Can anybody identify the song in this episode. there was no music credit

The old man leaning over in his wheelchair and "unloading" almost killed me! Too much!! Speaking of which, Walt about shit himself when Hank showed him Tuco's "grille".

I've been fascinated since the beginning of this show with Walt and Skyler's relationship. This episode only makes it more complicated.

I wonder why she's so cold to him at the end? Did his shrink reveal the fact that there was no fugue state? Is there something else with regard to their relationship that's causing her to feel he's not telling the truth?

I GUARANTEE the $500 Jesse stiffed the tow-truck driver will come back to bite them in the azz..."you're a stand-up kinda dude, right"?

oh yeah-right ;-)

WHOA! What an hour that was! I was on the edge of my seat jumpin out of my skin all the way though. The shit is hitting the fan in about 10 different directions and I can't wait to see what comes next.

All that being said I gotta say I'm getting a lil pissed at Walt when it comes to Jesse. While I appreciate his keeping the bullet out of his brain last week I'm having a hard time piecing together how Walt is able to devalue Jesse the way he does.

While he was pained by the danger Hank ended up in because of his actions he seems utterly indifferent to what happens to Jesse.
Whats up with that??????

I get that Jesse is not family but I firmly believe Walt is a better man than the way he treats Jesse family or not. I just don't see Walt as a man who's, in the past at least, indifferent to anyone the way he is with Jesse.

Maybe Jesse represents what Walt's has become and giving a damn about Jesse is like looking that downfall square in the eye. Perhaps treating Jesse like he's crap and doesn't matter allows Walt to feel above Jesse and what he's doing?

What a great episode. No matter how much Walt and Jesse try to patch up the mess they are in, it still continues to leak. I couldn't believe how Tuco's dad just let a load off in front of hank. Although i think he decided not to turn jesse in. im guessing he realized that hank shot his son and im pretty sure he still thought that tucos friend ratted him out to the police. i think he had a change of heart right then and there and took that dump in sort of revenge for killing his son. cant wait for next weeks episode it looks to be action packed.

OMG! This show is absolutely the best!!! I cant get over the cinematography, writing and subtleties of the show. It is simply the best! This is so on par with HBO's Sopranos and Six Feet Under, I just can't believe that regular television programming can produce a quality show like this.

Badger " their like a bunch of Jehovah's witnesses they dont give up" lol thats the funniest cop line I've ever heard

well if Tio is going to take action on Walt and Jesse he has the boy from Juarez

a Tuco Grill paper wieght now that's cool

So did anyone else catch that Walt thanked Hank for "coming out there" to look for him. He didn't say "going out there". That's got to factor in at some point as Hank begins to put the pieces together.

Ding . . .
Jesse breaks my heart. He's pretty much being hung out to dry in this situation. And it's strange--I think Walt's focus is shifting. His goal is still the same but something else is going on here. I believe Jesse would give all this up and go straight if given half of one more chance. He's really taken the brunt of the grief.

But Mr. White, as Jesse still calls him, is fixed on the numbers as if he were searching for the answer to an equation. I can imagine him front of that college blackboard again, with all the formulas sketched out in a long string and he's obesessed with finding the answer. He lay in that hospital bed, running the numbers, running the numbers, and Jesse is just part of the equation. He might not be that ruthless or cold hearted where Jesse is concerned, but there has definitely been a sea change . . .

Fortunately, there are such unfortunate events to hamper Hank like taking Walt Jr. to the Crystal Palace for Wendy to recall, and ding-dong Marie's kleptomania.

To DRKellogg, I think Skyler suspects that Walt is screwing around--just my impression.

Why do you suppose Mr White was so disturbed at Tuco's grille?

Other than it's kind of gross...

