Breaking Bad Recap: Is Redemption Possible for Walt White?

Last updated on: August 1, 2012 at 7:57 am by Rebecca Cusey

Breaking Bad Recap: Is Redemption Possible for Walt White? 2012-08-01T07:57:50-06:00 Rebecca Cusey

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Our Movie Channel intern, Samantha Curley, will be walking us through the final season of the hit show Breaking Bad.

In line with what we’ve come to expect from Walter White, it’s clearly not over yet. He may have won this round, but the opening scene of the Season 5 premiere (of a tired, downtrodden, and no-longer-bald Walt) continues to refuse our desire for resolution; for a return to his “normal” life of teaching, fatherhood, and family. The choices and consequences of the last four seasons cannot be undone, the past cannot be unwritten. And even if a happy ending were possible (which it’s clearly not), the question remains: would Walt really have won?

Is winning even possible at this point in the game? Walt persists in acting like it is. Like he can (and will) emerge as the hero, the king. We see this in his smug interactions with Mike and Jessie: “How do we know? Because I say so.” His hubris toward Saul: “We’re done when I say we’re done.” His resentment over Hank continuing to receive credit (especially from his son Walt, Jr.) for Walt’s own perceived victories. And in his confusion when Skyler doesn’t glamorize and fawn over his self-declared win: “I’m scared of you.” That’s not even to go into the appalling final words Walt speaks to the wife he has dragged through the ringer with deceit, danger, and drug-lording: “I forgive you.” What has happened to the pre-fall, high school Chemistry teacher we pitied and rooted for in Season 1?

While beyond rich, the opening scene highlights that Walt is anything but free. Behind the obvious questions surrounding the episode “Live Free or Die,” maybe (hopefully? finally?) Vince Gilligan will be taking us through a journey of forgiveness this season. If we know anything about Breaking Bad, though, forgiveness won’t come easy or peacefully. Gear up for more violence, more death, more lies, and more decisions that will leave you cringing with a confused and righteous outrage.

The audacity of Walt’s words, his complete lack of understanding (let alone remorse) for the tangled web he has woven for every one of his relationships, has turned him into a monster whose ego has become seemingly too big for anyone (or any roadblock) to stop. The math isn’t adding up, though, which means something is about to go terribly wrong.

Join us each week as we blog through the epic final season of Breaking Bad:

Episode 1: Is Redemption Possible for Walter White?

Episode 2: Madrigal, Money, and Metanoia

Episode 3: Breaking Bad Made Whole?

Previous Post

July 18, 2012

The Economics of 'The Dark Knight Rises:' Are Rush Limbaugh and Obama Right about Bane?

Next Post

July 20, 2012 Tragedy at the Theater: Heroes Arise, Just Not the Ones We Expected

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Becky's Picks Children's Movies DVD releases Entertainment News Faith on Film Featured Hunger Games In Theaters Interviews Life, Etc. Mixed Nuts Movie Reviews Poliflix Scroogewatch slider Television Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the rainbow a sign of in the flood story?

Select your answer to see how you score.

War Famine Danger God's promise