Breaking Bad

Well, how did you all feel about the finale?
 
I can't say I cried, because I didn't.   But I felt like it was a well done finale that was very true to the show.  And depending on your viewpoint, did Walt "win" or did Walt "lose"?  I feel like Walt did both.  He disposed of his enemies (the Redneck Nazis and Lydia) and made sure his kids were taken care of (via Gretchen and her husband, probably the only way the money would be accepted).  He got to say goodbye to his family in the only way he could.  There was no grand emotional reunion between them.  He was finally honest with himself and Skyler-that yes, he did this for himself and he enjoyed it and he was good at it.  It started out being for the family but it continued for himself.  They can finally bury Hank. Jesse is free and in the best moment of the whole show last night-he killed Todd.  But what is Walter White's legacy?  The kids are taken care of but what would Walt Jr. rather have?  Financial stability or a family intact?  Walt's choices shattered his family and they will never be whole again.  I think if you ask Skyler, Walt Jr., Marie and maybe Holly some day that they take would intact family over money.
 
I am glad the show let us see Badger and Skinny Pete one last time.  I laughed at that part.
 
I'd like to think that Jesse is off somewhere woodworking and is able to leave the past behind him.  
 
Bryan Cranston really had to carry this last episode on his shoulders and he did it well.  I think Walter White will go down in history as one of the most memorable TV characters.
 
The only thing I didn't understand and neither did DH was how did Walt get the ricin into the stevia packet?  

 

I definitely cried. I felt like it was the "right" ending to the show. I told Jon that I couldn't think of another series finale that made me feel as satisfied as last night's episode did. I'm certainly glad that Gilligan didn't go with a Sopranos-like ending. 
 
I'm not sure if there were supposed to be any "winners." I felt like it was all about Walt leaving this world at peace with himself. He gave Skylar what she needed by admitting he did it for himself. He gave Marie closure by leaving the GPS coordinates to locate Hank's body. He gave Jesse his freedom by A) letting him kill Todd and B) killing Lydia (she would still come for him if he didn't). And, he left Flynn and Holly with the means to care for themselves (and Skylar).
 
I was never convinced that their family was "whole," to begin with. You had a family struggling financially, a sister-in-law with kleptomania, a child with a disability, an arrogant DEA agent brother-in-law who had his own demons, cancer, Skylar pregnant and unhappy just trying to hold it together under the stress. I think that family was broken long before the meth came into play. And, in the end, I think Skylar still loved Walt. 
 
Jesse taking out Todd was just perfection. He'd been wanting to since Todd shot Drew in the desert. It was poetic justice. 
 
The stevia was a bit of a stretch, but Walt "explained" it when he said he knew she was "schedule oriented." It wouldn't have been difficult for him to open and reseal a pack and stick it on the table, I guess? Maybe cut a small opening and then seal it with glue? Still, it was a little out there for us, too. 
 
I will say that I expected Jesse to take out Walt all along. I really did. 
 
Oh, also...the Marty Robbins Felina reference...Walt died in the lab, because cooking was his Felina. I *loved that. LOVED it. I also have a mom who's a big Marty Robbins fan, and that's one of her favorite songs. She was humming it over the weekend while I was at her house and Jon and I just laughed. 
 
So. Yes. Perfect. 

 

It was absolutely, brilliantly perfect. I did shed a tear or two. And I am so happy Jesse lived!

I loved, loved, loved that Walt basically saved Jesse too.

 

I thought it was perfect. I loved it. I'm sad the show is over, but it was a great ending.

 

I loved it too!  I think Jessee saw that Walt was shot so he knew Walt was going to die and deep down he loves Walt so he could not do it.  The whole episode was perfection (I was a little worried at first bc it started slow)
 
The only show to match how perfect that finale was is Six Feet Under.

 

I really liked the finale, but I think it was almost too tidy... everything was wrapped up nicely with a bow on top.  There wasn't anything blew my mind (although that rig Walt made up to shoot the guys up was pretty cool), like the show has done countless times before.  I think it would have been kind of cool if they ended the show just after we see the police lights reflected and Walt's bloodied hand on the tank.  The police (and the newspapers) would know for sure that Walt was behind the massacre by the DNA left on the tank.  The audience would be left assuming he was dead but not really knowing for sure!!!  I will definitely miss the show
 
Edited for typo.