Skyler is pissed and has been for a while. She seems to me to be the most insensitive. She doesnt seem able to empathize with her husband's health and career disappointments. She doesnt appear to love him no matter what. That can be frustrating. Walt is the thinker and planner and the leader as well as being the creator. Without him, none of the money flows. Jesse's operation prior to Walt's involvement was peanuts, and Walt's value is underrated at this point because of the interruptions caused by greedy, not so smart, drug dealers and the DEA relative. But I think we will see Mr. Walt acheiving large money doings and living lavish atop a mound of an organization in the drug world. He takes care of Jesse, if you notice, again in this episode. Last time with the bullet and this time with the DEA. Walt's forethought and planning of Jesse's answers for the DEA, allowed Jesse to walk. Remember on the payphone he said " Just like you said ". So, I think that Walt is quite caring about Jesse and is bringing him along and training him to be safe and smart. They do not embrace each other but in this type of situation, they show as much loyalty and faith in each other as ever. I see them both liking each other, just expressing it in non-visible ways.
I really think the actor playing Walt is remarkable in this show. He is able to carry off a terrific leading role and his acting skills are outstanding. I never thought much of him before, but enjoy him so much now. Skylar and the DEA agent's wife are extreemly hot and they have not even begun to show how sexy they are---I can't wait. I love the show!

This episode was awesome. It was just as intense as episode 2 was. I was convinced that this was going to be a slow episode, but with the DEA taking in Jesse for interrogation, Tio coming back, and Walt almost confessing to the doctor, I was as worried for Walt and Jesse as ever before.

Becki - The song is The Be Good Tanyas - Waiting Around To Die.

Highwaystar909 said -

"Why do you suppose Mr White was so disturbed at Tuco's grille?"

The answer is probably that he realizes just how close he came to his own death from Tuco. Imagine the fearful hours of staring at that grille while Tuco is snapping out and you never know when your death is coming? He also probably cannot believe how lightly Hank looks at death of a person, albeit a scumbag. He views Hank as emotionless about these scumbags. It is just his job, but he loves his job getting scumbags off the street. Walt, like most of us would, is having ha hard time grasping that fully now that he is entering the street world like he is.

Excellent episode. I need to watch it a second time before I comment too much. I liked the scene that starts with the bell ding and Jesse looks up as if he subconsciously recognizes that sound and he looks up to see Hank smiling and motioning over to the old man in the wheelchair as if he has just wheeled in the trump card. Wonderful how it played out. From the beginning of the episode until they brought him out, I honestly forgot all about him. So it was like, "Oh shit, that's right, the old guy."

Somebody referred to him as Tuco's dad but it was actually his uncle.

Blakdoggg:
I actually disagree that Skyler is being insensitive, unsympathetic or unloving. I find her to be just the opposite, however Walt's behavior, which she has no way to comprehend, is leading her to be suspicious. Let's not forget that she knows Walt kept cancer from her as a secret for two weeks, disappears for hours, sometimes days on end without an explanation, and now she knows he's not levelling with her about the second cell phone.

The thing about Walt, which I love this show for, is that you come to like him despite the fact that he is not a likable character. He's a compulsive liar, and on top of that, he now is up to his neck in illicit drugs and murder. And let's not forget that his actions, in season 1, caused an innocent man (the school janitor), one who had been quite sympathetic to him, to get arrested and lose his job.

In the real world, you would probably not have very much respect for Walt. Here however, you know his motivations, and you get a more full understanding of the character -- so you like him, which is a testament to the writing in this show. I see where Skyler is coming from however -- if I were her, I might be approaching the end of my rope with him as well.

Illness is one thing in a relationship. She loves him and cares for him. But lies and deceit are another - and she's trying hard to hold on despite the fact that Walt's behavior, as far as she can see, does not merit what she is giving him.

Incredible episode indeed.

I had the same question about how Walt reacted when Hank showed him Tuco's grill. The explanation given might be valid but, I think, as many things they call attention to that don't seem to make a lot of sense at the time will resurface as a major plot point in a future episode.

As far as Skylar goes, I also agree with the poster that said that Walt is the thinker and planner and Skylar is emotional. She loves Walt so much and she acts from the heart and not her head... much like when they she didn't even think of spending the $90,000 for Walt's treatment but that was the first thing Walt thought of. In an earlier episode Skylar had said that the absolute worst thing that Walt could do was not talk to her and to shut her out and that is exactly what she thinks Walt is doing and that is why she is acting the way she is.

And oh yeah is Jesse going to get burned for not having that other $500 for the Tow Truck dude.... was already shown there will be some serious stuff that goes down in the next episode with Jesse's Mom saying she found his 'Lab' and showing the Tow Truck Dude and the Truck.... I can't wait!!!!!!

I love it when the supermarket worker finds Walt standing in the isle stark naked. What a great cover. Plus having to sneak out of the hospital to recover the loot took some guts. I think though he reallizes the toll its taking when he sees Jr and skyler in the kitchen. Yes, Skyler is a very sexy and hot pregnant lady. Next episode looks like the break point.

