Media Analysis Scene Report

1. Media Analysis Scene Report Craig Leogue Steven Kearney Lee English Mark Lynch

2. The players

3. Breaking Bad –S02 E10 “Over” STORY OVERVIEW THE BUILD UP • Before the scene takes place Walter has just come from a near death experience with a psychopathic drug dealer, Tuco. • From this and the good news about his cancer, Walter has gained a new lease of life, sense of power and a thinking that he almost untouchable. • Hank has always been the unchallenged dominant male of the family group. He is always self promoting as a hero because of his job in the DEA. • Walter white is a 50 year chemistry teacher who gets diagnosed with lung cancer. • Hit with the possibility of death and leaving his family broke and with no savings he turns to a former student to cook crystal meth. • During his time in the drug business he meets dangerous people who he kills and grows into a confident alter ego called Heisenberg.

4. Walter white • At the start Walter was always a passive person who has lived a mediocre life. He was never seen as he the dominant male in the family due to the close nature of the White’s and Schrader's, Walter was always seen as under Hank in the family order. • During the series he gains more confidence as he gets more infamous in the drug world, and this reflects in his family life as is shown in the scene when he has the courage to challenge Hanks dominance. • During the scene Walter shows his frustration at his place under Hank. He does this by ignoring his request for a word, and reluctantly filling Hanks drink. While hank is boasting Walter shows his disinterest by cutting him off when he pours Jr a drink. • When Hank tries to offer “fatherly” advice to Jr, this angers Walt more making him pour another drink, signalling his challenge to the alpha. When Hank tries to take control of the situation Walt rebuffs his attempts by pouring Jr a third shot over Hanks hand showing his lack of respect to Hank alpha status. • When Hank takes the next step of removing the alcohol Walt public challenges him stating “My son! My bottle! My house”. This leads to a stand off between the two, to which Walt rejects Hanks physical stature and stands his ground. • This is then interrupted by Jr getting sick. When this happens Walt returns to his seat happy with what he considered a victory, shown by a smirk on his face before the scene ends.

5. Hank schrader • Hank has always been the dominant patriarch of the family unit, the family unit being viewed as the immediate White family and Hank and Marie Schrader because of their close relationship and the large impact they have on each others lives. • He in this scene dominates the conversation, as is to this point the norm for scenes with Hank , usually with stories that reinforce his dominant physical nature and stories typically considered to be masculine often involving violence , racism etc. • He asks Walt a question and Hank ignores the fact that Walt refuses to respond because drawing attention to insubordination would be considered below the alpha male. • When Walt pours JR a drink Hank offers his first piece of “Fatherly” advice by telling him not to let his mother see, then on the second round of drinks he further undermines Walt as JRs father figure by questioning his actions , finally on the third round he attempts to block Walt from pouring a drink , an attempt which is over ridden . • Lastly as an act of authoritarianism Hank takes the bottle and emasculates Walt to which Walt reacts by publicly challenging Hanks actions and stamps his own authority on the situation, even when Walt stands to challenge Hank is laughing in disbelief and with a lack of respect for Walt , also Hank still tries to stay in control by trying to reassure the crowd of people that things are ok, however the damage is done the alpha has been challenged for the first time .

6. Walt Jr and Skylar Walt Jr is sixteen and suffers fom cerebral palsy, throughout the series Jr is treated like a child because of his disability. With Walt Snr’s cancer diagnosis and with a new sibling also on the way Jr’s whole world view is being turned upside down. In this scene he is caught in the crossfire as Hank and Walt Snr struggle for dominance. Walt Jr is close with Hank and this undermines Walts role as his father who has become distanced from the family as a result of his illness and drug dealing. At first Jr is excited to take the drink, he then senses Hanks trepidation and looks for his approval, this angers Walt and brings the tension between Walt and Hank to the surface. Skylar is Walter’s wife and mother to Walt Jr. She is pregenant with their second child. Like Jr the change in their situation has affected her. Skylar tends to be forgiving about Walts increasingly erratic behaviour, but this is usually confined to the home and does not involve Jr. Skylar only appears in the scene briefly and plays the role of the comforting mother while Jr is vomiting.

7. In conclusion • Note that at the end of the scene it is Walter.Jr who has suffered the most at the struggle between Hank and Walt. • Hank’s actions at the end of the scene suggest that he has been shocked by not only the challenge but who has challenged him. • Walt’s actions at the end of the scene suggest that he has earned a mini victory over Hank. Notice Walt’s face at the closing point of the scene. • Walt shows disregard for people by using his own son as a tool to prove a point. • Walt’s new found confidence which derives from his criminal activity shapes his alter-ego. • He challenges Hanks dominance for the first time, to be the head of the family unit.

8. The Background subject • Another controversial factor which arises from the scene is the subject of teenage alcohol abuse. • At the start of the scene both of Walter.Jr’s main role model’s encourage his drinking, signifying the typical stance of the father figure on this subject. • In a survey carried out by Home Office, “Over 56% of the 5.4 million youngsters aged 10-17 in England and Wales admitted to drinking in the past year”. • Despite illegality, 89% of these youngster’s said their parents “didn’t mind” • While this subject remains in the shadow of the scene, it is tackled in a harsh manner. • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-388826/Parents-responsible-underage-drinking.html