"No More Half Measures, Walter" | Half Measures | Breaking Bad

Mike Ehrmantraut tells the story of "half measures."
#BreakingBad #MikeEhrmantraut #WalterWhite
From Season 3, Episode 12 'Half Measures' - Ignoring Walt's objections, Jesse goes after the drug dealers who orchestrated Combo's murder; as Hank continues to refuse to leave the hospital, Skyler presses Walt to accept her money-laundering scheme.
Watch the episode now: play.google.co...
Breaking Bad follows protagonist Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a chemistry teacher who lives in New Mexico with his wife (Anna Gunn) and teenage son (RJ Mitte) who has cerebral palsy. White is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of two years left to live. With a new sense of fearlessness based on his medical prognosis, and a desire to secure his family's financial security, White chooses to enter a dangerous world of drugs and crime and ascends to power in this world. The series explores how a fatal diagnosis such as White's releases a typical man from the daily concerns and constraints of normal society and follows his transformation from mild family man to a kingpin of the drug trade.
#BreakingBad #JessePinkman #WalterWhite

[@unclejoe6811]

Things to remember about Mike: 1) you need all the stickers 2) deal as agreed or no deal 3) no half measures

[@bonker_whats_up7203]

4) Shut up. SHUT UP.

[@zerobound3211]

@@bonker_whats_up7203 5) You are not the guy.

[@rs-qt1qg]

6) You can make it not so easy

[@bonker_whats_up7203]

@@rs-qt1qg 7) Brought a pimento cheese sandwich

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

@@zerobound3211 8) You're not capable of being the guy.

[@ComicalRealm]

I like that Walt takes his advice, just not in the way Mike wanted.

[@exquisitelemonade3039]

It's funny how words can be so open to interpretation

[@mdrasedulhoque992]

He didn’t. Jesse was Walt's Half Measure. He warned Jesse not to mess things up repeatedly while he should've gone all the way and kick him out of the picture.

[@simjc1212]

@@mdrasedulhoque992 he did, walt went full measure on saving jesse instead of just working for gus

[@mdrasedulhoque992]

@@simjc1212 Actually that's the 'Half Measure ' because instead of repeatedly saving Jesse he should've let him go. His full measure was in the very next episode where he intended to kill Gale thus making him and Jesse irreplaceable. It worked,but because of the half measure he took previously that is Jesse that didn’t last long as Gus manipulated Jesse and turned him against Walt. If Walt did take the full measure here and let the dealers kill Jesse he would've more probability to live rest of his life comfortably. Jesse was ultimately the biggest reason of Walt's downfall

[@harrydrummo5992]

@@mdrasedulhoque992 more like Walt was the biggest reason of Jesse's downfall, but it did go both ways

[@sarpbakrsoy8125]

"Pop Pop, tell me a bedtime story." "Alright. I used to be a beat cop, a long time ago..."

[@youknow227]

You stole this comment

[@sarpbakrsoy8125]

@@youknow227 I did.

[@youknow227]

@@sarpbakrsoy8125 I think I've got a job for Todd's uncle

[@el7149]

You're completely out of your mind

[@jamesbizs]

@@sarpbakrsoy8125 pathetic lol

[@DarkLink606]

"I'll never commit that mistake again". The tragic irony of how many half-measures Mike takes afterwards... because he has a heart, in a world where this is a huge liability.

[@yankee9niner400]

Didn't take half measures with the German engineer when he took him out into the desert and pointed a gun at him in BCS though did he?

[@stefancarter1]

He took a half measure with Tuco to just get him sent to jail rather than kill him.

[@crispaz4180]

@@stefancarter1 That was wise, if he had killed Tuco that would have meant a lot of trouble.

[@RatatRatR]

I think "afterwards" means in his dealings with Walt.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

@@RatatRatR Exactly. Walt should have been offed well before he could cause any more trouble to Gus.

[@tobeymalone3436]

I just realized...what set Mike off was the guy humming to himself, indicating that he's morally bankrupt and past the point of no return. And what leads Jesse to want to get out of the game? Walt, whistling to himself after the Sharpe kid's death

[@shadowrobot7708]

That's a really nice catch.

