Season 1 Episode 7 - Open Thread

Talk about Episode 7, "A No Rough-Stuff Type Deal."

If the entire first season up until now has been about the pain and horror of one man Breaking Bad, tonight's season finale was all about that one man enjoying it, such as it is. "Where did that come from," Skyler asks, "and why was it so damn good?" Walt responds, "Because it's illegal."

The sentiment is echoed throughout the episode, when Walt smokes an illegal Cuban cigar with Hank, when he encourages Jesse to think creatively about getting the necessary supplies (by going to the black market, I assume). Jesse, it seems, is enjoying a transformation of his own --"Yeah Science!" he exclaims when Walt comes up with a plan to manufacture meth without stealing 300 bottles of pseudo. But more than that, Mr. White is encouraging him, forcing him to think creatively, and the two are starting to view each other as more than either burdens or cash cows. They're forming almost a father-son bond.

The worst is not over for Walt--the sombering speech he gives to his unborn daughter is enough to remind us of that. And I would never for a moment think that the horrors of his new line of work have been put to rest. His new buyer has proven himself to be a homicidal maniac, and any pleasure Walt may be taking is tempered by the sheer brutality of his reality. But it was nice, for at least one episode, to see him alive and in his own way, happy.

What did you guys think of the season one finale?