Breaking Bad Recap: The Abysmal Snowman

By Marshall Weber 

In the world of Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, and everyone else apart of our beloved Breaking Bad, we've finished dinner and now we're just eating dessert and waiting for the check. The desert of course will be courtesy of Saul Goodman and his new hookup with the Omaha Cinnabon. Dockers included. Last night was a sort of step down in terms of intensity from "To'hajiile" and "Ozymandias", but the "calm before the storm" episode was just as good as the show's ever been. 

First off, can we just tip our (Heisenberg) hat to Vince Gilligan? Not only for a much deserved Emmy win last night and creating a brilliant show, but how about casting Robert Forster as the "vacuum repair guy"? Until last night, even Saul thought that was some weird code for "guy who will erase your identity and help to start a new life"...but no...he's literally a vacuum repair guy. For those of you who aren't familiar with Robby's work, he's the guy who gave one of the top three performances in a Quentin Tarantino movie as Max Cherry in Jackie Brown. When you're on the same level as Christoph Waltz's Hans Landa and Samuel L.'s Jules Winnfield...you're in damn good company. Ok. There's my plug for Forster. 

Last night in "Granite State", Forster helped both Saul and Walter start their new, very underwhelming lives in Nebraska and New Hampshire respectively. While Saul will probably be serving Louis CK "hot jizz" the rest of his life while wearing dockers...Walt is forced to essentially live out an Into The Wild-esque scenario. Well, a 2013 Into The Wild scenario in which the definition of primitive is a living in solitude in a remote cabin in New Hampshire with no internet or phone and the only source of entertainment are two copies of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Most people under 30 would prefer a life sentence. 

Is Todd a ninja? Did he train with Ra's Ah Ghul and The League of Shadows? Who knows. But it did require some impressive skills to sneak past the Federal Agents guarding the White's home like flies on honey. Todd may not be at the top of Santa's list for good deeds, but at least he has some emotion and a code of ethics unlike his Neo-Nazi relatives. Yes, he killed poor Drew Sharp, the tarantula collecting pre-teen on a dirt bike, without any hesitation. But is Todd really different from Mike or our beloved Jesse? Mike was big on leaving no loose ends, no matter what or who they were. It's not personal. It's just business. Just like killing Gale was just business. It was not nearly as easy for Jesse, but your first is never is. 

This was pointed out very well by Hitflix, but what Todd and the Neo-Nazis show us is the grueling, realistic world into the meth trade. Sadly, there are no Walter Whites, Jesse Pinkmans or Gus Frings...at least not to that extent...in the real world. There's only hard-boiled, ruthless scum like Todd's uncle. 

Laughing at the whimpering Jesse in his confession tape and calling him a "pussy", Todd's uncle also doesn't want any loose ends and goes out back with the intention of shooting the imprisoned Jesse before being stopped by Todd. Here Todd's family realizes that his main reason for keeping Jesse alive was so he could keep producing the "Heisenberg-level" purity in order to impress Lydia. In their own creepy way, Todd's relatives are thrilled for Todd, who is clearly the scapegoat of the family business, and agree to let Jesse live so their "Opie, dead eyed piece of shit" can get some action. At least they aren't cock-blocks right? Todd may very well be the MVP of this season. 

Todia. Forever and alwayz. 

Todd also rewards Jesse with some ice-cream after one of their batches reaches 96% purity. What a sweetheart, right? Shortly after this, Jesse somewhat foolishly tries to escape from the Neo-Nazi compound but his attempt is thwarted before he can make it over the fence. It was pretty clear that Jesse wasn't going to be killed here...after all Todd has to continue his "dates" with Lydia. Just get on Tinder or try Grouper, Todd. It's probably just as awkward  but slightly less messy.  

So the Nazis torture Jesse in the best way they and apparently everyone else knows how...they kill Andrea. This time though, Jesse has a horrific front row seat. Just like Jesse killed Gale in the middle of the night, Todd shoots Andrea in the back of the head as she tries to find Jesse in the red SUV parked in front of her house. Just like I stated above, Todd only kills when it's "necessary" and in the last words Andrea ever hears, he tells her "it's nothing personal". 

Now things are becoming clear and pretty much what we've all guessed by now...Heisenberg is now the nation's most notorious outlaw and his legend has made his old house a tourist attraction...hence the spray paint. 

It's pretty clear now that he's going back to ABQ and he's going to kill the Neo-Nazis. He's going to reclaim "his life's work" and give it to his family. Also wanting whatever redemption he can obtain, he will also likely save his long-time partner and second son, Jesse Pinkman. 

"I'm going to kill Jack and his entire crew, and I'm going to take back what is mine, and give it to my children. And then, and only then, am I through. Do you understand?" 

We understand, Walt. 

Walt repeatedly tells himself and those close to him, that he didn't want this to have all been for nothing. So there Heisenberg sits. In a bar alone watching Charlie Rose interview with his former business partner, the line between Walt and Heisenberg is once again blurred. The montage following last night's episode reemphasized what was said in the first episode "chemistry is the study of change", and perhaps no one in the history of television has changed quite like Walter White. 

But while the Heisenberg was an extreme that no one could see coming, the fact is Walt's always been too proud, he's always been bitterly jealous. So it's unclear whether watching the Charlie Rose interview and seeing the extent to which his legend has grown and affected those associated with him has prompted him to try and redeem Walter White or give Heisenberg one last run. Maybe it's a bit of both. 

It's perhaps Saul's (last) words to Walt before he goes to Omaha Cinnabon that tells us how it's all going to end. He advises Walt, "Stay. Face the music. How much time have you got left? You walk in with your head held high." The show is all about coming full circle, so if Walt were to literally and metaphorically don the Heisenberg hat one last time, blow away the Nazis, reclaim his fortune for his family, save Jesse, and then take the wrap for it all, may be the only way Walter White can once and for all, shake the Heisenberg. 

"The fun's over," Saul says to Walt. 

It was a line not just meant for Walt and all the others in the world of Breaking Bad, but it was a message to all of us on our couches watching it.