This was a great episode. Walter's naked supermarket plan was brilliant. It was exactly the extreme thing he needed to back up his "blackout" plan. I was glad to see Badger back. He's pretty much just a comedy character, but a great one. The minisode with him and Walter breaking into the old lady's house was hilarious! Check it out if you haven't seen it. Tio "relieving" himself was the sickest and funniest thing! Did anyone else think he looked a lot different than last week? I almost thought it was a different actor playing him. Hank had a couple of good lines, like when he told Jesse "The only shooting you do is into a kleenex", and then to Wendy, "Are you having penis withdrawal? Schlongus Interruptus?" The episode wasn't nearly as intense as last week, but I knew it wouldn't be. This had to be the "comedown" episode before the next nerve-wracking situation!

Best line of episode 3, from Hank: "I'll take that as a no."

Hank arrives at the house in the desert to find Tuco with a bullet in him. It's pretty obvious that the old guy didn't do it, so why didn't the cops look around and find 2 sets of footprints leading off into the desert? Maybe they'll get to it next time, and find the gun that Walt & Jessie buried, too.

As others have noted, this episode had some hilarious lines!

I'm glad this episode was slower because I don't think I would've been able to another episode like 1 & 2.
This episode was great for me because I really realized how smart Walt is. His whole plan was top notch & took a lot of thought to perfect it.
Tio had me cracking up with that bell again. Especially when he was dinging away at that bell to prove he was sane. I really thought Jesse was going away for a long time thanks to Tio.

DING! DING! DING!

I'm curious to know who Walt and Jesse are going to cook for now? With Tuco out of the picture who are they going to get to give them all that money for the weekly supply? Won't we have to have some new character in the picture now the way Tuco replaced Crazy 8?

Or are Jesse and Walt just gonna sell at street level? That will take a helluva long time to get to $737K. Maybe the "Boys from Juarez" find them and have them do the cooking for them as Tuco intended? Maybe they cook for Tio in between bouts of him shitting his pants....LOL. I can only imagine them doing that scene in about 20 takes because everyone must have been laughing their asses off. I guess they probably added the farting sound later and just told Mark Margolis to sell that scene by nearly bursting a vein his forehead. I give the Foley artists props for coming up with the perfect sound of wet and air. You could almost smell how bad it was if you sniffed your television set.

LOL @ RCH2288! Maybe Tio will work with Walter and Jesse somehow. After all, he didn't rat out Jesse, and I thought for sure he would. Even though he knows they tried to poison Tuco, he's keeping his mouth shut, or in this case, keeping his bell unrung. This could be interesting!

Walt freaks out at seeing Tuco's grille b/c it took him back to those horrible hours he spent with the maniac. Something as personal as that... it was like Tuco was standing right in front of him. Seeing that horrified him.

His wife is upset at him b/c she believes that he DOES have a second cellphone and is lying. She is also starting to doubt his story of losing his memory. In other words, she thinks he's cheating.

WOW !!! That's all I can say. The writers, directors, and actors of this show have hit the goldmine !!! Every show is so, so tense! I loved how they brought Tio back... (ding!).... just awesome.
And actually, I went back and watched the episode again... and Walt says "going out there" to Hank, not "coming out there". So, to the post who thought that.... sorry, you were wrong. Walt is covered as far as that's concerned.
But man, Hank is getting close !! During that scene where Walt and Hank are talking at the end... wow, it's soooo uncomfortable !! You know that Hank has a bad feeling about everything, and is putting pieces together.... and Walt himself is worried about how much Hank knows... it's very very intense.
Another congratulations and bravo to the writers, director, and actors of this most amazing show !!!!!!!
Keep em coming!!!

I think that getting someone's "grill" sealed in a paperweight is a gruesome souvenir, like an ear or a wallet made out of human skin. (I've heard stories about such things coming back from battle fronts during wars.) Hank, that big blowhard, thinks it's a riot. Walt, despite his crash course in the seamy side of life, is just kind of put off. At least that's the feeling I got.

And if any of you have wondered--as I have--what becomes of the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash confiscated by police/DEA/etc. during raids, I think Hank answered that one, too.

