Breaking Bad

Hank's timing sucked on every level this episode.

I loved Skyler being furious at the notion that she needs to be understanding to Marie. I think she must get a raw deal from fans because I find the shoplifting plotline as obnoxious as she does. How can a fan hate a character who literally calls out the worst thing on this show so far?

That scene at the beginning with Walt and Skyler? Crap like that is WHY I don't like Walt. It's WHY he's always given me a bad vibe. It wasn't even shocking. The actual surprise is he stopped when she demanded he should. Walter White has always creeped me out.

The show doesn't do recaps, which is refreshing (I HATE recaps) but it makes the fact that they literally had to replay the last scene from last year feel a bit frustrating to me.

It a good premiere but a lot of unpleasant stuff happened too. 1 1/2 stars.

The soundtrack is somewhat subdued here. Makes the tense climax and the violence feel realer and more unsettling.

I thought it was great. 4 stars.

Hank is a real bastard. Him smiling at Jesse as he showed him the grandfather says he's enjoying this entirely too much.

I love that Jesse's hooker girlfriend tripped Hank up by recognizing him. She might have even cracked if she hadn't.

Walt is diabolical for using the doctor's doctor / patient confidentiality bit to weasel out of the psyche ward. I might even have respected him if he had told him the truth about being a drug dealer, but he has to lie even when telling the truth that he didn't lose his memory. Walter sucks.

I am very surprised none of these episodes have been written by Vince Gilligan. He wrote the first four episodes of the series, and as of yet, hasn't written an episode since. That strikes me as weird.

It was a good episode though. 3 1/2 stars.

Somehow, the fact that Skyler is a secret pregnant smoker strikes me as worse than anything Walt is currently getting up to.

His lie about the cell phone sounds half-believable. I like that that's when she takes off instead, and gives him a taste of his own medicine. She knows it's bullshit, and I love that she knows it's bullshit.

This episode basically took away every bit of dignity Jesse Pinkman had left. Pretty raw stuff from Aaron Paul.

I like that despite the fact that Walter is getting away with it, he's not getting away with it. Not with the people who matter. That's good. 3 1/2 stars.

Another confusing, ambiguous teaser. The puzzle pieces are all there, the picture simply isn't clear yet.

Whenever TV or movies need to hire an ugly, gross woman Dale Dickey seems to always get the call. To be blunt, if I were her, I would be offended at this point. She's not actually an ugly person in real life so it's kind of insulting she's always the go-to of skeevy skanks anyways.

I honestly didn't love the episode. It didn't do much for me. 2 1/2 stars.

Pinkman has sort of turned into the conscience on the show. I approve of that turn. Jesse is a better and more responsible adult than that kid's junkie parents.

The way Walt treated Gretchen was despicable. I loved her essentially screwing him over for it. I have to say Walt's explanation about the Bentley was ridiculous. I really hope Skyler didn't believe that horseshit but she's keeping her actual thoughts about this to herself.

Gilligan finally came down from on high to cowrite this. And the ending is a doozy. 4 1/2 stars.

The folk hero musical number in the teaser was amusing.

Danny Trejo makes everything better. What's the matter? You never seen a severed head on a turtle before? BOOM!

Honestly, Hank is out of his depth. Not just because he's out of shape and can't do the physical demands of the job. But because he IS loud-mouthed, obnoxious, RACIST, and can't speak Spanish. I have no idea why he was hired for this position to begin with.

As Walter is turning evil he's developing this predatory sneer / smirk which increases in frequently the further along into this we get.

Do you know what Skyler's triangle with her new boss is? Television. Television, Television. So glad it turns out this show isn't perfect after all.

Pretty good. Jesse's getting lucky with Jessica Jones girl. 4 stars.

The thing that tells you everything you need to know about Saul Goodman is him asking why they didn't just kill Badger. It's a fair damn question as well as an utterly sleazy one for a lawyer to ask. I get that he had a gun to his back, but still.

Bob Odenkirk was a very underappreciated actor, or at least he was until this show.

Props should go to any TV project to actually point out that "If you are a cop you have to tell me," thing is pure bullshit. Considering it's only from TV, I wonder how it became TV conventional wisdom in the first place. It doesn't make sense that SO much cop stuff gets something like that wrong.

I've made a joke about that line in my own work. But it's just that. A joke. I never once pretended there was any veracity to it. It's super dumb.

Pretty damn great episode. Odenkirk is a great addition to the show. 4 1/2 stars.

Walt is much more sympathetic when he is dying. He should do it more often. The last scene says he agrees with me.

Jesse Pinkman always makes understandable, seemingly tiny mistakes that for any other person would be no big deal. But Jesse has such shit luck they all turn out to be devastating instead. I feel bad for him about that. It's weird Walt doesn't.

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul brought the goods for this one. 4 stars.

"Stay out of my territory," is pretty cool, but Walt was SO ass with the bottle at the party. What an jerk.

I love the Apology Girl picture but the truth is Jane sucks. Unsurprised her dad is Q. Also Jessica Jones already HAS superpowers.

Skyler and her boss are Television that I don't give two shits about.

Good and bad. 3 stars.

Oof. That teaser.

Considering what was riding on it, I don't actually blame Walt for the choice he made at the end. And Walt does nothing on the show but make shitty choices.

Gus makes a favorable first impression. I like that he's cautious. He tells Walt to never trust a junkie. And it turns out he's right.

Skyler and Ted continue to be Television of the most annoying sort. Her Marilyn Monroe thing was outright gross.

Good episode but I'm worried about Jesse. 4 stars.

Gus was right. You can never trust a junkie.

I had heard about that last scene, and seeing it for myself makes me realize it's not as self-serving as it seems. When he asks how he'll know she'll keep her word and not turn him in Jane tells Walt he doesn't. Once she said that, I knew she was a dead woman walking. What's interesting is I don't think that's the thing that made Walt stay his hand. I think it was seeing Jesse strung out. That upset him. And yes, part of him sees him as a surrogate son. Which is less touching and more fucked up.

