The Failed Philosophy of Mike Ehrmantraut -- How To Detect Life's Many Time Bombs and Red Flags
Updated: 4 days ago
Article Synopsis by Mr. John Igwe and Co.
This article explores the character of Mike Ehrmantraut from the "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" universe, offering a philosophical analysis of his actions and decisions. The narrative is structured in four parts, each exploring different facets of Mike's character and the consequences of his choices.
The article starts with an engaging introduction, setting the tone for the exploration of Mike's philosophy. It provides a deep and nuanced analysis of Mike's motivations, such as his desire to secure a better future for his granddaughter and atone for his son's death.
The discussion about individualism versus collectivism and how these concepts influence behavior is insightful, making the analysis more profound and relatable.
The article also explores Mike's emotional detachment and the reasons behind his actions, arguing that his criminal activities stem from a place of care and responsibility, rather than mere selfishness or psychopathy. The critique of ego and pride highlights the dangers of unchecked pride and serves as a cautionary tale for readers.
The article maintains a cohesive narrative, with each part building upon the previous one, keeping the reader engaged and ensuring the analysis is comprehensive and well-rounded.
In conclusion, the article provides a compelling and thoughtful analysis of Mike Ehrmantraut's character, successfully blending narrative and philosophical critique, offering readers a deeper understanding of the moral complexities within the "Breaking Bad" universe
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Mike: "Thanks, but no thanks."
Walter: "Mike, I know you don't care for me. We've had our issues, you and I. But, I would suggest that you leave emotion out of this decision."
Mike: "I am. You...are trouble. I'm sorry the kid doesn't see it, but I sure as hell do. You are a time bomb, tick-tick-ticking. And I have no intention of being around for the boom." -- Mike's Recruitment Attempt.
Part I: The Rise of The Shadow Self
Mike Ehrmantraut was the highly professional hitman, guard and general A-tier henchman for the two fictional drug barons from the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul Cinematic universe. He first serves the psychopath Gustavo Fring who masked his desire for power through a high-quality, professional fast food chain, Los Pollos Hermanos.
However, the very much successful Fring, who ran an international drug syndicate for at least 10-20 years, was assassinated by proxy. The egomaniacal Walter White, who sought to have power and to be deemed important, gladly conspired with Fring's arch-nemesis, Hector Salamanca to kill him.
Fring's backstabbing successor did not care for people as much as he cared for his own ego. The mighty Heisenberg (his drug baron persona) cared for his own ego so much not only because of some narcissism. No. Walter White broke bad because he lost faith in humanity. Losing faith in humanity, is how empty people exploit others with far less regard for their concern. After all, why believe in a better humanity, after all the bad things it did for you?
Understanding Mike's Future Killer
Consumed by loneliness, alienation and shame from his own family, students and former corporation, Walter White devolved under the ignorance of others. Unrecognized for his immense genius, and regarded as a weakling by his naive, insensitive brother ln law, the well-respected DEA agent Hank Schrader. Using insensitive teasing, he was too short-sighted to see his own role in triggering one of the biggest drug empires in cinematic history.
The extroverted brawn-over-brains police agent not only introduced him to one of his greatest allies and victims, Jesse Pinkman, but also to the criminal underworld in general. Had Hank not integrated him by sheer innocence, many people would've lived, and that includes Mike Ehrmantraut.
Part II: The Overinflated Ego, AKA, the Time Bomb
Some of the most notable differences revolved around the concepts of “individualism” and “collectivism”; whether you consider yourself to be independent and self-contained, or entwined and interconnected with the other people around you, valuing the group over the individual... Generally speaking - there are many exceptions - people in the West tend to be more individualist, and people from Asian countries like India, Japan or China tend to be more collectivist. -- David Robson
Contemporary society, at least in the western world, is focused on the individual. As much as this nurtures its practical importance, this unbalanced view on the self can breed an over-inflated ego, and therefore, is a view that can blind us from reality. It is ironic, given that we should use any ideology/philosophy for greater clarity, so we could make more informed decisions.
Why Mike Got Closer to the Time Bomb
And it is exactly what Mike was trying to do with much of his reluctance in joining Walter White's new organization -- he was trying to make informed decisions for his own interests. Even though there was hardly any loyalty in the Heisenberg Empire, Mike, as a disloyal henchman, was the one crew member who wasn't after power, and he wasn't after being rich.
He was after securing a better life for his grandaughter, Kaylee. He had to do it, to redeem the poor advice he gave to his son and her father, Matt. The very advice that left his own son disappointed in Mike. The very advice that Matt took, as he decided to take dirty money, resulting in his death by two paranoid police officers.
Broken by the death of his son at the hands of a police force who are supposed to not kill other enforcers, he turned dark. He broke bad, and planned his own revenge against his son's killers...
