Breaking Bad: "Granite State"

The problem with judging an episode of a serialized television series is that some episodes only make sense or feel good in hindsight. After such breathless action, “Granite State” takes a big gulping breath to remind us of the consequences of what has unfolded while also bridging us to the end game for the show. In doing so it feels much more like its marking time, which makes it less notably memorable than some of the events of recent weeks. But you have to admit, few shows mark time like Breaking Bad.

Take the extended stretch of Walt out in New Hampshire. Not much happens, but it’s the way that happens that sets apart Breaking Bad from lesser series. Zach Handlen noted recently that what sets the show apart is how it turns its blatantly familiar serialized tv storytelling into one of its strongest assets. In the third season, we knew Walt and Jesse would partner back up but it was the way the show took seriously their divide and then carefully plotted out every little point leading to their reunion so that it felt totally earned that made it so much more than most serialized narratives. The show’s premise plays into the serialized model because we’re not watching a man stave off one consequence after another or turn from Mr. Chips to Scarface, as so often has been overused to describe the series, but rather we were watching Walter White slowly lose his soul. And watching every little thing that leads to that justifies the time spent so deliberately watching things unfold. 

This is why I point to the stretch in New Hampshire. It feels so very much like something we might have seen unfold in season two through four. Walt goes into hiding thinking that he’s going to plot revenge on the Nazis, and we slowly watch the little steps unfold where he barely has motivation to keep going – let alone plot this revenge. Note the little telling details that speak volumes to Walt’s state of being: His glasses prescription long having expired, asking the vacuum guy fixer to stay a few hours to keep him company, his wedding ring falling off his finger after large weight loss. Walt has given up on himself; there’s even a sense we’re given, for a time, that Walt could just live out his days in that isolated, idyllic New Hampshire cabin.  

This being an episode that takes its time (having extra episodic time to begin with) feels a little shaggier than our typical episode of Breaking Bad. It’s very loosely told and jumps around a lot. But there’s still a lot to like. Like how absolutely insane Todd is (Well, I guess “like” is the wrong word – more like love that you hate it). The only reason Jesse is still alive is so that Todd can try to please Lydia who he has a huge, creepy crush on (As far as justifications for keeping Jesse alive, it’s one I find to be great. It’s the kind of twisted, non-straightforward but intricate plotting the show has). Just look at the way he stares at Lydia, leaning over the back of his chair. He’s not experiencing love or infatuation – because who the hell knows if Todd is even capable of that – no, he’s experiencing obsession. And as if Todd weren’t atrocious enough he throws on a black ski mask and threatens the life of Skylar and baby Holly (!); this to protect his dearest Lydia. Somehow that’s still not the worst thing Todd does. No, that would be killing Andrea, but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

It’s hard to say who has it the worst out of the characters at the moment but at least Walt has choices. Jesse is as trapped as anyone can be. Imprisoned by the Nazis, he desperately makes an attempt to escape (MacGyvering his way out of his handcuffs with a paper clip – Jesse is far smarter than he’s often given credit). But alas he’s caught while climbing up the fence of the compound. He begs for them to just kill him already (and in that moment you’ve never wanted such mercy to be permitted upon a character). But nope: they’ve got to make him watch Andrea get shot in the back of the head. When she unlocked the door I was screaming out “No! Stay inside!” Now Brock is a poor orphan, a damnable piece of leverage to hold over Jesse. 

And then there’s what drives Walt to finally return to Albuquerque. Walt’s conversation with the fixer about whether he’d give the money to Walt’s family after he died made him realize he’s been a massive failure in the one regard he’s always at least claimed to be living up to. So he makes up a package of nearly a hundred thousand dollars and calls Walter Jr. (with a kindly bar patron pretending to be Aunt Marie in a phone call to the principal’s office). But Flynn has had enough of Walt’s crap. “I don’t want anything from you!” he yells. 

Walt has resigned himself to being caught, putting in a call to the DEA so they can locate him. He pours a drink and waits for the cops to arrive. When all of the sudden, the powers that be flicker the Charlie Rose talk program on the television featuring none other than his former Grey Matter partners who deny that Walt had any part in the creation of the company. “Virtually nothing,” they say. It stirs something deep down in Walt. This is the primordial pride that drove him to get into the meth business and refuse any and all handouts. He wanted to be acknowledged for his contributions. His money. His meth. His empire. His family. His name. Walt is super-possessive, and damn if he isn’t going to let things end on his terms. 

Stray Thoughts:

-I'm not sure the episode entirely justifies everything that occurred but it's a necessary bit of leg work to get us to the finale and so I'm willing to overlook it. If nothing else that last stretch with Walt's progression elevates the episode to a new level.

-Saul joins Walt in disappearing. The best moment here is Walt attempting to re-create his infamous “It’s over when I say it over” but coughs so badly midway through that he’s unable to. Saul can no longer be intimidated after a flub like that.

-Skylar barely hears any of the deposition; it sounds like screeching white noise. Similar to the funk Hank was in at the start of “Blood Money”.

-Walt was self-treating himself with the chemo while in New Hampshire. His inability to put the needle in himself before just nutting up and doing it is a wonderful little touch.

-Gretchen suggests one argument made about the show that the Walter that we saw at series start is long since gone and what remains is a shell of that man.

-The great character actor Robert Forster played the fixer Ed. Not sure I entirely understand or buy his continued relationship with Walt post-"witness protection", but a welcome presence none-the-less.
-Walt confirms that the things he said in his phone call to Skylar were, as some had argued, all intended to make her look blameless.
-Yea Todd, giving Jesse some Ben and Jerry's totally makes up for imprisoning him in a dungeon and turning him into your meth cook slave.
-Love that the show brings us way, way back to its roots by reminding us yet again of Grey Matter and tying that into Walt's decision to return home.

Grade: A-