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I totally agree that everyone respects Mike.
Yep definitely needing a rewatch. I thought the look on his face when they were putting Vic in the barrel was at how inept those two were. I like your theory better.
Yep definitely needing a rewatch. I thought the look on his face when they were putting Vic in the barrel was at how inept those two were. I like your theory better.
I think I remember hearing Banks or Gilligan in the past (one or both of them--can't remember) talking about how Mike loved Jesse like a son. I felt that before I ever heard any input from them.
If Mike has a capacity to care that much about Jesse, he could care about his other crew members as well. Either way, I think Jesse was his number 1, though. I think he saw a lot of his son in Jesse and felt an urge to "save" him which is something he was unable to accomplish with his real son. He constantly urged Jesse to take his money and leave town. Plus, he saved Jesse from the sniper.
I felt very sorry for Jesse--he desperately yearned for a father figure because his own wanted nothing to do with him. He imprinted on Walt first but Walt treated him like such ***** that Jesse felt pushed away. He then did the same to Mike (however, much more cautiously) and Mike gave him a tough love approach but in the RIGHT way and in a way that his own parents never could for him.
I believe that a large part of the reason why Jesse refused to kill Gus after so many opportunities to do so as, in part, because he ENJOYED being a PART of something. He was respected and taken care of by Mike and was slowly becoming admired by Gus. Jesse yearned for a "family" unit and felt abandoned by his own.
When those doctors were hauling Gus inside, Jesse dragged Mike along, screaming for medical attention for him. Mike saved Jesse and then Jesse ended up saving Mike. Their relationship was sealed at that point.
You know Mike respects a person when said person is able to subdue him. That's why Jesse as able to calm Mike down when he stood between him and Walt out in that desert, saying: "If you shoot him, you're going to have to shoot me, too."
Mike then said: "Oh...JESSE..." and lowered his gun, unable to proceed.
It was sad watching Mike say his final goodbyes to Jesse and Jesse acting like he wanted to keep in touch.
I think that Mike saw a lot of himself in Jesse: bogged down by tragic losses and problems in the past and yearning for reason to go on living.
In many ways, Mike may be my favorite character. Mike, Jesse and Jimmy are my top favorites. All three essentially good people who were dealt a BAAAAAD hand in life.
). Then someone called me and I was off. 
