I'm no shrink, but I can't help but question Jesse's coping mechanism. I mean, if you're wracked with guilt over having to shoot somebody, first person rail shooters may not be the first thing you flock towards, just saying. It does get in some product placement, both for the game itself (Rage) and for the (admittedly pretty freaking sweet) Sony TV that Jesse is using, so there's that at least.
Walt, meanwhile, is convinced that things aren't as copacetic with Gus as they appear. As such, he coaxes Jesse into attempting to poison Gus the same way they had planned against Tuco.
Wouldn't it be interesting if Gus really had let it slide and Walt's own paranoia and apophenia ended up being what demolished their arrangement? I'm not sure how you convey that without the writers tipping their hands and obliterating any sense of tension, but it would be an appropriately tragic way for Walt's fate to play out.
Speaking of tragic fates, Walt is forced to destroy the car he bought for his son. Well, technically, he was only tasked with returning it, but blowing it up seems to be an acceptable substitute for him. Even the fact that it cost him 50 grand to cover it up doesn't seem to faze him.
You can't really blame him though as he reveals that he's pulling in $7 and a half million a year. The number blows Skyler away and she notes that it's hard to cover a number that big through a car wash. Of course, neither a nail salon or a laser tag arena stand a much better chance of raking in that much, so who knows what Saul was doing?
What's more surprising is that it's all $50 bills, making it even harder to cover. You'd think that paying in assorted bills would be standard practice in this sort of thing for the very reason that Skyler notes. Maybe it's Gus' passive aggressive way of punishing Walt? I don't know.
As for Jesse's attempt at assassination, he doesn't really get much of a chance. The episode plays up his making coffee as the big moment, but it seems like it would have been too obvious. Both Gus and Mike were still in the room. Even if they were conversing, they'd probably notice Jesse digging into his pockets and adding something else to the drink.
Business gets in the way anyway as Gus arranges a meeting with a representative from the cartel. It seems that he IS connected to them, but is attempting to buy his way out. While it doesn't get violent, it doesn't go particularly well. It was a little weird to see Gus on the defensive. I guess that's a testament to the people he's dealing with.
Following this, Jesse returns to his rehab group. He's not on drugs, but he does attempt to get some catharsis by telling them about how he killed a dog and feels really bad. The group does try to reassure him and offer possible justifications (accident, mercy killing, the dog was violent) Jesse notes that it wasn't any of that and that he just did it.
Not surprisingly, the group doesn't take this well. Jesse probably thought killing a dog wasn't that big a deal, but people like dogs. He does get to retort by admitting that he was there to sell to them and even calls the "self acceptance" mindset out as not everything should be accepted. Paul did a great job in the scene and his performance really sells it.
Dean Norris also gets to shine as Hank is in better spirits. He gets to bond with his nephew, but also shows his deductive skills as he suspects that Gus is tied to the Meth market. It seems Gale's belongings really started to put the pieces together as Hank also finds out that Gus' finger prints were in Gale's apartment, something that doesn't make any sense. He also comes across a serial number for an industrial air filter and has his inquiries road blocked when he starts to question the parent company of Gus' restaurant. What initially seems like a pie in the sky theory suddenly sounds a lot more concrete.
This was a solid episode, but I don't know if I'd mark it as a powerhouse. It did advance a lot of character plot lines and it was paced well enough, but I don't know if this will go down as one of the show's more memorable episodes.
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Monday, August 31, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Falling Skies
I wrote about 'Falling Skies' on the original "Daily Dose of Awesome" blog after the pilot aired. As the show recently came to its conclusion last night, it seemed fitting that I do the "transfer" post now.
A lot of the things that I liked about the pilot remained true for a majority of the series. It was well written and to say that the special effects were above average would be an understatement.
Some had problems with the pacing and felt that it dragged at points, but I thought that the character development worked well. If anything, it helped add weight to the action sequences and made them feel more impressive.
As for the finale, it was a little anti-climactic. I don't think it will get the backlash that "Lost" got, but it was very average. Everything gets wrapped up, but it lacked the 'umph' that the rest of the series had.
Nevertheless, it was a fun ride. For Sci-Fi fans, it's definitely a show worth checking out.
*Fifth Season isn't out yet
A lot of the things that I liked about the pilot remained true for a majority of the series. It was well written and to say that the special effects were above average would be an understatement.
Some had problems with the pacing and felt that it dragged at points, but I thought that the character development worked well. If anything, it helped add weight to the action sequences and made them feel more impressive.
