
Yes, it’s true! After too long an absence, fan favorite and culinary wingman Martin Gero makes his return to this blog to field YOUR (and a couple of my) questions. What the hell has he been up to since Stargate: Atlantis ended it’s run? Find out! Ask him about his time on Stargate, his HBO series Bored To Death, and his new show, The L.A. Complex, that was just picked up by the CW (and airs here in Canada on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. on CTV and MuchMusic). Or maybe ask him about the beard. I’ve yet to receive a satisfactory response on that one.
Anyway, I’ll be collecting questions for him over the next few days so don’t delay!
Curious to know more about Marty G? Check him out on “the twitter” here: martingero
Or his hopelessly outdated website here: http://martingero.com
And find out about his new show, The L.A. Complex, here (Watch The L.A. Complex Tuesdays @ 9ET), here (The L.A. Complex – Shows – CTV), and here (‘The L.A. Complex’ Director/Writer Martin Gero: This Is Not A …).
Okay, so I finally got around to watching the much-hyped fourth season finale of my new favorite show, Breaking Bad and…
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I was surprised by the fact that for a show that surprised me consistently in the episodes leading up to this finale, it failed to surprise me with this last episode. Also, for a show that’s been so expert in its ability to set up and pay off every dramatic turn, its finale felt oddly unfinished – and a little unsatisfying. Specifically:
1. The bomb under the wheelchair seemed the obvious solution to the Gus problem from the moment Saul mentions Tio. I was expecting that to be the plan but I was also expecting some sort of twist or complication given that, up to this point in the series, the writers have been so good at steering us in one direction and then blindsiding us with a surprise turn. Not so this time. It all went down pretty much as I’d imagined it would. I know I’m being picky and on most every other television show (and pretty much any movie out there), it would have been fully satisfying – but Breaking Bad has proven itself so much more clever in the past that I couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
2. How did Walter swap the cigarettes? It was probably in Saul’s office when Jesse was getting frisked, but the moment happens too fast and, worse, Jesse resists so much that it’s hard to buy. Hard but not impossible I suppose.
3. The bigger issue for me is how the heck Walt poisoned the kid. I’m sure there are a 101 ways to poison a kid (many a book has been written on the subject) but the fact that we didn’t see it, or were even given a hint as to how he pulled it off, really felt like the show was asking the audience to look past a significant linchpin event – again, something that would be perfectly acceptable in many other shows but is uncharacteristic of Breaking Bad’s precise storytelling.
4. And another minor bump for me: In the second to last episode, why did Gus not get into the car? Did he notice something amiss? Was he tipped off? Another fascinating development that wasn’t explained (or didn’t even receive a hint at an explanation).
These gripes aside, I do love the show. I’m fascinated by our protagonist’s descent into darkness and how this is in sharp contrast to the attempted redemption of other characters in shows like The Sopranos and The Shield. I don’t know about you, but I actually felt sorry for Gus in this episode. He didn’t want to get into business with Walter. It was Walter who forced the issue. Walter (and his partner) who screwed up and jeopardized things. Walter who threatened and murdered innocents (Brock, Gale). Poor Gus was simply a victim of Gus’s greed.
Thoughts? Agree? Disagree?
Hey, one more reminder that we begin discussion on the January Book of the Month Club Selection: Batgirl Rising on Monday, so finish up, weigh in with your thoughts, and prepare your questions for writer Bryan Q. Miller!
And join our SuperMovie of the Week Club by sitting down and watching the 1966 Batman movie. Cookie Monster, who weighed in with his review of Superman and the Mole-Men last week (January 9, 2012: The Superfilm of the Week Club! Superman and the Mole Men! Cookie Monster Review!) returns on Tuesday to offer his thoughts on Batman.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to post a comment over the last 24 hours (and a special thanks to the first-time posters as well). Your kind words are much appreciated – and certainly food for thought.
Today’s blog entry is dedicated to PBMom and NarelleFromAus.





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