[@mrminkman952]

Interesting fact the song he was whistling is called Lilly of the valley by Johnny cash.

[@joel2628]

And Jesse had a similar revelation when Walt was whistling while they were cooking in people's houses as pest control. Interesting parallel.

[@leebug3424]

@@joel2628 Pretty sure that's what @Toby Malone is referring to

[@cheesesteakphilly]

Nice!

[@DeadlyLazer]

"but two weeks later he killed her." That's the climax of the story, and yet he just says it so calmly and nonchalantly. It made it all the more chilling. And infuriating. The scriptwriting in this show is just perfect.

[@GigaChadh976]

He sounds defeated

[@Hamstray]

we all knew how this story would end anyways.

[@Acesahn]

"...of course,"

[@alainportant6412]

brabo bince !

[@GrimReader]

It’s good because I’m a show with very hacky and ‘written’ sounding dialogue it’s a lot more real. Because that’s how most domestic abuse ends, in the end they kill them sooner or later

[@flapjack6495]

"You can taste the metal " that line makes me feel like I'm reading a book

[@m.mcmillion9764]

I know. Incredible writing and acting in this one scene.

[@billybarron8050]

Makes you appreciate it more when you realize he’s talking to a chemistry wiz about smelling the iron in that person’s blood

[@antonboludo8886]

@@billybarron8050 That's right.

[@meandshe735]

@@billybarron8050 Sherlock?

[@richardclapp256]

True

[@EvanMonroe]

It’s rare in “Breaking Bad” for any character to get this much time with solitary dialogue. Without question this scene is what made Mike a fan favorite. So much material and intrigue regarding his character all through one story.

[@murraynatkie7490]

We call it a monologue.

[@DaveDexterMusic]

I question it. Mike was a fan favourite long before this.

[@malvavisco10]

Bravura performance for him. Really rose to the challenge

[@malvavisco10]

@@murraynatkie7490 you don’t need to be so patronizing. Everyone knows it’s called a monologue. But not all monologues are this long.

[@kilgoretrout321]

@@malvavisco10 you're right. Many are longer

[@garyg3425]

What’s cool about this scene is how realistic Mike describes the scenario. While I’ve never been a beat cop or a victim of the domestic violence he describes. You can still envision it with great power from his description/acting.

[@dr.vegapunk5853]

welll that because that type of story are just daily cases stuff that the police take, this type of cases are very common around the world, even if you are not a police if you read or hear this type of cases you can still envision it because of how common it is

[@aleksander.ciaciura]

The whole of breaking bad is very realistic if you think about it. This story, gunshot sounds, hydrofluoric acid, the finale's machine gun scene...Gilligan was a genius

[@billwheeler7496]

The comparison to the dog waiting for scraps really helped visualize the desperation, that was an excellent analogy

[@SceptileSlash]

The way his upper lip quivers, you can tell the amount of rage Mike has recalling it.

[@OpenMawProductions]

I think my favorite line is "There was so much blood you could taste the metal." It just puts you in younger Mike's shoes, at that moment. You can imagine him being awash with grief, guilt, and rage that he didn't end that guy two weeks prior.

[@trainspotter360]

It's crazy that's Mike's famous "half measures" monologue is about convincing Walt to kill Jesse.

[@skodware]

Yeah. But really it was more of an "Old Yeller" situation if you catch my drift

[@danielle4976]

@@skodware just sending him on a trip to Belize

[@xouleposxoulepos4506]

It's crazy that......

[@rapatacush3]

He should have take the advice and get ride of jesse.

[@xouleposxoulepos4506]

@@rapatacush3 He should have taken.....

[@wisskier]

The light on Mike's face is perfect for this scene. He is half dark and half light telling that story.

[@entenhundadventures4384]

Wouldn't be surprised if that was done on purpose

[@megubin9449]

@@entenhundadventures4384 That’s the point. Breaking Bad uses this a lot in scenes where characters are conflicted.

[@wisskier]

@@entenhundadventures4384 exactly.

