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07-30-2012 Woo - where to start? At the end! I left last night's show feeling a little disappointed at the lack of action. However, after I let it sink in a little bit, I really appreciated this episode and I'm looking forward to re-watching it. Plus, the boys are back in business again! "Cooking" is really one of my favorite characters on the show. The cooking montages allow the director to shine with whatever package of music + visuals they want to throw at us, and I don't believe one of these scenes has ever failed to hold me captive. But like usual, don't be fooled into thinking all will work out well for everyone just because the money is rolling in again (well, in and then out). Whenever this show starts to give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside, you know the other shoe is about to drop. And usually that shoe is attached to the foot of one Walter White. Thanks to AMC, I think soon we will start freely using the phrase "pulling a Heisenberg" to mean "using psychological voodoo to trick others into doing your bidding." Walt may have "broken bad" in the first episode of this series, but since then we've seen him systematically (and quickly) destroy those around him. Let's start with a pending breaker: Mike. The seemingly unflappable fixer is noticeably riled up at the beginning of the episode, as he is gallivanting all around the state to keep "his guys" in line. We also learn that Ehrmantraut's 11 is now down to 9. We know Chow is gone, but I'm still wondering who is and isn't on this list. (hitman Chris? Mike himself?) Maybe it isn't important, but at least we can add a handful of names: Holt, Perez, Martinez, and McCann. Mike shows these men much loyalty, or at least has the sense to know how to get them to keep their mouths shut, and in the process introduces us (and Walt and Jesse) to the terms "legacy cost" and "hazard pay." If only Mike would have taken Jesse with him for these errands, Jesse would have soaked in the honor and commitment Mike shows his partners. Instead, Jesse (along with a semi-skeptical audience) gets sucked in to Walt's paternal questions and advice when Vamonos Pest goes back on their reunion tour. (Woooooo!! I love those guys! I have all their albums!) By now, we know that nothing kind or caring or concerned comes out of Walt's mouth without trouble lurking in the shadows. More than those cockroaches crawling around, Walt sees a possible impediment to their resurgent business in Jesse's growing love for Andrea and "that boy." Walt probably couldn't poison Brock a second time without raising Jesse's suspicions, so this time he plays Jesse like violin. Walt's sense of kindness and honesty faded long ago, but he still recognizes these virtues in his young partner. He gambles that Jesse would rather leave Andrea than keep his profession and accompanying actions a secret from her, and unfortunately, he gambles correctly. I must admit, that was a pretty cold dismissal by Walt at the end of the episode. Jesse wanted to follow-up with the guy he thought cared about his life, but Walt, without even an acknowledgment of Jesse's breakup, changed the subject to his problem with the amount of money they netted after their first cook as "owners." I do find myself rooting for Jesse more and more all the time. His mention of killing Gale, which sent him into a video-game shooting rampage/coma "breakdown" of his own, was a great reminder of what Walt has convinced him to do over the course of this show.  Courtesy of AMC's Breaking Bad Sync A very nice job by the writers to show us the differences in Walt and Jesse's current lives since we're about a year into their partnership. We've examined Walt's finances, or lack thereof (nice reminder from Marie that the Whites also footed the bill for Hank's therapy). Big irony points that most of Walt's profits have gone to bail out the man his wife is sleeping with and also the man who is ultimately chasing him, but doesn't know it yet. But hey, let's look at the dude who has been beaten and bloodied more than a couple times, and has lost a couple girlfriends (and counting) by Walt's design. One Jesse Pinkman, who, by the way, financed this new operation. Jesse, at the beginning of this episode, is probably rolling in dough, and has a girlfriend who just drops by with groceries and makes dinner. Good for him! Meth cook by day, video games with family by night! And he's still got a couple friends who want to hang out with him. Don't look now, but outside of a rather precarious employment, this dude really has his shit together. Do things look so good in the