Josh

I think that’s what makes Skyler interesting, though. She’s desperate beyond all reason to hold on to normalcy. That line doesn’t make sense. But it’s not supposed to. That’s why it’s also important for Junior to call her on it. Just because something earth-shattering has happened doesn’t mean she has to accept it. Denial is one of her major character traits.

Søren

It is, but then that’s a lack of character development. They’re all shattered at this point. Clearly she’s changed – she broke bad with Walt (perhaps under duress), and then she actually stood up to him this episode. To me, that would have shown a clear arc for her. Arcs are good for characters who are supposed to have depth.

Josh

Skyler’s arc has been about becoming embroiled in Walt’s criminal activities, being disgusted by them, but rationalizing them as necessary to protect her family, and her actions last night fit in with that (up until Hank’s death, where she snapped out of it and realized that she could never put this behind her). I disagree that it’s a lack of character development. That flashback at the beginning should tell us that. Look how far she’s fallen.

There’s also some subtext to that seat belt line. She’s always been trying to protect Junior from the truth about what she and Walt do to provide for him. Now that the secret’s out, the only way she can protect him is by trying to get him to buckle up. It’s a desperate bid, but now that the veil is lifted it’s all she has.

Søren

I see your point… I just have a hard time shaking the feeling that it was all in aid of that silly line from Walt, Jr.

Josh

I don’t see it as silly. He’s a teenager. That’s how teenagers react when their parents tell them to do something they don’t want to do. Junior’s always been a character without much in the way of development, but these last 3 episodes told us more about him than the last 4 seasons combined.

Søren

Ah, that’s a stretch. He hasn’t had much of a role the past three episodes… What, he wants to hang out with his friends? He can run the desk at the car wash? He’s mad at his mom for lying? Not really earth-shattering background information. All I can say is thank god Jesse’s not dead, because I would’ve stopped watching.

Josh

I was thinking more of the scene by the pool and the scene where Walt tells him that his cancer is back. It’s not a lot, but it still fleshes him out.

And yeah, Jesse. On some level, I almost wish they’d just capped him in the desert. Better than being a meth slave for a psychopath.

Søren

I gotcha. Right, but a sympathetic meth slave for a psychopath is infinitely better than a cast of characters I don’t really care for.

Josh

From your perspective. This isn’t ending well for Jesse. Either he escapes, emotionally scarred and unable to ever be a normal person again, or he dies terrified and alone. No middle ground.