A few endings that Breaking Bad could pinch....

Which other film ending could Vince Gilligan implicitly pinch for the final chapter of Walter White?















1)      The Godfather

One of the most discussed companion pieces for ‘Breaking Bad’ has been ‘The Godfather.’ It can only be questioned whether Walt reaching his imperial phase by dealing with the Czech Republic is a modern adoption of Michael rejecting education and finding glory in Cuba. Or the reluctant acceptance of Skyler resembles Kay silently accepting Michael’s wish to not ask him ‘about [his] affairs.’ With so many implicit references; it only seems valid that Vince Gilligan could pay one last tribute to the trilogy with an adoption of the ending. This really does leave audiences to question whether Walt’s end will be similar to that of Vito Corleone’s by winning his war but ultimate being defeated by nature through his terminal cancer.

2)      Psycho

Hitchcock concluded his masterpiece with the shock and trauma that a timid, well-mannered boy had somehow evolved into a serial killer. Remind you of anybody?  As the spectator watches the ‘hello Carol’ scene from the opening episode of S5P2, it's become clear that the village have been woken to the Heisenberg side of Walter White. As the camera fades out on Norman Bates attempting to justify his actions through his mother’s voice, could ‘Breaking Bad’ see a similar zoom out with White in a prison cell preaching how his cookbook was only ever made for his family? Although with recent revelations and events, it seems that Walt has evaded receiving justice by authority there are many signs of foreshadowment that he'll be served with  his own bizarre kind of justice.

3)      The Tempest

Despite ‘The Tempest’ being a play and not a film, the narrative at it's core is a bubbling catalyst of a protagonist seeking to avenge those who saw him as weak through his faith in education. Some could suggest that this holds much similarity to Walt, being another middle aged male feeling resentment at his contribution to ‘Grey Matter’ being ignored. Although whilst Prospero literally uses magic to expose how he is capable of being ‘the danger.’ White’s magic is more metaphorical by his ability to create nearly 100 percent Crystal Blue Meth. During Shakespeare’s play, the audience also witnesses the theme of relationships, one being the bond between a protective father and child. This sense of a loving but controlling father figure could correlate with Walt through his over-protective actions which infact harm Jesse. Anybody remember Jane from season 2? As mentioned in many articles, Gilligan did obviously lend some Shakespearean elements for his construction of a Meth chemist. But the only peaceful Shakespearean ending which seems to be able to come from 'Breaking Bad' could be Walt finding peace through proving himself as Heisenberg and choosing his own death.

4)      Scarface

Vince Gilligan has stated from the pilot of ‘Breaking Bad’ that the narrative will run through as the transformation of a ‘Mr Chips’ to ‘Scarface.’ It’s clear that this progression has been happening for 5 seasons by Walter White transforming from a chemistry teacher to a meth cook holding enough cash to fill a storage garage (as shown in the final episode of season 5 – part one). One of the most discussed theories for the ending of the series is White taking on a task similar to the ending of Scarface by claiming his money back through killing everyone of Uncle Jack’s Nazi Gang. It does seem to be a task that he can do with no remorse through the prison murders earlier in the season. Although whether this will result in White saving Jesse does seem blurred, White has become beyond redemption with the saving of Jesse not looking like it'll redeem him. But in a strange way, the pair do almost gave each other life. Jesse gave Walt the route to his empire. Whilst, Walt provided Jesse with a role model and guidance to clean up an addiction. Surely if these new lives were started together, they should only carry on or end together?

Some other endings which Vince Gilligan could pinch;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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·         Pulp Fiction – Jesse and Walt walking out of Los Pollos Hermanos in a costume similar to that of Travolta and Jackson after claiming their own black briefcase. After multiple references to Pulp Fiction previously, why not?

·         Trainspotting –  As most of the British public know, ‘Trainspotting’ ends with Renton stealing the drug money and walking across London with ambition for a new path in life. The capture of drug money and the aspiration to start a new life could be a similar ending to that of Walter’s own. But does Walter see any glimpse of life without his family?

