El Camino - Thoughts and Impressions (Warning! Potential Spoilers)

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**Grimskul**

So the somewhat unexpected but definitely welcomed movie sequel to Breaking Bad got released yesterday on Netflix.

Spoiler:

What are your thoughts? Was it worth releasing or worth the wait? I'm used to the slow burn of BCS, so it was kinda weird to see so much happen in 2 or so hours.

**nfe**

I thought it would have made two reasonable episodes of a show. I didn't really dig it as a film.

**Azreal13**

It was fine, perfectly entertaining and good to spend a little more time in the world.

The main issue I have is that, details aside, if you'd asked anyone who had watched the show what they'd think Jesse would do next, I'm sure almost everyone would nail down the broad strokes of the plot of the film. It didn't really offer any surprises, just more information.

**Tyranid Horde**

I enjoyed it quite a bit, it was nice to go back to one of my favourite series after finishing it for the second time 3 or 4 months ago.

I liked most of the cameos but found the likes of Todd a little jarring as he's gained a few pounds since BB. I also feel a bit sad that they closed the "Is Walt dead?" ending as that was always a cool ambiguity at the end of BB.

If they really wanted they could have drawn it out over half a dozen episodes but I think the film format helped it quite a bit.

**nels1031**

Looking forward to it tonight! One more episode of Unbelievable and its next in my queue. I'll be back to give my thoughts on it.

To be honest, my initial thought at the trailer reveal was "Is it necessary? Is it too late?" I'll find out tonight.

**Grimskul**

Azreal13 wrote:
It was fine, perfectly entertaining and good to spend a little more time in the world.

The main issue I have is that, details aside, if you'd asked anyone who had watched the show what they'd think Jesse would do next, I'm sure almost everyone would nail down the broad strokes of the plot of the film. It didn't really offer any surprises, just more information.

Yeah, it definitely felt like an OVA or an epilogue to the BB series than anything particularly ground-shaking revelation wise. Still good, though to be fair given how BB likes to be more grounded in most of its storytelling, there wasn't that much leeway they could go for in this short of a film if it happened right after the last episode, outside of a significant time skip.

**nels1031**

I enjoyed it. Really made me want to start over from the beginning and go through this journey again, but I think I’ll wait for Better Call Saul to conclude before I do that.

With that said, as Azreal13 pointed out, it didn’t really offer anything that I didn’t already assume he would do. Loved all the cameo’s though.

Also, Todd is one of the more disturbing villains of any show that I’ve watched in recent memory.

**Grimskul**

nels1031 wrote:
I enjoyed it. Really made me want to start over from the beginning and go through this journey again, but I think I’ll wait for Better Call Saul to conclude before I do that.

With that said, as Azreal13 pointed out, it didn’t really offer anything that I didn’t already assume he would do. Loved all the cameo’s though.

Also, Todd is one of the more disturbing villains of any show that I’ve watched in recent memory.

I think one of the best things about Todd is that he isn't some mastermind like Gus or crazy criminal like Tuco. He's a much more placid sociopath, especially with how he seems uncomfortable with how Jesse looks at him for what he did to the maid, as if he's somewhat offended what he did wasn't the most reasonable thing to do. You see it again when he offers pizza to Jesse when he's got a gun pointed at him when they bury the body. Meth Damon indeed.

**El Torro**

I'm one of those people who doesn't think that Breaking Bad is the best show ever. Blasphemy, I know. I still enjoyed it though.

As for El Camino, I seem to go with the consensus on this one.It was fine. It didn't take too many risks and was a solid performance all round. It wasn't great by any means, but it was good enough for what they were trying to achieve.

**Sobekta**

It was a setup for the next BB movie, which will deal with walt's wife and family. Maybe that one will deal with the vindictiveness of the legal system in it's determination to crush skyler since walt is beyond its reach.

**Grimskul**

Sobekta wrote:
It was a setup for the next BB movie, which will deal with walt's wife and family. Maybe that one will deal with the vindictiveness of the legal system in it's determination to crush skyler since walt is beyond its reach.

AFAIK Walt helped make Skyler not a target with the phone call before he disappeared with the vacuum man, where he made it seem like she was coerced into the whole thing. That plus her getting the bodies for Hank and Gomez would give her a fair bit of leverage, if anything if they ever do catch Saul, they'd probably try and put most of it on him, and the BCS series is hinting with the scenes of him as "Gene" in the future starting to crack under his new persona, and that he might be caught at some point. So I would highly doubt there'd be another BB movie, at least one that deals with the family in the aftermath given how it's effectively already been told.

**nels1031**

Not sure I'm too keen on a Skyler movie, personally. Is that for sure happening, or just conjecture? I felt like that was the most tightly wrapped up part of the finale, where Walt gave money to his old friends to give to Walt Jr when he gets to a certain age. Jesse's movie worked because some folks wondered where he'd go once he left the meth lab where he was imprisoned. Maybe some closure between Skyler and her widowed sister could work for some drama, maybe like an opposite of how Saul and his brother couldn't work out their issues in BCS. But none of that really interests me as I type it.

Grimskul wrote:
AFAIK Walt helped make Skyler not a target with the phone call before he disappeared with the vacuum man, where he made it seem like she was coerced into the whole thing.

One of the best scenes in the series, imo.

**Snake Tortoise**

I really enjoyed it, I was reminded why BB was so great

**Necros**

I liked it, was nice seeing Jesse's story come to an end and also getting to see Walt and some of the other characters 1 last time. I don't think we really need a Skylar movie though, but I'd watch it if they make one

**H.B.M.C.**

Really enjoyed it. It was a nice epilogue to Breaking Bad that gave us the ending of Jesse's story.

**Nightlord1987**

Really tempted to rewatch the series again (for a third time).

Spoiler.

Spoiler:

**Excommunicatus**

I always just sort of tolerated the Jesse-heavy episodes, and this wasn't much different.

I give it 3.6 roentgens; not great, not terrible.

EDIT - I was also surprised at how hefty Meth Damon was, and also how bad Mike's make-up was.

Was this Tier-C?