User Reviews

This is the seventh episode of the fifth season of Breaking Bad and it's a very good one that has quite a shocker ending. First off, I loved the pre-credits scene. That scene with Heisenberg really dishing it out to the Phoenix buyers was clever and mesmerizing. Once again it's a true testament to the acting of Bryan Cranston. However, Jonathan Banks as Mike did an excellent job. Despite his criminal activities, I was sad to see Mike meet his end.

In this episode, "Say My Name," Mike and Jesse are now out of the business and Walt has Todd become his new cooker. Hank has been told by the bigger bosses to lay off Mike, however one of Mike's attorneys is caught in the act. Walt removes the bugs from Hank's office, but learns something devastating in the process.

Overall, this is quite an excellent episode that is at it's strongest in the beginning and the end. The ending is still with me as I feel sadness at the departure of Mike. But we are nearing the end, and I feel like the fireworks are just beginning.

My Grade: A+

"The whole thing could've been avoided," Walt tells Mike in his final moments. But, really, could it have been? I felt last night's conclusion slowly building, as I'm sure you did, and it was nerve- wracking and uncomfortable; last week's missed opportunity, Mike "setting his affairs in order," if you will—it all felt too neat to end otherwise. And yet knowing there was a very good chance Mike wouldn't survive the episode didn't make his departure any less impactful or Walt's responsibility for it any less shocking. In fact, the minute Mike called Saul I shot up in my seat, held my hand to my mouth for those excruciating final ten minutes, and sat, glued to the screen, my heart pounding. Then I choked up a little bit, I'm not going to lie. It was good TV.

I spoke to a friend not too long after the show, and he admitted that he wanted nothing more in that moment than to watch Walt burn. Not only does that speak volumes to how impressive a character Mike was (and how wonderful an actor Jonathan Banks is), but violently thrusts into perspective just how drastically Walt has transformed. While not an entirely sudden realization, in that moment we become fully aware that we've made a progression of our own—we've gone from cheering on an under-appreciated, cancer-ridden chemistry teacher to rooting for an established anti-hero to perhaps completely denying we did anything of the sort in the first place. I think it's safe to say that this is the moment; the turning point. Walt has finally blown through the point of no return, and as of right now, there's no telling whether a future recovery is even possible.

What is solidified for us, however, is this idea that Walt truly will do whatever it takes to maintain his semblance of power. Persuading Jesse to kill Gale; poisoning Brock; blowing up Gus Fring—those atrocities pale in comparison to his murder of Mike, which only begs the question "Who's next?" Hank? Skyler? Jesse? Things didn't exactly end well during their last confrontation, so what's to say he'd hesitate if faced with the opportunity to shoot his loyal partner?

Or should I say his ex-loyal partner? In what was probably my favorite scene of the episode, Jesse tries to convey to Walt that despite what he may think, he really has no intention of going back into the business with him; all he wants is his share of money, and then he's really out. But of course, self-absorbed, power-hungry Walt won't have it; after he tries and fails to offer Jesse his own lab and convince him no one else will die by their hand, he resorts to hurling nasty insults at him, expressing his belief that without meth, Jesse is absolutely worthless. He even goes so far as to highlight the fact that at the end of the day, Jesse really has nothing and no one (then again, whose fault is that?). But while I felt my heart breaking for Jesse, I also felt this surge of pride for him. All along Jesse has been fully aware of how easily Walt manipulates others, yet he's never taken the time to notice that he too falls victim to the very same tactics— until now. By renouncing his "dirty money" and acknowledging that everything out of Walt's mouth is, and has been, bullshit, Jesse finally takes a very mature step; not one that he'll renege on a few episodes and a convincing conversation later (especially not when he learns Walt shot Mike), but one that allows him to see Walt for who is really is.

To read the rest of the review (IMDb form too short) visit: http://custodianfilmcritic.com/breaking-bad-5-7-say-my-name/

Another eventful and greatly done episode.

