This series will appear every Monday following AMC's hit show Breaking Bad. I highly suggest watching the episode before reading this column as SPOILERS will abound.
Episode 4: Bullet Points
What a great cold opening this week. Henchman Mike is really becoming my favorite ancillary character in the show (Sorry, Saul!). As the cartel pours bullets into the Los Pollos Hermanos truck, Mike sits in the cold, biding his time before taking them out. He doesn't even flinch when he loses part of his ear. What a professional, which really appears to be the theme this week.
Walter and Skyler are prepping for the BIG REVEAL to the family about Walt's "gambling winnings" and the car wash purchase. Just an excruciating scene to watch, as Skyler hammers Walt over the head with this complex story. For being so meticulous in the lab, it almost seems like Walt couldn't care less about the convincing cover. Though I suppose it irks him more that it is out of his control and he comes off looking like a totally d-bag in this story. I love how thorough Skyler is by making him prove his blackjack system. Especially with them playing the recovery angle. As if Hank was going to bust out a five deck shoot and grill Walt about the count in different situations.
The instant change on Walt and Skyler's faces as they arrive for dinner show how deep they've thought out this cover story. Like a light switch, they flip on the bright smiles to convince their family of the good, yet strange time, they are going through. Hank actually seems happy to have company. Yet he doesn't miss an opportunity to take a dig at Marie ("She could burn water.") even in a light-hearted atmosphere. Oh boy, MORE ROCK COLLECTING STUFF. I love the disheartened look on Hank's face as Walt goes in-depth about the oxidation of Manganese. Hank makes Walt pop in a DVD from a case, and poof! in one swoop Gale is recapturing our hearts with a rendition of Major Tom that sounds like an angel.
The gambling story goes over incredibly well with the family, including Walt Jr. proclaiming that its "awesome." Walt excuses himself to get a look at the Gale file Hank has been consulting on. He and Hank have a heartfelt moment in the hallway where they tell each other if they ever need a confidant, that they will be there for one another. While Hank is genuine in his offer, Walt really just wants a prolonged look as well as information on the investigation.
The two look over the case as Walt starts nervously poking at Hank to find out what he knows. Hank, believing Gale is Heisenberg, wishes he could have been "Popeye Doyle waving the Frog One." To which Walt points out that this didn't happen in the first French Connection. WHICH IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS EVER. Then we get to see the old Hank pop back up as he grills Walt about the curious W.W. dedication Gale included in his lab notes. Walt cleverly plays it off as it being in reference to Walt Whitman citing a previous page. SMOOTH. Walt learns that there were prints taken from the scene and that the cops has a few leads.
Walt scurries up to Jesse's hovel looking for him. Walt actually seems generally excited to be making move and taking action rather than sitting back collecting criminal life lessons, something he laments to Saul later. The look in Jesse's eyes as Walt asks him to relive Gale's murder really tells the whole story. It's surprising that Walt is too thick skinned to notice the damning effect its had on him.
Walt goes to Saul's to lay his frustrations out on his lovable sleazebag lawyer. Walt complains that he is the only one acting professionally, which is really far from the truth. Jesse is the exception as he has fallen off the deep end. Gus has never been anything but the consummate professional. Henchman Mike is the same way, even after his ear gets blown off from men shooting at him in the back of a refrigerated truck. His face never changes from "this is my job." What a total badass. Walt doesn't understand that murder is the only surefire way ensure the competition will lose. Walt can't separate the business and crime. Saul offers him some solace in that he knows a guy that can make him disappear if it gets too hot. He notes that this is an "endgame," which is the coolest expression to come out of chess.
Walt notes that the camera is not following him, but rather Jesse's every move. And wow, Jesse does not care about anything anymore. First, one of the junkies staying at his house steals $78,000 from him, then he comes home and gives out meth HE'S SKIMMING FROM THE LAB. He finds his money missing, doesn't even flinch, and begins playing video games with a HAWT junkie rather than having the sex.
The next morning Mike and the new henchman, whose name is Ray apparently, have cleared the house of the scumbags and caught the thief. Jesse says thanks, but doesn't seem the slightest bit concerned with what happens to him, the thief, or anything. Mike and Gus meet to discuss Jesse's increasing liability. We then follow Walt working alone in the lab, to calling and recalling Jesse, only to show up at his house and find he is missing. Walt returns to the lab and sternly asks the camera, "Where is he?" The episode ends with Mike and Jesse taking a long drive into the desert.
This was really a fantastic episode, everything from the intense brutality of the boring details of Skyler's cover plan to Jesse's complete nihilistic approach to life was a joy to watch. The first third of this season is shaping up some interesting story lines. Will they kill off Jesse? No way has Mike gone soft, so the trip to the desert has only one purpose. Walt will have to come up with something to get him out of this. The endgame Saul mentions will come up again I bet, but right now Walt still believes he has moves to make and he thinks he can still come out "winning", if that makes sense.
Fav Scene: The cold open of Henchman Mike
Fav Line: Mike "Wanna ask where we are going?" Jesse "Nope."
