Is it just me or did other people think Walt was cooking Krazy 8 in the beginning?

I would say more like Emilio, whose body parts Walt was more than intimate with. But I think the take-home message was hard to miss--that Walt is struggling with the stress of having killed, strangled, and decomposed other human beings.

I think you have hit the nail on the head. I thought it was great seeing Jesse and his interaction with his family. A lot of people assume only poor people and people from broken homes become drug addicts, which is untrue. I have personally known quite a few people addicted to meth and cocaine. Most of the people, I have known were raised in middle to upper middle class families. They turned to drugs as a way to escape their lives in some way. The fact that Jake and Jesse were pushed so hard in their academic endeavors by their parents could be the reason for them turning to drugs. Both feel the need to escape from being the gifted and perfect child. I think this insight into their lives is wonderful for viewers. It clears up so many misconceptions.

I loved the episode. Walt is still breaking bad. When he caused the loud mouth lawyer's car to catch on fire, I couldn't stop laughing. This series just keeps getting better and better.

Great episode again. I have two teenage sons, one of whom, the rebelious one, sneeks in to watch with me. It's tough enjoying this show and talking as a parent at the same time. Terrific storyline on wonderchild trying out weed. Gives us pushy parents something to think about. Any insight on good boys going bad? We push our guys to get straight A's, too much actually. Thanks, MTC

a little sloooowwwww

no great surprises, he tells his wife he had cancer

nothing else realy goes on

For all of those who said Krazy 8 was the snitch....Good Call

I too was glad to see some insight into Jesse's character. It made me feel more sympathetic toward him instead of him being an outright meth addict douchebag.

Walts situation is extremely dire. With the medical bills that will soon be mounting he is going to have to cook many batches to stay in the black.

Although this episode wasn't as intense as the previous 3 it definitely added important character layers and was a good episode.

How many of us would have loved to do to that dudes car what Walt did? I was Laughing my ass off at that. Don't be surprised if copy cats who watched this show are now going to try this in the next week or two so keep an eye on your car when you go to pump gas.

First of all, I loved that Tess Harper was Jesse's mother!!! She is terrific and perfect for the part. She nails the wife and mother role every time!

I'm not surprised about Jesse's background. In addition to the parental pressure with regard to grades and behavior, I think Jesse and his brother are spoiled. They're raised to think that they can do anything and I'm guessing they haven't had many disappointments in life. Something happened to Jesse and he turned to drugs. The little brother isn't a lost cause yet...he's just experimenting at this point.

I was somewhat surprised that the little punk planted the joint in Jesse's room, though! Remember the scene where you see Jesse outside smoking? I had thought that it was the parents looking out the window, but now I think it was Jake, the little brother, and he plotted on how to get rid of Jesse and have the parents all to himself.

Loads of great character development in this one!
YES!

You can hook viewers with a bathtub full of bloody body bits falling through the floor but you'll only hold them for the long haul if you get them REALLY invested in the characters.

I'm in!
How about you?

Its time to say it...
Pam - maybe its the nips of trouble in my own youth... or the Mom in me now - is a Jessie girl!

I knew there was so much more to the character and could not be happier with getting all that depth last night. The fact he went home when he was in trouble... watching him set the table for dinner like it was second nature... giving Walt his cut when a real punk would have kept every penny... the artwork!
I LOVE this character.

And it wasn't just Jessie. This ep has to be one of my favorites so far because we got a little more of all of them. Always full of shit Hank letting getting real and vowing to care for Walts family. Walt Jr.'s frustration and anger with his fathers behavior. Hell, even Sklyar started to grow on me in this ep which is saying something since the character hadn't really grabbed me to this point.

While Cranston's Walter was utterly fantastic, as always, I'm thrilled to bits see the rest of the cast, all those wonderful characters, get some well deserved love and development by his side.

This show just gets better and BETTER!

BRAVO!
Can't wait for the next!

Anyone know if they're gonna go back and do 8 & 9 now that the strike is over? I recall hearing it was a run of nine but only seven got produced before the strike hit.

2 Questions...

First, Walt used to be a researcher at Los Alamos. I have no idea, but doesn't that seem like a position that would pay well? If so, I wonder why he would leave to teach H.S. chemistry. I hope they develop that somehow.

Second, can you really do that to a car?

This show is great. I'm kind of sad that it's already more than have over (4 of 7 episodes passed).

@Dr. Kellog

Did Jake plant the joint in Jesse's room to set him up? I thought it was just an accident that the maid found it in Jesse's room. After all, it wouldn't make sense to keep any drugs in your own room in case the maid comes snooping around when cleaning. Jesse's room hadn't been used in so long so Jake probably put all his stuff in there.