As for the finale, it was a little anti-climactic. I don't think it will get the backlash that "Lost" got, but it was very average. Everything gets wrapped up, but it lacked the 'umph' that the rest of the series had.
Nevertheless, it was a fun ride. For Sci-Fi fans, it's definitely a show worth checking out.
*Fifth Season isn't out yet
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Unlikely Best Friends
Unlikely Best Friends
A man finds companionship in a dog that faces the same struggles as he does. By giving him a chance, the two overcome life’s obstacles together. Kleenex.com/messagesofcare
Posted by Kleenex on Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Breaking Bad: Season 4, Episode 6: Cornered
After Walt's drunken gaffe, Skyler starts to second guess things. The voice mail Walt left starts to sound less like a random romantic act and more like a final goodbye. Walt's outing that Gale wasn't Heisenburg also suggests to her that Walt is scared and in over his head. As such, she suggests going to the police.
This may have worked with Walt before, but suffice it to say, he doesn't take kindly to it. It isn't so much fear, but ego that drives his rant as he declares that he's the backbone of an empire. It's a great moment for Walt, but it is enough to drive Skyler back out of the house.
She even goes so far as to contemplate leaving the state. I'd say that she should have at least taken a lap around the four corners, but she probably could have done that dozens of times by now, robbing it of its novelty. If nothing else, she could have used that as a way to decide which state "felt right". I guess it's moot as she stays anyway, but still.
Meanwhile, Walt isn't pleased with Jesse's new role as Mike's number two. Strategic thinker that he is, he immediately deduces that the robbery was a setup. I am curious if Walt's reasoning was sound as to why. A part of it just sounds like more of his big ego, but knowing Gus, it could have also been a factor. His plans, after all, tend to operate on several levels.
At the very least, Jesse's absence is a hindrance for Walt as he has no help. I guess clean up duty doesn't warrant having someone sub in because Walt has to pay some of the laundry staff to pick up the slack.
Honestly, I thought Gus was going to kill them, but instead chooses to deport them back to Honduras as punishment. Of course, that could be a euphemism, like sending the pet to the farm. I could be reading too much into it and Walt feels bad about it in either case.
To lift his spirits, he buys his son a cool car. Junior's excited, but Skyler...not so much. She points out that it will raise questions, but Walt does have the car wash now. They have income and it's possible that there was little, if any, money down. I can see why Skyler sees it as a huge red flag, but it might not set off as many alarm bells as she thinks.
Speaking of setting off alarms, Jesse joins Mike on a stakeout to investigate the theft of some of Gus' product. We do get more of the "buddy comedy" dynamic as the two have radically different outlooks on what they're doing.
Mike takes a more patient "stakeout" style approach where Jesse doesn't have the patience. While his plan to act as a potential buyer, it wasn't a bad one. Mike gloats, but it was worth a shot at the very least.
His second plan goes slightly better, though Mike does still need to come to his aid to a certain extent. In any event, Jesse's showing that he isn't a total bust after all. He does seem to be growing into the role.
The episode was largely character driven, but it works well. There was a nice balance of tension and humor, which I always like. It also looks like Walt's turn to Heisenburg is starting to take shape. It should make for interesting episodes as we hit the second half of the season.
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This may have worked with Walt before, but suffice it to say, he doesn't take kindly to it. It isn't so much fear, but ego that drives his rant as he declares that he's the backbone of an empire. It's a great moment for Walt, but it is enough to drive Skyler back out of the house.
She even goes so far as to contemplate leaving the state. I'd say that she should have at least taken a lap around the four corners, but she probably could have done that dozens of times by now, robbing it of its novelty. If nothing else, she could have used that as a way to decide which state "felt right". I guess it's moot as she stays anyway, but still.
Meanwhile, Walt isn't pleased with Jesse's new role as Mike's number two. Strategic thinker that he is, he immediately deduces that the robbery was a setup. I am curious if Walt's reasoning was sound as to why. A part of it just sounds like more of his big ego, but knowing Gus, it could have also been a factor. His plans, after all, tend to operate on several levels.
At the very least, Jesse's absence is a hindrance for Walt as he has no help. I guess clean up duty doesn't warrant having someone sub in because Walt has to pay some of the laundry staff to pick up the slack.
Honestly, I thought Gus was going to kill them, but instead chooses to deport them back to Honduras as punishment. Of course, that could be a euphemism, like sending the pet to the farm. I could be reading too much into it and Walt feels bad about it in either case.
