The Many Hate-Faces of Breaking Bad’s Skyler White
Much has been made of Walter White’s march to darkness, how fully he’s become his evil alter ego Heisenberg, how being “the one who knocks†is something he enjoys. Walt wants to be a bad guy. But his maligned wife, Skyler, doesn’t. While at first she seemed to be warming to the idea of being Walt’s accomplice — she has a demonstrated ability to lie to investigators (at least on Ted’s behalf) and a real knack for laundering money — ever since he revealed himself as a murderous kingpin wannabe, breaking bad has been something she pretty clearly abhors. She’s miserable being trapped in her life and house, terrified, and, unlike most people in criminal enterprises, is not afraid to show how she feels. Breaking Bad’s characters communicate a lot just through their looks, be it icy glares, fearful glances, or disingenuous smiles. But no one communicates quite so much as Skyler, whose fury-soaked stares could stop a better man in his tracks. Anna Gunn has tapped into some serious loathing this season, creating what we like to call the Sklyer Hate-Face. Here are the best SHFs of the season so far.
Back in the day, Skyler thought Jesse was just some lowlife who was selling Walt pot. This is the face that tells us she wishes she still thought that...
Back in the day, Skyler thought Jesse was just some lowlife who was selling Walt pot. This is the face that tells us she wishes she still thought that.
With a rage this white-hot, there's only one way to cool off: a dramatic swim.
Sweet dreams!
Jesse's earnest attempts at banter are no match for Skyler's wine-enhanced hatred.
SHF isn't reserved just for Walt. Sometimes Marie gets a taste of it, too.
What does it mean to be "in control"? BB likes to toy with that idea: Is Walt in control? Are drug users in control? How do and should we co...
What does it mean to be "in control"? BB likes to toy with that idea: Is Walt in control? Are drug users in control? How do and should we control our emotions? Skyler's lost a lot of control of her life in just a year. It's sort of surprising that she hasn't snapped more.
Even poor, broken-necked yutzes like Ted sometimes get a taste of the SHF.
Breaking Bad gets a lot of dramatic milage from juxtaposing ordinary life with extraordinary violence. Skyler and Walt still go through the motions of...
Breaking Bad gets a lot of dramatic milage from juxtaposing ordinary life with extraordinary violence. Skyler and Walt still go through the motions of evening ablutions, but he's talking about keeping their story straight, and she's thinking about ways to hurt herself. (Even small ways, like wrapping the floss too tightly around her finger.)
It's almost hard to believe Skyler doesn't want to help Walt celebrate his birthday. Hope you enjoy rage bacon, Mr. White.
Hatred isn't one single emotion. It comes with worry, grief, anger, and a sense of pitifulness and humiliation, too. This SHF, part of the great SHF a...
Hatred isn't one single emotion. It comes with worry, grief, anger, and a sense of pitifulness and humiliation, too. This SHF, part of the great SHF aria in "Fifty One," also conveys a level of helplessness.
Fear, fury, anguish ...
Once upon a time, she was a waitress doing crossword puzzles, and he was a grad student with a crush. Times change.
Skyler (and her hate-face) is frequently framed in doorways or windows. It's almost like she's stuck between two worlds, forced to cross a threshold s...
Skyler (and her hate-face) is frequently framed in doorways or windows. It's almost like she's stuck between two worlds, forced to cross a threshold she never asked for or looked for or wanted!
Skyler's agony increases until she reaches a point of numbness, which we usually only see on BB when it's connected to zonked-out drug users. Here, he...
Skyler's agony increases until she reaches a point of numbness, which we usually only see on BB when it's connected to zonked-out drug users. Here, her bafflement is so utter and complete that she seems almost serene. "I'm not your wife, I'm your hostage," she tells Walt. Yeesh.