It was a very interesting and beyond coincidental idea to have Walt meet and relate to her father about that in the bar. I don't think they'll ever see each other again, just because it's better for the irony of the scene if they don't. I hope it doesn't turn into a mess because the a mess would screw with the purity of that coincidence.

Honestly, the worst thing the episode did was put Ted in the middle of the stuff at the beginning. It felt obscene. Even by this show's standards. I have claimed I won't really second-guess the auteur in this specific series. But not only is Vince Gilligan's name on far fewer of the scripts of this show than I guessed, even if he had written this episode, I still think it was a mistake. We'll see.

Here is why Walt sucks. The laundering the money into the website thing solves all of his problems. ALL of them. But he is resisting it because HE wants the credit. Which despite what he coos to his new daughter while showing her the secret behind the fiberglass, means he isn't actually doing this for his family. That's not what this is about, and it probably never was.

Walt's tears in the last scene are good to make the audience conflicted about it. But I honestly don't think they add anything to Walt at this point. I think Walt is a narcissistic sociopath, probably always was, and just never had a chance to feed into it before. I get the tears make Walt more likable for the viewer. I don't need them because I will never like Walt.

Solid episode. 4 stars.

We definitely have some shit to talk about, but I'm questioning whether we do it all now. I definitely have some thoughts about Walt's new persona, but I feel like they will be better articulated once we have been a little deeper into it for awhile longer. Give me a season or two to talk about Heisenberg.

Walt obviously did not know Jesse loved Jane. Would that have changed anything? I freaking doubt it.

Walt in the drug den was interesting because it was the first time he actually saw the direct suffering his profession was responsible for. Chilling.

So it turns out Jane is a pure asshole and her dad is actually really great. I felt less bad for Jesse and much worse for Q-Dad. I do have to confess the revelation of what the puzzle teasers were leading up to was beyond disappointing. While this will surely cause hassles for the beginning of season 3, I dislike it because I felt like the disaster should have been more personally tied to something Walt did. Well, okay it WAS. But it doesn't strike me as evident that anyone on the show is going to figure that out.

Skyler's fury was righteous. I suspect fans hate her for precisely putting the toxic Walt in his place. Forget Skyler being smart enough to figure all this out. Her calling Walt specifically on his toxicity is definitely unforgivable for any Dudebros who love Walter White entirely for Dudebro reasons. And despite the pedigree and quality of the show, those fans existed and were numerous. Rush Limbaugh perhaps being the most famous one.

And again, we'll talk a little more about Walt's toxicity and whether it's a facade or real later on. I just feel the show should be complimented for leaving it up for debate. Unfortunately that gives the Dudebros the license to claim this show as their own. But it being up for debate says people like me who believe it calls out that type of toxicity instead have an equally legit claim to it. And that's interesting.

I don't much like Jonathan Banks as an actor but Mike is pretty cool (and scary).

Speaking of which I love that Gus Fring essentially covers all his bases. What a brilliant way to keep himself appraised of what the enemy is doing. Learning what he did about Walt will NOT help Walt.

Is this the greatest TV show of all time yet? For me? No. But we still have a ways to go. Things are potentially headed in the correct direction if it is. 4 1/2 stars.

So Skyler guessed correctly. If Walt still wanted the marriage to work, maybe he shouldn't have reflexively denied it in that moment.

I was pleasantly surprised that Jesse's group leader was exactly where he was supposed to be. Jesse doesn't know from pain compared to him.

In fairness to Walt at the assembly, he BEGGED them NOT to give him the microphone. I'm sure they properly regret it now.

Flynn being so furious tells us this was a unilateral decision on Skyler's end. Honestly? That's not great. She's not talking to her son or explaining anything to him. No wonder he's pissed.

Lots of crazy stuff happening with those Mexican Cousins. Weirdness abounds with no answers present, and scant evidence for accurate guesses. I'm alarmed so far, and that's all I can say for sure.

Do you know the reason Walt refused to let the dirty money burn? Because he is a criminal. And he is NOT better than Gus Fring.

I suspect we'll be talking about the reality of Heisenberg by the end of this season. Maybe next season. But I'm thinking this one. 4 stars.

Here is how you know Walter White is not a badass. He knows the words to the worst song that ever existed by heart. He's a loser.

Which is why him pitching the fit to the cop grates. He's acting like he's an abused everyman. And he can totally afford to pay the ticket. It's all about HIS pride, not about what is actually right or fair.

Jesse's power move against his parents was great. Saul did an amazing job because Saul is a total sleazebag.

The pizza on the roof was a great visual. This show can be very funny.

I love that the Mexican Cousins use an Ouija board to communicate with the bell grandfather. Clever. "WALTER WHITE". Gulp!

This all getting back to Gus says Saul and Mike aren't exactly all playing for the same team.

Good episode. Pizza on the roof was a nice touch. 4 stars.

So just in case you wondering WHY Skyler hooked up with Ted, let me break it down for you. It's because despite this show's critical acclaim, despite its slew of awards, despite its huge fanbase and near universally great reputation, that specific thing happened because for all that, this show is still Television and ALL Television is, in fact, awful. I have seen maybe 2 or 3 shows that AREN'T ever that awful, but 2 of those shows WERE awfully CLOSE to being that awful a couple of times, until cooler heads prevailed. All television, great and bad, as a rule, is terrible deep down. And it always was.

I have very VERY sincere doubts that by the series finale I will be crowning this the Best Television Show of all time. I will be shocked if that happens. Very much so. Because week in and week out, as awesome as it often is, it's television over and over again. Far be it from me to argue with the auteur. Except Vince Gilligan is far more hands-off on the project than I ever expected him to be. He is not protecting the work the way an auteur should be.

The saddest moment was Jesse realizing he lost Jane's message. The show itself isn't terrible. But Television is terrible, and the show is Television, so that's what happened.

So THAT'S how the turtle guy died. I'd say it was good seeing Danny Trejo again but I didn't need to see THAT.