To lift his spirits, he buys his son a cool car. Junior's excited, but Skyler...not so much. She points out that it will raise questions, but Walt does have the car wash now. They have income and it's possible that there was little, if any, money down. I can see why Skyler sees it as a huge red flag, but it might not set off as many alarm bells as she thinks.
Speaking of setting off alarms, Jesse joins Mike on a stakeout to investigate the theft of some of Gus' product. We do get more of the "buddy comedy" dynamic as the two have radically different outlooks on what they're doing.
Mike takes a more patient "stakeout" style approach where Jesse doesn't have the patience. While his plan to act as a potential buyer, it wasn't a bad one. Mike gloats, but it was worth a shot at the very least.
His second plan goes slightly better, though Mike does still need to come to his aid to a certain extent. In any event, Jesse's showing that he isn't a total bust after all. He does seem to be growing into the role.
The episode was largely character driven, but it works well. There was a nice balance of tension and humor, which I always like. It also looks like Walt's turn to Heisenburg is starting to take shape. It should make for interesting episodes as we hit the second half of the season.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Final Flash!
It's funny how this clip can simultaneously be one of the show's crowning moments of awesome, and yet be the embodiment of everything that's wrong with it as a whole.
It is literally almost 5 minutes (keep in mind, an episode runs about 20) of Vegeta charging up an attack and by God is it glorious. The way it's "shot" and Bruce Faulconer's kickass soundtrack make this a sequence that is just jaw dropping.
Granted, the attack doesn't work; but the build up and execution are just sublime.
Friday, August 21, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 4, Episode 5: Shotgun
As was the case when Tuco abducted Walt, Jesse's situation isn't as dire as it originally seemed. At the very least, the situation did seem to frighten Jesse back into cohesion as he ditches the "I don't care anymore" attitude and takes measures to protect himself when he thinks that things are coming to an end.
It turns out that the outing is apparently harmless as Mike has been tasked with picking up some stashes of cash and needs Jesse to keep watch.
While the mortal tension does dissipate, there is still some tension between the two. It's more of a buddy movie tension, though, as Jesse gets on Mike's nerves. To be fair, Mike seems to be a stickler about what goes on in the car and doesn't even allow Jesse to turn the radio on. You can't really blame the guy for complaining about being bored.
Jesse does finally get something to do when a pair of thugs ominously approach the car. In a bit of quick thinking, he slams Mike's car into the other and drives off, leaving Mike behind.
You'd think that Mike would be slightly miffed at this, but he does see the other car and Jesse is decent enough to circle around and pick him up later.
In an interesting twist, it turns out that Gus set the whole thing up. It's surprising to see Gus go to such lengths to get Jesse back on track, given that the duo are on such thin ice, but at the same time (as TvTropes points out) if the hit did succeed, it would still solve Gus' problem. As it is, Jesse seems to have found a sense of purpose again.
Speaking of finding purpose, Hank seems to be pulling himself out of his funk. He isn't as mopey and notes that Heisenburg's apparent death has given him a sense of closure.
You'd think that Walt would be more than happy to let Heisenburg remain dead to keep the DEA off their trail, but his pride (and a fair bit of booze) push him to tipping his hand and revealing that Gale was more a protege than a master.
Skyler gives him the appropriate glare for being a freaking idiot, but one could argue that Hank would have started to suspect something was up with the reveal that Gale was vegan and that an ad for Gus' fast food was in the notes. Then again, he probably wouldn't have looked had Walt kept his trap shut, so yeah, it's totally Walt's fault.
Walt, meanwhile, has a more inconsistent outing. His home life seems to be recovering as he and Skyler officially buy the car wash and Skyler even invites him to move back in to the house. Work, on the other hand, doesn't seem to go as well.
It turns out that cooking is a 2 person operation. Walt makes a valiant effort, but angrily throws in the towel. Again, considering how Walt is supposed to be inches from being killed, he's rather gruff about it. While he demands Jesse, Gus splits the difference, sending someone else to assist in the lab.
Eventually, Jesse does return, though he notes that he has two jobs now.
The real strength of the episode comes from Jesse and Mike. The butting of heads was amusing, but it was also nice to see the two start to form something resembling a bond. Credit where it's due though, it's good to see Walt's more forceful side start to rear its head. Just as Gus is running out of patience, so too is he. We might be getting to the point where Walt starts to live up to his reputation, but that remains to be seen.