But I must say it hurts me now to watch it. Not because I don't think it is great, but i am sad to see what is happening to the characters that i have loved through all those episodes.

It saddens me that Jesse leaves Walt. And watching Walt working with Todd just made it worse to see that great partnership end.

But at the same time I can't blame Jesse because Walt is losing it. Him killing Mike made no sense. Walt would have never done it, all the murders he committed had to happen. But Heisenberg is different.

And seeing Mike die was sad as well, sad to lose such a great character brought to us by a wonderful actor. Yet,his final words were great, very much like him.

Wow... Is all I could say, I literally just finished viewing this episode and I am very much still in shock about what just happened.

Say my name is the 7th episode of the 5th and final season of Breaking Bad. And perhaps the most emotion wrenching episode of Breaking Bad thus far.

After finding out last week that Jesse and Mike were leaving the game for good you knew something tragic was going to happen, as I said in my review of last weeks episode, "I think Mike's fate is coming soon" but in the manner that it happened, no one could predict it to go down this way.

This episode starts off with a very egotistical Walter, or should we just throw that name in the garbage and tell it like it is, his name is Heisenburg, And he wants to build an empire.

After paying Mike off and getting an entire cartel to work for him, Walt tries to innocently play off Jesse's plea that he is going to leave for good, but as it turns out, Jesse isn't the same idiot he has been in past seasons, and Heisenburg isn't Walter anymore. He believes Jesse truly wants to stay in the Meth game, to build an EMPIRE! As he does, but he's dead wrong, just like the child Todd killed. Jesse is done, so what does Heisenburg do? Replaces him with the very man that is responsible for Jesse's change of heart, Todd.

As things continue to get worst with Skyler, we see no signs of Marie or Walt Jr, it appears as if Heisenburg and Skyler, have no communication with their kids what so ever.

But one thing hasn't changed, is the Dea's interest in Mike, and Hank, being relentless as ever, finally got to the bottom of it, and furthermore proved, why you should always, call Saul.

Everything after the park scene in this episode, well, I think you remember quite clearly.

This episode is absolutely the best episode of the entire season, and after 4 straight incredible episodes, season 5 is quickly moving up my list for the best season of Breaking Bad so far. Not only am I thinking about what just happened, but what is going to happen next week, all the problems this creates, does Heisenburg tell Jesse? Does Jesse become the enemy? Enough of me rambling, if you have yet to see this episode, GO WATCH IT NOW, I don't care how, I don't care who you kill to see it, just do it. I think I'm with the majority here, when I say, this episode was a perfect 10.

In the pre-credit sequence we learn what Walt's plan is; instead of selling the methylamine to the people from Phoenix Walt will pay them thirty five percent to distribute it for them; not surprisingly they aren't impressed with that idea but he explains how they will make more selling his top grade product than they would ever make selling their own. They agree but Mike and Jesse are still out of the business leaving Walt to cook with Todd. Meanwhile Hank has been instructed to stop the surveillance on Mike; the DEA no longer consider him a priority. Hank however has another idea; somebody is organising the payments that are going to Mike's people in jail and as they all have the same lawyer it isn't hard to guess who that is… it isn't long before the lawyer talks and the DEA are after Mike once more.

This is another top notch episode which started with a great scene to hook the viewers; Bryan Cranston does a fine job showing just how far Walt has come in the last year from being Mr White the put upon teacher to being Heisenberg the maker of the best methamphetamine in America! It is sad that this is the last time we'll see Jonathan Banks performing as Mike; one of the series more interesting characters; at least he got a great final scene. Todd makes a poor substitute for Jesse as Walt's assistant but that is clearly deliberate and showed how much Walt had come to respect Jesse's ability. It will be interesting to see what happens in upcoming episodes; how will Walt's business empire grow and how soon will it be before Hank is concentrating on finding Heisenberg again?