This episode is a turning point. Even if I wind up loving the series, it's the first episode I've seen that tells me I will never be giving it the unqualified rave its many boosters do. That saddens me a little, but it also makes reviewing it feel much less intimidating to me, which is why I put off watching it in the first place. 2 1/2 stars.

So Walter White is not just a pathetic loser. But he is crazy beyond all reason. How did this lunatic function in society before all this? Where were the warning signs? Much less the safeguards to protect kids from him? I don't get it.

Hank is also a very broken person, but that is actually understandable.

Skyler is now a pariah at work. I have to say that feels deserved. Walt scared the shit out of her colleagues and that's entirely on her.

The giant plant NOT breaking the window reminded me of the theme song of Malcolm In The Middle, the show Bryan Cranston was on before this one: "Life is unfair."

Walt still gets half. For better and worse he and Jesse are still joined at the hip.

What's ironic about Walt talking shit about the quality of Jesse's product, is that as seen in an earlier season, Jesse actually DOES take the formula EXTREMELY seriously, and has high standards, even Walt has no idea about. The quality of the meth has always been a source of pride for him, whether Walt knows it or not.

The scene of Dean Norris as Hank menacing the clerk played by Jolene Purdy, made me cringe because both those actors were on a shitty show called "Under The Dome". An absolute travesty of an adaptation of the Stephen King book. Norris was the bad guy and he killed her character on the show, and I just got bad vibes from seeing him making her cry here. Not this show's fault at all, but it still sucked to watch.

Walt Jr. is sweet, but at this point he's kind of dumb, isn't he? He should KNOW something is VERY wrong, and his parents would not be doing this for no reason. Where is this kid's common sense?

Pretty sure the Heisenberg deconstruction is coming in my review of the finale. I will be shocked if I need to wait another season. 3 1/2 stars.

Nudity in this one.

Walt is treating Jesse like shit. Of course Saul is a turncoat.

I don't trust Gus at all.

I love Skyler's divorce lawyer telling her she's not her therapist.

Hank getting onto Jesse at the end. Wonder what he's thinking about Walt at this point.

Pretty good. 3 1/2 stars.

Gus, what have you done?

That was a dirty trick on Walt's end. This is personal for Hank now.

I like that Walt likes his new lab partner. I'd imagine great coffee would be more lucrative than meth.

Walt made a mistake. He should have told Badger Jesse's phone might be bugged and not to call him. His "What about him?" response was idiotic.

Dire ending. 4 stars.

THAT was a good ending, Whatever you may think of Hank, he'll always be the guy who defeated and killed the Cousins. That's huge.

The teaser shows why they are the way they are. Their uncle is a monster.

Loved them shooting the dude to test the vests. These dudes don't play.

Jesse is in a dark place. What I love about his fury at Walt is Walt has been saying completely abusive and insulting things to him all throughout the series. And it turns out Jesse took them seriously and was hurt by them. I love that Walt's harsh words had some consequences.

That fact that Jesse is clean just is the worst news for Hank's case. If he was still a junkie he might have been in a better position.

Walt getting Jesse not to press charges was actually not in his best interest. Hank has gotten closer to catching Heisenberg than anybody.

Great episode title. Great episode. 4 1/2 stars.

Gus has a LOT more juice than anybody suspects. If I were Walt, I'd be taking my quota more seriously.

Some fun Jesse stuff in the lab. Just seeing his entrance makes the decision to replace Gale with him look even worse than it was.

Walt was actually comforting for once with his hospital story in the cafeteria with Marie.

Mike taking care of business. A little of that guy goes a long way.

Solid. 4 stars.

It turns out Skyler is VERY good at invention.

My problem is she's a little TOO good at it. It's not credible. Oftentimes in a show with a badass male lead, the producers will try to give the female lead their own dark edge "to keep up". I've noticed it doesn't always feel organic. Maybe it will get better as it goes along, but Skyler has NEVER demonstrated this facet before, and as far as explanations go, "I learned from the best," doesn't cut it, especially because Skyler actually refuses to know anything about how Walt works or what he does.

I don't object to strong female leads. It's just I don't necessarily think if your main character is a bad guy, the female lead needs to catch up in that department in order for the audience to respect them. I'm wondering if this is the specific thing about Skyler that ultimately rubbed people the wrong way. I think what people don't get is that this is a problem with the writers, rather than the character. I know they WRITE the character, but if you ever feel like Skyler is gaining unearned credibility, that is not Anna Gunn's fault, and she doesn't deserve vitriol for it. Which she somehow got. Which is fucked up.

The major problem with Skyler's story is how the fuck can they reconcile the hospitals bills being paid, not just by Hank, but by his law enforcement friends? Saul Goodman is an asshole and an idiot but he's right that you need somebody to launder your crooked money. It doesn't sound like anything they give Marie and Hank would have that protection.

I loved Jesse's story of the wooden box in group (it had a tragic ending) but every bit of sympathy I had for him over it was evaporated by him recruiting Badger and Skinny to troll the group for potential customers. That is literally the biggest dick move the character has ever done. I feel REALLY bad for his sponsor who has just turned into his victim.

I love Jesse bemoaning that he didn't become an outlaw to pay taxes. Spoken like a truly stupid person.

I'm concerned about the level of power they are handing Skyler. Mostly because turning her into a better liar isn't actually female empowerment. While we are keeping track of that sort of thing. 3 1/2 stars.

There is always more than one fly.

This is where the black comedy of the thing comes in.

All throughout Walt's drowsiness you are worried he's gonna tell Jesse the truth about Jane. I am not even sure that would be a terrible thing in the long run. It's an unforgivable thing hanging between the two of them. Walt talking about that night having been the best night for him to die is right. Because on some level that's the night he did.

Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) directed this.

As far as standalone episodes go, that was memorable. Also Walt is crazy. 4 1/2 stars.

I found Skyler's debate with Saul about money laundering VERY interesting. Skyler is right that Lazer Tag is an inconsistent front for who Walt is. But Saul telling Walt the Car Wash she is eyeing "doesn't have a Danny," is fascinating, and shows that Saul, despite presenting himself as a clown, actually knows the ins and outs of this. I don't much like Skyler's initiative in offering to be the Car Wash's Danny, but I think the appeal to Walt is she might take him back.