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It turns out that the outing is apparently harmless as Mike has been tasked with picking up some stashes of cash and needs Jesse to keep watch.
While the mortal tension does dissipate, there is still some tension between the two. It's more of a buddy movie tension, though, as Jesse gets on Mike's nerves. To be fair, Mike seems to be a stickler about what goes on in the car and doesn't even allow Jesse to turn the radio on. You can't really blame the guy for complaining about being bored.
Jesse does finally get something to do when a pair of thugs ominously approach the car. In a bit of quick thinking, he slams Mike's car into the other and drives off, leaving Mike behind.
You'd think that Mike would be slightly miffed at this, but he does see the other car and Jesse is decent enough to circle around and pick him up later.
In an interesting twist, it turns out that Gus set the whole thing up. It's surprising to see Gus go to such lengths to get Jesse back on track, given that the duo are on such thin ice, but at the same time (as TvTropes points out) if the hit did succeed, it would still solve Gus' problem. As it is, Jesse seems to have found a sense of purpose again.
Speaking of finding purpose, Hank seems to be pulling himself out of his funk. He isn't as mopey and notes that Heisenburg's apparent death has given him a sense of closure.
You'd think that Walt would be more than happy to let Heisenburg remain dead to keep the DEA off their trail, but his pride (and a fair bit of booze) push him to tipping his hand and revealing that Gale was more a protege than a master.
Skyler gives him the appropriate glare for being a freaking idiot, but one could argue that Hank would have started to suspect something was up with the reveal that Gale was vegan and that an ad for Gus' fast food was in the notes. Then again, he probably wouldn't have looked had Walt kept his trap shut, so yeah, it's totally Walt's fault.
Walt, meanwhile, has a more inconsistent outing. His home life seems to be recovering as he and Skyler officially buy the car wash and Skyler even invites him to move back in to the house. Work, on the other hand, doesn't seem to go as well.
It turns out that cooking is a 2 person operation. Walt makes a valiant effort, but angrily throws in the towel. Again, considering how Walt is supposed to be inches from being killed, he's rather gruff about it. While he demands Jesse, Gus splits the difference, sending someone else to assist in the lab.
Eventually, Jesse does return, though he notes that he has two jobs now.
The real strength of the episode comes from Jesse and Mike. The butting of heads was amusing, but it was also nice to see the two start to form something resembling a bond. Credit where it's due though, it's good to see Walt's more forceful side start to rear its head. Just as Gus is running out of patience, so too is he. We might be getting to the point where Walt starts to live up to his reputation, but that remains to be seen.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Enter Love Machine
You wouldn't think that Metallica and the Miracles would be two groups that would go together, but they do.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 4, Episode 4: Bullet Points
The time has come for the White family to talk of many things, like car washes, and gambling addictions, and how well Gale sings.
While it seems like Walt's gambling story had already been established, Skyler wants them to "come clean" and put all their cards on the table. Skyler's attention to detail is an asset in many cases, but as Walt non-verbally makes clear, it can also be a tedious detriment as she is developing a tendency to over think things.
The results are...mixed. Hank is shocked, but the detriments of Walt's "condition" seemed to have been glossed over. Notably, Walt Jr. is curious as to why Walt stopped when he was raking in money. He even goes so far as to suggest he can get a car for his birthday now. That's one of the downsides of being a writer, people always seem to completely miss what you were going for.
The get together segues to more dire matters as Walt learns that Hank is involved in the investigation of Gale's murder. You may think that the opening sentence was structured that way to fit the rhyme scheme, but we really do see a video of Gale singing karaoke. Not only is this a painful reminder of what Walt had to do, but it poses problems for his operation as a whole. It brings back a plot element that the show seemed to sideline as Hank goes on at length about Heisenburg while Walt sits right there. In fact, when going through Gale's notes, Hank notices that Gale mentions a "W.W." He throws out a few suggestions (oddly omitting Wonder Woman, which was the first name that popped in my head) before suggesting Walter White.
Walt does try to play it off like a joke, but I wonder if Hank really does suspect something. That sketch of Heisenburg does look like Walt and he may not buy the gambling story. Add to that Walt's scientific know how and maybe the pieces are starting to come together in his head. We'll have to see. For now, though, it seems like Gale is taking the fall as he appears to be the likely culprit.
On other fronts, Jesse's emotional spiral starts to become a detriment to the operation. Walt's efforts to reach him fall flat, he barely reacts when he is robbed, and doesn't flinch when Mike tries to intimidate him back into compliance. It isn't so much bravado on Jesse's part as the simple fact that he just doesn't care anymore.
