Growth Decay Transformation - A Breaking Bad Rewatch Podcast

What makes for a satisfying ending? In “ABQ” we meet Mike Ehrmentraut when he gets a devastated Jesse prepared to call in Jane’s death, Walt gets his tumor removed before Skyler confronts him and asks him to leave, and Donald mourns the loss of his daughter before we see where all of those black and white teasers were heading when Wayfarer 515 crashes above the White household. The finale works as...

Are there any episodes that you dread rewatching? Your hosts break down one of the most heartbreaking episodes in the whole series, “Phoenix.” Walt makes the deal at the cost of missing Holly's birth, is deeply offended by the concept of charity, gets blackmailed by Jane, has a highly coincidental meeting at a bar, and then watches Jane die. Y'know, a typical week in the life of a meth kingpin. Bu...

If you find Skyler singing “Happy Birthday” cringey, you’re in good company. While it may be a scene that even made the crew feel uncomfortable, it’s an important one that gives clarity to Skyler’s choices. Speaking of fateful decisions, this is an episode teeming with them. Join hosts Courtney and Pete as they discuss Jesse’s downward spiral, Jane’s decision to join him there, and Walt’s first me...

Does Jesse have a type? When he feels rejected by Jane some comparisons to Walt start to emerge. More bad news, male kangaroos don’t have pouches. Junior gets his first taste of Tequila and what’s been bubbling up between Hank and Walt comes out in the worst possible way. But hey, they’re really excited about the future at the White house and Walt’s on the case to get rid of the rot. This is peak...

Where do you store your keys when you’re way out in the boonies in an RV cooking meth? Does methylamine go bad? Why does Walt punch the paper towel dispenser after receiving such good news? And what’s the deal with Walt’s mother? Join your hosts, Courtney and Pete, as they explore these questions and more in their discussion of Aaron Paul’s favorite episode of Breaking Bad, “4 Days Out.” Learn mor...

Do you see Jimmy McGill or do you see Saul Goodman? First introduced to us as a cartoonish caricature in the eighth episode of season two, there’s a lot more to everyone’s favorite criminal lawyer than initially meets the eye. Saul offers much needed comic relief, but we know from BCS that underneath the hilarious quips and colorful, outlandish suits is a deeply wounded man. Join Pete and Courtney...

A bond is a strong attraction. Do you remember what it’s like to be in a budding romance? Jesse searches for signals from his satellite and from Jane while Skyler gets her signals in a new (old) job and a cracked picture frame. Your hosts discuss the significance of these developing bonds, explore the lore surrounding the mythical figures of Jesús Malverde, Heisenberg, and Blowfish Jesse, and say...

Everytime Gretchen makes an appearance on Breaking Bad, one of the Bald Move guys makes an appearance on GDT. A. Ron joins Pete and Courtney to discuss S2E06 "Peekaboo." Saved by an ATM and a "rich girl just adding to her millions," Jesse and Walt both get off the hook from dealing with matters they'd really rather not. Things don't go as well for the Three Spooges, though. Mr. Spooge, in particul...

Do you know how many times Jesse calls Walt by his first name? You can count the number of times on one hand, so when he does, it is a big deal. Join Courtney and Pete as they take a deeper look at all the things that break in S02E05 "Breakage." Hank, like his home-brewed Schraederbrau, threatens to explode and things come to a breaking point with Walt and Skyler. Got feedback, yo? Send it to brea...

Have you ever felt blue? Jesse Bruce Pinkman gets dyed blue in Down. The Smurf look is a not-so-subtle nod to the rising tensions between Skyler and Walt and the way in which Jesse himself is feeling. It’s pretty clear by this point in the show that Walt can’t keep his mouth shut, and thereby alienates Skyler. Pete and Courtney call into question Walt and Jesse’s belief that they are owed by their...

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 boa...

Appearances (and disappearances) can be deceiving. Do you know how many episodes Tuco Salamanca appears in on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul? For a character with so little screen time, he leaves a lasting impression. Join Pete and Courtney as they say goodbye to Tuco and hello to Don Hector in their discussion of "Grilled."  Check out what's grilling in Breaking Kitchen.  Got feedback, yo? Sen...

Do you remember the first time you saw the black and white opening? What were your theories? Did you catch all of the foreshadowing in this episode? In case you missed those details, Pete and Courtney have a rundown of all the hard-to-spot clues that color this season. Your hosts will paint a picture that blends themes, plot, and character development so you can experience the great storytelling o...

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...

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 lo...

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...

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....

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.  Got feedback, yo? Send it to...

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 th...

Courtney explores the significance of coin flips and choices and considers to what extent they are catalysts for Walt’s transformation. Was it a random act of fate that the task of killing Krazy-8 fell to him? When Skyler flips a coin in “Cornered,” why doesn’t she follow it across the Colorado border? The decisions the characters make can sometimes put them on bad choice roads.  Got feedback, yo?...

Ever decide something with a coin flip? Walt and Jesse did. And that brings us to question the role of fate in the lives of these characters: Was Walt always Heisenberg? Or did he have to become Heisenberg? Looking back, there’s a lot bubbling under the surface of these characters.  Now, go watch No Country for Old Men if you haven’t seen it yet.  Got feedback, yo? Send it to breakingbadgdt@gmail....

Pete goes back to revisit the Pilot episode one more time to examine why it’s one of the best ever made. In 58 minutes it tells us everything we need to know about Walter White and is extremely effective at making us root for him. This is a great set up for Vince Gilligan’s larger plan to deliver a story about change.  Got feedback, yo? Send it to breakingbadgdt@gmail.com. Support GDT: Our Patreon...

It’s been 15 years since a pantsless Walter White first stepped onto our screens. Now that Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul have finished their runs, Pete and Courtney are here to do a retrospective. This is for fans who have seen the shows because there will be SPOILERS! In this rewatch, Pete and Courtney will break down the characters, themes, and plot points and connect them to the greater arc...

Welcome to Growth Decay Transformation, a Breaking Bad rewatch podcast. This introductory episode explains who we are and why we decided to do a retrospective podcast about one of our favorite TV shows right now. Now that Better Call Saul has ended we have a complete story, and this will be a full SPOILERS podcast exploring that. Join Pete and Courtney on their journey through every episode of Bre...