"Hoffman: What do we do now?
Fensky: Hey. Grief, it's a ****. He couldn't live with it, Matt dying the way he did. It's too much for the old man. So Mikey here decided to eat his gun. It's tragic, but anyone could see this coming, hmm? He's drinking himself to death. We're doing him a favor."
Scamming their impression as a drunk old man, he killed them off, sealing forever his escalation into the American underworld, and his departure from his career as a law enforcer. Instead, he became a mob enforcer. Doing this he dug his own grave. Given the high mortality rates in America caused by homicide, his depressed mentality triggered his eventual demise by the hands of Heisenberg.
Part III: Did the End Justify the Means...?
Either way, there is something you should understand. Mike's fall into crime differed from the members of Walter's drug syndicate. He did not care for himself, as much as he cared to atone for his son's murder, and as much as he wanted his daughter to live a good life.
In other words, his ruthless criminal career was nothing more other than to ensure the secure future of his family. Many people choose to go on living because of their families, and because of how important family is to such people. Mike was no exception.
Unlike the other crew members, who sought wealth and power, Mike gave up a long time ago for himself. He was an old, broken man who had nothing else to live for but to better improve the lives of his family. And as sad as it sounds, crime pays, and a lot, with the market size growing every year by billions of dollars.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." -- Bernard of Clairvaux
There was no emotion in his crimes. He killed silently and derived no joy nor pleasure of it. While criminals may have no regard for humanity as much as they have for their pride, Mike did it because he cared. He was simply let down too much, that he became an agent of partial amorality. He was showing no concern about whether behavior is morally right or wrong. He would do wrong things for the greater good, marking him an anti-villain, or in other words, a well-intentioned extremist.
Can we really say he was a psychopath?
[Mike] is shown to be capable of feeling empathy and care for other people that aren’t himself or directly related to him. The whole reason he became a criminal is because the fact that he did care, and he became callused and disdainful of the world because he was let down too many times. -- Britton Summers
As much as Walter wanted Mike to be detached from his emotions, it's exactly what he did. He did what Walter did not.
Mike's Death: Result of a Dumb Mistake
"We had a good thing! We had Fring. We had a lab. We had everything we needed, and it all ran like clockwork. You could’ve shut your mouth, cooked, and made as much money as you ever needed. It was perfect.
But, no, you just had to blow it up. You and your pride and your ego! You just had to be the man. If you’d done your job, known your place, we’d all be fine right now!" -- Mike, "Say My Name"
Betrayed by a lawyer from Gus Fring's fallen empire, the police sought to arrest Mike for his many crimes. Reluctantly, he left his granddaughter in the playground, never to see the one light of his life ever again.
Wanting to kill the lawyer and the henchmen whom Mike protected, Walter demanded from his disgruntled subordinate their names, which Mike refused. That was the last mistake he'll ever make, seemingly forgetting Walter's lack of mastery in the art of rage.
Part IV: Just One Bad Day...
Furious for his already-depraved ego, Walter shoots him. Blinded by his ego, he forgot he could've got their names from another subordinate, which he did. Realizing his mistake, he apologized to a dying Mike.
Yet, Mike had enough of it. Not only his body but his spirit was injured and broken. Thus, Mike collapsed to his death in peace and in fatigue, knowing he did what he could.
Knowing, he failed. He couldn't inherit his family a large sum of money, despite the massive risks he took. As professional and as smart as Mike was, only a few mistakes were necessary for all of his planning to become obsolete.
Walter allowed him to die in silence, by Mike's request.
Conclusion: The Tempting Red Flag
Ignoring the red flags because you wanna see the good in people will cost you later. -- Pinterest
Why do people take so many risks? Some risks are worth taking. However, can we really say that some risks are worth our time and energy, when the chance of success is small, and can always be compromised?
In high-risk situations, even the tiniest of mistakes could seal your fate towards defeat, like in a "snowball" kind of way. And, how can we know when something is of very high risk? Look around you. Stop and think. Reflect on the situation you're in.
Mike did just the same. However, despite his reluctance to join Walter, he joined regardless. He underestimated Walter either way. He underestimated how his ego is not just razzle-dazzle, wasn't mere words, statements.
The Heisenberg ticking time bomb proved him wrong, although he very much realized it. And for not demonstrating his understanding, by escaping from it, the bomb blew straight in his face.
Make sure you detect the red flag before you find yourself too deep in the territory of blood-thirsty sharks. Don't do anything you'll greatly regret.
When someone does something you really don't like, or behaves in a way you despise, remember that they might do it again. Humans are creatures of habit, and habits are hard to break.
Not spotting the potential (and the danger) of Walter White in Breaking Bad was another of Mike Ehrmantraut's rare off days. -- Craig Elvy
Detect, and turn the other way.
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