I do wonder why Jesse thought that Mike would refrain from killing the thief. This is kind of what he does for a living. Even evidence isn't a problem as he does clean up for this sort of thing on a regular basis. He knows how to cover his bases.
Oddly enough, Mike doesn't appear to kill the guy. He does report back to Gus and asks to deal with the problem once and for all.
As such, he rounds up Jesse and the episode ends as we see Mike driving him out into the desert, presumably to kill him.
The episode was pretty well balanced. There was some humor and serious tension peppered throughout. It wasn't quite "pull you to the edge of your seat" tension, but it was enough. The episode ends on an ominous cliffhanger, though I think it's pretty safe to say that Jesse makes it out OK. If anything, I could see this being where Mike bites the dust.
Speaking of, the fact that he survived that opening sequence stretches credulity a bit. Those two hitmen were sure to shoot multiple bullets at multiple angles from various points around the truck. I'm not sure where Mike could have positioned himself that he would have gotten out OK. Yeah, his ear got nicked, but that was about the extent of it. Then again, Vito Corleone got shot 2 or 3 dozen times and survived, so who knows?
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While it seems like Walt's gambling story had already been established, Skyler wants them to "come clean" and put all their cards on the table. Skyler's attention to detail is an asset in many cases, but as Walt non-verbally makes clear, it can also be a tedious detriment as she is developing a tendency to over think things.
The results are...mixed. Hank is shocked, but the detriments of Walt's "condition" seemed to have been glossed over. Notably, Walt Jr. is curious as to why Walt stopped when he was raking in money. He even goes so far as to suggest he can get a car for his birthday now. That's one of the downsides of being a writer, people always seem to completely miss what you were going for.
The get together segues to more dire matters as Walt learns that Hank is involved in the investigation of Gale's murder. You may think that the opening sentence was structured that way to fit the rhyme scheme, but we really do see a video of Gale singing karaoke. Not only is this a painful reminder of what Walt had to do, but it poses problems for his operation as a whole. It brings back a plot element that the show seemed to sideline as Hank goes on at length about Heisenburg while Walt sits right there. In fact, when going through Gale's notes, Hank notices that Gale mentions a "W.W." He throws out a few suggestions (oddly omitting Wonder Woman, which was the first name that popped in my head) before suggesting Walter White.
Walt does try to play it off like a joke, but I wonder if Hank really does suspect something. That sketch of Heisenburg does look like Walt and he may not buy the gambling story. Add to that Walt's scientific know how and maybe the pieces are starting to come together in his head. We'll have to see. For now, though, it seems like Gale is taking the fall as he appears to be the likely culprit.
On other fronts, Jesse's emotional spiral starts to become a detriment to the operation. Walt's efforts to reach him fall flat, he barely reacts when he is robbed, and doesn't flinch when Mike tries to intimidate him back into compliance. It isn't so much bravado on Jesse's part as the simple fact that he just doesn't care anymore.
I do wonder why Jesse thought that Mike would refrain from killing the thief. This is kind of what he does for a living. Even evidence isn't a problem as he does clean up for this sort of thing on a regular basis. He knows how to cover his bases.
Oddly enough, Mike doesn't appear to kill the guy. He does report back to Gus and asks to deal with the problem once and for all.
As such, he rounds up Jesse and the episode ends as we see Mike driving him out into the desert, presumably to kill him.
The episode was pretty well balanced. There was some humor and serious tension peppered throughout. It wasn't quite "pull you to the edge of your seat" tension, but it was enough. The episode ends on an ominous cliffhanger, though I think it's pretty safe to say that Jesse makes it out OK. If anything, I could see this being where Mike bites the dust.
Speaking of, the fact that he survived that opening sequence stretches credulity a bit. Those two hitmen were sure to shoot multiple bullets at multiple angles from various points around the truck. I'm not sure where Mike could have positioned himself that he would have gotten out OK. Yeah, his ear got nicked, but that was about the extent of it. Then again, Vito Corleone got shot 2 or 3 dozen times and survived, so who knows?