[@Zeno2806]

n*gas will see a shadow and go Oh my god Oh my fucking god

[@KyleRBell-pe7yy]

@@wisskier The Godfather used the same cinematic effect. Half light and half dark on their face to symbolize the battle of good vs. evil.

[@Golldof]

I always felt this to be one of the most underrated scenes in the series. The story is simple but, my god is it delivered with such impeccable acting and facial expressions. That it hits you as if you were there, and witnessed it for yourself

[@lunch77]

Underrated? I hear this monologue get praised all the time by fans.

[@93jmac14]

How is it Simple?

[@Midnight_Rider_777]

Aaron Paul has “No Half Measures” tattooed on his arm! The cast definitely appreciated it! Some of the best acting I have ever seen!

[@DaveDexterMusic]

You must know it's not underrated. It's a monologue by one of the most beloved characters from both this show and Better Call Saul. You _know_ this isn't underrated. What underrated means, 99% of the time, is "I understand how good this is better than most." Believe me, we all understand how fucking good Banks and the writing is here.

[@zekeiwa5837]

You don't even know what underrated means, do you? No, just because you like it doesn't mean you're the only one who appreciates one of the most beloved scenes in the show

[@arizonashane]

I like how Walt is invested in this story. He usually doesn't have much time for anyone but himself. Mike pulled him into this one.

[@eboooo]

He respected Mike as much as he could respect anyone.

[@arrowdynamlc]

Jonathan Banks's long monologue scenes are genuinely some of my favorite scenes in all of BB/BCS. This and "I broke my boy" from BCS are just an amazing portrayal of this man's acting talents.

[@Aenygma_]

He's such an incredible actor, severely underrated. That monologue must've been like 3 pages long in the script.

[@Theevil6ify]

I even loved Chuck's courtroom rant about Jimmy. These monologues always show some deeper insight and genuineness for the characters, they subtly reveal a bit about what drives them and makes them who they are. Mike has always deep down been a crook, but he was also loving to certain people, and steeped in regret over not being able to save the lives of all of them, which eats at him even in old age. And Chuck of course dropped his professional temperament and revealed just how much he had always resented Jimmy and wished for him to be punished, which explained his dedication to law.

[@Justinhomii]

Bcs is mid at best but yes I would argue this 1on1 could top Heat's 1on1 scene iykyk

[@themerovingian7154]

​@@Justinhomii"bcs is mid at best" 🤡 yeah right.

[@red2977]

The broke my boy monologue really showed that Banks was every bit the actor that anyone else on the show was. I was just blown away by that scene. I knew he was good but I didn't know he was that good.

[@brianboru8858]

Probably Mike’s most badass speech across both shows

[@chimp4225]

I like the Philadelphia story about how his son wasn’t dirty and he was more

[@betelgeuse4568]

I say his most sad speech

[@danielamaris6367]

My fav is the one from Bagman

[@Justinhomii]

It's his best because it was in BB duh

[@shiwoshiwoismyactualname]

​@@chimp4225that was sad not badass

[@rc59191]

Wish Mike could get his own spin off about when he was a cop. One thing that's never dull is police stories coming out of Philly.

[@1994Powerslave]

The problem with that is I think it would be too expensive to make Mike look younger(like they did in the Irishman) but the other solution is to have someone else play him, but man fuck me I don't see that happening, Jonathan is Mike, period.

[@Anime_Lover_PHX_SAC_ABQ]

The show could be called “Half Measures.”

[@cagevick]

I mean the climax and conclusion of that story is already known in BCS. I doubt anything could be built to improve without just being a time waster

[@rc59191]

@@1994Powerslave he was serving as a cop until pretty recently from what I remember it could take place during his last few years on the force or something along those lines.

[@HornsoftheStagg]

@@rc59191 Exactly, perhaps switching between that present time & him recounting stories to a newer partner of his. Could also be something that happens to his partner that finally convinces him to leave the force & join the life of crime.

[@andmicbro1]

Mike, one of the all time great characters. Kind of funny he only exists because Bob Odekirk wasn't available for the Jane episode, so they invented a fix it guy character. Now he's a major character in BCS as well, and I couldn't be happier! I'm excited to see where things end for Mike in the series.

