The ongoing stand-off between Walter, Jesse, and Gus will reach its breaking point tonight, in the Breaking Bad season 4 finale.
After last Sunday’s shocking episode found the one-time partners in crystal meth cookery putting their disagreements behind them in order to kill the would-be drug kingpin, Gus is going to have to watch his back now more than ever.
Following Walter’s (Bryan Cranston) failed attempt at killing Gus (Giancarlo Esposito) with an improvised car bomb, the pair soon realize that it’s not going to be easy to take down their former boss.
Fortunately, Walter and Jesse (Aaron Paul) aren’t going to have to go up against Gus on their own. Thanks to the ever-helping hand of Saul (Bob Odenkirk), the duo adds a surprise co-conspirator to help in their efforts.
Review
The masterfully executed Breaking Bad season 4 finale perfectly balances the series’ beautifully methodical character development with an abundance of remarkably shocking resolutions that not only exceed all lofty expectations, but also serves to drive audiences to ponder what’s next.
Continuing where last week’s episode left off, the visibly shaken Walter White leads the charge of his and Jesse’s revolution against the power that once controlled them. Two men, who were once sure of themselves and their place in the manic world in which they live, are now forced to not only endure the result of their chosen lives, but are also required to redefine their morality – all for the purpose of surviving.
Forced to seek help outside of his familiar confines, Walter leads the charge in attempt to accomplish the duo’s predetermined goal of killing Gus by aligning himself with his former enemy, Hector Salamanca. An agreed-upon plan between Hector and Walter, which is not revealed until the finale’s final moments, serves to brilliantly highlight Vince Gilligan’s intentions of putting the characters (and their stories) before any superfluous reveal forced by the need to placate impatient viewers.
Like the perfectly played game of chess that this series has always shown itself to be, Gilligan once again serves to elevate the unfortunate (but often expected) need for swift resolutions, by instead revealing the beauty and suspense behind each and every decision and action the characters are forced to make.
From Hector painfully spelling out his wishes with a grid, to Jesse being tirelessly questioned about the poisoning of Brock, to Walter patiently watching his plan unfold from afar, Gilligan is resolute in his intentions to wonderfully convey the fact that it is the characters that should drive a series, and not the eventual outcome. A conclusion will happen – no matter what. By focusing the choices that the characters make, the effect that these choices have, and reveling in journey that these choices take each character on, it ultimately presents a more earnest conclusion, when one does eventually occur.
And, for all intents and purposes, one could say that all of the conclusions that viewers have been waiting for since the beginning of Breaking Bad have been presented. The demise of Gus, both beautiful and shocking, was as rewarding as it was tragic. Continuing the series’ earned track record of always expecting the unexpected, it was not until the final moments of Gus straightening his tie that the reality of what occurred was revealed and, ultimately, set it.
A fitting end for a beloved foe, no doubt. Though, the celebratory death of Walter and Jesse’s greatest threat was quickly retorted with a contemplative thought from Jesse: “He needed to die, right?” For what all transpired, for the threats to their lives, for all the turmoil that Gus caused – he needed to die, right?
While it may have been true that Gus did, indeed, need to die, it was amazingly revealed that the puppet master behind this decision, behind forcing the hand of everyone involved, was Walter. Secretly poisoning Brock to lure Jesse into his calculated plan and unwittingly coaxing Hector into sacrificing his life to kill an enemy, Walter quickly became the man that he feared most – a man who not only decided the best decision for himself, but also forced others into believing that it was the best for them, as well.
So, while the majority all expected resolutions may have occurred, the one unexpected resolution – the one that was staring us all in the face, from the very beginning, still remains: Walter White. From the beginning of the series, Walter has continued to traverse a dark and mysterious path – all while attempting to present a morally sound conviction. Though it may have taken this long to fully reveal itself, the intentions of Walter White are now apparently clear.
With sixteen episodes left before Breaking Bad comes to an end, the story about the man that is Walter White is what waits for us – as it always has. Despite conquering a powerful enemy and reassuring his family that “it’s all over”, the man that Walter White has now become is not something he can simply walk away from.
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Breaking Bad season 5 returns summer 2012 on AMC
Follow Anthony on Twitter @anthonyocasio
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I love walt
$20,000 for a plate glass door?
What a BOSS!
