The epic series finale of "Breaking Bad" is upon us. The second half of the fifth and final season will air this summer, and although there's no official premiere date, it's rumored to be sometime in July. The series' creators and cast have been boasting about the mind-blowing finale for months, and it's almost here.
"This is the end, my friend. It's a roller coaster ride to hell," says Bryan Cranston, who plays Walt, the meth-dealing protagonist turned power hungry megalomaniac. Fans are expecting big things from the series finale and they've been promised nothing short of spectacular.
"Breaking Bad" is a frustratingly complex show whose characters have shifted from innocent to devilish, from meth addict to hero, feeding the dark and tormented plotline. Fans are dying to know how it will end. Will Walt get it together and reunite his broken family? How will his family and friends cope with his descent into insanity? What will become of his drug empire?
There's no way to be sure, but here are a few possible scenarios.
1. This is a pessimistic look at the what's to come, but it's a path the show could take all the same. We've watched Walt slowly descend from a loving, timid father to a malicious drug kingpin. His wife Skyler (Anna Gunn) has lost all faith in his recovery and fears that his business will ultimately destroy the family. She's been distant and unflinching despite Walt's attempts to rekindle their relationship, denying him the slightest upper hand that he so desperately seeks in their relationship. She may never forgive Walt for his mistakes, and his actions may indeed bring about the destruction of the White family. His double crossing and brief murder spree could catch the wrong people's attention. Walt could be dead by the series' close. Perhaps the entire show is commentary on the dangers of the seedy world of the drug game, how even the most innocent, gentle person can be sucked in by its unforgiving undercurrent.
2. We all know Hank (Dean Norris) has been hot on Walt's tail since day one. As the series has progressed, Hank gets excruciatingly close to uncovering the White family's darkest secret. The season five midseason finale hinted that Hank had finally put all the pieces together. Although nothing will be confirmed until the series returns, Hank would be a fool not to realize what his brother-in-law has been up to. I'd say it's inevitable that Hank discovers the truth, it's just a matter of how he handles the situation. He could show Walt some brotherly love and tell him to leave the drug game for the good of his family, or he could save his DEA reputation and bring down the man who has stained his career.
3. The most recent episode, which aired back in September, hinted that Walt may have decided to step away from the drugs on his own accord. Upon realizing how much money he's made, he tells Skyler that he's out. Highly doubtful. In the past, money hasn't been the driving factor for Walt. It's been his hunger for power and control, his megalomania always getting the best of him. But the same episode also subtly hints that his cancer has returned. The big C is what originally motivated Walt to cook meth in order to save money for his family in case he passed, but it had since been declared in remission. If the cancer is back, perhaps Walt had a sudden change of heart and finally realized that he needs to amend his faltering relationship with his family. Still, I'm not too optimistic that he can walk away so easily, not after what he's become.
4. He could also be full of it. Maybe he's lying to Skyler in hopes of winning her embrace. He could carry on to build his meth empire, burning every bridge he crosses. As we've seen in previous seasons, Walt is extremely resourceful. If Hank does catch on to his secret, I wouldn't be surprised if Walt coldheartedly handles the situation himself, perhaps by slipping a dose of ricin in his coffee during breakfast. He could indeed bring the White family to its impending doom. The series could end with Walt sitting quietly, eerily staring off into nothingness as we've so often seen him do in recent episodes, with nothing or no one left. Walt's going insane, and what's left to stop him if he loses the love and affection of his friends and family.
There are still a million loose ends that need to be tied. Unfortunately, we'll all have to wait in agony until the series' summer return.
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