[@Midnight_Rider_777]

Aaron Paul’s character was supposed to die after season 1! He became the second most important character in the show! They originally wanted John Cusak to play Walter White. He turned it down then they wanted Mathew Broderick. I cannot imagine anyone but Bryan Cranston playing Walter White!!! The writers knew how to write smart dialogue, recognize great talent, and were not afraid to change course when it benefited the story and the show! That is why this show is so great!

[@pierrearr]

@@Midnight_Rider_777 That's crazy to think about. Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston are the most perfect actors for this show. There is no possible way anyone else could do as well as them.

[@joseph4500]

Damn.. Is this true

[@Midnight_Rider_777]

@@joseph4500 truth! Look it up if you don’t believe me.

[@joelnlu]

@@Midnight_Rider_777 There is no way Matthew Broderick could say, "I AM the danger.", and have it be believable at all. I would laugh.

[@gibusgamer93]

I never noticed the way Mike's top lip quivers while he's telling the story before. It's a really subtle detail, but it shows how even all these years later, he's still torn up about not being able to save that woman. Outstanding performance by Jonathan Banks.

[@bencarlson4300]

He reuses that lip quiver in BCS a few times, it’s pretty subtle, but for Mike it’s like an “I’m angry” neon sign

[@kaelaelliott4237]

I think it also shows his absolute hate for the man he did not kill. He hated him then, and he hates him now.

[@samreyes8913]

It's funny how when you parallel this scene to his "Broke my boy" monologue in Better Call Saul, he expresses his disgust at the people who killed his son, but you could almost say that they took a full measure instead of a half to make sure Matty didn't rat on them. This speech goes to show that Mike has, in a sense, become as ruthless as Hoffman and Fensky. And deep down he knows it.

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

A great example of how kindness isn't always goodness.

[@tomcoulnd3686]

The correct thing isn't always the right thing.

[@piztolice3459]

It's this speech that I actually took to heart. Learning to commit to decisions

[@justincruz6259]

I’ll know never to beat my lady and hum “Danny Boy” around you then.

[@mattmalco10]

You can see how much this still haunts him absolutely phenomenal acting

[@taranova12]

It's interesting how this is about Mike trying to convince Walt to kill Jesse. Then later, it becomes unintended foreshadowing of Mike realizing, no. Jesse is the battered wife in this metaphor. Jesse is protecting Walt even after everything. And it's too late to do anything about it by then.

[@axebomber2108]

So before this realization, in Mike's mind, the drug dealers represented the battered wife?

[@iwillheadlockyournan731]

He even ends up bonding with jesse despite condemning him for death multiple times in series 3 lmao

[@capncake8837]

@@iwillheadlockyournan731 And Gus ends up favoring him and trying to get him to let Walt be killed.

[@wabc2336]

"Jesse is protecting Walt even after everything" You have it totally backwards. The least Jesse could do is not kill Walter. It's also clear that Mike first wanted to kill Jesse, then Walter and Jesse, then just Walter but eventually Gus would've ordered him to kill Jesse too, and he would've obeyed because his job would come before Jesse's life.

[@littlegirlshowSynch]

If anything Walt is the battered wife throughout most of the show, saved Jesse and cleaned up his messes much more than the other way around, and then he tries to burn his house down and rats him out lmao They backed each other up enough to the point where it's a bad comparison in general though

[@DavidReyes-mq6wp]

no half measures, mike wants every inch.

[@juicedup14]

Waltuh

[@Mythical.History]

@@TC127_ I'm not havin segs wid u rn Waltuh

[@marshs7774]

@@Mythical.History put your d away waltuh

[@sugondesenuts69]

you dropped the soap, waltuh

[@darrencommanda7736]

“Like a dog waitin’ for dinner scraps” terrifying delivery

[@canadiantesladventure]

"shut up and let me die in peace" - famous last words.

[@Ryuuijin]

The way mike's upper lip quivers at 2:25 as he talks. GOD DAMN. He really brought that character to life. He deserves his own spin off and an oscar.

[@nick3718]

boy do i have news for you

[@Ryuuijin]

@@nick3718 what's the news, good sir?