Next Week's Title: "Shotgun"
What a great cold opening this week. Henchman Mike is really becoming my favorite ancillary character in the show (Sorry, Saul!). As the cartel pours bullets into the Los Pollos Hermanos truck, Mike sits in the cold, biding his time before taking them out. He doesn't even flinch when he loses part of his ear. What a professional, which really appears to be the theme this week.
Walter and Skyler are prepping for the BIG REVEAL to the family about Walt's "gambling winnings" and the car wash purchase. Just an excruciating scene to watch, as Skyler hammers Walt over the head with this complex story. For being so meticulous in the lab, it almost seems like Walt couldn't care less about the convincing cover. Though I suppose it irks him more that it is out of his control and he comes off looking like a totally d-bag in this story. I love how thorough Skyler is by making him prove his blackjack system. Especially with them playing the recovery angle. As if Hank was going to bust out a five deck shoot and grill Walt about the count in different situations.
The instant change on Walt and Skyler's faces as they arrive for dinner show how deep they've thought out this cover story. Like a light switch, they flip on the bright smiles to convince their family of the good, yet strange time, they are going through. Hank actually seems happy to have company. Yet he doesn't miss an opportunity to take a dig at Marie ("She could burn water.") even in a light-hearted atmosphere. Oh boy, MORE ROCK COLLECTING STUFF. I love the disheartened look on Hank's face as Walt goes in-depth about the oxidation of Manganese. Hank makes Walt pop in a DVD from a case, and poof! in one swoop Gale is recapturing our hearts with a rendition of Major Tom that sounds like an angel.
The gambling story goes over incredibly well with the family, including Walt Jr. proclaiming that its "awesome." Walt excuses himself to get a look at the Gale file Hank has been consulting on. He and Hank have a heartfelt moment in the hallway where they tell each other if they ever need a confidant, that they will be there for one another. While Hank is genuine in his offer, Walt really just wants a prolonged look as well as information on the investigation.
The two look over the case as Walt starts nervously poking at Hank to find out what he knows. Hank, believing Gale is Heisenberg, wishes he could have been "Popeye Doyle waving the Frog One." To which Walt points out that this didn't happen in the first French Connection. WHICH IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS EVER. Then we get to see the old Hank pop back up as he grills Walt about the curious W.W. dedication Gale included in his lab notes. Walt cleverly plays it off as it being in reference to Walt Whitman citing a previous page. SMOOTH. Walt learns that there were prints taken from the scene and that the cops has a few leads.
Walt scurries up to Jesse's hovel looking for him. Walt actually seems generally excited to be making move and taking action rather than sitting back collecting criminal life lessons, something he laments to Saul later. The look in Jesse's eyes as Walt asks him to relive Gale's murder really tells the whole story. It's surprising that Walt is too thick skinned to notice the damning effect its had on him.
Walt goes to Saul's to lay his frustrations out on his lovable sleazebag lawyer. Walt complains that he is the only one acting professionally, which is really far from the truth. Jesse is the exception as he has fallen off the deep end. Gus has never been anything but the consummate professional. Henchman Mike is the same way, even after his ear gets blown off from men shooting at him in the back of a refrigerated truck. His face never changes from "this is my job." What a total badass. Walt doesn't understand that murder is the only surefire way ensure the competition will lose. Walt can't separate the business and crime. Saul offers him some solace in that he knows a guy that can make him disappear if it gets too hot. He notes that this is an "endgame," which is the coolest expression to come out of chess.
Walt notes that the camera is not following him, but rather Jesse's every move. And wow, Jesse does not care about anything anymore. First, one of the junkies staying at his house steals $78,000 from him, then he comes home and gives out meth HE'S SKIMMING FROM THE LAB. He finds his money missing, doesn't even flinch, and begins playing video games with a HAWT junkie rather than having the sex.
The next morning Mike and the new henchman, whose name is Ray apparently, have cleared the house of the scumbags and caught the thief. Jesse says thanks, but doesn't seem the slightest bit concerned with what happens to him, the thief, or anything. Mike and Gus meet to discuss Jesse's increasing liability. We then follow Walt working alone in the lab, to calling and recalling Jesse, only to show up at his house and find he is missing. Walt returns to the lab and sternly asks the camera, "Where is he?" The episode ends with Mike and Jesse taking a long drive into the desert.
This was really a fantastic episode, everything from the intense brutality of the boring details of Skyler's cover plan to Jesse's complete nihilistic approach to life was a joy to watch. The first third of this season is shaping up some interesting story lines. Will they kill off Jesse? No way has Mike gone soft, so the trip to the desert has only one purpose. Walt will have to come up with something to get him out of this. The endgame Saul mentions will come up again I bet, but right now Walt still believes he has moves to make and he thinks he can still come out "winning", if that makes sense.
Fav Scene: The cold open of Henchman Mike
Fav Line: Mike "Wanna ask where we are going?" Jesse "Nope."
Next Week's Title: "Shotgun"
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