Breaking Bad divided its time this week between Walt’s surprise-filled hospital vigil with the recuperating Hank, and Jesse’s not-at-all surprising, but very satisfying, slip from recovering addict to a return to his old meth-slinging ways.
Walter and Jesse had a tense showdown in their gleaming new crystal meth lab, where Walt has been working feverishly to meet his drug deadline for Gus.
Jesse started yelping about the two of them being exploited by the sellers of their product, saying the two men deserved a bigger cut of the profits. Walt reverts to common sense: “You’re a millionaire, Jesse, what more do you want?” Jesse, who rarely sees beyond his immediate urge, barks back, “What’s more important than money?”
Cut to the wounded Hank, lying in his hospital bed, for the immediate answer to Jesse’s question. Hank’s health is more important than money, is what’s made clear here. Wife Marie tussled with an insurance-company rep over medical and physical-therapy coverage for Hank — big surprise, the insurers don’t want to help with the best care possible.
And here Breaking Bad worked one of its narrative miracles. Skyler seized upon Marie’s predicament to both help her sister and get back a bit at Walt’s deceit. In a flash of inspiration, she made up a story about how Walt had accumulated a lot of money by working out a blackjack card-counting method. The dough from this would go to Hank’s care, she said, as Walt looked on in a mixture of fear, annoyance, and pure admiration. Marie bought the story. Walt asked Skyler how she’d invented that tale. I learned from the best, she replied.
The episode’s title took its name from a remark made by Jesse’s group-therapy leader, played by Jere Burns. After Jesse shares a bogus story about his mind-numbing job in a laundry, the therapist observes, “It’s kinda Kafkaesque.” “Yeah… majorly,” grunts Jesse. Later, he’ll bring in his two dumb-shady friends to pose as recovering addicts, but who are really there to plant the idea in these addicts’ heads that there’s this great new supply of meth now on the street. Devilish Jesse. (Note: Between his violent-weasel role in Justified and his work here, Jere Burns is having a good time in cable-TV drama right now.)
There was also a very funny — and instructive — scene in which Bob Odenkirk’s Saul explains how money-laundering works to a dead-eyed Jesse, all while Saul receives a mani-pedi in the nail salon he wants Jesse to buy as a front business.
In the end, though, it all came down to issues of trust and Walt’s ongoing, ever-tightening dilemma over just how much more criminal activity he can endure. Skyler told him in the closing seconds, “Hank is here because of you, and I’m not forgetting that.”
Which means more fresh hell for Walt, and more pure pleasure for us.
Did you watch Breaking Bad? What did you think?
Follow: @kentucker
Don’t forget Walt’s meeting with Gus and its aftermath on the road. This show is seriously not good for my health, as scenes like this make me forget to breathe while I’m watching them.
Totally agree with you Mikey. Ken must have written this article in a hurry. I watched this episode over because of the superb scene between Gus and Walt. Its clarity is quite chilling and …delicious.
couldn’t agree more guys. the scene with walt and gus was one of the best scenes of the series. walt calls gus out on everything he’s done from setting up hank to saving his life and after all that he says, “i would have done the same in your position.” it was a powerful scene that sent chills throughout my body. this is drama!
“…a story about how Hank had accumulated a lot of money by working out a blackjack card-counting method…”
I’m sure you meant to write “Walt.”
I’m happy to see “Breaking Bad” getting some attention here. Its third season has been great!
Walt’s meeting with Gus was one of the highlights of this episode. How can that possibly be left out of the recap?!
Breaking Bad is one of the greatest shows on tv right now. While I appreciate giving it a recap I feel that one page doesn’t do it justice. Please EW expand these recaps and give this show the justice that it deserves.
Fifth paragraph. Third sentence. It should say how WALT had accumulated a lot of money.
“Kafkaesque…” “…CHURCH”
Amazing tv show and I am loving these recaps. I loved when Badger and Skinny Pete were discussing the blue stuff with the recovering addicts. Can’t wait for next week’s episode when things (in Jesse talk) are about to go down yo!!!
I agree with the last post – maybe now that LOST is ending (also a great show – but Breaking Bad is in a league by itself) ew can devote more time and space to covering this phenomenal show!
Last night’s show was very good, with these being my fave scenes: Walt talking to “Mr. Pollos” (as I call him) about the long-term money deal; Skyler’s total-recall breaking bad rambling gambling story (brilliant); and Jesse’s “wooden box in shop class” scene. Other elements were right on, but those scenes stand out.
My favorite episode this season is still “IFT” – and the one where Hank gets shot. BREAK ON!
that Pollos commercial was awesome. The song was perfect for the scene. What was it?
What a great show! the woman knows everything.
How about when Skyler goes out to Walt’s car and asks if they’re safe? Or when she grabbed him by the shirt, a moment, I thought, when she was going to tell him she was worried about him, but instead she skewered him with the knowledge that Hank’s predicament. And yes, the absolutely rivetting, hold-you-breath, turn-up-the-volume scene betwen Hank and the chicken man was extraordinary. This show is brilliant.
And one final comment–I’m glad Jesse’s injuries are not miraculously healed.
You mean Walt and the chicken man
tee hee
I agree with the comment about jesse’s injuries. In my opinion those little details it is what puts this show up above the rest. Nothing is glossed over with tv magic. Everything has to be accounted for and figured out. Every action walt takes has a realistic (at least within the context of the show) reaction.
The title of this episode shoulda been “I Learned from the Best”
Over time, this has become the best show on TV the way “The Sopranos” did. When you really think about it 98% of any Breaking Bad episode is dialog only, not a lot of action. The writing is so good, and the acting is so good, you get lost for an hour. My favorite part of last nights episode in Walt and Marie’s reaction to hearing the Walt gambling story for the first time. The way he was on the edge of his seat hearing his own backstory for the first time was hilarious. The other thing I love about the show is that it doesn’t glamorize crime that much. When you think about it, after Saul’s cut, Jesse’s cut, Hanks Medical, and the lengths of money laundering that have to go on, Walt’s not making enough money to equate to the pressure involved. I serves as a lesson that as crime may pay, it also is so dangerous that the risk far outweighs the reward.
Tim, i TOTALLEY agree with you. What makes this show great is that it is an actual throwback to when Tv had great writing AND great acting all at the same time. Its not about action or gimmicks. Its all about the story, the characters, the moral choices each character is faced with and how the actors display the choices in painful and extrodianary ways. And then when the ACTION starts it literally puts you at the edge of your seat. Again i am glad EW has started the recaps but i cannot help but think this BRILLIANT show has suffered from the lack of exposure it SHOULD have received for the past 3 seasons from this site. This show BLOWS Mad men AWAY and it isn’t even CLOSE.
I’m a late-comer to the show, but holy crap, Breaking Bad is just knocking it out of the water week after week. Equally intense domestic stress and straight-out action episodes. My jaw hasn’t dropped so much since the best episodes of Lost. And as much as I love that show, Breaking Bad completely deserves the drama Emmy this year.
Dear EW, Please cover more on what is the best show on television. A cover story would be much appreciated.
I find Skyler’s character a bit of hypocrite….considering she’s helping her boss do something illegal with his business (I think he’s keep two sets of books or something). She’s got a lot of nerve judging Walt, when her hands aren’t clean either. Illegal is illegal.