[@spinblackcircles]

Idk but oscars are for movies not tv shows And he’s in the breaking bad spin off ‘better call Saul’ as the second lead character.

[@Collserra3]

@@spinblackcircles They said that he deserves his own spin off, so it would need to be different than Better Call Saul, as that's Bob's spin off

[@spinblackcircles]

@@Collserra3 he’s the second lead character. Half the plot is about his back story and how he got involved with Gus. It’s his spinoff show too just slightly more focused on Saul.

[@RatchetandSly]

It’s interesting to see Mike behaving agreeably toward Walter. He didn’t yet know what a dangerous piece of work Heisenberg truly was

[@UnisRapper]

Mike literally played a part in the transformation of Heisenberg and his fate... Poor guy didn't even see it coming he just wanted to give the guy some advice...

[@UnisRapper]

It weird how everytime Walt tries to take advice it always end up backfiring

[@kaksoispistev5403]

Interestingly, according to the script of this episode (you can find it on the internet), it says that Mike always kinda had a soft spot for Walt at that moment. In the next episode, after walt ran over the two drug dealers and Mike had to cleaned it up, the scripts says he wasn't angry, instead he kinda showed admiration towards Walt. I think after Walt had jesse killed Gale and then asking Mike to help him to kill Gus is where Mike started to hate him and even more after he killed Gus (and as his ego grew bigger).

[@okwakizashi1483]

@@kaksoispistev5403 well, Mike definitely understood and sympathised with Walt's initial intentions behind getting into the business to help his family.

[@axebomber2108]

@@kaksoispistev5403 That makes sense. It was pretty stupid and insulting for Walt to think Gus's #1 guy would go along with his plan to kill him. Mike is the friggen' guy Gus uses to kill people. Walt would have been just as successful trying to bargain with the box cutter.

[@jatin4457]

The way mike narrates the story makes this scene 10x better

[@Cameron4507]

2:25 look how Mike's lips quiver. Phenomenal acting.

[@ethanturrano5599]

Jonathan Banks, for having very little big screen/ large role experience, absolutely nailed the character of Mike. Such an underrated and phenomenal actor.

[@imapseudonym6198]

He seems really, really attached to the character too from what I've seen. Takes his performances incredibly seriously.

[@henryrmarliniii8360]

"We got there, there was so much blood. You could taste the metal". So much depth in this sentence

[@NtoTheM]

Mike: "I'll never make that mistake again." Narrator: "He made that mistake again."

[@coleozaeta6344]

He *calmly* made that mistake again

[@FreedomLovingFox]

He won’t pull the trigger.

[@allsmilesguy]

Always loved this scene, most shows would show a cheap flash back but Mike tells it in such detail that you can picture it all yourself

[@axebomber2108]

Both methods are valid, I'd argue. Better Call Saul showed Mike kill the policemen responsible for his son's death rather than have him tell someone about it.

[@kevinnigins9488]

Both work. Just depends on execution

[@TheBfutgreg]

I could taste the metal

[@lordroy88]

Looking at that scene in S5 where Walt hums "Lily of the valley" after drew sharp was killed... and jesse just hears it, disturbed. It shows the kind of heart Jesse and Mike had. Walt takes Mike's advice of no more half measures, but he also nonchalantly sings a tune after doing deadly things. He became a little like that guy mike talked about as well..

[@oneprizeonegoal]

Hard to envision BB or BCS working without Mike. Johnathan Banks gave his character decades of context in only several scenes. A true professional

[@Goperoni]

put it away waltuh

[@sporedoutofmymind]

this is the moment Heisenberg became Waltuh

[@planetarydisaster3377]

Notice the silence used in this scene. No background noises, no music; just dialog that draws you in and lengthy pauses to heighten anticipation.

[@AlvinFlang69420]

It always upsets me that they wanted to kill Walt and blame him for everything bad, but it all started here: They wanted to kill Jesse and Walt wouldn’t allow it. And then Jesse becomes their precious boy and forget about how much they wanted to kill him.

[@abohachuk4765]

You're goddamn right.

[@dmi6101]

The difference is that Jesse got his shit together and stopped being a liability. Walt, not so much. Which is probably why they wanted Jessie over him.