·         Mulholland Drive - Could Walter White becoming Heisenberg by cooking meth just be all a dream to achieve fame just like Betty of Mulholland Drive? If this is true then all the characters also have Freudian interpretations. Does that mean that Skylar is a representation of Walt’s guilt? Or is Jesse a projection of Walt’s self-consciousness? Whilst Gus symbolises Walt’s desire for power and control?

However Breaking Bad ends tomorrow, there’s no denying that this morality play for the Netflix generation has been a complete masterpiece and the only television show to match Sopranos since it’s closure. Whilst those who think it’s over-rated, evidence that it’s not can be seen with it leaving many people remorseful and looking for the next step of recovery from Walter White’s methylamine, with a desire to hear him preaching the importance of 'family' one last time.

 

The Cuckoo's Calling - Picking up where Cracker left off or something more?

‘The Cuckoo’s calling’ published under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith earlier this year has been recently revealed as an attempt by JK Rowling to invade Conan Doyle’s and Blyton’s minefield. It doesn’t need to be said that Rowling’s novels of a Wizard battling with puberty and magical demons didn’t impress the critics but captured the nation. Although, with many describing ‘The Casual Vacancy’ as inhibiting a Dickens style. Could ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ and the afromentioned fulfil Rowling’s ambition for critical success?

‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ opens with the literal descent of Lula Landry from a London balcony with a hint of it being entwined with her fall from grace. Many immediately see this death as a cocaine fuelled suicide but the questioning of her adopted brother (John Bristow) paves the way for Coroman Strike to act as Modern Sherlock Holmes upon the streets of Soho. The protagonist of Strike comes across as the most intriguing character through his not so hidden vices of his alcoholism, his obesity and his failed marriage surrounding as much of the novel as Landry’s death.
The construction of a middle aged detective with many vices resembled for myself another detective nicknamed ‘Fitz’ who was often seen suffering from his own gambling addiction hundred and fifty miles North of London. Despite holding a similar protagonist to Jimmy McGovern, the degree of suspense does never really reach the heights of programmes like ‘Cracker’ or Conan Doyle’s ‘A Study in Scarlet.’
The equivalent of Fitz’s Panhandle and Holmes’s Watson for Strike is in the character of Robin Ellacot who’s temptation to sleep with the maverick sustains the reader’s intrigue but is fairly conventional of detective fiction. Whilst her dialogue only centering around her engagement with a character called Matthew sparks an impulse to turn the pages for more detail into Strike, the overweight Holmes.

It may seem that I’ve literally placed all copies of ‘Cuckoo’ on every casual reader’s barbeque with the negativity fuelling the flames. Although where’ Cuckoo’ lacks in suspense, it makes up for in reminding us of the media’s determination to sell their souls for a scandalous press story. It wouldn’t be too far to suggest that Landry resembles one of Eve’s women who have given into temptation and in modern times consequently paid the price by acting as a scapegoat for the ‘Daily Mirror’ and the ‘Star.’

This isn’t surprising through Rowling appearing in the recent Leverson enquiry as a witness herself.
Aswell as the subject matter, Rowling moulds this together with frequent references to female tragedies from the description of Winehouse’s soulful melodies playing in Strikes’s Camden bar or her comparing Strike’s dash from the press as similar to that of Princess Diana’s final limousine journey. Just like Landry, there have been many women have given into temptation from Janis Joplin to Nico and Rowling does present the interesting argument that they weren’t only suffering from their own addictions but the most destructive weaponry of the media.

Rowling’s latest addition is a refreshing addition to the Bestsellers at the Service Station with raising eyebrows to how powerful the barracks of the media are. Upon it’s release, I will be purchasing the sequel for a slice of escapism in a summer read. But the detective side of the novel will never keep you on the edge of your deckchair, to the extent of fairly recent detective writers such as Stieg Larsson.

Verdict – 7/10