It was amazing seeing both Hank & Walt attempting to play the father figure to Jesse -- with Jesse rejecting Hank, but (wrongly) accepting Walt. That poor kid really has just been broken down something fierce. His turn, once he realized what Walt had done, was (and I imagine will continue to be) epic.

The throwback to Alaska was just heartbreaking, as well. Of everything he's been through since this all started, losing Jane was what he fell back on. He still blames himself for her death, and while I can't imagine how he'd ever learn the truth, the fact that it was mentioned makes me wonder if he might.

Thinking about the last year-plus, it's really shocking to think about the stuff people have found out and still don't know about Walt's mis-adventures. Each person seems to think he's generally a terrible human being, but they just don't have any idea.

Come to think about it, Saul and Jesse know the most...but I have to wonder how much Saul truly knows. He may know more than anyone other than Walt himself, meaning Saul may actually be the 2nd most morally bankrupt character in this little play (Jesse knows, but is clearly affected by it all). Makes me think Saul will become even more pivotal as we head towards the finale.

Actually you are correct. I thought I remember Alaska being part of the discussion before they finalized on New Zealand -- but it's possible I made that up........

However, I looked around a bit on the nets and found this in an interview with Gennifer Hutchison (wrote the episode):

LINK: http://www.vulture.com/2013/08/breaking … sions.html

Am I the only one who got a real kick out of Walt's distraught pacing before recording the video? The acting in the DVD is one thing, but that's just Heisenberg being Heisenberg -- a threat to make a problem go away. The real manipulation was Walt's subtle "I'm troubled by doing this" actions in an effort to bring Skyler along.

I also find it interesting just what kind of whiplash they are setting Skyler up for in all this. I mean, she had the very same plan of just waiting for Walt to die, but her hostility towards her own sister (I do wish they would play this up more, they ARE sisters after all) when Marie suggests Walt kill himself. It's not that she disagrees with the sentiment, as I believe she hasn't really forgiven/forgotten what Walt has done -- it's that she already has her plan and she's somewhat deluded herself into thinking she has a handle on the situation. She is waiting out the clock on her schedule -- one that makes it easier on the kids and guarantees her a massive payout after Walt's death -- and any variation of that plan pisses her off.

But she's in for a very rude awakening. First will be the utterly bogus belief that this is all "in the past" and that her family is actually safe. There's no getting away from this, and Jesse will just be the beginning. However, it seems to me that since she sees it as "her plan" that's endangered, she might react with blinders on regarding her own best interest. Rather than admitting mistake and running from Walt, she may look to push back in an attempt to finally break away from the past (even though it's likely impossible). She did this already when Lydia came to the car wash -- but the stakes are about to get much higher than an ex-business associate stopping by to politely ask if Walter would return to cooking. The question will become: How far will Skyler go to protect her "plan" to wait out the clock in a way that protects her children from finding out what a monster their father is.

The second revelation is if/when she finds out the sheer depth of Walter's darkness. She hasn't really faced any of the crimes directly, and she certainly doesn't know the actions Walt's taken that are truly evil. There's a separation from his actions, even now. Has she really put together the fact that Walt steered the hit towards Hank, as opposed to still thinking it was just Hank's investigation of Fringe in general? Do you think she'll be ok knowing that Walter was complicit in the murder of a child, of that he flat out poisoned one himself?

Again, how far Skyler will go on this path will be key to the final episodes and her eventual fate (Hank spells out as much at dinner).

Lastly, a scene I don't think has gotten enough attention was Walt telling Walt Jr. about his cancer returning. It speaks volumes to just how fucking horrible Walter has become. Walter just willfully destroyed his own son in what amounts to a frivolous power play. It's not like Hank/Marie were going to kidnap his son, or they would have just told him the truth and done so by now. They were simply trying to get him out of the house evening. But rather than allow them even a minor "win" in this game of cat and mouse, Walt manipulated his son with an absolutely crushing blow. The disregard to his son is just breathtaking, even if it's not completely surprising. Credit goes to RJ Mitte, who just flat out nailed it...the slow revelation of the heartbreak and facing something that he knew was coming at some point but somehow you're never prepared for -- it shone a spotlight on the disgusting act Walter had just done.

One of the most amazing things that The Shield did was have Vic Mackey confess. To EVERYTHING. As a viewer, I saw all the terrible things that Vic had caused, either directly or indirectly. There's a double-edged sword to having people around a character finding out the bad stuff -- it's unlikely they will know EVERYTHING, as I do. A perfect example is Walt's role in Jane's death. Unless he tells someone, no one in the entire universe of the show will know but him and I (the viewer). But when you start peeling back the damage done, part of me wants people to know it all. To find it all out and have the horror of the entire situation roll over them.

In The Shield, Vic Mackey confesses to everything as part of an immunity deal. He gets away with it all, but suddenly everyone he's ever known fully understands the level of corruption and evil that I had been watching play out over the years. It was immensely satisfying to me as a viewer. Watching the face of the woman recording his confession, watching his boss and fellow detective (who kind of hated him) react to seeing all their suspicions confirmed and then some -- it was so cathartic. It was 7 seasons of dramatic irony paying off.

Breaking Bad feels the same way to me at this point. As Skyler and Hank and Marie start to see glimpses of who Walter has become...I want them to find out more. I want Skyler to come face to face with the mental image of Walter dissolving the body of Drew Sharp in a barrel of acid. I want to see Hank's rage when he realizes that Walt himself redirected the Brothers Moncada to Hank in order to save himself. I want to see Jesse's collapse when he realizes that Walt stood in silence as Jane died next to him. I want the light of day shining on all the wreckage Walter has left in his wake.

I doubt there's a way for "everything" to come to light. Plus, as I said, The Shield did a straight up confession and I wouldn't want Breaking Bad to just copy that. I just find myself hoping that they can do something similar in that these people, already outraged and broken down by what they know about Walt, really learning the depths of evil he's become. I/we have been watching this spectacular ruse being built for 5 seasons, and I'm hoping for more than a partial collapse.

If the series so far has been an indicator, I have a feeling I won't be too disappointed.