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Austrian Death Machine
I present to you Get To Da Choppa, a song by Austrian Death Machine, a metal band whose songs are all inspired by former movie star turned Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Enjoy.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Broly Transforms
Much like ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly, Dragonball Z and metal go together beautifully. Whether it's "nu-metal" like Disturbed or classic stuff like Pantera, the two just complement each other, as is evidenced by this clip where the intrepid team of heroes faces a horrifying new enemy.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Extreeeeme! Chinese Women's Volleyball
While not everyone will understand the commentary as it is in Chinese, the highlight itself is still incredibly impressive. Both sides refused to quit and gave it 110%. Videos like this are what sports are all about.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 4, Episode 3: Open House
Marie actually takes center stage for the first half of the episode. We see her as she appears to go house hunting. Things are off as she takes a cue from her sister and concocts various back stories for herself as she converse with different sellers and agents.
At first, I figured that this was a result of Hank, more specifically, I figured she had had it and was looking for a place of her own. This turns out to be half right as, I presume, the stress of the situation results in her kleptomania kicking in again. It turns out Open Houses are easy targets. I'm glad this character trait wasn't completely forgotten.
On Hank's end, his mood hasn't improved. He busts Marie's chops over the kind of chips she buys and even complains about the sports magazine she bought him. He does seem to lighten up around other people, more specifically one of Hank's cop buddies who comes to visit . It was good to see him in better spirits, even if it was brief.
The visit actually does have some plot relevance as he is investigating Gale's murder and thinks that Hank will be useful in analyzing his notebook, that contains detailed descriptions of a meth superlab. While Hank initially poo poos the idea, by the episode's end, his curiosity is piqued and he does take a look at the notes.
There isn't a whole lot of progress on Jesse's front. His spiral continues. I actually feel bad for his house. It was a nice place that's been turned into a dump as a result of the non stop partying by various drug users. Even Jesse's wealth appears to be tarnished in his eyes as he throws a wad of cash in the air so that his "guests" can claim it for themselves.
While it seems like the only progression for Walt is the installation of surveillance cameras in the lab, he and Skyler do advance as they scheme to get the car wash.
Yes, it seems that even after showing that the owner holds a grudge, Skyler is still bent on getting it. Even Saul's offer to let them run the nail salon falls on deaf ears. Walt raises a good point by reminding her that they could just buy a different car wash, but even that doesn't cut it. Where before she was able to come up with justifications as to why the car wash was the best route to go, she admits here that, at this point, she's largely driven by spite. He was mean to her, insulted Walt, and she wants payback. I can appreciate that.
It's easier said than done, especially as Skyler still has some morals and most of Saul's go to tactics are questionable to say the least.
Skyler, as it turns out, is up to the challenge. She makes it look like the car wash is polluting and has an "environmental agent" come in and shut the place down. As a result, she is able to buy the car wash. Not only that, but she is able to buy it at a lower price. It was a good moment for her.
I do wonder how "broke" the Whites are. Skyler's right to point out that Walt is technically out of work, but they did have the gambling back story. Maybe he just used some of that money? I also wonder if Walt Jr's crowdfunding page is still up. I'm guessing not, as it hasn't been mentioned and it could have also been a reasonable explanation for where the money came from.
This episode didn't have the edge of your seat tension that a lot of the recent episodes had, but it was a nice breather. The episode didn't just spin its wheels as things did progress. I don't think it's going to go down as a stand out episode, but it worked for what it was.
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At first, I figured that this was a result of Hank, more specifically, I figured she had had it and was looking for a place of her own. This turns out to be half right as, I presume, the stress of the situation results in her kleptomania kicking in again. It turns out Open Houses are easy targets. I'm glad this character trait wasn't completely forgotten.
On Hank's end, his mood hasn't improved. He busts Marie's chops over the kind of chips she buys and even complains about the sports magazine she bought him. He does seem to lighten up around other people, more specifically one of Hank's cop buddies who comes to visit . It was good to see him in better spirits, even if it was brief.
The visit actually does have some plot relevance as he is investigating Gale's murder and thinks that Hank will be useful in analyzing his notebook, that contains detailed descriptions of a meth superlab. While Hank initially poo poos the idea, by the episode's end, his curiosity is piqued and he does take a look at the notes.
There isn't a whole lot of progress on Jesse's front. His spiral continues. I actually feel bad for his house. It was a nice place that's been turned into a dump as a result of the non stop partying by various drug users. Even Jesse's wealth appears to be tarnished in his eyes as he throws a wad of cash in the air so that his "guests" can claim it for themselves.
While it seems like the only progression for Walt is the installation of surveillance cameras in the lab, he and Skyler do advance as they scheme to get the car wash.