White household? Not even close. We're talking about pizza and popcorn for the dudes, and a wife who won't even get out of bed for breakfast anymore. Speaking of, here's a place I don't want to go: Skyler. Her "shut up" rampage was one of the most annoying 10 seconds of TV I've ever watched. But still, with regard to the storyline, she has now "broken" as well. She has gone from the concerned wife to pissed off to detached and cheating to partner-in-crime to scared to broken in under a year. Maybe it is tough to scream "shut up" to another actor wearing so much purple 8-20 times without laughing. Maybe that's the sign of good acting. But it doesn't make that scene good or entertaining to me. Moving on... Quick hits: 1) Crazy props to Skinny Pete for rocking that piano/synthesizer! Where in the hell, after four seasons, did that come from?!?! 2) I'm hoping that Mike noticed the bond that Jesse still has with Badger and Skinny Pete when they were delivering the huge instrument cases. Mike, Jesse, and Saul all show in this episode that they have no shortage of trustworthy connections who are just dying to have opportunities to make a bit of cash on the side, no matter how illegal the activity. It's hard not to see a bond and understanding forming between the three of them at some point. 3) Todd pointing out that there was a nanny-cam in the clock of the house where the newest employees of Vamonos Pest were to do their cook was the type of great detail that keeps reminding us how well and meticulously this show is written. 4) Has it really only been two weeks worth of time in the show since Ted was concussed? 5) Since Brock didn't seem to recognize Walt (and maybe vice-versa), are we to assume someone else did the poisoning? 6) Creator Vince Gilligan has long said that Walt will make the full transformation from Mr. Chips to Scarface, so Walt and Walt Jr. actually watching Scarface was a bit heavy-handed for my taste. Suppose it's worth a mention though. 7) Does anyone wonder if it's actually easy or hard for Hank to shop for presents for Marie? Doesn't he just have to walk into the nearest kitchen store and uncomfortably shift his weight from one foot to the other and rub his eyes while asking the sales clerk, "Uh, jeez, (exhales through teeth), I'm just looking for anything purple. Do you have anything in the back maybe? I don't care what - just a bowl or ya know, some utensils or something. It really doesn't matter what it is; it just has to be purple." I mean, Gomez has been to their house... Doesn't he ever give Hank a hard time about this? More Marie. She gets to hear quite a bit in this episode. First Skyler's rant, and then Walt's concocted explanation for it, which conveniently allows him to spill the beans that Skyler cheated on him. All facts, but not necessarily related ones. And certainly not outside of Walt's own creation. How far have we come, Mr. White. You started on this quest with the goal of helping your family. And now, on the heels of your wife's nervous breakdown, you just ratted her out for having an affair to her big-mouthed sister. I'm surprised Marie wasn't on speed dial with Hank before she hit the front door. The next time I plant a seed that diabolical, I'm gonna be sure to find the nearest apple and take a big bite out of it! No doubt Walt is throwing heavy psychological hammers in this episode. He gets Marie off his back and at the same time manages to expand upon his own sympathy by dropping the bomb about Skyler. He convinces Jesse to break up with Andrea. And he bides his time with Mike, while certainly plotting how to cut out some of these various middle men receiving profits that are rightfully his. I had trouble deciphering what Walt meant at the end of the episode when he told the story about Victor flying too close to the sun. He implanted that story in Jesse's head for a reason, but I can't figure out who he means...either Mike or Jesse I'm guessing. Jesse has had some brainy moments already this season. He has connections. He knows the recipe and how to cook. He thought up the magnets, bitch. He devised a way to get their equipment into the roadie cases. He talked about his experience cooking in Mexico. He steals hot tortillas right off the production line. He's got bengies til the rubber band breaks. He may have just lost his 'instant family,' but things are still going very well for him. One problem: He lives in the Breaking Bad world, where things never stay good for very long. Looks like we're going to blow out some candles for Mr. White next week, yo! Tune in to the show... and my blog! -T |
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