[@nutcrackerreal100]

@@dmi6101 well Gus wouldn’t keep Jesse for long, once he finds another guy to assist Jesse and take all his knowledge, Jesse would be gone. Gus’s cautiousness wouldn’t let him keep a junkie for long

[@brianmaiden8333]

Like a dog waiting for dinner scraps

[@chrism.3354]

Jesse returns the favor by refusing to work if Walt is killed later in season 4

[@TheSamuraijim87]

This has to be one of the most amazingly well done scenes I've watched in any show. Jonathan Banks obliterates the ceiling of the acting standards already established in Breaking Bad here. He communicates so much with with nothing more than regretful expressions, the implicit fury in his breathing patterns and chuckles conveying disgust at himself. It's outstanding acting and a joy to watch.

[@naumanjaved5927]

Definitely one of the BEST written shows ever. The monologues are so damn good. Not taking anything away from the actors. Paired with the talent in this show, man... this show is and always will be on my all-time list of favorites.

[@nont18411]

And thanks to this advice, Walt had gone full measure at sending Mike on a trip to Belize.

[@voteDC]

What fantastic acting. The ticks in his face as he's clearly trying to bite back anger are amazing.

[@memorekz]

I love how scared and uncomfortable Walt looks through all of this.

[@clentmendelebar9634]

This scene lives in my head rent free.

[@robertbouley7697]

There are so many incredible, rich scenes in this show that my brain cannot retain them all. I watch clips like this and remember them anew. What a collection of talent.

[@benmorgan8890]

Now this is quality writing, and Jonathan Banks delivered it to perfection.

[@JannisMT]

His waltuh energy wasn't strong enough this time

[@est.sar.9276]

3:51 indeed, he made the same mistake with Lydia and Walt.

[@krabsstd4106]

Maybe with Lydia. Not with Walt though. Gus and Mike needed Walt as a cook because he gave them no choice when he had Jesse kill Gale!!!

[@anaryl]

This is probably the most powerful scene in the whole series.

[@generalyousif3640]

Um no

[@JohnsonTheSecond]

@@generalyousif3640 no more half measures

[@TheRiku57]

I'm so glad I used this monologue for auditions before "Breaking Bad" became as widespread as it is now.

[@latenitexeno]

3:19 look at the pain in his eyes. that's acting man

[@SirCommoner]

This is so incredibly well written... not to take the amazing acting for granted, which really sells it and makes it seems like he's really remembering things as he goes on, but wow... the writing.

[@VideoGameAutopsy]

I loved Mike’s sporadic appearances throughout Season 3, but this is where he became a driving force behind the show. He went from being a modern day Winston Wolf to his own character. He’s not just a guy who does things for a paycheck. He does them because he knows there’s a chance he can save someone else. He’s a man still paying for his Cardinal Sin.

[@Danny-hu9tv]

Good comparison between Winston Wolf and Mike. Both are incredibly compatent, experienced fix guys that are done with eveyrone's BS.

[@rorykillian749]

I always get chills from the iconic line Walter says after Mike leaves the room: "It is time for me to become Breaking Bad."

[@joshuachang5210]

Then in the finale Walt says “it’s breakin’ time.” One of the lines in TV show history.

[@Kitsu-vk3of]

It was heart wrenching when he broke in on Jesse and Walter’s table hockey match and said, “it’s over Waltuh, we are the Breaking Bad” and Walt ushered Jesse to run as he told him “We Better Call Saul before the bad breaks!”

[@S.D.323]

I liked when saul said maybe the real breaking bad was the sunroofs we defecated through along the way

[@mus_tard2183]

I swear if I have to see this same goddamn joke repeated one more time - I will kill your wife I will kill your son I will kill your infant daughter

[@averageobserver1001]

Mike: I Broke My Boy. I Broke Him Bad. Walt: No, Mike. I Am The One Who Breaks Bad.