Well the way i see it is walt was facing his own mortality when he saw tuco's grill.I originally thought it woulda be some meth.If you think about it walt couldn't have sold without jesse unfortunately on the other hand walt couldn't have had anyone to sell his shit without jesse.it comes down to what came first the chicken or the egg?I feel walt was pissed at jesse for saying half the money was his for the fact walt was giving jesse money and his dumb ass left it in the monte in the desert.Shit i wouldn"t have left 60 grand in the desert no matter what i just went through.

I think one moment summed up the whole episode and Walt's current state of mind: when he jammed the needle back into his vein and the blood poured out. Walt has the opportunity to "get out" of the craziness--he takes the needle out himself. But then he just puts himself right back into the danger zone--he puts the needle back in. He is willing to subject himself to pain, physical or otherwise, but Walt's pain always comes from his own action. The long, close shot of the needle did more for me than the whole shootout last episode.

What are people's thoughts about Walt sneaking back into his house to check on the status of the money?

I thought he would get caught and have to say, "Oh, I couldn't stand being in the hospital away from you, so I came home." But when he watches Skyler and Walt Jr. in the kitchen and doesn't reveal himself, I was somewhat confused. As he watches them, it's almost like he's already dead and thinking perhaps they're better off not knowing he is around. He starts to become emotional and I think at that point he makes a conscious decision to keep his feelings in check from now on, regardless of the cost.

As he's making his way back to the hospital, waiting for the bus, he encounters his "Missing" poster and again, has to confront his thoughts about how his family must have felt while he was gone. I think the bus ride where he's the only one riding is symbolic because now, he's really alone.

Nice point, Kristina! I think I got that when I saw that part but more subconciously but nicely put.

Silenttimmmy - that is exactly what I thought it was until Hank said it was Tuco's Grill. I thought it was one of the Meth Crystals... like maybe they grabbed one of the bigger purer crystals and had it sealed in the paper-weight as a reward for taking down the guy that they thought was putting out the Super Pure Meth.

However, I think Walt NEEDS Jesse. In the very first episode, Walt said to Jesse that Jesse knew the sales side and he knew the chemistry. Even though WE have been watching the episodes over 2 years now (because of the long break between seasons), it really hasn't been that long on the show... I would say less then 6 months? Just because Walt has "gotten in the pool" of the drug sales side... he is still very much in the kiddie pool and even Jesse isn't much deeper than he is... but he is deeper which is why Walt still needs him.

That and Walt is STILL trying to "do the right thing" and making good on his agreement with Jesse is only the right thing to do, even if it is really a bad thing.

Doesn't the money thing come up NEXT episode? I know Jesse talked about leaving the money in the car and that he only had 8 dollars to his name now but I think it was in the previews where Walt said something about "There is no HALF of your money, there is only ALL of my money!" I can't wait for the next episode!!!!

DrK - He wasn't sneaking back to check on the status of the money as much as he remembered he left the money and the gun in a place that could be more easily discovered by Skylar and Walt Jr. and he needed it get that money into a more secure place.

Everything else you said is right on point! imho

Why didn't Jesse just leave the bag with all that money at his house in the first place, instead of doing something stupid like taking it with him right at the time Tuco got ahold of him? Can't figure that one out. Plus, why didn't Hank and the other DEA guys think of dusting that bag for Jesse's prints before confronting him with it in the interrogation room? They would've known for sure it was his since Tuco never touched it. I'm also wondering why they didn't check whose prints may have been in Jesse's Monte. They would definitely find out that Walt was in that car at some point.

I have a feeling Hank is also gonna be in deep shit for hitting up on "Windy Wendy" to show Walt Jr. some pleasure. Corrupting the morals of a minor is a big no-no in every state, and It seems that Hank's higher-ups aren't too lovey-dovey with him in the first place, so they might be looking for a good opportunity to give him the axe. What's gonna hurt Hank is that one of his fellow agents is a key witness that was sitting right next to him when Wendy recognized Hank and called him out! Hence, here is another prediction: The DEA shitcans Hank. He no longer has a job or income to please his spoiled, high maintenance wifey Marie, but doesn't tell her what happened. While boo-hooing to Walt about all of this, Walt offers him a job helping in moving meth since Hank knows who all the dealers are. Hank then figures "What the hell? Money is money!" I am still sticking with my original prediction from earlier threads saying Walt Jr. is be up to his neck in this down the road.