'Say My Name' is the 7th episode of Breaking Bad's epic fifth season. The full-on drama and tension throughout this episode is remarkable, and is proof enough to say that after four successful seasons, the show still manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seat.

Walt...I shouldn't even address him as Walter White. He's Heisenberg, his very declaration; "You're god damn right!" in reply to the leader of the group in the desert that he proposes his 35 percent cut business deal to, sets the tone for the whole episode. He's in it for the money, for the thrill of 'breaking bad.' He's lost everyone, his family...even JESSE.

Jesse wants out, Heisenberg doesn't want him to leave. Jesse leaves. Todd's the substitute. The fact is, Todd isn't a good enough substitute for Jesse in Heisenberg's eyes. There's something missing, it's like buying vanilla flavoured Coca-cola and not tasting the vanilla.

Walt shooting Mike made me think. Has this Heisenberg gone too far? I mean, he redefines the term 'breaking bad' by adding more negative connotations into encyclopedic 'blender'.

What lie will Walt have to tell Jesse? Will Jesse join back up with Walt? Will Walt completely lose the plot even further than he already has in terms of his mental state? THIS IS WHAT GOOD T.V. IS!

Finally the show is back as we know it; methy, tense, and dramatic all at the same time. The episode kicks off with Walter finally getting his grip around the 'empire' he's been talking about. He makes sure that everyone at the meeting, including Jesse and Mike, know that he is not just 'Walter' anymore, he is Heisenberg; the best meth cook in the country, and the guy who killed Fring.

After that Heisenberg takes off the bug he put in Hank's office, realizing the tension is too much between the feds and them, when he notices that the feds are going after Mike now so he calls him and warns him. This does not mean that he cares about him, Walter would, but Heisenberg doesn't and just wants the feds to stay away from him even if that means doing what's necessary...

The feds close in on Mike, taking his money away and making him drive away from his granddaughter which drives him crazy but there's nothing he can do about it. Heisenberg goes and delivers a bag for Mike then asks him for the names of the nine guys in return, Mike refuses then Heisenberg decides to shoot him instead of talking it out. This dramatic and mind blowing ending, with the ending of the killing-the-kid episode, makes us realize how epic the next episodes are going to be, and how fantastic the finale will be. Most of all, how sad will all of us be after this show ends.

Vince Gilligan truly does know how to create a character who can you at the SAME time hate and love. Well, hate kinda goes much further than love in this season specifically. Specifically indeed.

Walter Heisenberg White changes dramatically from the begging. In the "Dead Freight" episode a boy on the motorbike gets shot. Not that its something unusual in this kind of TV series, one thing shocked me the most and that is --

HEISENBERG'S frikin' coldness, I am DEAD serious. He just doesn't give a single **** about anybody now. Neither his wife, Jesse, Hank: Nobody. It's just became him and himself, and the money of course.

In this particularly episode Walt decides to take everything in his hands, by that I mean, no jerking around, no "leftovers", his selfishness, and because of his need of MONEY he takes a wrong turn that's probably cost him. That's what am I going to say. I'm not revealing anything. I'm just going to add that it will became one hell of a ride.

Although I fu****g hate Walt now logically I would should run away from the TV show RIGHT? RIGHT? Definitelyno! NO! Mr. Gilligan bulit up the attraction between the audience and Mr. Walt; his needs, his anger, his desire and ultimately his despair so bad that it is SERIOUSLY impossible to ignore the glory ending however it ends.

Just to end this small review; congrats to Mr. Vince -- the writer who truly inspires me and surprises anyone who watches this TV show.

I think I am writing this review because I am still in shock over what I just saw in this episode and writing it out might help me absorb it. What is even more shocking is that after 4 seasons of the most shocking and thrilling television I've ever seen, the show still surprises. The episode begins with Walter explaining his plan to keep the methylamine, pay both Mike and Jesse their money, and keep the methylamine buyers from starting a bloodbath. Walt offers them 35 percent of the operation if they handle the distribution and buy out the retiring Mike for $5 million. After he lets them ponder his offer for a minute he tells them that he was the one that killed Gus and asks the man to "Say my name." The man says Heisenberg and Walter replies with "You're goddamn right." Of course this immediately sends chills down your spine.