[@Forthevline]

This is by far my favourite scene of the entire series. Literally the name of the episode- Half Measures relates to this scene. The way it sets up the grand finale at the end with Jesse and the dealers. Oh man I'll never forget the first time I watched that ending, I was shook. One of my favourite moments in television when Walt comes in with the Aztec out of nowhere, and this chilling scene & story set it all up. Definitely speaks to what Hank said later on about Walt sticking his neck out for Jesse when he didn't have to. Best episode of the series imo, holds a strong candle to Ozymandias and Crawl Space. And it isn't even the season finale!

[@zulkifligumilang3155]

Walter : "mike, we.. Can't.." Mike : "Waltuh... No more half measure!"

[@luciddream5055]

I came

[@AllKeyur]

No more half pleasure

[@bigboss4178]

///Breaking *Bed* theme plays

[@vanishing_girl]

he clearly enunciates the "r" in Walter

[@WonderedAtol]

@@vanishing_girl Waltuh

[@XavierZahn]

Mike is such a well-written character. I love how BCS fleshes out his character more.

[@OrangeHorizons]

That moment when you think you couldn’t love Mike any more than you already do and then he comes up with this story. 😍

[@DarkSoul-ds2]

Not everything is entertainment sometimes it's the hard truth

[@janeallgood9833]

mike's such a badass. his monologues are the best.

[@arnavchokshi3551]

0:27 BIG BOY

[@d0mi3000]

one of the most badass monologues ever

[@_Brennus]

Excellent use of lighting to cover half of Mike's face. Shows his duality.

[@The1200s]

What makes this scene so powerful is that the story is directed told to the viewer through a character; rather than a flashback or monologue.

[@zacharysavoy6138]

Mike drops one amazing story an episode. First this and then the story about his son in Better Call Saul.

[@desto143]

Prigozhin did a half measure, look what happend now

[@tylerkinley268]

Ha!

[@brandonsg1367]

“Waltuh, no half measures Waltuh”

[@user-ex7yq6xq9s]

Fun fact : Mike chose a half measure to Walt and Lydia, and later it cost his life.

[@Wuddizzup]

4:18 seamless transition

[@amar99fc]

4:02 no more half measure

[@spatorade]

At 2:49 you see Mike's eyes start to water a little. I wonder how many times he's thought about that woman in her husband. And how if he'd just shot him then and there she'd probably still be alive. That would suck to have to carry that around.

[@sloshed-rat]

This is probably my favorite monologue ever. This scene tells you everything you have to know about Mike Ehrmantraut. The key to this character's portayal is subtlety. Mike gets angry, he gets sad, but he tries his absolute best to mask these emotions behind a veneer of unbending steel.

[@andrewslonkosky1484]

This speech is one of the most memorable scenes from Breaking Bad for me personally. It's one of the first things I think of when I remember the show. Just simply amazing

[@peetersdrummingmusic6781]

"i'll never make that mistake again", oh but he did. He most certainly did.

[@Kwaj]

Zip-tying just one of Walter's hands to a radiator and leaving him alone isn't a half-measure; it's ⅛ of a measure *at best.*

[@UltralightMeme]

Mike definitely underestimated Walt’s intellect and how far he was willing to go to get his way

[@Carl-ld5jy]

@@UltralightMeme is not a difficult thing to escape

[@brucelston]

"No More Half Measures, Walter" proceeds with more half measures

[@gap_tooth]

libraries need to implement a weekly “mike ermantraut storytime” where he reminisces about his horrors as a beat cop to groups of children for an hour 💀

[@Laz4r96]

Walter spent his entire life doing half measures, way to go and create a monster Mike.

[@_myst_4267]

It's really sad that Mike taking a half measure with Walt led to his death. He should've taken his own advice.

[@aeromedical6750]

“When we got there, there was so much blood you could taste the metal!” My God - can you imagine what that scene must have looked like?

[@amediumhorse]

The old days where while Mike hated the both of them, he still appreciated Walt for being the voice of reason amongst the two.

[@exquisitelemonade3039]

This scene lives rent free in my head

[@shitchannel7302]

Finger named half measures:

[@Saladzyumm]

*whispers* waltuh

[@truthhurts3524]

Mikes “this is it…this is how it ends” has always been one of my favorite Ehrmantraut lines.

