Breaking Bad - Part 8

[SpideyFan866]

I will never understand how people can hate Skyler.

I used to hate Skyler, but now I don't.

If I had to explain my former hatred, it would be that I hated seeing such a foil in Walt's life.

And primarily, I hated that, despite how despicable his actions were, that she never understood (at least not until recently) that, at least in the beginning, he really was doing everything he did for his family.

I guess I'm okay with her now after taking the time to study understand her point of view and seeing how she's grown in the last 2 seasons.

 

[Brain Damage]

The opening of Act I of ABQ, with the bed bouncing up and down, is one of the most brilliant storytelling moments I've ever seen.

 

[Brother Jack]

There's a few grains to that statement but that debate could go on for days....anyways, found this little gifset on tumblr.

Spoiler

The parallel with baby Holly is friggin' dark. Good Lord.

 

[Soapy]

I never hated Skyler, but I used to not like Skyler. She doesn't make a very good first impression I feel.

When someone first starts watching the series, they're completely rooting for Walt 100%. You have this humble science teacher, working two jobs to support his pregnant wife and disabled son, and then he gets the cancer bomb dropped on him. So he makes a very admirable, though misguided, decision to start cooking meth and putting himself in dangerous situations to make some money for his family before he dies. How can you not be on his side?

Then he's got this inattentive, ungrateful shrew of a wife who's *****ing at him about credit cards and everything else under the sun, while he's out there risking his neck for her. It's very easy to dislike her. I think most people come around to her some in the second season, when she becomes a little more fleshed out and you start get a bit more of her perspective.

To be fair I also had the same response to Hank. Didn't like him at all in the early seasons. He was a total meat-headed buffoon, and more importantly a meat-headed buffoon that could put a kibosh on Walter's money-making, but he's become one of my absolute favorite characters on the show.

As the series goes on and you start to see more of who Walt really is, you learn more about his past and what makes him tick, and of course how sinister and ruthless he becomes, maybe you start rooting for other characters more. Your perspective on things changes. Especially on rewatches. It's going to be very interesting to go back and watch the early episodes knowing what we know about Walt in hindsight.

Back to Skyler though. I first started liking her when she pretended to be giving birth when those security guards detained her when she was trying to return the stole tiara. More moments like that, like when she tried to break into Walt's apartment, her early dealings with the carwash, and when she pretended to be a ****ty secretary to help out Ted all really made me like her a lot.

Anyway, long story not so short, just like I don't know how anyone can still root for Walter, I have no idea how people can harbor such animosity towards Skyler this late in the game. I really don't get it. It's bizarre.

 

[Christopher Nolan]

again mr. nolan was correct. i'm so good. you should be happy that i stick around here. so many people who dont understand bb...t:

 

[Travesty]

The entire Skyler debate seems to stem form some lazy ideas. Yes, "everybody" who doesn't like Skyler is a misogynist.

 

[Sawyer]

My claim was done jokingly, but you're fooling yourself if you think misogyny doesn't factor in even a tiny bit.

 

[JaD]

Scrolling up with this page loaded the first thing I saw was the end of this gif and I had a face because I thought it was a gif of her being completely uninterested in who was giving her some D.

Good times on the Hype, huh?

 

[Travesty]

My claim was done jokingly, but you're fooling yourself if you think misogyny doesn't factor in even a tiny bit.

...and now my point still stands.

 

[Soapy]

My claim was done jokingly, but you're fooling yourself if you think misogyny doesn't factor in even a tiny bit.

I don't think misogyny is the right word, I seriously doubt the people who hate Skyler hate all women. It's probably just good old fashioned sexism; holding Skyler to a double standard that the male characters get passes on.

 

[Sawyer]

Yeah, misogyny was the wrong word. My bad.

 

[scatterax]

I feel like in general this show depicts women, at least the ones in major roles, as nusences.

 

[Travesty]

Ha! It's not "misogyny" now, it's just good 'ol fashioned sexism. I wish I was on the same pedestal as some of you guys....

Black&White.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

I feel like in general this show depicts women, at least the ones in major roles, as nusences.

Yeah, while even those female characters who have broken bad aren't allowed to be cool. Jane played the classic temptress role to Jesse to get him to go against Walt, while Lydia is a bag or nerves. However, Lydia may surprise me, as she seems to have a cowardly lion thing going that may end up subverting that. But yeah, the creators of this show seem not to understand how narrative sympathy works - we still want Walt to succeed before his fall, and having just about every single female character being a factor in the way of that does not help with TV's already very problematic set of roles for women.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

Ha! It's not "misogyny" now, it's just good 'ol fashioned sexism. I wish I was on the same pedestal as some of you guys....

Black&White.