After it seems that the negotiations have concluded, Jesse reminds Walter that he is leaving the business and wants his share. Walt basically shrugs off the request by telling Jesse they will talk about it later and asks him to help get things up and running during the transition. Back at Vamonos Mike tells the guys that the DEA will be doing a sweep of Hank's office at some point and they need to get the bug out of there "sooner rather than later."

So Walt and Jesse go pick up the methylamine, which was hidden at the car wash, where they run into Skyler. She starts asking questions about the liquid when Walt demands her to go into the office and let them handle it.

Switch over to a bank where we find a man, who later we are told is Mike's lawyer, making deposits to the families who Mike is helping. He also deposits some money into a large container filled with cash for Mike's granddaughter (that is one badass grandpa). Later we see Mike overhearing on a bug that Hank is going to search Mike's place and bust him so Mike gets the incriminating evidence together and dumps it down into a familiar storage hole in the desert. He also leaves his car at the airport. Hank and the DEA find nothing at the house.

Later Walter tries to convince Jesse to continue to cook and to double their production. Jesse says nothing has changed and that he still wants out. Walt says that the $5 million that Jesse wants is bloodmoney and that if he would accept it then why not make more. Jesse then tells him to keep the money and storms out with Walter shouting behind him that if he leaves he gets nothing.

Back at the DEA office Hank is told by his superior to stop obsessing over the Fring case and to stop following Mike. Hank of course finds away around this and decides to follow Mike's lawyer.

Walt proceeds to cook with assistance of the child killer Todd who wants nothing more than to impress the great Heisenberg.

Switch back over to the bank where Dan, Mike's lawyer, is making another deposit when the DEA comes in and busts him. Later at the DEA office Walt pulls the crying act with Hank to get the bug when he overhears Gomez telling Hank about Dan willing to flip on Mike.

Switch over to Mike in the park with his granddaughter. While watching her on the swing, he gets a call from his lawyer who tricks Mike into giving him his exact location. Moments after hanging up Walter calls him telling him that the cops are coming for him and that he needs to vanish. After the call we get to see something I did not expect to see... a completely vulnerable and destroyed Mike watching his granddaughter from behind a tree before leaving.

Walt and Jesse seek out Saul for advice on what to do about Mike and the nine people who could flip on them. While discussing the situation Saul gets a call from Mike who asks him to go to his car at the airport which contains passports, cash and a gun for a quick departure. Walt volunteers to get it for him.

Walt meets Mike at a remote meeting point. He wants Mike to tell him the name of the nine people he's been paying off. Mike says no and two argue over who is to blame for everything getting messy. Mike gets into his car preparing to leave. We see Walt go back to his car then moments later come back into view heading towards Mike. In the car Mike opens his bag to find that his gun is missing and then Walter appears next to the driver window and shoots Mike. This is the moment I believe my mind ceased to process what was happening. Even Walter himself seemed completely taken aback by what he had just done, Mike drives away but quickly crashes. Walt finds Mike down a ravine sitting on a rock. He has a gun in his hand but is too gravely wounded to use it. Walt says that he just realized that Lydia has the names and this whole thing could have been avoided. Mike asks to him "Shut the f*ck up and let me die in peace....."

If you saw this episode than you know that this review nowhere near encompasses the emotion and pure brilliance that this episode delivered but I just had to share my thoughts on it. So I guess I just wanna say that I never thought that a story, let alone a television show, could be so goddamn engrossing, thrilling, emotional, awe-inspiring and in my mind just flat-out PERFECT.... Breaking Bad pulls that off and then some.

Great episode and I mourned the death of Mike. He was my second best character after Walter White. I'm really excited about the upcoming episodes of the series.