Which is why Jake seemed apologetic to Jesse when he went outside with him to say "Thanks for not telling on me.....Can I have it back?"

Jesse knew of course that it belonged to Jake but also knew his parents would have a coronary if their perfect son was following in Jesse's footsteps.

Probably the weakest episode of the season so far, but it was necessary to flesh out the relationships between all of the central characters. The scenes with Jesse and his family made me care about that kid for the first time, (although I'm still hoping he gets killed off at the end of the season, I maintain he is the most poorly cast character on the show).

Cranston did another amazing job this episode by letting his features do a lot of the talking. The way you could see him churning inside while his wife and in-laws were discussing treatment options was Emmy-worthy. It's also quite obvious that for Walt, the only thing worse than death is having his brother-in-law become the new man of the house. He has been emasculated by him so many times, and letting him "take care of the family for him" would be the ultimate slap in the face. Furthermore, he is clearly reluctant to get treatment, and it seems that knowing he is dying is beginning to allow him to do all the things he has always wanted to do but never had the courage.

It's also interesting to begin to question at which points Walter is actually happy. He clearly isn't happy at home, where he has not only built up a web of lies but now has to face constant harassment about his health. It's unclear if he still enjoys teaching, although moments in past episodes indicated that he's having a difficult time concentrating. It's beginning to look like, from what we've seen over four episodes, that the most at peace Walter has been is when he was at Jesse's house, away from the normal pressures and harsh realities of his "real life".

Great show.

@Blastmaster: we were thinking about Walt's happiness a lot too--in fact, it's the question for this week's Win a Winnebago contest. I think despite his illness, Walt is enjoying his break and really feels alive for the first time in a long time.

http://blogs.amctv.com/breaking-bad/2008/02/win-a-winnebago-1.php

This series is Brilliant!

Every episode gets better and better. The show is a welcome departure from Pop TV with depth in character and a deep message. Not to mention the humor behind it all!

I love it!

To watch the subtlties and nuances in Cranston's facial expressions is no short of genius as he begins to look more stressed and hardened each episode. And ofcourse the psychosis that Jesse is beginning to exhibit is proving to have a life all it's own. It was brilliantly portrayed by the bikers at the door and the wigging out and teeth grinding.So far Jesse still has some awareness! Safety, ofcourse is with Mom and Dad, it works for now but as time goes on if the paranoia persists how can you share your secrets of hell in the safety of Mom and Dad's livingroom? Mom and dad and wracked with guilt, want to rescue, fix, are in denial and out of touch,but want to make things the way the used to be, hope it's not going to affect the youngest son, and dont realize they have something to do with the problem! They have experience with Jesse and have solid enough boundries to form a unified front to say "out you go". They've been through this before. What they don't know is that the skunk weed was Jake's. And Jesse wasn't the influence there! Jake says to Jesse "All they ever talk about is you".
Yes, it was an episode to pull some of the rest of the storyline through, and develop character but it didn't disappoint! The ending was a riot! Who didn't wish they could just once pull off what Walt did to some nasty jerk on a really bad day! It was a fantasy scene!! I loved the smurk on his face! It made the show!
Breaking Bad you just keep getting better and better...I can't wait to see what happens next!
Keep up the terrific work!

I'm standing by my earlier comment. Additionally, Jake is greedy. He wants the joint back. He's also an attention hound and comments that all the parents talk about is Jesse. I think Jake loves his brother, but there's competition between them.

BTW, my folks would have flushed it!

Wonderful episode and brilliant series ! I love the way these characters were written and not so stereotyped. The Jesse character is really proving to be interesting. I love that the parents were portrayed not in your typical hysterical, bullying sort of way , but rather united and kind - yet firm.

I also thought you provided a realistic and horrifying picture of the American healthcare system. Going into massive debt should never be on the shoulders of patients and their families, and this has become less the exception, than the rule. No wonder the guy wants to get into the meth business. Please continue to address this in the story line !
Good work, AMC ! We appreciate this kind of quality..

Was great to see Tess Harper she's still a hottie in my book. I was pissed when Walt didnt get even with the jerk at the bank but the ending made me laugh my ass off. Great to see all of the characters roles expanding. Vince Gilligan is twisted but he's got my vote for best series,lol. I'm looking forward to each and every episode but it's tuff waiting a full week.

reposted from jimp1947:

I really love this show. I like what they do with the characters. I really didn't want to like Walt's drug partner, but the episode where he went home and his interaction with his younger brother gave me second thoughts.

