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Walt and Skyler bought a house with a pool for their future kids, but ended up having Flynn who has cerebral palsy and can't swim. The American Dream is dead and life is cruel.
@Hollow Shell well dude I know exactly that vince have some sort of genius hidden plot in breaking bad. But people that take it too far make me amused. I mean NOT EVERYTHING that appears on screen have hidden meaning. If you watch these type of thing on internet you will understand peoples take it way too far.
Death of the author, my dude. Just because the author didn't consciously intend something doesn't mean it's not there. Textual evidence is always more important than external evidence in literary analysis.
@@subscribeofficial7134 No not everything has a hidden meaning but good writers and directors don't waste screen time with irrelevant shit that doesn't propel, compliment or highlight the story and it's central themes. The evidence for swimming pools being used symbolically in breaking bad is abundantly clear in this video, which you would understand if you weren't an idiot that just took everything at face value. You admit that Vince 'Has some sort of genius hidden plot' that you're too thick to grasp but then you also think reading between the lines and understanding the impact of visual story telling is 'taking it way too far'? Nice contradiction dumb-ass but guess what; there is no 'genius hidden plot' there is just THE plot of the entire story, and everything in the show has been carefully structured around that. Pull your head out of your arse, kid.
I love these, i watched all their breaking bad breakdowns after I finished the series, its cool seeing how much of a deeper meaning some stuff has in the show
I think this channel sometimes overanalyses some of the scenes and characters, but it's ok. I like it and I will keep watching their videos on breaking bad.
And he's a VERY versatile actor. I've seen him in Drive, The Lincoln Lawyer and probably one or two other things I'm not thinking about. Him as LBJ earned rave reviews from my mom, who remembered the real deal.
The first time is suspenseful because no matter how dire the situation looks, we’re always pulling for Walt to somehow come out on top. The second time you feel a committed enthrallment as you look for little clues to somehow justify the final outcomes. The third viewing is a solemn, dignified reflection as to which sides of Walter we recognized in ourselves. The fourth time is because you’re actually cooking meth.
@@jackrobinson3833 Maybe he started to yell "Hall"? Telling his bodyguard that they needed to get out of the room and back into the hall. Or it was just Gus screaming. Who knows?
They really could do a video on what Marie's annoyance regarding the water spots on the hospital forks says about her character and the show. And I'd watch it.
It’s so weird. I have never thought of the use of pools in Breaking Bad, but as soon as I saw the title I immediately thought of several negative things that revolve around pools in the show. Such a good video.
BB is, in my opinion, one of the very few works of fiction that TOTALLY lives up to its reputation. In a world full of both overrated and underrated books, movies, shows, etc, that's something to truly cherish.
I feel kind of bad for the folks who got to binge stream it. Getting to think about each episode for a whole week before the next made for so e of the best conversations I've ever had with alot of people, friends and strangers alike. And they managed it AGAIN with Better call Saul. Truly, Vince Gilligan is a MasterCraft writer.
In my first summer out of high school, at a pool party, an old friend who was deeply depressed jumped into the deep end and sank down to the bottom. He just sat there, like a Buddha. When we jumped in to pull him out, he was smiling. It was a deep smile of satisfaction, like he had found the first relief he'd had in years. At the time I thought that he was just glad that we cared enough to rescue him. Later that summer, he killed himself. I realized then that his smile was from his first real glimpse of death, and it was comforting to him.
White Walter with blue eyes symbolizing extremely pure meth which zombifies people across the country, gaining his power while series progresses, killing as mighty opponent as Gus, going into very personal battle with Hank, but eventually crushed by this neo-Nazi guy no one cared about. Sounds legit :)
As an editor, I am SO impressed by how you guys scour through all those episodes to pull out the perfect shots to illustrate your points. It can't be easy. But you make it seem effortless.
@@SuzakuX that's in breaking bad Hector even comments that Gus and Max won't say anything because they like seeing dicks. Eladio is actually swimming I his pool in bcs.
Most of it is subconscious, as is true with any writer. But when you peel back the outer skin of the narrative, there are a lot of interesting things going on beneath it.
I believe they had a team of (Writers) who wrote this not just Vince Gilligan. I believe there was 8 in total. Don't forget also Bryan Cranston was also a producer and director on a couple seasons and a few episodes. It was an amazing achievement for an amazing team
I always said that someone could teach an entire University course devoted to analysing Breaking Bad, and these videos by the Take might be the closest thing I'll get to that. So well done, as always. Best series analysis channel on the Internet!!! You should consider doing an entire episode on "Fly", as you had a really great take on it in this episode and it's the most controversial one of the series.