The character of Walter has evolved from selling some drugs to pay for his medical bills to being a harden criminal. Walter has nothing left in his life but the drug business. Walter has lost his family after Skyler found out about Walter's double life as a meth cook. Walter has become a liar, thief, and murderer in the brutal criminal business. Walter is motivated to be the best in the meth field, which the makers have us believe is because of the demons which haunt him. The haunting demon are losing the love of his life which resulted in Walter leaving his business Grey matter which would have made him a billionaire, which resulted in Walter being a lowly school teacher. Walter's bitterness results in him trying to control his murderous rage we see in this episode. Walters transformation is complete!

I was ok till now with Walter's stupidity. But killing Mike? What the hell! Jonathan Banks (Michael Ermhantraut) was one of the best characters in the show. Certainly better than Walter. He was a certified badass. And what he said to Walter was absolutely correct if seen from a third person's view. Walter HAD to be a man at the wrong time. He HAD to loose the temper at the wrong time. And because of his stupidity Kaylee won't get the money and killing mike!? Walter deserves to die.

Say my name starts with the famous say my name scene when walt begin a new partnership with this new dealer Declan. I am not going to talk about it. Great badass scene. Everybody talked about it before. What I am going to talk about is what happened after that. Walt not letting jesse go his own way and trying to convince him to stay. But jesse doesn't buy the talk, so walt gets angry and say "ok. So why do you want the money, it's blood money, and you don't want be any part of that" and that's the truest thing he ever said. If you don't want anybody to get killed because of you, then why are you in the drug business in the first place. You can't get it both ways having the money and not killing anybody. So jesse felt like what he was saying is right. He just left.

After that an unexpected thing happened. They caught his stupid lawyer bringing a full bag of money to the bank, of course he turned on him, so mike tries to escape but needs his bag, he finds no body than walt to bring it to him, but walt needed the names of the people he was paying, however mike thinks he is invincible, so he takes the bag and goes, but he forgot something important, walt has changed. Well, that costs him his life. Great ending to a great episode. How is walt going to handle this mess? I don't know, we will see in the next episodes.

Walter manages to confront some really bad guys. He has become so self assured that he seems to be able to walk through a mine field. But the problem is that the people whom we have some interest in are dropping by the wayside. But the main focus is Mike and the people who are in jail and his money currier lawyer. Walter must face off against Mike because Mike has been in the sights of the police and the DEA. Walter is slowly becoming the new Gus. He makes an interesting hire.

How can anybody like him and hate Skyler? I just dont get it. In this episode, the way he reacts to Jesse wanting to quit is so rude and ignorant, i wanted to punch my screen 😩 but that means great performance by all of the actors, which i dont even need to say it we all know it very well!!

In this episode we have seen that Walt is ready to cross any limits to just save his sorry ass from getting caught. At the end of season 4, he tried to poisoned a kid to earn Jesse trust from there onwards he is unstoppable. Couple of episodes before a colleague of his killed a kid and he forgotten so easily. He was smiling and singing a song like it was just another NightMare. He has become a serial killer. If he isn't stopped, God knows how many more people are gonna get killed. Who knows maybe next is Hank or Jesse because it seems to me that he will cross any limits now.

Transition of a Walter. A person who was so scared to even hurt anyone in season 1 has now become a Drug Mafia. I feel bad for Jesse.

Another excellent episode, TV history doesn't get much better than this. The quality of the acting and the writing is superb throughout and the ending is a real gut-punch, inevitable perhaps but none the less moving for it.

The series title should now be 'bad' not 'breaking bad', because the transition of walt from good to bad is now complete. He is the danger now. He shouldn't have killed Mike tho but Heisenberg doesn't leave loose ends.

