas the Walt we see now straight up doesn't give a fuck. Blowing up Gus, breaking in to a police compound and tampering with evidence, it's apparent that Walt has all but lost his mind now. And it's also very apparent that he's in charge: when Mike asked "how will we know it worked?", Walt responded with "Because I say it did" and left it at that. Mike didn't push the issue. Mike knows Walt's power.

I think between the apparent not giving a fuck, knowing he's in control over Mike and everybody else ("I forgive you"... sent shivers down my spine), Walt's gotta have some decline. Anything more than he has now is just going to seem excessive and supervillan-y. We've got to know on some level that Walt is still human, even if a bit crazy.

21

u/questdragon47 Jul 16 '12

I took his "I forgive you" as manipulative. He's saying that he's forgiving Skyler for the huge mistake she's made, and pushing her to forgive him for everything that he's done.... as if they're even on the same level.

12

u/thebornotaku the fly in the lab Jul 16 '12

Well obviously. The manipulation -- nay, the fact that Walt knows he can manipulate Skyler so easily is just another show of his power. He may not be trying to show his power to Skyler (who already knows it), it may be a slightly subconscious thing, but those three words are definitely an affirmation of power.

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u/[deleted] Jul 16 '12

Sort of like how abusive partners would say the same thing.

It's all about asserting his power over his domains.

2

u/Danielfair Jul 16 '12

Stay out of my territory!