Fly as a whole is an episode that is mainly taken at face value, and that's not the point. It's not just a filler episode. Hell, I'd go so far as to say that this episode is among the MOST important parts of the story. The dichotomy of Walt's 2 persona's clashing as the last vestige of the "old and kind" Walter are barely managing to stay afloat to his "new and cold" Heisenberg identity. It's brilliant and worth a rewatch just to understand the metaphors being explored.
I tend to think a story as "great literature" when it can be interpreted in many disparate, deep, yet equally valid ways. There's really no doubt in my mind that Breaking Bad is great literature, and I'm confident history will remember it as such.
Sometimes I wonder, if the scriptwriters really think that deep...or if maybe a pool is sometimes just a pool. But it’s always nice to revisit great series like BB, so, who cares...😄
DeathnoteBB Um...the point of the video wasn’t analysis of the characters, but pointing out symbolism. And symbolism/metaphors are by definition intentional. Otherwise it’s just the viewer projecting their opinion on random stuff. Also: it was kind of a joke...
Rara Avis Analysis can be *about* symbols... and no it doesnt have to be intentional for someone else to see the symbolism in it. Also okay? I was just saying the analysis is good, even if it’s not what the writers intended. I just dont like people dismissing meaning from anything unless it’s consciously intended, so I made a reply.
DeathnoteBB Well, actually it does need to be intentional, to be a symbol. Sorry, but that’s the way, the term is defined. If it‘s not intended, the observations can still be very insightful and valuable...but it wouldn’t be a symbol, just the viewer projecting meaning on random stuff. I actually agree (mostly) with their analysis, btw. As I said, it was meant as a joke, so let’s leave it at that, shall we? 🙂
Rara Avis For the record people “projecting meaning into random stuff” _is_ what a symbol is... I don’t give a shit if you let it go, I’m only saying my thoughts. You’re the one needing to have the last word about nothing.
No. Just no. Like ALL TV shows the first seasons the best and it just gets progressively worst until they realise they are flogging a dead horse and end it. You think Jessies enslavement and the great robo machine gun ending was actually good? You must be wearing rose tinted specticles.
@@my_other_account6008 even if you dont like ending, the show did not break it's own rules, the writing and dialogue wasnt putrid. Vince and the team at least stayed dedicated to their project and ended it at the right time. Is it perfect, no. But it holds up far better than the last 2 trash seasons of GOT. But im sure you've got your glasses for that dont you😎
I think especially in the 2nd season the show made it very clear that there is a meaning behind the swimming pools and you are just ignoring it because its uncool or something. The show even made cliffhangers about that and wasted several minutes of screentime to highlight it. I guess you just shrugged your shoulders and said _"That doesnt look like anything to me"_ like some stupid Westworld androidsheep.
Lets not forget about the massive empty pool at the hotel in Season 5, symbolizing how grand, yet empty Walt's wealth has become, and with it being in a hotel, could also symbolize that he has already symbolically lost his home and his family.
Guys I think I’m onto something here... Walt cooks blue meth (“baby blue”), but has a baby daughter. Perhaps this is a metaphor for the two lives he leads, or that he is left with a choice between his two “children”
Gus was basically Littlefinger: No matter how many steps ahead you think you are, when you let your emotions get the best of you, you let your guard down and it spells trouble for you.
I had no idea Gus was gay but that makes more sense in the story. I thought that was his brother that got shot in the head in the flashback at first...
"some have seen this eye as actually representing the eye of god" They touched on a theory that wasn't there's because they are open to interpretation and not close minded like people in this comment section. Nice strawman fallacy tho
Sometimes I wonder, if the people who make movies or series, books or songs, etc, put all those simbolisms, or if the people who make the essays, find them and make a compelling argument.
@@aherrmie So, I wonder if It´s possible to take (for example), Gus Fring, and make Him the good guy of the show, or Hank the villain. Because I like, when I´m with my friends, find out what is their opinion on something, and argue the opossite, even if I agree. But this kind of show have Archetipes so clear, that must be really dificult. Just a thought.
alejandro esteban diaz conias I find, from my experience as an artist, that it’s both. People find things that are mesmerizing/have meaning and incorporate it into the work. Other times, due to the stylistic choices someone inadvertently made, others find deeper meanings and explain in their critique/essay.
This is exactly why I love this show so much! Everything what happens here is not just for fun and drama. Every single scene, character and dialogue is there for a purpose, and has some meaning. Even after watching it 2 times I still keep finding new things about this show that surprise me.
It's so strange how Gus's quest for revenge against Salamanca twists him so badly that it all ends with Salamanca getting revenge against Gus on behalf of others. Despite the sins of Salamanca, he gets to die nobly, sacrificing himself to stop an evil druglord. Even though he's also an evil drug lord. And Gus became the very thing he ventured to stop.