This series has real depth and makes you rethink issues you thought you had settled in your mind. I am looking forward to future shows.

I just have to start off by saying that I love this show. This episode I really kind of related to, well it's Jesse I relate to. Having so much potential and choosing the exact opposite direction in life. And knowing it ! but when you're addicted, the hardest part is to pull yourself out of it, at least without some major life event happening to make you open your eyes. When Jesse was looking out the window and saw the bikers pulling up with knives, and it turned out to be the guys on bicycles, I had to laugh, because I've been there ! As an ex-meth addict, I am interested to see how it is portrayed on a ficitonal series, and while it's not quite the same as what I know, that part was right on. Being so high that you are hallucinating that people are coming to get you. It's not funny in real life, it's very scary and sad also. I have been a fan of Bryan Cranston since Malcolm in the Middle. He's so great.And althought the premise is kind of out there, it's also totally believable...desperate times call for desperate measures. And you'll do anything to make sure your family is taken care of. Do you think this show will be up for any Emmys ?
PS. As far as realism goes, "Jesse" needs to learn how to light his pipe correctly.

There are people who say this show glorifies drug use. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, it shows how quickly things go awry when someone steps outside of the law. That said, Bryan Cranston is a very talented actor. He makes Walter White a character you can understand, even if you don't agree with the decisions he makes, you can understand his motivations. He is thinking of his family. The best scene was when he went into "SuperDad" gear and beat up the bully who was making fun of his son. "Having a little trouble walking there, Chief"? That was George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt rolled into one. "Reproach none for the infirmaties of Nature"- George Washington

The show had me at episode 1 @ 2, then it leveled off, as if the writers were not expecting that much popularity, and were rushed to come up with more great material. What I would really like to know; is Skyler trying to be annoying? I didn`t mind her trespassing on Jesse`s property in #2 (adds to the excitement factor... his nearly getting caught), thinking a credit card is an answer to cash flow demonstrates poor economic judgement throwing additional superstress on Walt. The intervention ambush she concocted in # 4, would be enough to make me say, screw it!, I`m buying a bike and riding all over the Southwest ( at least Walt jr. would get his wish). Bottom line: Skyler seems to be in denial about her husband`s illness, she wants the family to convince him to do " the right thing", just to make herself feel okay...very selfish. I hope the rest of the season concentrates on the original premise, A Dark Comedy

I've never, ever posted on a site for a tv show. And this particular show is the LAST thing anyone who knows me would expect me to watch. I've never done, nor would I ever do, meth. Gore and violence turn me off. I'm a 40-something mom with teenagers who I worry about using drugs. But I LOVE this show! So much, in fact, that I actually purchased Episodes 4 and 5 online to catch up, because I work when they are re-aired later in the week. The character development and writing are of literary quality. The acting is fantastic and award-winning. And the dark comedy is genius. Thank you for putting something worthwhile out there. I may just cancel my cable and start watching web shows. Oh, and blowing up that jerk's car was genius.

Yes, the show has "mellowed out" more in terms of "action", but that is what real life is...peaks and valleys.

Real life is not "Die Hard" and "The Negotiator" with constant action and guns and explosions and danger, good guys and bad guys, it is gray areas. Real life is an explosion, then quiet.

The writers have given the characters time and space to walk away from the horrendous consequences of their bad planning and decisions and regroup.

In real life, no one can cope with gunfights and death and explosions without resting and regrouping that's only fiction.

This is also necessary to get the "back story" on Jesse and Walt, there is more to them than we think we know.

Excellent work from all involved!

Yes, the Jesse Pinkman character development was very important. I work in rehab and prefer stoners or drunks over tweakers anytime, but guess who I have to deal with every day? Yep- tweakers. It is such a huge problem. Quite a lot of them are from the upper middle income bracket, too. Super-acheivers, entreprenuers, and workaholics. Is it any wonder that amphetamine was the drug of choice of Hitler and his wermacht? Not that there's anything wrong with acheivement, but I try to make my tweaker clients understand that the "Good Life" is a balance- work hard, but get some down time, too. No chemical can substitute for a good diet, excercise, and a good night's sleep. I've recommended watching this show and several have. Instead of inducing cravings, they report that they have LESS of a desire for the "shan-tey" after watching. They can really relate to back when their own habits went out of control. A woman was in my office the other day- real estate professional, sharp dresser- except for the fidgeting and bags under her eyes, you'd never guess that she's hooked on crystal and diet pills. She broke down crying and said Jesse Pinkman's story was parallel to her own. She started her habit at 18, when her parents expressed their displeasure that she was "merely" salutitorian, and not valedictorian of her graduating class. (sigh) It is my theory that kids turn to drinking and drugs as a serious habit when they either don't have enough parenting, or the parents are overbearing disciplinarians. I know children don't come with an owner's manual, but a lot of people just aren't stable and balanced enough to have and raise kids.