Yes, it seems that even after showing that the owner holds a grudge, Skyler is still bent on getting it. Even Saul's offer to let them run the nail salon falls on deaf ears. Walt raises a good point by reminding her that they could just buy a different car wash, but even that doesn't cut it. Where before she was able to come up with justifications as to why the car wash was the best route to go, she admits here that, at this point, she's largely driven by spite. He was mean to her, insulted Walt, and she wants payback. I can appreciate that.
It's easier said than done, especially as Skyler still has some morals and most of Saul's go to tactics are questionable to say the least.
Skyler, as it turns out, is up to the challenge. She makes it look like the car wash is polluting and has an "environmental agent" come in and shut the place down. As a result, she is able to buy the car wash. Not only that, but she is able to buy it at a lower price. It was a good moment for her.
I do wonder how "broke" the Whites are. Skyler's right to point out that Walt is technically out of work, but they did have the gambling back story. Maybe he just used some of that money? I also wonder if Walt Jr's crowdfunding page is still up. I'm guessing not, as it hasn't been mentioned and it could have also been a reasonable explanation for where the money came from.
This episode didn't have the edge of your seat tension that a lot of the recent episodes had, but it was a nice breather. The episode didn't just spin its wheels as things did progress. I don't think it's going to go down as a stand out episode, but it worked for what it was.
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Saturday, August 8, 2015
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 4, Episode 2: Thirty-Eight Snub
After the Gus' gruesome murder of Victor, both Walt and Jesse develop their own ways of dealing with it. Walt buys a gun from Bobby Singer; or a character played by the same actor, but still. It was a great scene and he was fun to watch.
While Walt is initially a bit clumsy on the draw, he does start to get the hang of it. He even starts to psyche himself into murder mode at two points in the episode, only for it to end differently. One was a red herring, but the later one was especially pathetic. After failing to arrange a meeting with Gus, Walt goes to his house. Walt dons the infamous Heisenburg hat, starts to make his move...and Gus calls him on his cell phone and tells him to go home.
Walt jumps to the conclusion that he has people watching him, but couldn't Gus have just seen him through the window? It also seems like an awkward moment as he seems to just turn around and get back in his car.
On the other hand, Mike does say later that if things did get drastic that Walt's gun wouldn't make a difference. I'd be skeptical, but it seems to be the case when Mike reacts to Walt's proposition to kill Gus to save their own skin. A part of me would have liked to see Walt at least try to put up a fight, but I guess that he's still not to that point yet. I do feel like Mike will be a target now too, but I could be wrong.
It's actually a surprising turn. Walt does make a legitimate point about how Mike could be disposed of as easily as Victor. Still, points for loyalty, I guess. Either that or he knows that going up against Gus won't work for whatever reason.
On other fronts, Jesse isn't doing so hot. Considering the drastic turnaround from where he seemed to be last episode, I figured the fear for his life was starting to kick in, but others say that it's guilt over Gale's death. I guess there's no reason why the two would be mutually exclusive, it could be both.
In any event, he throws a huge party. It was great to see Badger and Skinny Pete again. As was the case with Jane, I was disappointed to see them relapse after they were making so much progress. They don't seem too torn up over it, though, and it does lead to some amusing banter like debating which zombie video game world is the best in which to live. Also amusing, was Badger's theory as to why the local pizza place doesn't cut the pizza into slices (they pass the savings on to you!) Skinny Pete, on the other hand, thinks that it's a more "democratic" approach as people can decide how big a slice they want. Who knows? It was just entertaining to hear the debate.
Things seem to be going well for Hank, though you wouldn't know it by his attitude. He's able to celebrate his progress with his physical therapist, who even Marie admits has a way with him before offering him a full time position. For some reason, though, he seems to be pushing his frustrations on Marie.
I'm not sure why, she's been pretty good to him. She doesn't even seem all that bothered with his new hobby except for when it wakes her up at 2 in the morning.
It just makes you miss the crass jokester from season 1. I know, character development, but he was much easier to connect to back then. He doesn't come off as very sympathetic now, which he really should be given his condition.
Rounding out the episode's material, we see Skyler make her bid to buy the car wash. She's very thorough and does her research to figure out how much money the place pulls in. She looks into the market value of the property and even throws in an extra 50 G's as a show of good faith.
It proves to be moot as the guy holds a grudge and won't sell to Walt. On the one hand, I'm surprised this never occurred to her, but I don't think she knew the exact specifics of how Walt quit. Either way, that laser tag idea seems much more feasible now.
