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Breaking Bad S4 and Books
1. I've decided there are a lot of kids on Good Reads whining about books they've been assigned to read. The latest thread, which caused bewildered laughter, was "does anyone else think that The Great Gatsby is the Worst Book EVER?" Sigh. I restrained myself from posting no, that dubious honor goes to either Elizabeth Peter's The Laughter of Dead Kings or the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer.
2. Breaking Bad continues to rock. Almost done with S4. Here's the scene from Problem Dog S4 that blew me away.
Jesse killed a man, and in this scene he talks about it. Obviously he can't tell anyone he killed a man, a fact that is eating him alive.
It's a wonderful scene about culpability and what happens when you don't get punished. Jesse is tearing himself apart over it.
Was hunting for scenes to show you from Salude - which blew me away, as well. There's a brilliant bit between Walt and his son Walt, Jr.
I can see why Bryan Cranston keeps winning emmy's. Just wish Aaron Paul got a few too for best supporting. That boy has been robbed.
Same with Anna Hunt - who has done such a marvelous job, I thought there was another actress playing Skylar in the later seasons.
Tomorrow night - I'll watch S4 finale back to back with the Season 5 opener.
3. Started reading Private Arrangements by Sherry something or other. It's interesting. A second change romance. The reason romance novels fascinate me right now is the battle between the genders. You really don't see it well anywhere else. Also you can't get it in same-sex romance novels. There's a gender-power play in romance novels. The man and woman are basically fighting each other, negotiating territory. There's also class warfare in romance novels. More so than other genres. All the romance novels seem to be about class and gender battles. And right now, for some reason or other, I'm obsessed with gender and class.
Private Arrangements is about a married couple who has not spoken to or seen each other in ten years. They've been residing on different continents. Something happened early on in their relationship, a betrayal, that caused the hero to leave. Now the heroine wishes to divorce him and move on with her life. He's returned and refuses to let her have such an easy divorce - insisting she produce an heir first. In flashbacks we find out what happened as they navigate the present. It's better written than most. Has a sort of tongue in cheek style. The period is the Victorian Age. The book discusses class issues, financial issues, and gender power-play. The heroine was the daughter of a rich merchant, but not considered part of British society - or accepted, to be accepted she had to buy her way into it and marry a Duke or Marquess. Her mother desired a Duchess title - so her daughter could be part of society. The hero, a Marquess, married the girl for her money, he was financially in arrears, none. But he had been in love with another penniless aristocrat....so it goes.
Class has always bewildered me. Which may be why it fascinates me. My parents came from working class roots, their parents uneducated. And I was raised middle class to upper middle. I've been friends with the wealthy. New and old money. And with the poor or working class. I don't really see much difference, outside of the fact that one group has lots of opportunities handed to them, while the other doesn't.
2. Breaking Bad continues to rock. Almost done with S4. Here's the scene from Problem Dog S4 that blew me away.
Jesse killed a man, and in this scene he talks about it. Obviously he can't tell anyone he killed a man, a fact that is eating him alive.
It's a wonderful scene about culpability and what happens when you don't get punished. Jesse is tearing himself apart over it.
Was hunting for scenes to show you from Salude - which blew me away, as well. There's a brilliant bit between Walt and his son Walt, Jr.
I can see why Bryan Cranston keeps winning emmy's. Just wish Aaron Paul got a few too for best supporting. That boy has been robbed.
Same with Anna Hunt - who has done such a marvelous job, I thought there was another actress playing Skylar in the later seasons.
Tomorrow night - I'll watch S4 finale back to back with the Season 5 opener.
3. Started reading Private Arrangements by Sherry something or other. It's interesting. A second change romance. The reason romance novels fascinate me right now is the battle between the genders. You really don't see it well anywhere else. Also you can't get it in same-sex romance novels. There's a gender-power play in romance novels. The man and woman are basically fighting each other, negotiating territory. There's also class warfare in romance novels. More so than other genres. All the romance novels seem to be about class and gender battles. And right now, for some reason or other, I'm obsessed with gender and class.
Private Arrangements is about a married couple who has not spoken to or seen each other in ten years. They've been residing on different continents. Something happened early on in their relationship, a betrayal, that caused the hero to leave. Now the heroine wishes to divorce him and move on with her life. He's returned and refuses to let her have such an easy divorce - insisting she produce an heir first. In flashbacks we find out what happened as they navigate the present. It's better written than most. Has a sort of tongue in cheek style. The period is the Victorian Age. The book discusses class issues, financial issues, and gender power-play. The heroine was the daughter of a rich merchant, but not considered part of British society - or accepted, to be accepted she had to buy her way into it and marry a Duke or Marquess. Her mother desired a Duchess title - so her daughter could be part of society. The hero, a Marquess, married the girl for her money, he was financially in arrears, none. But he had been in love with another penniless aristocrat....so it goes.
Class has always bewildered me. Which may be why it fascinates me. My parents came from working class roots, their parents uneducated. And I was raised middle class to upper middle. I've been friends with the wealthy. New and old money. And with the poor or working class. I don't really see much difference, outside of the fact that one group has lots of opportunities handed to them, while the other doesn't.
no subject
So you saw the Walt/Junior scene. When Walt had that freudian slip and called him "Jesse", I couldn't believe it but felt so happy!
no subject
This show has an embarrassment of riches.
So you saw the Walt/Junior scene. When Walt had that freudian slip and called him "Jesse", I couldn't believe it but felt so happy!
Yes. Felt the same way. Also it's a chilling moment...because you realize the depth of his feelings for a man he keeps hurting and betraying. So tragic. Their's is the tragic love story at the heart of the series.
Co-worker today pointed out that Jesse never really betrays Walt White. And he always calls him Mr. White, a term of respect.
no subject
He did get a (well deserved) Emmy for Season 3! I really hope he gets a second one this year; I think everything about his post-killing reaction was just astonishing. (I LOVE the S4 premiere where he doesn't say a word basically the entire time until the last scene, but he still acts the hell out of every moment on screen.)
That said there are a bunch of other supporting actors who are also really fantastic, including Giancarlo Esposito as Gus. I still think Aaron is the best, but that category is pretty absurd this year. So much talent.
Though I agree about Anna. If she does not at least get a nomination for Season 4 I will be very upset.
no subject
Agree - there is an embarrassment of riches on this series. I just saw the S4 Season Finale and that the most satisfying season finale of a series that I've seen. A piece of art. Perfect in every single way.