What you are looking at is a pastrami sandwich from The Oinkster in Eagle Rock. I’ve been meaning to blog about it for a while. I started a post about it on Friday, but kind of lost my motivation; then, this morning, I started to write one again but found myself reading Breaking Bad recaps instead. Which got me thinking: why pretend that I want to talk about this pastrami sandwich when all I want to do is talk about Breaking Bad? So, on the surface, this post will look like any other food blog post, but really it’s a chance to talk Walter White. (Spoilers ahead.)
Man, last night’s episode was painful, almost sadistic. That scene of Jesse caught escaping and then having to sit, in a van, while they shoot his girlfriend? As far as the show’s violence goes, that scene is second only to the kid dying after the train heist in terms of upsettingness. (Gus Fring’s death is on the other end of the spectrum: extreme violence that was satisfying to watch because he, in many ways, had it coming. And didn’t see it coming. And had a really cool final moment straightening his tie.)
That, by the way, is the burger from The Oinkster which isn’t as good as the pastrami sandwich. But let’s focus. How culpable is Skylar? Are we still hating her after her awkward Op-Ed in The New York Times? It’s hard, with her, to separate the character from the actress who plays her. As a character, I find her mostly sympathetic; filtered through Anna Gunn (who just won an Emmy), she’s slightly grating. And have you ever noticed that she and Walt’s entire marriage was built on cooking Walt Jr. breakfast?
These French fries were good, not great, but the ketchup was special (made in-house). Walt Jr. is a strange character in the Breaking Bad universe because, unlike all the other characters, he doesn’t seem to make choices or do things that affect the plot in any way. He’s a functional character: he’s there to reflect Walt back to himself (it’s no coincidence that Walt Jr. changes his name to Flynn; being Walt’s reflection would be more than most people could handle). What made last night’s episode so significant was Walt Jr.’s absolutely crushing rejection of his father; his imperative “just die” was, perhaps, the show’s final turning point. Everything Walt has done for his family–all of that money piled up in a barrel–is violently thrown back in his face. Nobody wants it. Nobody wants him.
Which brings us to next week’s final episode. I’m not sure how it will all end. We know there’s a machine gun, we know there’s a ricin tablet. Is that for him? Who else might he kill with it? Do Skylar and Walt Jr. make it out alive?
What makes the most sense to me is that Walt, at the end, doesn’t die but rather has to live with what he’s done. Which suggests there’ll be one more great tragedy thrown his way: does Walt kill the Nazis without knowing Jesse’s there, Jesse escapes, and–as the final terrible act–Jesse kills Skylar or Walt Jr. before killing himself? Anything’s possible in this dark, brutal universe. Only one thing’s for certain: if you go to The Oinkster, get the pastrami. It’s good stuff.
This was seriously adorable. And I don’t watch TV or eat French fries, pastrami, or burgers.
Great post, nothing wrong with food pics with TV recaps. I agree, I think Walt will end up alive, alone and with tons of regrets. Sort of how Vic Mackie from The Shield ended up (another great show with a love him/hate him lead).
I actually liked Anna Gunn’s piece in the NYT and was surprised upon reading it to hear that Skyler’s been so vilified. She isn’t always likeable but virtually no one is likeable consistently through the show (with the exception of Walt Jr, who as you say is functional rather than pivotal). I think she’s been really well portrayed as a complex character who changes following the arc of Walt’s descent. Marie’s been far more irritating if we want to talk women. But it is really Walt’s show. Or should I say, it is really Heisenberg’s show? (I should add that I approached Skyler with great reluctance, because I really disliked Anna Gunn’s character in “Deadwood,” and didn’t expect to find myself rooting for Skyler this way.)
I will never understand the animosity towards Skyler, and this is after having read countless comments vilifying her and having arguments with friends. Don’t get it. And Anna Gunn was rightly awarded. I can’t WAIT until next Sunday, and yet I can’t fathom a world without new episodes.
Great post. You are a man after my heart :)
Ube Milkshake
Agree on how painful the last episode was. I couldn’t believe my eyes that there is no happy ending…for anyone! My hopes are slowly dying, as I really don’t think that the final episode will move things to a happy-ending direction. It’s sad.Just sad.
The show is well done because you end up sympathizing with Walt even though he’s a despicable character. Because Skyler is always seen as making problems for Walt you naturally end up thinking she’s a bitch. If, however, the show had been written from her point of view we would be rooting for her and cheering when she shows strength.
I once knew a woman who looked a lot like Anna Gunn. She told me when she was a little girl her mom pulled her aside and told her she had “the family scowl.” That her face naturally looked unhappy or irritated when she felt just fine. She advised her to smile a lot to counteract the negative effect of the scowl. Anna Gunn is a remarkable actor because in person she’s such a nice person but she puts on the scowl and you just revile her.
The sandwich made me drool, and I’m full from dinner! I don’t think there’s a sandwich shop in Dallas that builds that kind of yumminess!
Just a quick comment to say that I just discovered your blog and can’t seem to stop reading. This post had me laughing out loud, and I plan on reading much more. Late to the party but already a big fan. Thanks!