Loooved the peek into Jesse's background. In fact, it was so unexpected -- the formal diningroom, the classical music tinkling in the background, the measured conversation about just how much personal attention the "favored son" is receiving from not core course teachers but after-school extra curricular activity like learning piccolo -- it was so unexpected, I thought my cat had stepped on the remote and changed the channel!!! (It has happened.)

It took me a 2nd viewing of this episode to appreciate what a manipulative little weasel Jesse's younger brother is. Little Bro resents his parents' concern over The Prodigal Son (Jesse). I don't know that Little Bro planted the joint in Jesse's old room to trap his brother; just a clever ploy in case it was ever found. (Isn't that what they all expect from their Screw Up Son, Jesse?) Given the large age difference between the brothers, I do not believe Little Bro is "following in Jesse's footsteps." I think Jesse was out of the homestead and off on his sad, drifting lifestyle before Little Bro was even potty trained. (About 4 or 5 years before?)

So, Little Bro is "breaking bad" all on his own, with the same social influences and peer pressures.

Also, I think the verdict is out on Jesse's parents -- the "not enuf parenting" or the "overbearing disciplinarians" as a cause of Jesse breaking bad; and now his little bro showing some symptoms. They certainly sounded like involved, concerned parents at the dinner table. And they agonized over going thru the same old forgiveness episodes with Jesse if he wasn't really going to change. They were not drawn as monster strict or uncaring and out to lunch. This might be another deeper message of Breaking Bad -- Some sh*t in life you just can not control.

TCH's two question on Feb 18

TCH on February 18, 2008 12:42 PM
2 Questions...

First, Walt used to be a researcher at Los Alamos. I have no idea, but doesn't that seem like a position that would pay well? If so, I wonder why he would leave to teach H.S. chemistry. I hope they develop that somehow.

Second, can you really do that to a car?
~~~~~
I think there is a looong backstory -- still to come -- on why Walter White, Chemistry Genius, is not on the cover of Scientific American for the Nobel Prize.

He was a doctoral candidate researcher at Los Alamos, which like all grad student type placements does NOT pay well. (Hence the diet of ramen noodles revealed in the Gray Matter episode at Elliott's birthday party.)

As for why Walt left the rarified atmosphere of Los Alamos to teach high school chemistry -- my guess comes the next episode, from the anger Walt expressed when he had the "talking pillow" during the family intervention. He said he'd never actually chosen ANYTHING in his whole life; he did what he "was supposed to do." And, during that admission, there was an exchange of hard looks between Walt and wife Schyler.

My Guess? Walter Jr. was not planned; that pregnancy became the motive for Walt marrying Schuyler BEFORE he got his doctorate or kudos in chemistry. Thus, he had to start making rent money for a wife and new child. Hence, the high school teaching job. (Bet the APS system snapped him up, with Los Alamos credentials.)

As for setting Ken Wins' Beamer on fire -- Oh, yeah. He did it with precision, just the way an anal chemistry teacher would. He wet the squeegee and then set it between the two battery posts. Voila. Walter White know what happens when you arc over negative and positive!!

MEDaVinci,

I think there is a date of 1985 on the award that Walt is looking at in the beginning of the first episode. If so, Walt Jr. was several years away from being conceived.

It has bothered me, though, from day one, that Walt Jr. doesn't seem to physically resemble his parents. I know this is television, but genetically, it seems unlikely. Therefore, I'm not completely discarding your impressions. I'm just not sure.

My belief is that the reasons for Walt not being a research scientist are more related to the relationship between Elliott, Gretchen and Walt. Perhaps Walt wasn't assertive enough at the right time? (Imagine that!) He's pissed at both of them (Elliott and Gretchen) and I think whatever happened between them all is the impetus for his leaving research.

reposted from breezyauzette:

What day will the season 2 premiere start? Is it soon? Does anyone know yet?

@breezy: There has been no announcement yet, but we'll keep you all apprised as soon as we hear anything.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS ON TV AND IT ALWAYS GIVE ME AND MY FREINDS SOMTHING GOOD TO TALK ABOUT AT WORK (BESIDES THE WORK) WE LOVE IT AND CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT SEASON TO START!! WE'VE BEEN TELLING ALL OUR FREINDS TO WATCH IT WHILE IT IS ON AGAIN!!!!