Gliding Over All

When I first heard they were doing a fifth and final season to conclude this show I was overjoyed. Not because I want the show to end but because if the journey getting there is this damn good, then the ending is going to completely melt my mind. But after watching this episode, my emotions about this show ending have dramatically changed. I now extremely loath the idea of this show ending because there is not a doubt in my mind that there is never going to be another television show that can come close to the greatness and perfection that is Breaking Bad. At least not in my lifetime. And even if you don't agree with me 100% about the show being so phenomenal, you can't deny that this mid-season finale kept you on the edge of your seat and then falling off it during the last minute of the episode. And then you were probably as angry as I was when you remembered that we have to wait until next year for the next episode.

There was a short clip in the beginning of this episode of Walt getting a cancer check..First time in forever his sickness was blurbed, even ths small, I wondered when it would come up again..Maybe he's really sick now & doesn't let on to anyone? This may sound crazy, but maybe he's dying and that's why he quit cooking? Maybe he also left the book in the bathroom knowing Hank would probably take a look at it...I saw the Americans and the neighbor pulled a huge surprise at the end..WIll this series end similarly? Will Hank let him die and keep the secret? Just a guess* yes, it's my first time through this excellent series.

The first part of Breaking Bad's final season ends on a phenomenal note – a twist audiences have feared since the character of Walter White was introduced in 2008, but have stashed away in the subconscious after more than 50 episodes of the series. "Gliding Over All" sets up so many possibilities and a whole new direction for the final eight episodes of the series and makes predicting the end of this amazing story an impossible endeavour.

To rephrase one of Walt's lines in this episode, last things first: the ultimate scene in "Gliding Over All", that simple yet momentous and jaw- dropping epiphany for one of the characters, wouldn't be as great as it turns out to be if it weren't for the perfect lead-up to it. The intensity is lacking for most parts of this episode, but that turns out to be the perfect calm before the storm – a storm that one could also describe as the best season-ending cliffhanger of the series. However, my 10 rating isn't the result of merely one remarkable scene, since there are loads of other things to praise in this episode. Firstly, there are Breaking Bad's best two minutes of non-stop violence in the most beautifully (not inappropriate to say, right?) shot murder montage. If such bloodshed isn't your cup of tea, there's still the drug cooking and contributing, getting stretched out to a three-minute chain of the whole process, set to contrasting music, looking purely amazing, and impressing with more match cuts you could ever expect to find in any other episode of any TV series.

Fans of subtlety will find a lot to admire about "Gliding Over All" too, with hints to episodes quite a while ago and the little disguised murder contemplations (Walt's ricin, Jesse's gun) being present in these 50 minutes, which may not be the series' most intense or thoroughly entertaining, but are artistically made and opening an outstanding new story for the series, making it the best episode of this half of the fifth season.

All of Walt's hard work finally pays off and he is all set to happily retire. This would have been a good ending because Walt worked so hard during the series. I hope in the end he prevails and is able to live in peace.

I think Gliding Over All is one of the best episodes of Breaking Bad for numerous reasons.

There are character moments involving Walt, Skyler, Hank, Marie, Jesse, and Lydia that all work brilliantly. Some of the more ironic moments, particularly the final shot are very memorable. The writers display constant awareness of previous episodes and keep great consistency with certain callbacks.

The evolution of Walter White is one of the main reasons to watch Breaking Bad and this is another classic depiction of how far down that road from Mr Chips to Scarface his has moved. Bryan Cranston is brilliant as always, but the cinematographers do for his physical appearance what Gordon Willis did for Al Pacino and make him an intimidating force of nature.

Speaking of The Godfather, there are some particularly well made tributes to some of its most famous moments in this episode. Plus it is generally visually stunning in most scenes, particularly the montages and transitions. I love the cut from Walt sitting down whilst leaning forward to him sitting back up in a different situation. The White family house drenched in shadowy darkness is incredibly effective.

Cranston, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Aaron Paul, and Laura Fraser are all perfect in their scenes.