Thursday, April 16, 2015

Breaking Bad Season 1, Episode 7: A No Rough Stuff Type of Deal

The season ends on a serious high note.  It really was a delightful watch, balancing the serious ramifications of what the characters are doing with comedy to keep things interesting and fun.  Walt and Jesse are fantastic together.  The interplay between the two really makes their endeavor that much more entertaining.

I did get a kick out of Jesse commenting that Walt looked like Lex Luthor.  Granted, at the time, it was merely a shot at the fact that he was rocking a chrome dome, but after that rumor that he was set to play the character in the upcoming Batman vs. Superman movie, the line becomes what the tropers call "hilarious in hindsight".

This episode hearkens back to the earlier episodes of the season as Walt and Jesse scramble to keep up with troublesome circumstances.  From having to pull off a heist in order to obtain the chemical needed for a new, more easily produced recipe to deterring an open house from interrupting the production going on in Jesse's basement.  It may not be nail biting tension in its traditional form, but you do find yourself glued, wondering how they're going to get out of it.

As much as I enjoyed Walt's plot, I found Skyler's to be rather entertaining as well.  I'm not sure why her sister would give her a stolen item as a baby gift, but if Skyler's later confrontation is any indication, Marie seems to have a few screws loose.

Walt tries to subtly (to his wife not to the audience) compare her crime to his own, saying that she might be doing it for the family.  Skyler rightly calls him on it, but even putting her points aside, their situations are entirely different.  Marie's transgression is far more frivolous and she isn't backed into a corner the same way Walt is.

On another note, I was amused by Skyler faking going into labor to get out of being held by the store's security.  Considering she was innocent, I do wonder how necessary it was, but it was still funny and showed quick thinking on her part.

As was the case last episode, Tuco is a highlight.  Things get off to a rocky start as the pair aren't able to produce as much as he wanted, and it looks bad when they end up in debt, but by the episode's end Walt and Jesse end up straightening out.  While Tuco has put on a quasi-friendly front before, it was fun to see him genuinely excited about how much money they're going to make with Walt's recipe.

While we didn't really forget how prone to violence Tuco can be, the episode ends with a grim reminder as he severely beats one of his subordinates for an offhand remark.  It's an odd note to end on as Walt and Jesse have a somewhat stable business model, but at the same time, are in league with a violent criminal with a hot triggered temper.

The episode is highly enjoyable, but it didn't feel like a season finale.  Even with the beat down, there didn't seem to be any big moment.  In some regards, the last episode felt more like a finale as Walt secured his fate and did something awesome by blowing up Tuco's HQ.  Maybe that was too obvious?

The first season went by quick, but it was a very strong start.  I'm looking forward to diving into season 2.














                




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