Good episode, Walt's lying and deception is really starting to catch up with him......I'm pretty sure he's going to have to say SOMETHING soon. I'm hating the person he is becoming, (which I think is exactly the point, Mr.Cranston said something similar on an interview I think) And still hold out hope that some of the old "Mr.White" Jesse knew is there.

Speaking about Jesse, I can see him really trying to straighten out, and pursue something he is actually interested in. I don't see him as bad at all, just troubled.

And in terms of Skyler suspecting Walt of cheating.........I'm pretty sure she is just saying that to cover herself, as I am pretty sure she is (I kinda thought it in the first episode........) I suspect the daughter isn't actually Walt's either.

Just my 2cents

bigfreakinnaz said-

"I have a feeling Hank is also gonna be in deep shit for hitting up on "Windy Wendy" to show Walt Jr. some pleasure. Corrupting the morals of a minor is a big no-no in every state, and It seems that Hank's higher-ups aren't too lovey-dovey with him in the first place, so they might be looking for a good opportunity to give him the axe. What's gonna hurt Hank is that one of his fellow agents is a key witness that was sitting right next to him when Wendy recognized Hank and called him out! Hence, here is another prediction: The DEA shitcans Hank."

This is the most ridiculous thing I have seen on these threads yet. You need to go back and watch season one again. Hank was merely teaching Walt Jr a lesson, as he thought he was getting into pot. He was showing him where drugs would lead him. He wasn't really propositioning Windy Wendy for sex for Walt Jr. He was making a joke "Windy Wendy." I can't believe that anybody would watch that and take away that Hank was really trying to get Walt Jr. laid.

As far as the higher ups not liking Hank, you are wrong there too. Did you miss the part about the big celebration for him where he got Tuco's grille? He is a hero in the department. He was debriefed on the whole situation as required by any law enforcement agency. They totally wrote it off as nothing accepting the answer that he was there with no backup for family reasons, looking for his sick missing brother-in-law. The whole Walt Jr-Windy Wendy thing was so irrelevant that Hank said, "I'll tell you about it later." I doubt anybody is going to make a big deal about it.

Are you really watching the show? I'm no dummy and even I go back and watch each episode a second and third time to fully grasp the story. But it didn't take me more than one viewing to realize that Hank was joking about the "windy." That I thought was a given.

Just go back and watch the shows again if you are a true fan. If you are merely flipping and catching a few minutes, don't post.

I like the way Hank told his boss that he identified himself and warned Tuco.... he didn't say anything except Jesse Pinkman..you're hard man to find..... then....... .oh shit !

By john in portland on March 23, 2009 1:11 AM
So did anyone else catch that Walt thanked Hank for "coming out there" to look for him. He didn't say "going out there". That's got to factor in at some point as Hank begins to put the pieces together.

Good catch John. I missed that

I could be very wrong, but I won't be surprised if Hank ends up going rogue DEA to protect Walt if he discovers the truth about Walt's activities, and Jesse takes the fall for all of it. Of course, that's a couple seasons down the line, but the way Hank brushed off Marie's shoplifting makes me think his sense of justice/legality when it's someone near and dear may get fuzzy.

Hopefully, Jesse will grow up and stop following Walt's lead as being the path that will benefit him. When Jesse calls Walt by his first name, rather than his teacher name, Mr. White, it will be the day Jesse is drawing away.....if he makes it that far.

Has anyone else thought it's funny that it's Mr. Pinkman and Mr. White in business together.....that there's got to be something to that? It reminds me of Reservoir Dogs and all the robbers (Mr. White, Mr. Orange, Mr. Pink, Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Brown).Walt is surely turning into Mr. Black.

I see another Emmy in Bryan Cranston future.
Fron Malcom in the middle to Breaking Bad.
That's one hell of a acting range.
That last episode was amazing, But to honest,
They all are. The old man in the wheel chair
was errie & funny. When he releived his bowels
in the interagation room, I almost lost it my self.
Breaking Bad is by far one of the best shows to hit the little screen. It's a sad story though;
That a man has to go through all this just to make sure his family in well taken care of when he dies.
Kudos too all the writers, and actors, especially Bryan Canston, For the prideful portrale of
of a nice guy caught up in doing bad things, but
for all the right reasons.
I'm a very devoted fan. Have been since the very first episode.
Keep up the excellent work for those of us who really love and relate to the show.