I mentioned in an earlier review that Skyler's newfound duplicity didn't feel organic. And while that's true about the money laundering thing, when she says she never actually filed the divorce papers because married couples cannot be forced to testify against each other, I found it believable that she actually looked that up.

Combo's death last season was horrific, especially coming from a little kid. Jesse actually learning the truth and romancing the kid's older sister, especially after bonding with her son is freaking messy. And the end of Jesse seeing how that worked and that the kid turned into a sociopath makes that even messier.

I think a LOT of both Badger and Skinny Pete for refusing to deal to any of the group members. Once Jesse sees the kid he realizes it's not as easy as he was making it. And when he asks why they are still coming to the group if the scam is off, it's because they're doing the steps! I freaking love that!

Things are looking up for Walt. For Jesse, things are looking bleak. 4 stars.

Oh, that is perfect!

And the moral is "No more half-measures." But it doesn't come to the character you are expecting it to.

Gus saying he respected Walter is very weird to me because Walt has done almost nothing to earn that respect. But the fact that Jesse is still alive says the respect MUST exist.

God, Mike's story about HIS half-measure was riveting. Goddamn. Also appointment television is Walt and Jesse's debate about it in the bar. I love hearing shit like this explored for all angles.

One of the things I love (and hate) about Walt Jr. is he uses his struggles with his disability to shame people unwilling to fight through their hardships. I love that when he throws in Hank's face, "What, should I be trapped in a hospital bed too just because I have crutches?" And Hank it all, "Yep." What's great is that Hank doesn't really mean it or believe it. But he's not letting Junior win this argument, especially using an underhanded tactic like that. If he has to make his disabled nephew sound like a helpless piece of shit? Oh well. Deal the cards, kid.

Wendy's life sucks. The thing that annoyed me is all of those moments of head were almost played for laughs. But they disturbed me instead.

That was the closest thing to a perfect episode as TV usually gets. 5 stars.

We learned some things this episode and we richer for these lessons.

Lesson one. Gus claims he never makes the same mistake twice. I would strongly advise him against doublecrossing Walter White a second time.

Lesson two. Although I believe the Heisenberg thing IS a facade, the truth is Walt is no cowering beggar for his life. The fact that he planned to warn Jesse and keep the original plan in motion says he is simply not the wuss he used to be. And Mike believed he was because Walter is such a sociopath he slips in and out of both roles with ease.

Lesson three. Mike is a force to be reckoned with. That whole bloodbath at the beginning was almost a comedy of errors leading him to shooting the guy he saved in the hand to teach him a lesson (but not before knowing whether or not his secretary could drive him to the hospital). The most badass moment is him killing the first two guys with a single shotgun blast for them both, followed by putting extra bullets into their bodies on the ground for safety.

Lesson four: I have to admit, Saul's loyalty to Walt is a pleasant surprise I would never have guessed in a million years. In fairness to his self-preserving nature, Mike fucking RATTLED him, and was not playing by ANY of the proper rules established. And he's a fucking lawyer! He can't deal with that. He'll bend the rules. The law is flexible for him there. But pretending the rules simply don't exist? That's not something Saul can abide.

The end scene is very effective because Gale is so pathetic and Jesse so regretful it's the last thing you want for both characters. And the shot is inevitable for that reason.

Skyler is so bad at this she has to look up money laundering on Wikipedia. I mean, I know that's what Wikipedia's for, but it still feels ridiculous.

Flashback Walt gives me strong Hal vibes.

I mentioned I was gonna talk a little about the potential falsity of the Heisenberg persona in this finale review, but he isn't exactly in it yet, so I'll wait another season at least. I'm sure the things I learn in the meanwhile will give me added context and food for thought anyways.

Black Out. Executive Producer Vince Gilligan. Season Over. 4 1/2 stars.

For some reason, Gus changing his clothes is the scariest moment on the series.

Him killing Victor for no damn reason besides shock value was not exactly a surprise to me, but it got the proper horrified reaction. Even Mike was stunned.

If Gus was ever a cautious person, I no longer think he is. In fact he probably never was.

Saul is a paranoid dude. Not saying he doesn't have good reason for it, but this is an important facet of the character.

Creepy episode. 4 stars.

Something tells me Mike will not be in the position to slap Walt around for too much longer. Ironically, Walt's advice to him was good. Self-serving or not, the thing with Victor made NO Goddam sense and only proves Gus has loyalty to NONE of them. Whether Mike can admit it or not.

I've had it up to here with Hank's emo drama. Can we move on yet?

Jesse's scene with Andrea was amazing. When she says the only question she has is if someone is looking for the money, that's awesome. But not quite as awesome as the two possibilities Jesse gives her for it, and his belief that she'll choose the right one.

The Car Wash dude is NOT sensible. I don't think he'd enjoy actually having to deal with Walt. But maybe Skyler should have found out whether he'd be willing to sell ahead of time before her big pitch. Because being able to buy it is pretty much, the uh, CRUX of the scam.

I also wish I knew a thing about zombie videogames. I might have been able to take a side in Badger and Skinny Pete's very funny debate.

Things are happening. Go home, Walt. Chilling. How do they know these things and is Walt ever truly alone? Scary to ponder. 4 stars.

Only episode 3, but I still guessing this season will probably be 2 or 3 episodes too long. Possibly 4. When they bring back the Marie klepto thing, they are scraping for B plots, and only had 13 entire episodes because of contractual obligations.

Jesse's spiral is also going nowhere fast. Do you know the worst thing about his plot? It turns from a House Party to a drug den, which is bad enough. But that's his parents' house. The house he and his brother grew up. Does the dude have NO sense of shame left? It's disgusting.

Skyler again continues to be more cunning and capable than is either needed or believable. This happening so often wears a bit thin.

I can't tell if Mike promising Walt he'll never see Gus again is a threat or the best news ever. Possibly both.

