TV Obsessive
On Episode 17 of the TV Obsessive Podcast, Ryan puts Breaking Bad‘s “Ozymandias” on his Mount Rushmore of all-time great episodes of television. But first, in the news:
- The WGA strike is over, but Drew Barrymore’s writers aren’t returning to her show
- The SAG-AFTRA strikes continues, but SNL is coming back (which is OK, per strike rules)
- Jerry Seinfeld has a secret, but we fear it’s just a Super Bowl ad or something
- Moonlighting on Hulu includes “lost scenes”
- Vince Gilligan isn’t into the idea of a Walt Jr. spinoff
- Brian Cox is hosting a reality show called 007: Road to a Million
Caemeron checks in with his mixed feelings on The Changeling. Ryan offers some brief thoughts on the Season 2 premiere of Loki, and takes comfort in the return of The Great British Baking Show.
On Breaking Bad, “Ozymandias”
After a shootout with the DEA, Jack and his team remain unscathed while Agent Gomez lies dead and Hank has been shot in the thigh. Walt begs Jack not to kill Hank, offering Jack $80 million in cash in exchange for Hank’s life. Jack executes Hank and his men dig up all seven barrels, leaving one for Walt. They take Jesse hostage in order to get information from him about how much he told the DEA. After being beaten and tortured for information, Jesse is forced by Todd to help him cook meth. Marie tells Skyler that Hank has Walt in custody, and Skyler agrees to tell the truth to Walt, Jr. When they return home, they find Walt packing and insisting the family leave immediately. Realizing Hank is dead, Skyler attacks Walt with a knife; Walt, Jr. defends his mother in the ensuing fight and calls the police on Walt, who escapes with Holly. After taking full responsibility for the meth business during a call to Skyler that is monitored by the police, he leaves Holly at a fire station and assumes a new identity through Saul’s “vacuum cleaner” contact.
- Thoughts on the episode in context v. out of context
- Todd!
- Is the relation to Shelley’s poem too on the nose?
- Reflections on Walt’s moral psychology
- More!
Want more Breaking Bad? Check out our archive of articles and take our Moderately Difficult Quiz!
Next Time on The TV Obsessive Podcast…
Ryan’s never watched Twin Peaks, so Caemeron’s going to make him. Join us as we talk about Episode 2 aka S1E3 aka “Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer” (if you want to hear Caemeron ramble about Twin Peaks episode titles, that also happens here in Episode 17).