When Walt declares he is an extremely overqualified high school teacher making only $43,000 per year, surpassed by all of his former associates -- why is that? Did he "break bad" psychologically earlier in his life? Is there something in his past that drove him to teach high school chemistry instead of following his intellect and passion? He appears to have lost his true love, the wife of the biotech tycoon. What happened?

The complexity of these characters is amazing. I think we are seeing a troupe of actors performing at the peak of their talent.

Yes Skottey I saw the episode with Hank trying to show Walt Jr. why drugs are no good because this hooker is an indication of how you'll end up. I GOT the plot. Maybe what I meant to say was that since Wendy brought it up in the interrogation room with Hank's co-worker right next to him, word will get around the Dept, and Hank's gonna get called to the carpet and get into trouble for it, perhaps even losing his job. Keep in mind the cops have no idea that Hank was trying to teach Walt Jr. a lesson, and they're still gonna look at it as corrupting morals of a minor. Even though they had a hero's celebration for Hank (Yes, I saw that part too Skottey), I still think the higher ups don't care for him too much, and weren't real crazy about him going out to Tuco's place all by himself, no matter what the reason he gave for doing it.

By the way Skottey, you need not give me such a verbal beatdown over this. I DO watch the episodes a couple times over too....I'm sorry you misunderstood my post, and I'll be more careful in the future.

Jamm54-Good call on the Reservoir Dogs connection with Mr. White and Mr. Pinkman. I can't believe I never thought of that before, since RD is one of my favorite movies! :)

I absolutely loved this episode. Out of the entire show this was easily one of my favorites.

Some of the highlights for me:

I think this episode did a a great job bringing everything full circle with Walt and Jesse barely escaping Touco and the DEA and then going right back to laying the ground work for their operation. After the last two episodes I wondered how the writers were going to make it believable that these two would actually consider cooking again after the whole ordeal. But Walt said it best when he asked Jesse "what about my situation has changed?" It really proved Walt's convictions and how far he is willing to go for his family. As someone already pointed out the image of Walt putting the needle back into his hand was a subtle visual analogy to how determined Walt is to follow through with his plan.

I also loved the subtlety in the scene where Walt sneaks back into his own house to re-hide the money. The image of Walt as an intruder in his own home really showed how separated he has become from his family. And then when Skylar comes out and Walt Jr shows up to comfort her was so moving. It was a subtle hint at what things will be like for them in the future when Walt is gone. You could see the look on Walt's face as he's watching them from afar and realizes that his son is already stepping up to the plate to care for his mother. The way that whole scene was shot was amazing! Oh and the shot of Walt putting the gun in the vent: definite forshadowing!!

The scene where Hank is interrogating Jesse and his partner is standing in the corner watching was lit soooo well. His partner was lit in such a way that you could see the outline of his face but everything was black. So creepy and eerie it really had a great effect on the atmosphere of the whole scene.

I liked this episode a lot more than the first two. I thought there was a lot more humor, and the episode gave Walt a chance to kind of outsmart everyone. By now, I guess it is apparent that while Walt can outsmart everyone in the short-term, long-term, he gets himself into further trouble. I also liked that everyone thought Jesse incapable of hurting Tuco. Maybe Jesse has bigger cajones than everyone thinks.

The dichotomy of Walt is just amazing in this series. However his new self seems to be swallowing his old self.

I think that he is able to leave his family behind - emotionally - because he already views himself as gone.

I am having a harder and harder time reconciling the subplots (where do you draw the line - shoplifting - buying Cuban Cigars - the staunch puritanism of his wife) with the break that Walt is making. I hope to pick up more on that as we see the questionable actions of Hank and Marie in contrast with Skyler.

I sympathize with Walt and his relationship with Skylar. I - like - Hank kept some pretty big medical secrets from my wife and family as I under went testing for cancer. My prognosis was not Walt's, but I can see how Walt kept that to himself. He has already written himself off as far as a future goes.

Like the lone man in the boat going off to the ship he has left his family behind - albeit emotionally. His hope is to leave them another future.

The way it kept showing that painting in Walt's hospital room...it's enough to make you cry if you really focus on it, and the symbolism behind it.