I also liked the "new policy" about re-weighing the product that Walt and Jesse deliver. I guess it was only a matter of time before that came back to bite them and it seems like Jesse's side operation could be finished. Where as Gus may not have cared before, given how thin the ice is now, I'm guessing he won't put up with it anymore.
All in all, this was another strong episode. It had a good balance of dark tension and humor. There's solid character progression on several fronts. This season looks like it's shaping up to be a good one and we're only two episodes in. It'll be interesting to see where things go from here.
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While Walt is initially a bit clumsy on the draw, he does start to get the hang of it. He even starts to psyche himself into murder mode at two points in the episode, only for it to end differently. One was a red herring, but the later one was especially pathetic. After failing to arrange a meeting with Gus, Walt goes to his house. Walt dons the infamous Heisenburg hat, starts to make his move...and Gus calls him on his cell phone and tells him to go home.
Walt jumps to the conclusion that he has people watching him, but couldn't Gus have just seen him through the window? It also seems like an awkward moment as he seems to just turn around and get back in his car.
On the other hand, Mike does say later that if things did get drastic that Walt's gun wouldn't make a difference. I'd be skeptical, but it seems to be the case when Mike reacts to Walt's proposition to kill Gus to save their own skin. A part of me would have liked to see Walt at least try to put up a fight, but I guess that he's still not to that point yet. I do feel like Mike will be a target now too, but I could be wrong.
It's actually a surprising turn. Walt does make a legitimate point about how Mike could be disposed of as easily as Victor. Still, points for loyalty, I guess. Either that or he knows that going up against Gus won't work for whatever reason.
On other fronts, Jesse isn't doing so hot. Considering the drastic turnaround from where he seemed to be last episode, I figured the fear for his life was starting to kick in, but others say that it's guilt over Gale's death. I guess there's no reason why the two would be mutually exclusive, it could be both.
In any event, he throws a huge party. It was great to see Badger and Skinny Pete again. As was the case with Jane, I was disappointed to see them relapse after they were making so much progress. They don't seem too torn up over it, though, and it does lead to some amusing banter like debating which zombie video game world is the best in which to live. Also amusing, was Badger's theory as to why the local pizza place doesn't cut the pizza into slices (they pass the savings on to you!) Skinny Pete, on the other hand, thinks that it's a more "democratic" approach as people can decide how big a slice they want. Who knows? It was just entertaining to hear the debate.
Things seem to be going well for Hank, though you wouldn't know it by his attitude. He's able to celebrate his progress with his physical therapist, who even Marie admits has a way with him before offering him a full time position. For some reason, though, he seems to be pushing his frustrations on Marie.
I'm not sure why, she's been pretty good to him. She doesn't even seem all that bothered with his new hobby except for when it wakes her up at 2 in the morning.
It just makes you miss the crass jokester from season 1. I know, character development, but he was much easier to connect to back then. He doesn't come off as very sympathetic now, which he really should be given his condition.
Rounding out the episode's material, we see Skyler make her bid to buy the car wash. She's very thorough and does her research to figure out how much money the place pulls in. She looks into the market value of the property and even throws in an extra 50 G's as a show of good faith.
It proves to be moot as the guy holds a grudge and won't sell to Walt. On the one hand, I'm surprised this never occurred to her, but I don't think she knew the exact specifics of how Walt quit. Either way, that laser tag idea seems much more feasible now.
I also liked the "new policy" about re-weighing the product that Walt and Jesse deliver. I guess it was only a matter of time before that came back to bite them and it seems like Jesse's side operation could be finished. Where as Gus may not have cared before, given how thin the ice is now, I'm guessing he won't put up with it anymore.
All in all, this was another strong episode. It had a good balance of dark tension and humor. There's solid character progression on several fronts. This season looks like it's shaping up to be a good one and we're only two episodes in. It'll be interesting to see where things go from here.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Daily Dose of Awesome: Ways to Screw up the Avengers Movie
Not surprisingly, some of the gags here are funnier than others, but the ones that work are hilarious. Personally, I think a Howard the Duck cameo in the movie would be awesome, but maybe that's just me. That animated Mjolnir bit was the highlight for me. Not only is it a doofy idea, but it gives us a double dose of puns, glorious.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Alderaan Shot First
I found this link via my twitter feed and found it rather amusing. I love how the Death Star just moves to the side to avoid the blast. I know, it's riffing on Han's head moving, but it's a lot funnier when you try to apply that principle to a space station as opposed to a human head.
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