I would love some more videos on Better Call Saul! Like a breakdown of Kim Wexler, or maybe of her relationship with Jimmy which are both super complex. But still, this was a great video as well ;-)
Wow. Great analysis. Watching it, I know how right it is. It "clicks". The best metaphors are like this - they work unconsciously, doing their work without our being aware of it. Spot on!
i understand the idea of the *pink teddy bear* but *who else got the feeling that it represents Gus* think about it, half of the teddy bears face was blown off just like *Gus’* face when he dies. *Walt kept one of the eyes and in certain scenes it’s as if the eye is ‘keeping an eye’ on Walt.* remember when he woke up on the floor and found the *eye under the bed, staring right at him....*this happened many times* and it could mean how *Gus was always keeping an eye on Walt the whole time*
@@gregthefishburger8270 they consistently show themselves at the end of each video, including this one lmao. If other people are helping them with their takes behind the scenes they've never mentioned it and I seriously doubt it considering how much they refer to themselves as a duo/pair. And if even anyone else was helping, they're still clearly doing the brunt of this work. So like I said, these ladies are a tier above most.
Great video! This couldn't be more accurate. I don't a lot of people paid attention to how much details and metaphors were packed into that show. Best show on tv ever!
TV? Hell yeah. I loved GOT S1-4. GOT fell hard after S6. S7-8 needed to be 10 episodes, and 3-4 more seasons. Keep in mind GRRM wanted 13 seasons, but D&D negotiated 8, and won. It got shitty after they ran out of books.
Skylar literally describes how she feels like she’s drowning when she talks to the lawyer when she was trying to get divorced. Idk how I missed that the first time I watched it so I was kinda confused when I first watched the swimming pool scene with skylar. I’m surprised they didn’t put that piece of dialogue with the divorce lawyer in this vid too.
@@NitpickingNerd --Hector never forgot and he told Lalo his suspicions. Lalo told Juan Bolsa that Hector thinks he's holding a grudge for killing his "girlfriend". But that's in BCS...
He was definitely his lover, it's not said outright but it's implied. When Hector is peeing in the pool, he makes a joke about Gus and his partner "liking what they see" or something to that effect & then later after Gus dies and the police confiscate his stuff, there is a framed picture of him & his partner with their arms around each other. Also, his partner mentions that Gus paid for his schooling. And just w/ the level of his grief and desire for revenge over his partner's death, it's clear that he had extremely deep feelings for him. I feel like it really shaped who he was and was a lot of the reason he became so cold and detached from his emotions.
Never payed too much attention to the symbolism of the pool. I've always viewed it as a place where Walt emptied his thoughts but now seeing more and the others identity with the pool is just brilliant. Thank you guys.
In the episode after hank manage to survive the salamanca brothers skyler walks up to walter for reassurance that everything is ok. I watched it with subs of my native language and everything made sense except from one part, when skyler asks walt if are they safe, he says yes in english but the subs say "no"
I don't think that Walt killed those 176 people from the plane crash. It was the fault of Jane's father. He didn't want to kill those people. Only because you drop something and later someone slippes on it and falls doesn't make you 100% responsable for the incident. The person that fell should have looked out better.
Thank you. I’m tired of people saying that Walt killed everyone in the crash. I feel like everyone is missing the point of the whole plane crash subplot. Vince Gilligan himself said that the entire point of the show was to illustrate that “actions have consequences.” If Walt had saved Jane, those 167 people probably would have survived; this is true. But like you said, it’s other people’s fault too, Walt is simply responsible for setting those effects in motion. It’s one of the best examples of “actions have consequences” and the value of human life in Breaking Bad to me. Saying that “wAlT kiLlEd 167 PeOpLe” takes away from what the writers are really trying to make you see.
The immensely brilliant blue color of the pool in the White's yard, shared by Skyler's color being blue, also represent the immense sadness Skyler feels in her life. Remember, she said she always feels like she's drowning.
The scene with Skyler was quite surprising to me. A few years ago when I had depression and my head was full of suicidal thoughts, one night I couldn't cope with it and I just jumped into a pool
This video represents EXACTLY the kind of fascinating analytical content for which I subscribed to this channel ! I couldn't be happier Breaking Bad is still very much alive and relevant in 2019! Would you guys consider analyzing (any) particular motif from True Detective season 1:)? Awesome work!!!
Great anaylsis. May i ask for your analysis on the fuchsia teddy bear and walts fuchsia sweater? Its the only time he ever did wear pink. And it was this scene. It always made me wonder what it means. Hoping for a reply thanks.
So often in movies and TV, if you have a swimming pool in a scene, someone has to jump or fall in- like a watery version of Chekhov's Gun. It's awesome to think about how BrBa subverted those expectations to say something else.