I'm straight-up calling this episode a failure, and questioning whether this is actually the greatest television show of all time or not. Because I don't think it is. 1 1/2 stars.

I love that Jesse isn't afraid of Mike. He doesn't care that the money was stolen and he doesn't care that he's got it back. He's onto Mike's performative tricks and if Mike is gonna kill him? He doesn't care. He is OVER this bullshit.

Mike for his part of the kind of cold bastard that gets a minorly annoyed look on his face when a piece of his ear is blown off.

Skyler's rehearsal is fucking ridiculous. She's all "Not all of us are as great liars as you!" but there is a difference in keeping one's stories straight, and sounding completely rehearsed and as if one is putting on a performance. For liars? Theatricality is their enemy. At least it is for good liars, or at least liars telling lies to people who aren't totally dumb.

I thought Hank's video of Gale was beyond cruel, and honestly I think it's a turning point for Walt. It think this is the first time Walt realizes he deeply dislikes Hank and that his brother-in-law is a straight-up bad person. He might have been able to excuse Hank pulling similar shit before this. But that's beyond the pale and personal for Walt.

Speaking of both Hank and invention, Walt's Walt Whitman save was pretty good. You'd almost call it convenient, but the brilliant thing about this show (and for all its faults, it IS brilliant) is stuff like that is always properly set up ahead of time. I have my problems with many a story turn on this show. But the arc-building, the mythology-planning, is tighter than almost any show you can think of. Shit that seems insignificant at the time (like Gale's love of the Walt Whitman poem) ends up paying off beautifully later on, often in ways you wouldn't ever suspect. IF Breaking Bad winds up the best TV show I've ever seen (and I DO remain a skeptic there) no doubt it will be because of stuff like that.

This is all great shit. I see the appeal of the show. Big time. 4 1/2 stars.

Walt is such a narcissistic sociopath he lets the perfect opportunity to get away clean go because he can't stand somebody ELSE being "recognized" for HIS genius. The guy has problems, although at least he's stopped ruining dinner parties. That's progress of sorts, I guess.

Skyler is equally fucked in the head. Instead of that answering machine message making her furious, it turns her on instead. The Whites are broken people. The only one who isn't uses crutches.

I wonder if decades from now TV scholars wondering the significance of HOW the many dozens of scenes on this show involve drama with an answering machine are the same guys debating the significance of how so much of Pulp Fiction's most important beats occur in a bathroom. I hope I am not the first person to raise the comparison, because after all of this with those angry messages, it's the only specific recurring trope comparable in weirdness to that.

Skyler demands complete honesty from a habitual liar. Walt isn't a liar because he's trying to protect his family. He's a liar because he is a fundamentally dishonest person.

Gus' appearances have been brief and scarce over the past few episodes. Walt himself is never granted a meeting.

Even if Mike's orders are not to kill Jesse, he spends the entire episode trying to intimidate him and make him fear he will. And it's starting to work at various points, which makes me hate Mike. I think Walt is the only one with Jesse's best interest at heart.

Not bad. But people need to pick up the damn phone. 3 1/2 stars.

"I am the one who knocks," is probably the most memorable line of the series. The biggest disappointment to me is that as of now, it's not true. Walt does not have that specific juice yet.

I also liked Skyler saying she has to protect the family from the man who is protecting this family. Her being mad that Junior will blame her is also righteous. Didn't Walt think of that?

Speaking of Walt not thinking, what happened to the laundry women is his fault. It's amazing he didn't see the deportation coming. He is definitely NOT The Man Who Knocks.

Loved Walt using that First Dollar in the soda machine. That was super mean, and after what the guy put him through, deserved. At least the guy didn't have to witness him doing it.

Is Mike actually impressed by Jesse yet? I can't tell.

Good episode with probably the best line ever. 4 1/2 stars.

Hank's closer to Gus than he ever was to Walt. And Gus was supposed to be the cautious one.

I hated Jesse nuking his bridges with his group like that. The entire scene felt cruel.

Gus offering Junior a job probably seemed like a red flag for Hank. Walt wouldn't have been happy about it either.

Kind of a bummer of an episode but the ending was interesting. 3 stars.

There is no wonder Gus hates Hector. What I don't understand is why he's been as deferential as he has been on the series. I wonder why Hector is still even ALIVE after that.

Man, that move with Hank and Walt complicated EVERYTHING. Walt did NOT like being put in that position.

The clothes filled with money collapsing the closet rack was a good visual gag.

On his own Gus is furious at being called into the police. That stunt Hank pulled with Walt probably pissed him off more than we could imagine.

That ending, man. I HATE Hector and felt sympathy for the first time for Gus. 4 stars.

Walt has a hair-trigger temper, but for the most part can control himself around the people he needs to.

Except for Jesse. He always treats Jesse like shit, even when it's not in his best interest to do so. And we basically learned, Gus killing Walt is Jesse's line in the sand. I think Gus is probably USING Jesse and has every intention of killing Walt, but Walt acting like Jesse has no loyalty to him is stupid. Walt is (or rather was) the only person Jesse had loyalty to. Moreover, he was the only person there on Walt's side. And Walt blew that up because he needs to treat Jesse like shit. It's ingrained in him to do that. And at this point, it's not something Jesse can take. Not just emotionally, but professionally. It's not okay. It's not the two of them cooking meth in an RV anymore. And Walt seems to think it is.

Do you know what the worst thing is? Jesse was in a FAR more precarious situation with Gus than Walt was, but worked instead on earning his trust and fixing his relationship with him. Maybe Walt should try that instead of thumbing his nose at him every chance he gets.

Ted would be better off dead. Wouldn't it be ironic of Skyler's legal troubles are far more readily apparently to the Feds than Walt's are?

Jesse described Gus walking into the gunfire as a "Terminator" moment, and that's about right.

Walter White may be the protagonist of the series but he's no anti-hero. He's deeply unlikable and a person who makes shitty choices. I don't understand why people respond positively to this specific character. He annoys me, as good as the show usually is. His problems are entirely of his own making. 3 1/2 stars.

