Grade: A+. This was either as good as or within the same range as "Grilled" (2.2), the best hour of television ever on television.
I don't think I can provide a sophisticated review because I liked this so damn much. The deepest analysis I can compose myself enough to think of is that everyone is losing it, career-wise, at the same time (except Jesse and Saul and Mike the Cleaner, I guess). Ted and Skyler are totally embarrassed at work, Walt is fucking crazy and Hank is almost there.
Here are some scattered and over-emotional observations: I came up with "A+" approximately seven minutes into the episode and spent part of it waving my hands at the computer in sheer delight. First of all: The Beneke waiting room magazine Walt is reading is "Fabrication Quarterly." Ha, ha. Then, SAUL FUCKING GOODMAN in that fucking scene. Oh my god, is he on or is he on. Also, "It's not that bad to have someone watching your back" gave me chills. I really, really, really like Mike the Cleaner. He really sells the "normal guy with a job" aspect of crime.
I can't tell to what extent I think Walt cracking the fuck up is overplayed or not. Sure, it's kind of funny, and we all know Bryan Cranston can be funny (and has been in the two previous seasons--I REALLY liked that scene where he accosts Hank in the fake-Heisenberg arrest scheme), but . . . I don't know. I read somewhere once that Wesley from "Angel" is one of television's best examples of a character who undergoes a totally believable, perfectly gradual yet radical transformation from show's beginning to end. Coincidentally, Wesley also starts out as a nebbish and ends up a total fucking badass with cringe-inducingly compromised morals. I guess I should withhold skepticism for a bit but I still don't feel like the show has completely earned audience acceptance of Walt's wacky antics.
When Walt got in Jesse's car I said out loud "That car is going to drive away with Walt's box on top." Yup. I thought their exchange was a particularly compelling illustration of their role reversal--Jesse focused businessman, Walt over-emotional freaker outer. When Jesse was showing Walt the finished product and averring that he wouldn't use again, I considered--might Walt ever do meth? It seems to go with the role reversal schema. It's an interesting question. Now that Walt seems to have zero moral qualms whatsoever, why shouldn't he try the goddamn product if it's so kickass? But in any event, another thing I shouted at my computer was STOP BEING A DOUCHEBAG, MOTHERFUCKER. Oh yeah, and LOL at "They'd know, wouldn't they?"
Skyler: You're not supposed to make photocopies with the lid open; it wastes toner. But I thought that her and Ted's conversation was both weirdly cute and sort of embarrassing to watch. Did anyone else get that? Like I could barely look when she kissed Ted last ep.
And here's my favorite thing about this episode: The fucking fake out in the questioning room. Oh my god, I have no doubt every viewer was fucking shocked when it wasn't the girl. AND THEN IT WAS! This is such a textbook illustration of why Breaking Bad is the greatest show on television.
Anyway, this episode really hopped along. I don't have any complaints--I like a fast paced episode, and after the last few, which I felt were pretty slow, this was a great chance of pace. And finally, Jesse. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. (This is the least rational part of this review) I am like dying of nerves for Jesse. Look at him in that first scene. Look at him talking to Walt in the car. Look at him talking to Saul fucking Goodman. What excellent acting. Look how great he looks smoking a cigarette.
So to make this more interactive, I'll throw out two questions for our readers:
1. Do you guys think Walt will try the meth this season? I've become fascinated by this idea.
2. Any suggestions for how I can meet and marry Aaron Paul (who, I know, is not actually Jesse Pinkman)?
Reblog if you want an anonymous confession.
4 days ago
That first scene with Jesse charming the convenience store cashier really is a thing of beauty. I think it's a rare case of someone actually being as charming as they think they are. See also: Me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Walt will be trying meth. Actually, I think it would be more interesting if Skyler got hooked on it(Walt Jr. is the obvious one here, but that would be too easy). I'm really enjoying Jesse's acceptance of his role as a "bad guy" so far. It's cool the way Jesse and Walt's story arcs mirror what happened to them last season. Jesse hit rock bottom with getting kicked out of his house and Jane's death, while Walt was poised to become the drug kingpin of Albuquerque (I will learn to spell Albuquerque w/o looking it up before this series is finished). Now they seem to be going in opposite directions again, only with Jesse going up and Walt heading down.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm afraid I can't help you with your second question. Maybe Cam can help.
I kind of hate myself for sympathizing with Walt and really disliking Skyler. The guy is a meth cook who has ruined hundreds of lives, and I agree with HIM?
ReplyDeleteWalt has always been a little unhinged. See the first season where he blew up that douchebag's car, or when he exploded Tuco's office. But now that he doesn't have a solid focus, and everything is falling apart around him, we're seeing these attempts at badassery start to fall flat, and those scenes end up humorous (like hurling potted plants into windows). But once he crosses somebody who is tough, not high-school principals or small fabrication company owners (aside: I liked the trade mag touch, too. We have many issues of Conformity in our lobby), these scenes will be tense, rather than funny.
I'd expect Walt to get some of his swagger back once he gets cooking again. But there will always be those who are more capable that he is, and who make him look like an idiot, because he's just playing in the drug game, at least until he accepts the consequences of being Heisenberg.
I don't think Walt will try meth. It seems out of character to me. I think he will go back to feeling like he has a purpose.
A+...Are you serious? What does that make episode 2 of this season, or IFT? What about the inevitable awesome season finale (or penultimate episode) we are going to have this year? You might be hitting the roof a little early with that A+. Knowing that this show is capable of much better episodes than this one, I give it a B-.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen this, I wish I had given I.F.T. an A-. I really disliked the first two episodes of this season; I know how good Breaking Bad can be and and I think this was in the same quality range as the best eps of season 2. I can give as many A+'s as I want; this isn't the AV Club!
ReplyDeleteRe. Tony: I said on the AVC boards that I don't like Skyler because she's annoying as fuck, but I don't sympathize with Walt anymore either. This isn't because he makes meth (I still can't get past drugs=glamorous--ATM couple notwithstanding, it's not like Jesse's not a baller) but because of his other awful behavior. What I really don't get is people saying Skyler is in the moral wrong. I don't like her behavior, or like her as a person, but compared to Walt she's pretty damn ethical. Like I said I only really have sympathy for Jesse (and the supporting characters, I guess) anymore.
ReplyDelete