Thats my big problem with Walt, his new self is so incredibly selfish in a way. He doesn't want his family to remember him as a sick bedridden Invalid, which I can understand, but he doesn't mind if they remember them as at best a nutjob, completely different from his "real" sweet, innocent self, and at worst he would be remembered as a self-centered somewhat sociopathic criminal. Crazy 8 said it best "Your not cut out for this line of work" Sure his financial intent is noble, but life isn't all about money. I think he will come to a epiphany about this, and about how the life he was living wasn't all that awful, he had a wife and a son that loved him (as well as being close to extended family), he was doing a job helping people and society, and he had a nice, modest home. Personally I couldn't ask for much more.

Watching the first few episodes the other day my friend said I'm kinda like Walt, I hope she doesnt say that after watching later episodes!

It's only a matter of time before Hank is on to Walt.
I say in the next two to three episodes he'll know.

Maybe Walt's metamorphosis from a decent family man/member of society into a cold, ruthless criminal is also his way of breaking his ties to this mortal life, and his family because it's so heartbreaking for him. When someone becomes a dead man walking after a terminal diagnosis, they can start detaching in a variety of ways because it's so hard emotionally to face their own mortality. I think that's part of what Walt is going through, but another part of me feels that Walt has been enraged for a long time over the turn his life took long before he knew he was ill. At the beginning of the series, Walt reminded me of a weary Mr. Milquetoast with a dash of bubbling anger underneath. The break came when he was diagnosed. Sort of like: "F--k it, I was a decent man, husband/father, never risked alot and this is my reward - I die a rotten early death after following all the rules?"

There's got to be more on the backstory of why Walt, who was a brilliant chemist, didn't go forward in the whole Gray Matter company. Was he cut out? Did he get Skyler pregnant? Why wasn't Walt in on that whole business?

James26 Yes, I really think the fact that Walt and Jesse both have color last names is not coincidental, and is some sort of symbolism. The young guy is Mr. Pinkman (like a baby), the older man is Mr. White (white-haired old man), but I could be reaching.

As for Hank, I always thought he was a bit on the buffoonish side, so I can see where he may be considered a bit of a blowhard at the DEA.

This past episode is my favorite so far because it seems that each scene is so rich with symbolism, hidden inuendos, little dialogue, much body language and facial expressions. Great, great acting.
James2s: Such an interesting observation on the colors in the last names, and what they could possibly mean. I think this whole show has hidden symbols. Take the picture of the fisherman rowing out to see, as his family waves good bye to him. That is Walt in real life. He is slowly leaving his family, rowing out to the riches of the sea, in this case, the drug world.
Jesse on the other hand is so young, doesn't really want to 'Break Bad', not really. If given the chance he would lead a normal, productive life. He needs a good role model, but obviously it's not his day, who wouldn't even give his son a ride from downtown. He is left with "Mr. White". What kind of role model is that. Did you notice the deep remorse that Jesse exibited after he shot Tuco. He is breaking bad, but not like his partner, Mr. White.
I think the acting in the first 3 episodes has been stellar. Cranston should win another Emmy, hands down. I think Paul has been just as good in these 1st 3 episodes as well. If this continues, the show should win for best drama, and Cranston & Paul should win for best actor & supporting actor in a drama. Nice work guys.
Tio didn't role on Jesse because my theory is he is going to seek revenge with his sons from Juarez. Oh yea, we haven't seen the last of Tio. What do you guys think.

Jamm54-When the series first started, Vince Gilligan said it would be like watching Ozzie Nelson turn into Scarface over the course of 50 or 60 episodes, so I wouldn't be surprised if Walter grows even more cold and detached than he already is, since he knows he's going to die and there will be no consequences for him after that. You made another good observation with the Pink and White analogies. That could very well be.

The amount of symbolism and subtlety in Breaking Bad reminds me a lot of The Sopranos. I think that's one of the elements that makes a show great. I really hope that BB becomes a huge show like The Sopranos, because it deserves it. This is a level of art that I don't think we've ever seen on basic cable before.

I think Skyler is really self righteous, but I guess that happens when you never make the wrong choice. I also think she is kind of a control freak. Even though I don't like the cops, I do enjoy Hank, although, in the end he is a cop. I don't Walt is selfish. He is trying to get enough money together to keep his family going after he dies. Skyler doesn't work, and she is going to have a newborn to take care of. Walt Jr. is going to want to go to college. I do think Walt is hard on Jesse. I think this is because Jesse wasn't a diligent student and was not very mature. I don't think he sees that Jesse has grown over time. I do think everyone underestimates Jesse. For Walt and Jesse to cook again, they are going to want the RV, so I think Walt will pay that guy's cousin the rest of the money. I think Skyler is giving Walt the cold shoulder because she knows Walt isn't being honest with her about where he goes and the second cell phone. I don't know who Walt and Jesse are going to sell the meth they cook to now that Tuco is dead. I also don't understand why Hank hasn't connected the missing equipment at Walt's high school with Walt.