So…
Walt DID poison Brock?
What would have been his motive? And I’ve never seen red berries on Lily of the Valley.
his motive was to get Jesse to turn on Gus
no
i can not wait a year …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………what am i going to do……………
OMG! Awesome! Really great writing and acting!
Walt is a genius.
What was with Gus walking out of thy room like the terminator? Is that even possible?
That was strange! I thought the show was taking a REALLY weird turn, but I guess it was just bad makeup.
I can’t believe walt poisoned the boy, he’s really gone mad. Now with Gus gone, walt had better cover those tracks, and fast!
He’s a chemist. He knew it wouldn’t kill him. I’m just wandering where the Risen went.
Pretty damn smart in my opinion. No real harm done. Except for Gus. Where the hell are they going to go with the next season?
walt’s going to die. he is the villain of the series now. and holy crap idek if what happened to gus is possible but that image is burned into my brain. most traumatic thing i’ve seen.. ever.
Saul’s huge bodyguard took it from him when he was patting him down in “End Times”
Im gonna have to rewatch that episode. Did he switch cigarette packs or take the single out his pack.
If you look VERY closely @ 18:40 into the “End Times” episode, its not clear but the big ol bodyguard most definitely looks to have put something in his pocket. I had to rewind/pause 3x to really catch it. 18:40-19:00 is the window. I promise if you pause/rewind/stare at the bodyguards LEFT pocket/hand, it will show this.
Right after sifting through Jesse’s jacket and Saul comes out bodyguard stands back and quickly puts his left hand in his jacket pocket.
walt poisoned Brock , it just had to be, but , he knew it would be ok…did’nt you see the plant card right at the end at Walt’s pool.The Lily of the Valley plant right there at Walt’s pool.
Walt has not gone mad,,,,,,,,he knew exactly what he was doing…..he probably planted to antidote in the hospital lab for the doctors to get to. And c
I’m interested to see what will happen with mike next season? How long will it take for jesse to find out that it was walt?
I dont think it will take long since Brock will be like “I didnt eat any berries”
Wait how could you prove that Walt poisoned brock? For all we know, Gus’s men could have stolen some of that lily plant and poisoned the kid just to pin it on Walt. Or am i missing something?
Good possibility. That could have been why they were in the back yard. Leaving that plant there.
But I think it was all Walt. Jesse said it was a common thing that kids ate the berries. Walt’s one smart S.O.B.
It was really the only way to get jesse’s attention and turn him completely against Gus. Brilliant, walt…but so risky and mean..yes, he probably knew that the boy could live, but still….. I lost some empathy for the character with that move.
I tend to agree, Walt gone bad–not to kill a kid, did he know he would not die, how could he. A great episode, and someone on here made a point that maybe the plant was planted at Walt’s and what about the other thing that Walt never told Jessie–that he let his old girlfriend die. One more season, anything can happen. But I do not like BAD Walt.
Lol, listen to the lyrics of the song at the end of the episode?
Watch the part with Walt spinning the gun again. He is spinning it on the table in the backyard. The gun lands right on the plant and he has a moment of epiphany and realizes what he can do. You can see it in his face, then the close shows the plant. Are you f’ing stupid?
Calling the next door neighbor,,,,,,that was great.
But she could have been killed BAD Walt
The writers and producers are pushing the audience to see how far they can push the audience to sympathize with Walt. A stunning episode, but the only two problems I have is that it seems off that Gus did not check out the wheelchair (then again, I did not even think about it until that quick shot). The other problem is no Mike, whom we have not seen since the trip to Mexico.
Hmm… Yes, where is mike?
That sounds like the off-season viral chant.
Where is Mike?
I also thought it was strange that Gus or his man didnt check the wheel chair out. Also the amount of variables to get the desired result Walt wanted is like 1 in a million scenario. Still it was very well acted and entertaining. It was like watching two chess masters going at it where the loser gets blown up in the end. And Gus turning into the terminator could happen in real life. A scientist in midevil times was beheaded and managed to blink 5 times. Death is not as instantaneous as we would like it to be.
so so good geat way to kill of gus it was perfect. amazing ending to a another awsome year of breaking bad. I think next season will focuse on mike and walt covering all his tracks. They said that next season is the last season right?
wow, great episode except for gus’ final shot. it felt like an ad for “walking dead!” CHEEZFEST!