[@chumpandbump744]

Mike took so many half measures throughout this series. Damn hypocrite lol. Doesn't change the fact that this is one of the best monologues in television history

[@abohachuk4765]

Allows Walter to call Jesse... Ties only one of his hands to the radiator... It seems Walter has taken full measures a lot more frequently than Mike himself.

[@nhokshock94]

Lol I think his point of the story is for Walter to let Gus kill Jesse. It’s supposed to be an advice for Walt but not Mike himself

[@danielcarithers3345]

I don’t blame him though. Every time he tried to kill Walt he couldn’t because either Gus needed him alive or Jesse vouched for him. And every time he tried to kill Lydia he couldn’t because of the knowledge she possessed.

[@lunch77]

@@abohachuk4765 The biggest one was letting Lydia live. Lydia living led to Mike dying.

[@stellarwind1946]

@@lunch77 he wanted her dead. Walt and Jessie overruled him.

[@Yatagurusu]

There is no narrated over flashback. No cuts. Not even still images or flashed of the scene. Yet I truly felt as though I was there.

[@troletrain]

'Why don't you cut your pimento cheese sandwich in half, Mike? Mike:' No half measures.'

[@Supahpowahnerd890]

As much as he's willing to be a violent criminal and is desensitized to horrible things, Mike deeply values sanity and practicality above all else. He doesn't bother with the abstract ethics of a cop giving a man the death penalty, the moral of the story is that Gordy was an incorrigibly irrational and destructive person who Mike should have put down like a dog rather than expect him to understand the logic of physical threats. Mike justifies his own violence on the grounds that unlike a lot of criminal personalities, he's not cruel, impulsive, or unfair. He can respect Gus, not morally, but at least from a practical perspective. If Mike were in Walt's shoes, he would've been happy making meth for Gus and keeping his head down. Mike's biggest qualm with Walt is that Walt, for all his book smarts, has relatively little street smarts and a lot of hubris. Mike knows how people work, and he knew Walt's downfall was only a matter of when, not if because he lacks the careful, methodical attitude that a kingpin needs to stay afloat.

[@elliotjames5172]

well said

[@charliewatts6895]

Well said. Wish I could bookmark.

[@TaxingIsThieving]

@@charliewatts6895 Just screenshot.

[@JC-2106]

Mike cares very deeply for people who aren't "in the game"

[@rapatacush3]

Gus and walt downfall was caused by dumbass jesse.

[@Alucard2077]

Waltuh, no more half measures

[@ChinmayLive]

Waiting for Better Call Saul next season..! ❤️

[@hidneyyy]

how many seasons does BCS have tho?? I'm still on S2

[@Bruuc69]

@@hidneyyy its gonna have 6 seasons

[@benny-yt1io]

Is there coming a next?

[@leandromacias6461]

@@benny-yt1io yes, in fact this year, season 6 will be the last one

[@rfcfanj7911]

Mike has two of the best monologue in to of the best shows of all time

[@blackwaterlotus5466]

This is one of the few times they've been civil with each other

[@dougmoring7321]

He's as good as any Shakespeare actor. Amazing.

[@alexschannelorsomething6673]

" No more half measures, Waltuh. "

[@benandrews5742]

It’s kinda similar to when jack killed Hank, Walt is there begging to keep Hank alive but jack already made his mind up

[@leodenardus6595]

THIS IS THE MOST UNDERRATED BREAKING BAD'S CLIP EVER. IT'S A MASTERPIECE.

[@delraybrewer]

1:41 "And it just rubbed me wrong" I come across so many situations in life that are completely innocent or innocuous to the general population, yet I still get this feeling. I've never put a gun in someones mouth, but it would bring me to the point that I'd love to.

[@mjj3132]

For an actor, especially one like Jonathan Banks who'd spent his career in the background, this had to be the moment of a lifetime. It's bottom of the 9th/shot at the buzzer, and God, did he nail it. I started watching the show early in the 3rd season. Had heard good things about it, watched episode 22 live. Got intrigued, bought the DVD of season 1. Watched it straight through. Bought season 2 the next day, went through it in 2 days. Started watching live at that point. This was the episode that made go from "wow, this is really well done" to "this is genius".