Breaking Bad returns with the beginnings of the end for Walter White, this is the first half of the final series and it is as excellent as you would come to expect from this show. Following the death of Gus Fring the market for meth is left wide open, Walt decides to fill it, going into an uneasy partnership with Jesse and Mike, with Mike only involved to preserve the interests of several members of Gus' crew who are held in prison in the D.E.A. investigation. Skyler is now terrified of Walt and carries out a desperate gambit to keep Walter Jr. and Holly safe from Walt. A new business deal is made with an associate of Gus, a number of complications are brought in by a new member of Walt's crew. The series ends on a huge revelation for Hank.
There is a lot happening in a short space of time here, but the writers pull it off excellently. Every scene is fantastic and they all add up to the emotional climaxes of the half series. The best episode this series is without a doubt episode 5 "Dead-Freight" with a hugely exciting sequence in which Walt and Jesse rob a train of methylamine.
Walt: Walt has come a long way since series 1, the once quiet, boring man who wrote 'murder is wrong' as a reason not to kill a man shrugs off the murder of a child as though it were nothing. From the start of the series he manipulates Jesse even more than usual, he is confrontational to Mike, the one man who sees through all his lies, ending in a hugely traumatic scene. His ego is getting bigger and bigger, he declares he wants an empire and will do anything to keep it; his growing ego also leads to far more carelessness with his money, buying himself and Jr. flashy cars just because he can. He pushes everyone away and it will no doubt lead to his downfall. At the end he is a success, but there is nowhere to go but down when his biggest secret is discovered.
Jesse: Jesse is once again put through the ringer, he feels a huge amount of guilt over trying to kill Walt towards the end of series 4. He breaks it off with his girlfriend based on Walt's manipulation only to discover Walt never cared. He comes up with a brilliant plan to rob a train and not hurt anyone, but then has to witness a child dying before his eyes. This is the final straw, he wants out of the meth business, he parts with Walt not caring if he gets the money he's owed or not. At the end of the series he is terrified of Walt killing him, but is left with the money he's owed an emotional wreck.
Mike: Mike plays a much bigger part this series than ever before, being an equal partner to Walt and Jesse. He is only involved because the D.E.A. took away the hazard pay of several members of Gus' crew, including two million dollars he had left to his Granddaughter, the only person he really cares about. He hates working with Walt and is the first one to want out, and when he receives the money he's owed his choice of delivery man gets it taken away again. With the D.E.A. on his trail he decides to flee the country, and then by refusing to assist Walt and letting him know just how little a man he is, Walt shoots him and he dies, killed by the man who has ruined his life.
Skyler: Skyler is scared of Walt, she knows he's dangerous and is beginning to realise just how much. She goes through a period of not knowing what to do where she seems almost comatose. Then, on the night of Walt's 51st birthday she comes up with a plan. She walks into the pool and fakes a suicide attempt, this allows her to get the kids sent to Hank and Marie's, i.e. away from Walt. It finally dawned on me this series that every time Skyler seemed so annoying and grating before was for one simple reason; she was right. She was the one person saying no to Walt, though now she can't do that, she is powerless. The series ends with her finally given what she wanted, Walt out of the business, but with what's on the horizon her involvement will no doubt come to light.
Hank: Hank has been proved right, no-one believed what he said about Gus, but now he's a hero. He is rapidly promoted to A.S.A.C. of his department, which he finds somewhat difficult to adjust to, not being able to go after the case he wants to. He finds his investigation into Gus' operation blocked at every turn, Mike drops all his tails and the 9 guys in prison won't talk. Towards the end he looks as though he is just about to get some results. Then Walt has the guys killed, he seems defeated telling Walt that he wishes he didn't have to chase monsters. The series ends with Hank in the White's bathroom, he discovers a book of Walt Whitman's poetry left to Walt by Gale, he finally pieces together that Walt is Heisenberg, the man he's been looking for all along.
Saul: Saul plays a somewhat smaller part than usual, he is clearly afraid of Walt, but he's not able to get out. He assists Mike in his troubles with the D.E.A. but apart from that he is largely comic relief.
Marie: Marie plays a less significant role this series and the plot that doesn't involve her takes centre stage with little time for other matters. That said she still provides some much needed comic relief and still shows a great deal of emotional trauma surrounding Skyler's breakdown.
Walter Jr. Walter Jr. is once again being referred to a Flynn, which seems unusual to me, but I guess since the big fear of his parents splitting up is over he wants his own identity again. He is largely used as a device to distance Skyler from Walt by her seeing how much he loves him, and knowing how dangerous it will be. He also goes into anger at the idea of not being treated with enough respect to even be told why he has to live at his Aunt and Uncle's for an indefinite period of time.
In short, the best show keeps getting better and leaves with a cliffhanger that will have huge repercussions come next summer, when it all comes to an end.
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