Jason Cabassi names his top four GoT episodes and we choose one of these to cover on the first ever “Rushmore Reboot.” Joining the conversation of season 5, episode 8 is historian Danielle Alesi, Comedian Steve Ausburne, and author Anthony Le Donne.
Courtney and Pete connect the dots of the subtle details in Bit By a Dead Bee. Walt takes notice of a painting that is mundane in appearance, but rich in sub-textual story. The very same painting appears in several episodes across Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. As Walt further traumatizes his family with his “fugue state”, Hank descends on Jesse with an avenging force. Could Walt turn this boat around? What does the painting mean? And will Wendy ever get her root beer?
What’s something you do for fun? Now ask yourself, would you have even more fun if it was ILLEGAL? If your answer is yes, then you and Walter White have something in common. The Heisenberg hat makes a debut, which further reinforces the emerging persona. As Jesse and Walt wade into more dangerous waters, Pete and Courtney have some questions for you to consider. Does intention matter? How far can rationalizing go? And when would you ever need a baby tiara?
Who was Heisenberg? No, not Walt’s alter ego. Who was Werner Heisenberg? And what are the parallels between him and Walt? As Walt emotionally pulls away from his family, he starts to bond with Jesse. For a man who claims to be risk-averse, Walt is very comfortable making dangerous bluffs. Hank certainly thinks he’s the smartest man in the room, so why was Walt able to fly under the radar for so long? Want to see these dichotomies play out for yourself? Pete and Courtney say this episode makes for a great rewatch.
Jim of Bald Move joins GDT to discuss “the gray area of Gray Matter”. Walt is presented with a gift that would take care of all of his financial worries, so why doesn’t he take it? Well, that’s what Pete and Courtney are trying to figure out. Hear what Vince Gilligan had to say about the end of Walt and Gretchen, get a rundown of details you missed, and find out what meth and instant noodles have in common in this episode of Growth Decay Transformation.
Steve and Anthony discuss off-season news for House of the Dragon. Then Anthony is joined by the Bald Move boys and Hammer-of-Gods Evan to pound out our new HOTD-fantasy league.
Walt’s cancer becomes a family affair as Skyler and Marie search for medical attention. Hank tells Walt that he’ll take care of Skyler and Walter Jr., and predictably, Walt gives him a withering look. Though seemingly benign, there are actions taken in this episode that have big consequences later down the line. Just like the cancer in his own body, Walt becomes a destructive and unyielding force.
The feedbag is throbbing with feedback for the season 1 wrapup. Is humanity worth saving? And would sacrificing Ellie be worth it? Does the show tell us the truth and give us all the facts? Was it the bite or the knife that made Ellie immune? And the big question we need answered from the showrunners…when are we getting season 2??
Need more TLOU in your life? Check out the TLOU Part 1 playthrough from Bald Move at 9PM EST on YouTube!
Walt has a choice to make, but he’ll do everything in his power to delay making it. Pete and Courtney dive into the psyche of Walt as he makes his first kill of the series. Though this is the first, it is certainly not the last. Courtney and Pete will map out the connections from this episode to the later casualties of Breaking Bad and plot lines in Better Call Saul.
Jim and A.Ron from Bald Move join Pete to discuss the Legacy of Breaking Bad. The guys talk about how the show changed television and how it played a part in their decisions to start talking about TV as a way to make a living. They also realize how their favorite individual quotes from the series are connected. Growth Decay Transformation wouldn’t exist without Bald Move, and it’s great to have them on for our first crossover episode.