They are not calling you sexist. They are saying that a great deal of the hate Skyler gets on internet circles is skewed to a degree by rampant sexism. A lot of very gendered, very loaded terms are used to describe her, and much of the arguments used are less about her actions and narrative structure of the show and more to do with how she acts as a woman in standing up against her husband's behaviour. A lot of these comments are also rather sympathetic to Walt in his excuse that he is providing for his family, and often mock Skyler's wish for him to not resort to such means to do so. All in all, it is vitriolic, sexist, and reflects the sad fact that a lot of people, while claiming to be progressive, still harbour the idea that men should be the breadwinners and so side with Walt.

 

[Travesty]

They are not calling you sexist. They are saying that a great deal of the hate Skyler gets on internet circles is skewed to a degree by rampant sexism. A lot of very gendered, very loaded terms are used to describe her, and much of the arguments used are less about her actions and narrative structure of the show and more to do with how she acts as a woman in standing up against her husband's behaviour. A lot of these comments are also rather sympathetic to Walt in his excuse that he is providing for his family, and often mock Skyler's wish for him to not resort to such means to do so. All in all, it is vitriolic, sexist, and reflects the sad fact that a lot of people, while claiming to be progressive, still harbour the idea that men should be the breadwinners and so side with Walt.

And this is where I see too much Black&White with "misogyny/sexism" when it comes to BrBa. When I watch Boardwalk Empire, I've never once hated on Margret for cheating on Nucky, but that's because the characters are written in completely different manners to BrBa. And at the same time, I rarely see people calling other "misogynistic/sexist" while talking about that show. I don't give a **** if someone calls me "sexist or misogynistic". I just find the entire thing hilarious how people can define others with such broad strokes all the time, for not siding with their point of views. And I see it all the time when talking about BrBa more than any show I have ever watched. Nobody is willing to listen to other views, cause no matter what you say, you're still a "tiny" bit misogynist/sexist for not liking Skyler.

 

[Bruce Malone]

Can we just admit she's not a greatly written character? I think even the people who defend her and her actions would have to admit as purely a character there is nothing particularly captivating about her?

 

[Travesty]

Can we just admit she's not a greatly written character? I think even the people who defend her and her actions would have to admit as purely a character there is nothing particularly captivating about her?

Oh definitely...

 

[Bruce Malone]

Here's the thing even if i hate absolutely hate the actions or characteristics of a character, i can still enjoy that character and think that character is well written and well portrayed.

With Skyler I feel really nothing almost. I found her annoying at first and then sort of sympathized with her after but tbh I just never really cared about the character. I mean when I'm spending more time thinking about badger and skinny p that says something.

I do think the female characters maybe aside from lydia are just a little under-written or developed.

Boardwalk Empire which was brought up has a perfect example of a female character who's actions I detest but I find her really interesting (gillian).

 

[Piper Maru]

LMAO. Thank you!

 

[Maximus One]

I like Skyler. Maybe not so much at first but that was more indifference. I actually like her now. And yea it started with the fake labor with the tiara thing. Most annoying thing she's done though was the whole "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" thing. That was more annoying than anything she ever did in season 1

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

And this is where I see too much Black&White with "misogyny/sexism" when it comes to BrBa. When I watch Boardwalk Empire, I've never once hated on Margret for cheating on Nucky, but that's because the characters are written in completely different manners to BrBa. And at the same time, I rarely see people calling other "misogynistic/sexist" while talking about that show. I don't give a **** if someone calls me "sexist or misogynistic". I just find the entire thing hilarious how people can define others with such broad strokes all the time, for not siding with their point of views. And I see it all the time when talking about BrBa more than any show I have ever watched. Nobody is willing to listen to other views, cause no matter what you say, you're still a "tiny" bit misogynist/sexist for not liking Skyler.

Once again for clarity, no once is calling you sexist or misogynistic, nor am I painting you or those that dislike Skyler in broad strokes. I am merely pointing out that many (not all) that dislike Skyler, do so for problematic reasons, not ones relating to how she is written or other value judgements.

So you may stop fighting strawmen and boxing shadows. You are either being deliberately facetious, or are more concerned with tackling arguments that appear elsewhere and view my posts as an outlet to do so. But do not accuse me or furthering the arguments you are supposedly encountering. I have done no such thing.

 

[Lord]

All of Walter's actions that lead to him stop being as likeable were started due to him saving Jesse in the 3rd season, all else was to protect his oun skin.

 

[Hyde]

I don't like Skyler because of the really ****** way she goes about things, at least at the minute. She's ****ing her boss and made her own son think she's a *****. I know I would probably divorce Walt too if I was her, but at least he didn't betray her like that

 

[Brain Damage]

Can we just admit she's not a greatly written character? I think even the people who defend her and her actions would have to admit as purely a character there is nothing particularly captivating about her?

Um, no. She's one of the best written characters on the show. Just off the top of my head, the moment when Walt Jr. tells the cops that it's all his mom's fault and she just stands there and takes it is one of the best character moments in the series.

And there's tons more like that throughout.