...two. Knowing this is the final season this episode surely defines the beginning of the end for our anti-hero. I suppose you could say that it took way too long for Hank to check out Mike's weak lawyer but that's just being harsh to the writers. The story now, I guess, is whether Jesse or Todd takes over the mantle of co-cooker; will they fight it out themselves or, more likely, will Mr White dictate who continues the process. The Skyler/family arc took a back seat in this episode and its becoming a bit tired. I can well imagine his children never appearing again (except at Mr Whites funeral ASSUMING that's where it must end?). As for Skyler, I cannot see any way back for her. What do I mean? I mean she'll never again help Walter. Perhaps she'll be part of his demise at the end? I hope not. A classic episode with a classic ending. The only thing that surprises me is why it got such a low average score on IMDb. Perhaps Things Can Only Get Better? 10/10.

This entire review is written as if having taken fiction seriously, as great shows will cause viewers to do, and that everything being complained about not only fits the series but was the only thing that could have happened, on the series, so perhaps that will lighten to so many down-votes, but here goes...

Exit the best character on the series, Mike, and the fact Walter kills him... because really of how jealous he is that Jesse looks up to Mike as a mentor... finally makes me want Walter dead and no longer the kind of anti-hero to believe in...

Perhaps that's the fault of the writers who fell so in love with Mike's character that they made him cooler than anyone: added to that he saved Walter AND Jesse's life, but...

Either way, an extremely sad demise to the greatest... THE GREATEST... character in TV history. (Yes, he lives on in Better Call Wexler, but here he's much better... Uh oh, that shot on Kim might be the reason for the down-voting)...

Mike, like, say, Quint in Jaws or Chef (Fred Forrest) in Apocalypse Now, and so many other scene-stealers, or rather, movie-stealers, as the show-stealer here just... had to go... plus the fact Mike's a genuine killer AND he did almost kill both Walter AND his at-this-point son-figure Jesse when working for Gus, but anyhow...

This is the first time that I personally hated Walter, even after last season's Brock's-real-poisoner twist ending: but again, hating Walter is what's supposed to be at this point, yet with such a classic character, for the most part and most of the time, it's really hard to.

This deal which is meant to be Walt's achievement of his goal for an empire should be shown as a shedding of extraneous partners. So, when Jesse comes to Walt and says he doesn't even want to help with the transition and just wants his money, why doesn't Walt just say that to cash in, some final cooking has to be done for Walt to have the money to pay him?

Jesse will be left hanging around, waiting for his money for a much longer time than would be the case if he pitches in and cooks. He would see this if it were presented to him, but Walt just goes for manipulation instead of being upfront. Jesse leaves, disgusted with Walt.

Then, when Mike is cornered and has to run, Walt agrees to retrieve Mike's bag of cash from the car in the long term parking lot at the airport. He doesn't want to just hand it over, he wants Mike to give up the names of his guys in prison so Walt can have them all killed.

After Mike refuses and tells Walt off, Walt shoots him. With Mike dying, Walt realizes that he could have gotten the names from Lydia and didn't need to hold Mike up for the names. It remains to be seen whether Walt realizes what he has become.

Just as Mike said when Walt and Jesse pitched the idea of restarting the meth cooking, "You are trouble". Walt is indeed nothing but trouble for anyone who gets involved with him. Walt is psychopathic narcissist. He doesn't see other people as people, but as things to be used for his own purposes.

Walter really thinks of himself as an emperor, and his little corner of the meth business as an empire.. Anybody he tells about his empire knows that he's delusional. I wonder how many of the fans of this series see what a monster Walt is.

The 10 star shill reviewers are pretty well done now, since the 600 word requirement was instituted. 10 star reviews have gotten to be in synch with the other numbers and that's a good thing. Some balance has been restored, at least to the written review section.

After this episode forward it was impossible for me to root for Walter. Mike was my absolute favourite character and he was the one who knew the most from all sides of this world, his last words to walt were the absolute truth and I can never stop loving his character and the amazing Jonathan Banks. And not to forget Walt's opening monologue perfectly executed by the amazing Bryan Cranston.

Quality of the Episode: Solid 10/10 My mental happines after this episode: 1/10 Final Judgement: Solid 1/10.