Tread Lightly

There has been a general consensus over the last 5-6 years that we have entered the Golden Age of TV Drama. Long gone are the days of TV being a graveyard for failed actors or a retirement home so to speak of once heralded A list actors. This can be seen through the remarkable work done on HBO TV shows such as The Sopranos, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire and even Game of Thrones. An honourable mention must go to Mad Men for staying fresh and engaging for so many years. While other TV shows such as Dexter, Heroes, True Blood lost their initial buzz and creativity they are still superior to anything I had growing up.

My list couldn't be completed without mentioning Breaking Bad. A TV show that blurs the lines of right and wrong, comedy and tragedy, drama and action. To put it simply it is complex. But while The Wire was complex in the sense of trying to understand street slang, police terminology, thick accents and a wide range of characters Breaking Bad is relatively stripped down. A basic premise. A struggling Chemistry teacher finds out he has terminal lung cancer, faced with the reality of impending death he realizes he has nothing to help support his ever growing family. So he turns to drugs. Simple right? You have no idea. For those who have not seen it, stop reading this. Go buy/download/stream it from the beginning to the latest episode. It is a show that grows organically. From Walter White's early days to the rise of Heisenberg and the downfall of Gustavo Frings this is a show that clearly knew where it wanted to go and has followed it's path. Now in it's final straight and with 7 episodes to go, I'm delighted it is winning the acclaim in the UK as well.

So how did the latest episode go down? Well too fast if you ask me. We had another flashforward to suggest Walter is a shadow of his former self, his home has been abandoned, and he is going incognito. But why has he returned to his house? For the Ricin he stored in his home of course. This foreshadowing suggests something/someone has driven him out of New Mexico and he is back for vengeance.

We skip back to "present time" and start off exactly where we ended Season 5. Hank trying to comprehend what he knows. He starts digging and digging to try to piece a case together. This can't end well for anyone. We see Jess in another sad state. He fears the worse for Mike, he is stricken by guilt over his share of the Meth profit and wants rid of the Blood Money. Saul and Walter know the money is too much of a beacon for criminal activity. So try to persuade him to keep it. Having seen Jesse's journey and his numerous falls and utter despair moments I feel he is due some happiness and redemption. At the expense of Walter. A man who has infected his life like a cancer. Who is to say it won't happen? But this episode was all about setting the tone and boy oh boy the last 15 mins did that. Walter has a lightbulb moment, unable to find his copy of the book Gale gave him he frantically searches the home. Something isn't right. He connects the dots with a mysterious change in Hank's behavior the day before. (There is a perfect scene when we learn that Walter is still being treated with Chemotherapy where he vomits in his bathroom, you can literally see the cogs turning in his head). So what does he do, searches his car for a bug and he finds one......tension building..........Walter being Walter goes to speak to Hank..........tension building......after some beating around the bush Walter becomes Heisenberg and straight up asks about the bug.........tension..........BUILDING. Hank responds by closing the garage door. Hank knows who Walter is, Walter knows Hank knows. Showdown. Punches are thrown, threats are made Heisenberg vs Hank................and then the episode ends! Wow.

Somehow they have done it, created a show that went from strength to strength without feeling stale, without recycling elements and finally we have come to an ending. 7 episodes to close it, I can see how it is possible but what will happen? No idea. Keep watching and watching I will.