Maybe it speaks to young parents. But as a childless bachelor, I'm regularly compelled to put it on mute. Still read the closed-captioning, though.

So what? The real national anthem is "Freebird."

This is the first review/discussion I've read re: the current season, and obviously I'm in the vast minority in considering James Spader the only enjoyable element of the show at this point. I think Robert California was a splendid (if implausible) addition to an otherwise worn out, boring formula.

I think said "media blitz" is more of a prediction. Probably a good one.

She is hot and has a voice, but also appears to have been born in a test tube in a marketing department looking for a "cool" face to stick in a Volvo commercial. Her father is a Connecticut millionaire and her retro schtick is honed to the point of boredom.

You don't consider Walt being tased and driven into the desert to be excommunicated from the business and have his entire family threatened really dramatic?

I agree re: Skylar looking over Walt in his metaphorical grave. The quickened, runaway-train pace of the second half of the episode, the feeling (as Noel said) that there were scenes left out, that time was passing unpredictably – at one point there was a four-day break from one scene to the next! – it had a surreal,…

All along Breaking Bad has been building to Walter as the prospective
kingpin ("Mr. Chips to Scarface") but this season seems to be much more
about JESSE's rise, as Walter flubs his way into literal incapacitation.