Don't mess with Gus. He'll drink his own poison to kill you.

Loved Jesse staring down the Mexican chemist. He knows assholes.

I liked Walt's speech to Junior about his one memory of his father, but Junior is insightful to know last night was hardly Walt's low point. I thought it was beyond manipulative to fake cry to Junior about his mistakes, but when he calls him Jesse you wonder if the tears were fake at all. VERY nice and ambiguous moment.

Mike's all, "Don't worry, kid. Either we're all leaving or none of us are."

Saul knows Ted is full of shit and I like that he knew it before Skyler did. Skyler, if Ted didn't have this much trouble with overspending, he wouldn't be in the fix he is to begin with. How do you not know this? Just because Walt is good with money doesn't mean EVERY toxic man in your life is.

Good episode. 4 stars.

Walter is SO not The Man Who Knocks. His laughter at the end was chilling.

I loved the bit with Ted not making Huell happy. God, that guy is an idiot. What does it say about Skyler's tastes in men that Walt is the more financially responsible choice?

Gus made a mistake. He threatened to kill Walt's family. If Walt had enough money to disappear, it wouldn't amount to much. Since he doesn't, they'll have to face off, and this isn't Gus' damn show. So that makes it a mistake. Walt is gonna get him.

Walt working out that Jesse is keeping him alive is good, but if Walt were smarter he would have known that LONG before now. He might have treated Jesse better.

Wild episode. Huell may not be happy, but I am. 4 1/2 stars.

The bad news is Gus smelled a rat and avoided the car bomb. The good news is he didn't actually see Walt. Silver linings.

This whole show has become a huge mess in the very best sense. I loved the episode. 5 stars.

Clever episode title.

Oh, WALT poisoned Brock? Oh, man. I was a little disappointed how relatively easy it seemed to take out Gus, but the truth is if Walt used Brock to turn Jesse against Gus, this was a MUCH more complicated long-game than I ever suspected.

Holy shit. Walt is every bit the bastard I thought Gus was in the last episode. The most brilliant thing about the finale is it makes you question whether the most bloodthirsty and ruthless guy died or not. It seems to me he didn't and won instead. Bastard. 5 stars.

Magnets, bitches!

Oh, that hug at the end was creepy as hell.

Saul realizes he just traded one sociopath for another. He's done when Walt says he's done.

Mike's reactions to the insane plan were amusing.

Ted is afraid of Skyler! After getting over her initial shock at this, she's smart enough to feed into it and use it.

Heisenberg facade discussion coming up. Soon. Wait for it. 4 stars.

Walt was SO creeping me out with Skyler at the end. His "comforting" massage to Jesse was also cringe.

Walt is telling her it will pass. He doesn't understand she doesn't WANT it to. It's the one thing keeping her human. It's weird Walt doesn't miss that.

Mike was impressing me throughout the episode. Mostly by his ultimate reluctance to kill Lydia because of her pleas for her daughter. Pop-Pop relates to that. I especially love him in the diner telling her he doesn't know what movies she's seen, but you don't go around murdering 11 people as some sort of prophylactic. And it's fucked up that so many movies have ingrained that ridiculous idea in society. I like Mike pointing out it's actually ridiculous and not the way the world works. Somebody ought to tell Walt this shit. Because he supposedly goes through with this later on like the dumbass he is.

Just for the record, Hank's interview with Mike shows once again that Hank is a pure asshole. He may be good at zeroing in on suspects but he's a shitty human being. Full stop.

I liked the captain saying Gus operated right under his nose. I wonder if Hank was making any connections to Walt in that moment. He seemed to consider the words more seriously than somebody who WASN'T making that connection as they were spoken.

Before accepting the offer at the end, Mike rejects it because he calls Walt "a time bomb". He made the right decision the first time. Walt clearly is and is going to take down a ton of people when he finally blows up. I'm not sure WHY Mike changed his mind (maybe as his sole excuse to let Lydia live?). But nothing about that astute earlier observation has actually changed. 3 1/2 stars.

For the record, Walt probably guessed right about the real reason Gus killed Victor. Good for the show for having Victor do all that stuff ahead of time. It feeds perfectly into this. The show is great at setting up things like that seasons before it comes up again.

Jesse is right that Walt is thinking of the money situation wrong though. Walt has delusions of adequacy.

Skyler doesn't argue with Walt anymore. That is significant. She has been cowed, which might make some fans happy, but it pisses me off. Her horror at Walt enjoying Scarface with Junior (and the baby!) is real. Even if he weren't a drug dealer, that's an inappropriate to cheer along to with your kid. But because he is, it feels like fucking grooming as well. It's appalling.

For the record, about Skyler's breakdown? I've always wanted to yell at Marie to repeatedly shut up too. It's arguably the most rational thing she does in the episode.

Walt using Ted's affair as the excuse is both cunning and disgustingly manipulative. He sucks.

For the record, Walter's plan about the moving tented drug lab has strengths and weaknesses. The biggest virtue being if it always works correctly, it would be nearly impossible to get caught. The drawback is I can't picture it ALWAYS working correctly. Not on this show. It SEEMS like less of a risk, but Walt and Jesse are a couple of clowns. It's really not.

Talking about the Heisenberg facade in the finale "Gliding Over All". Getting my thoughts together for it. 4 stars.

For anyone reading my reviews who hates the character of Skyler because she's a nagging bitch and unsympathetic to Walt's problems, you can kindly fuck off now. If after THAT episode, you hate her for THAT, there's something wrong with YOU. Not her.

I don't know what else to say about this VERY powerful episode other than Walt is a monster. He mentions Jesse changed his mind about him. The irony? Jesse was wrong to do that. It was a mistake. Walt poisoned Brock after all. Seriously fucked up move to declare Jesse Pinkman one of his interpersonal relationship successes.

This show, man. It scares the shit out of me. 5 stars.

