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April 29th, 2010
09:57 am - I think this winds up my Breaking Bad posting for now
I find MBTI an interesting taxonomy of personality. It's not very subtle is it - only 16 types to cover our entire species, there are more types of grass - and it doesn't have much predictive value. But it's a handy tool or vocabulary to organise my thoughts.
Using MBTI made me realise the similarity of Walt and Jesse in Breaking bad to Avon and Vila in Blakes 7. That was my first fandom from about 15 years ago. I was just talking about that in comments to  executrix. Jesse is probably ISFP while Vila is ESFP (he's more outgoing and relaxed than Jesse). They both have addictive and undisciplined lives, kind hearts, surprising technical facility. Whereas Walt and Avon are probably INTJ (I'd like to make Walt ENTJ so that both pairs have complete mirror-symmetry): wound tight, intellectual, aggressive. While Jesse-Vila is engaged in criminal enterprise in order to belong somewhere, with nowhere else to go, and money just a means, Avon-Walt is in it for the money, and emotional engagement is something he fights against to the bloody end. Both Avon and Walt pretty much lose their minds. As executrix says, each originally goes outlaw 'on behalf of someone else, although he can't be bothered to tell the other person'.
All about Santa Muerte
The barrio of Tepito... has been one of Mexico City's roughest neighborhoods since Aztec times. Famous for its black market and its boxing champions, Tepito is a place where residents learn to fight early and fight hard. These days it has also become the epicenter of Mexico's fastest-growing faith: Santa Muerte, or Holy Death, a hybrid religion that merges Catholic symbolism with pre-Hispanic worship of the skeletal Mictlantecuhtli and Mictlancihuatl, Lord and Lady of the Dead... "She accepts everyone, with faults and without."
And finally, and really for hardcore fans only, Breaking Bad blooper reel with some innuendo. I still think there is a sexual dynamic between Walt and Jesse, the actors obviously think so, but reading BB blogs and reviews I think any development would utterly alienate the few viewers they have, so I guess it ain't gonna happen.
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It would be a turn-up for the books if poor Gan happened to be there when the equivalent of an ATM was pushed onto the trooper's head by somebody else.
I've just seen S2 and no S3, but as of that point, I rather think that Walt despises Jesse so much for not having killed him (Walt) yet after everything Walt has done that he couldn't even muster an exploitive sexual interest in him. I think he feels guilty and responsible at the end of S2, and that's why he freezes him out in S3. Not sure what's going on now, BTW I hope my spoilers aren't spoiling - none of them are very extreme I don't think. I followed a post in the Breaking Bad community here, so I hope you're not too creeped out by my responding out of nowhere.
Anyway, I actually see Jesse as pretty extroverted and Walt as pretty introverted. One thing that always touches me about Jesse is how he's constantly looking for and often creating connections with people, especially Walt but also in less significant moments, from trying to chat with Gus's delivery boy to immediately taking some responsibility for Little Spooge. When we see him dealing, he's friendly and outgoing with everyone. And he doesn't like to be alone; in the first season, he pulls out his meth for Skinny Pete and Combo even though he doesn't want to in order to get them to stay. It's true that he seems to emphasize substantial connections (being more invested in his relationships with his brother, with Jane, and with Walt than any of them are in return, for instance), but he is also more action than thought oriented, and has a variety of interests (drumming, art) instead of being really good at one thing. Walt, on the other hand, is cool with being alone, only really wants his primary relationships to stay intact rather than establishing new ones, is definitely more of a thinker than a doer, and has very specialized interests and knowledge.
Also, I don't actively ship them, but I definitely see a lot of subtext that I'm always surprised and disappointed the fandom (what little there is of it) hasn't tried exploring more. I mean, damn: their relationship and growing bond is central to the show; they are dependent on each other, irrevocably entwined, and connected to each other like neither of them are with anyone else in their lives; they have an entertainingly and sometimes heartbreakingly antagonistic relationship; there is the imposition of other roles (teacher-student, father-son) and hierarchies into what is supposed to be an equal partnership, creating a power imbalance; one person is more invested than the other; they have both been in the position of actively competing with the other's love interest. Add into that the show's fascinating exploration of masculinity, the attractiveness of the actors (and Aaron Paul gets prettier the more vulnerable Jesse is), and the age difference thing, which is a kink for a lot of people, and I am just shocked that there's no fic. Very nice to hear from you. I agree with you that Jesse definitely tries to make connections with people, to reach out. I think it's his defining characteristic almost. I always remember when he went to visit Walt the first time 'To touch base.. you know talk', and Walt was all 'touch base?' he literally had no idea what Jesse was talking about.
In a way I would be happier identifying Jesse as extrovert and Walt as introvert, because it's a neater pattern. The reason I place Jesse as introvert is because he seems to have an inner life which is hidden away from his friends.
I think if the fandom develops there will be much more about the relationship between the two of them, which as you say is the centre of the show. The power imbalance, the just brilliant acting, the loveliness of the actors. Yes, I totally agree with you. Let's hope it develops.
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