Any theories on how Gus suspected the car bomb in the previous episode? He did not poison the kid so if you watch the ‘end times’ scene again with him Jesse, it makes sense for him to wait Jesse out. But how did he become suspicious? Maybe it is intentional, since there were a few shots of Walt looking into a car and a viewpoint from inside the parking lot looking at Walt/Jesse in this episode.
Gus had to come out of the room straigtening his tie,,,,,he was always prim and proper with his clothing………..
Haha, I noticed that too! It was his final act in dying.
Gus was an original gangster also known as a OG
so funny. true comedy.
Great episode. Walt poisoning the kid. Deep but saw I knew it was either random or Walt b/c it was to chaotic for it to be a Gus Plan.
Damn. I loved Gus. He was too cool and methodical but i knew he was gonna die. Also I just noticed why the episode was called Face Off. Poor poor Gus.
Question is Mike still alive? He is just hurt in Mexigo correct? Can’t wait for his reaction.
It will be an interesting dynamic to see how mike and Jesse’s relationship will tie in with the story of next season.
Walt did not poison the kid, he’s too smart for that. I’m thinking it was irony. I gotta re watch this season
@Mac
Watch the end where Jesse tells Walt that it wasnt ricen. Watch specfically how Walt says “Thank God”. You can see signs of relief as well prior knowledge in his facial expression.
How did Tyrus know that Hector had a meeting/talked with the DEA?
Because he was probably following Hank to the station
I think Walt droping his gun in the meth lab will come back to bite him in the ass.
I dont think so. Its the same gun he bought illegal qhen he initially wanted to kill Gus. The fire burned all the fingerprints. And I dont remember him using the gun throughtout the season so it cannot be linked to another murder.
Walt is a tool. Poisoning an innocent kid.
There is no doubt: Walt poisoned Brock with the berries. In a previous episode you see him spinning a revolver on a table while he is sitting in the backyard. Twice, it points to him. On the third spin, it points to a flower pot, and he gets the idea.
I agree about Walt poisioning Brock, but forgot about the gun spinning scene. Great catch.
Walt poisoned Brock, no doubt, remember the gun kept pointing at him until the 3rd twirl when it pointed at the plant, hell of a foreshadowing for hinesight. I had a feeling this would happen and Gus went out in style. Just a gangsta episode. I don’t even want a 5th season, don’t tempt fate, when things go further than they have too, they usually don’t work out as well as they could have. Look at LOST. Right now, Walt and Jesse retire with their cash, kill the boss, are safe, close the investigation for the DEA, are safe again, burn down the remnants of their methed up empire and close the door with Walt manipulating Jesse again, dragging him kicking and screaming to do what’s necessary to get the job done-Break Bad. Everything as it should be.
What money? Maybe Jesse has some, and perhaps Saul as well, but does Walt have anything else to show for his descent except for a carwash? I agree about the 5th season. I could go for some closure with DEA/Hank and, quite frankly, I want to see Walt on the recieving end of some serious revenge! I don’t know from who though…Mike? maybe…Oooo, maybe Jesse will pull the trigger!
I think Walt coming clean with Hank about his criminal past, if he doesn’t get murdered. I think the confession is better though because it brings everyone back to ground zero morally.
Anybody else notice the resemblance of Gus (after the bombing) to Harvey ‘Two-Face’ Dent from the Dark Knight?
Brilliant Episode! Cant wait for next season…
Just realized I was eating Popeyes chicken during the finale. Now if they could open a Los Pollos Hermanos down the street, I’d be more than good. closer to great.
My hopes for this season finale were so high, that I was a bit disappointed. I seemed like WAY too much of a happy ending. As much as I like having Walt say “I won” at the end it pretty much kills the realism ( if there ever was any) for me. Also, Gus walking out after exploding was hilarious and contrasted with the usual style of the show.
But, this was the one season where I was thinking that it was gonna end badly. I think having Walt get killed would have been a very nice alternate storyline and a great way to finish the season. I was hoping for something like that with a series of scenes of Gus continuing his operation, death and grieving for Walt’s family at the very end of the episode. Kind of like the finale to The Wire season 2
Do not rule out Walt’s brother in law to continue getting better, and to keep sniffing around. I don’t think he’ll see this episode as a “closed file”