This was a delightful, fun heist episode with lots of twists and turns, and legit stakes and tension, and then they give us THAT ending. I mean, I'm not saying the show needs to always be sweetness and light, but it's okay to read the room and vary the tone.

I enjoyed that episode very much until the end. And I resent TV that refuses to let me enjoy it. 4 stars.

Skyler described herself as not a wife, but a hostage in the last episode, and when Walt invites Jesse to dinner, DARING her to object, she's right. She fits the definition at this point.

Maybe Jesse wouldn't have bailed if they went with Option 2 for Todd. Honestly, that one sounded the most appealing to me.

Saul continues to amuse me.

The fall-out from the last episode was NOT pretty. But the episode itself was solid. 4 stars.

We'll be talking about the Heisenberg facade in the next review (finally!) but as charismatic as Walt's pitch is at the beginning, it's bullshit spewed by a bullshitter dumb enough to believe his own hype.

And every damn thing Mike told him at the end of the episode was the Goddamned truth.

Walt seems outraged and surprised Jesse was willing to leave, even with that payday hanging unfulfilled over his head. He doesn't understand that Jesse still has his soul. He doesn't recognize that because he doesn't possess one himself.

Skyler: Hostage. Yes. That's all her role has turned into as this point. It's a little depressing.

Mike was the one heavy on the show who pretty much did everything right. And Walter screwed him over for the sin of telling him the truth that he sucked. Mike called Walt a timebomb earlier in the season and my biggest regret with him is he wasn't able to escape the blast himself. It's a damn shame. 3 1/2 stars.

Heisenberg is the biggest pile of horseshit ever.

All Breaking Bad fans, obsessed with Walter White as Heisenberg swag, it's not real. It never was.

This is MY opinion. I fundamentally disagree with other fans' conclusions there. The show has value because either you OR I might be wrong. So far they haven't said for sure.

My opinion, (and this is something that will not change) is that something like coolness and badassery is not a learned skilled. I do not remotely believe Walter White evolved from Mr. Chips to Scarface. I don't believe that's how people work. You either ARE a badass or you aren't. And Heisenberg certainly didn't unearth hidden depths of coolness and cunning that he simply never tapped into before.

It's all a scam. All of it.

Walter White carries himself like he's a hung porn star but he's actually the pasty guy stranded in the desert in his underwear. His life experiences are unable to change that fact. I think part of the moral debate of the show is "Was Walter always a bad person or did he grow into one for misguided reasons?"

It's the wrong question and it always was. Walter was ALWAYS a selfish terrible narcissist. Whether or not he fed into that bile before he became a criminal, or kept his rage inside, doesn't change the fact that he's always been a creep and a turd. He might not have always been Scarface. But he SURE as hell was NEVER Mr. Chips.

The right question isn't about Walter's faults. It's asking about whether or not his experiences were the things to gain him confidence and charisma and COOLNESS. I don't question Heisenberg affecting his bad points. I think they have always been static. But did Heisenberg ACTUALY turn White Walter into a hardcase badass?

My opinion is it did not. My opinion is Heisenberg is an act phonier than a three-dollar bill. I recognize this level of cowardly macho posturing from the current political climate. And of course, plenty of people are able to fall for the worst con ever. That doesn't make it real or not a con. Walter is a fraud, and yet he's such a CONVINCING fraud he's cowed his wife, a person who is actually much stronger than he is.

And I don't care if "He's out," in the final mid-season finale and back to pretending to be a loving family man. He is a full of shit sociopath either way. And he always was.

If you ask me Hank caught on too late. The damage has been done. And let's be clear. Walter will inevitably be responsible for a LOT more pain and suffering in the final 8 episodes (I'm guessing much of it suffered by Hank). But Walter White has not only never been a good person. But he's always been a pathetic loser. And something like that, you either are or you are not. And I think we learned little about Walter White over these past four seasons that the Pilot didn't already tell us. Everything else is bullshit. Heisenberg is the doughy guy losing his pants in the middle of the desert in a broken down RV. He is NOT The Man Who Knocks. He never was. And he never will be. I think ultimately Skyler is terrified of nothing. I don't blame her, but I have more context for that opinion than she does. Walter White is full of shit and always was. 4 stars.

We've been waiting the entire series for that scene with Hank and Walt. Lived up to the hype. For the first time ever, I feel Hank actually has the high ground. How weird is that?

The bonkersness of the wonky timeframe teaser is great. Good things are ahead.

Jesse playing Father Christmas strikes me as no less irrational than anything Walt has ever done.

I love the montage of Hank going over every single case file. Because he's reminded of every horror, even stuff he's invariably forgotten about, and oh yeah, Walt did this! Dean Norris played that pitch-perfectly. Both revelation and disgust are warring equally on his face.

Skinny Pete tells Badger when he brings up Tuliberry pies that they are from the Gamma Quadrant and that's Voyager, so he's an idiot. Voyager is DELTA Quadrant! DEEP SPACE NINE is the Gamma Quadrant and where the Tuliberries come from! And they didn't know that?! What a couple of total losers! Who on the writing staff fact-checked this shit? I am appalled.

Hey, at least I get pissed off at this show for the right reasons (sneers in the direction of Skyler haters). 4 1/2 stars.

It's almost an entirely different show now that Hank knows. Consequences are occurring. And it's about damn time.

Hank is right that his career is over. He can't go in with nothing if that's the case.

I loved Marie slapping Skyler because she thought Walt had something to do with Hank being shot. Her attempting to take Holly was a pretty damn fraught moment, dramatically. Tension fired up both assholes full blast. Sorry, to be so blunt, but you knew I was poet when you started reading me.

Hank wants different things than Skyler does. Not because she doesn't want Walt gone deep down. But because Hank wants it no matter the cost, and Skyler actually KNOWS the cost and wants to keep her and her family's suffering minimal. No, Hank, you and Skyler do NOT want the same things. I give him props for the first thing him doing in the restaurant is hugging her. A nice moment for a character almost entirely devoid of them. But that's all I'll credit him for about him practically using Skyler.

Huell and his buddy HAVE to Scrooge McDuck the money. I love that when they ask Walt if it's all there he's like, "More or less." HE knows they snatched a bunch of stacks, THEY know he knows, and they ALL know at this point it doesn't fucking matter at all. I love that.

I think technically Skyler is legally responsible for some seriously shitty things. I also don't think there is a jury in the world who would convict her of the crimes she is definitely guilty of. And THAT'S the actual hard part about turning her. She has no personal incentive to do so. She has much to lose and almost nothing to gain except One Minus Walt. Which she's getting in 6 months anyways. And if she keeps her mouth shut the money is likelier hers. Yeah, she'll be tough to roll.

I like the endgame of this show very much. 5 stars.

The worst thing about Hank's frame isn't just how airtight it is. It's that Skyler is complicit in it and Hank and Marie pretty much know that now. That was the Nuclear Option, their family is destroyed no matter what, and there is nothing to ever be forgiven. It's unforgivable.

I'm glad Jesse found out about Brock. I was feeling for him when he rightly blamed Walter for killing Mike and Walter manipulatively hugged him like a father to get him to do what he wanted. The ending is far more powerful for that having happened.

Man, this show is pulling out all the stops in the end. 5 stars.

Oof. Okay.

Jesse having been picked up by Hank is both a good turn and a bad turn. It's narratively good for the show. For Hank? He's fucked now. Both ways. This is NOT Dean Norris' show and if they need a sacrificial lamb leading up to the finale, it's gonna be Hank.

That being said, I will shed as many tears for him as he would have for Jesse is Walt HAD killed him. Him not caring about that and believing it helps his case to get Walt on tape murdering a junkie says Hank is not simply just a bad person. He's a bad cop. Not precisely corrupt (he says his plan unironically to a colleague who doesn't do him the favor of clapping him over the head for it) but bad as in bad at his job at protecting the public and knowing that applies to everybody. He's incompetent. I believe Jesse is erroneous about Walter White's actual juice. While he DOES seem to have the luck of the Devil, he ain't him. But like the Devil, Heisenberg has a good hype man (Jesse himself, in fact) and Jesse is starting to believe the bullshit himself. He's convinced himself of the lie of the unstoppability of the persona. But regardless of that, when Jesse says that Mr. White is smarter than Hank, he's right. Mr. White wouldn't need to be told it's not a good idea for a police officer to have their C.I.'s publicly murdered on-camera during botched stings they signed the paperwork for. That is not a "win either way" deal, and a cop who was either smarter or less of a prick would know that.

Or maybe a better show with better writers would know that. Am I going there really? Maybe. But if that idea is just a brief showcase of Hank's dickishness and not followed up on, yeah, I can actually call the supposed greatest TV show ever made badly written for that bit. And I will.

Do you know the messed up thing? Hank was right the first time that Walt cares about Jesse. Maybe if Walt had actually TOLD the kid that instead of beating him down bit by bit neither would be in this scenario.

The scene with Junior was interesting. We KNOW Walt will be found out by season's end by the public at large. After seeing that scene with Junior I am 100% convinced Junior will be the one person who will offer ZERO forgiveness or tolerance for Walt's sins. Just because he's the one person who literally forgave everything else and Walt spent five seasons shitting on every bit of misplaced trust he put into him. Junior / Flynn is arguably the most naive (or stupid) character on the show. He's also one of the most virtuous and this is not something he'll ever get past. That's my prediction.

The one thing people who know Walt bemoan upon learning the truth is that this is just gonna KILL Walt Jr.. Maybe they aren't just trying to shame Walt by saying it (although it admittedly does that trick). Maybe they are actually saying it because it's true.

Things are getting dire. Walt isn't getting away with this, but I don't suspect many (if any) other characters are coming out unscathed either. 4 stars.

That ending cranked things up to 11. I was practically screaming at my TV "Don't call Marie! Call it in!" Augh!

That being said, Walt is SUPER dumb for falling for this trick in the first place. Even if Hank and Gomez are killed (and they probably will be) he basically confessed to everything on a bugged line. Also Hank's investigation should lead cops to the money whether Hank uncovered it yet or not.

This show is killing it. 5 stars.

Oh, my God. That is a MONSTER!

That phone call! Holy shit! Both Junior and Marie heard every damn word!

I'm glad he gave Holly back but when he took her I was like "This asshole is pure evil. And he always was."

The language Walt uses to Skyler suggests these are things he's always thought. On the tip of his tongue that he never said. Him saying she's ALWAYS done this means this was always coming whether he was a drug dealer or not. Like I said. A monster.

Hank calls him the smartest person he knows before he dies. Were I Hank I would not have extended him that compliment.

I was right about Junior refusing to forgive this. He's also pissed at the amorality of his mother. He'll be able to forgive her after what happened in the events of this episode. But I like Flynn because he was equally infuriated at his mother before then. That poor kid.

I'm not ready to declare this the greatest TV show of all time. But if the next two episodes stick the landing, it could be up there. 5 stars.

Todd sucks. Hate that guy.

The episode didn't wow me until the phone call with Flynn. That kid is all right. He is not the pushover his mother was. I love how much his words hurt Walt. Yes, Walt, it was all for nothing.

Saul knows it's over. Because he's right.

Walt's ego at the TV interview is going to be his actual undoing. Good.

Learning last episode's phone call was partly a facade to distance Skyler from him didn't actually lessen my anger at him for it. I'm still pissed.

It was good but I was still a little disappointed. 3 1/2 stars.

It's a great final episode but it's not the greatest TV show of all time.

"I did it for me." First fundamentally honest words Walt said on the entire series. Still, if I were Skyler I would have let him nowhere NEAR Holly.

The ends of Jack, Todd, and Lydia were NOT a surprise. Heisenberg may be a facade, but the truth is Walt doesn't allow himself to be crossed.

Glad Jesse made it out alive. Walt tackled him to save his life. I thought that was a good moment. A true moment.

I think it ended right, but like all series finales, there are arguments among fans about what could have been handled better. I think it did most everything right. 5 stars.