I never got to see The Sopranos because I didn't have cable. I am a huge fan of MadMen, another quality show on AMC and can't wait for The Prisoner.

I started out watching Breaking Bad last year and got as far as the second episode where they killed the guy in the basement and couldn't take the suspense. I caught up with it again in the March 8 reruns.

I hadn't read Vince Gilligan's comparison to Ozzie morphing into Scarface. Yikes! I loved Vince Gilligan's style from an episode he penned for the X-Files called Paper Hearts about a serial killer who kidnapped young girls from their beds and as a memento of his victims/crimes, would cut a heart shape out of their nightgowns. As gruesome as the subject matter was, he managed to inject an element of poignancy into the story that only a skilled writer would be able to achieve. I see some of that here, too.

Just love BB, and am fascinated by Walt's conversion and how it's going to play out and the effects on his family.

You're right, NHBigO, Jesse doesn't really want to break bad, and doesn't have anywhere near the motivation that Walt does to do some of the drastic things that they're now involved in.

Jesse was/is an aimless young kid, wasting time and doing what he considered probably rebellious and bad (cooking meth) to live down to the image his parents seemed to have of him (bad son and good son). Eventually, Jesse may have had the opportunity to turn things around - though I think that chance is now lost to him. Before it's all over, Jesse will be ruined, I think, and may not survive Walt's plans. Of the two characters' stories, I think Jesse's story will end more tragically than Walt's because he was a follower, not a leader, and didn't really choose this path to follow in the manner that Walt wants it to go.

jamm54.

I remember that X-Files episode. I wasn't that big a fan of the show but remember that one in particular because it starred Tom Noonan as the serial killer that toys with Mulder into making him think he was the one that abducted and killed his sister. This made Mulder think that there was a possibility that she wasn't abducted by aliens as he had always believed.

Tom Noonan also starred as the Serial Killer Frances Dollarhyde in the movie Manhunter which was later remade into Red Dragon which of course was part of the Hannibal Lecter Trilogy

Jamm54-"The Prisoner", is that the show that's going to star Walton Goggins, AKA Shane from The Shield? I heard it was going to be called "Rectify", but either way, I can't wait for that show!

Vince said the thing about Ozzie and Scarface in a 15-minute long special on AMC shortly before the show started last year.

I loved the X-Files. I wasn't a regular viewer, but I saw a lot of episodes. Ironically, two of my favorite episodes featured Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. The one with Bryan was where he played a man whose head exploded because the car he was in wasn't going fast enough, and the one with Aaron was the "Dumbass" episode, which was a spoof of the show "Jackass".

James26 That was Bryan Cranston? I remember that episode, it was nerve-wracking and very good. The Dumbass episode doesn't ring a bell.

As for The Prisoner it will be going by that name, starring Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen on AMC. I don't know Walton Goggins because I didn't watch The Shield.

Yes, isn't Tom Noonan great? I only saw part of Manhunter with one of my favorites William Petersen who was fantastic in To Live and Die in L.A. with Willem Dafoe - a great movie if you haven't seen it.

NHBigO. The reason Hank can't make the connection with the missing high school equipment to Walt is because he has a huge 'blind spot' created by this thing called 'family'.
Remember how incredulous the sister was when it was suggested that Walt might be having an affair. Walt is the last person anyone suspects of doing something this drastic, this dangerous.
I think Walt will be the one who ends up tragically rather than Jesse. Walt won't die of cancer, he will die violently because of his drug dealings. Jesse is going to ride off into the sunset, physically unscathed, but emotionally scarred for life.

Aarons show on the X-Files was entitled "Lord of the Flies", where he played the charactor Captain Winkey.

jamm54-Yep, that was Bryan on the X-Files! It's amazing how many different roles he can nail, from that to Seinfeld to Malcolm, now to Breaking Bad.

The Prisoner sounds good. Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen is a great cast. Two respected movie stars doing a tv series, that sounds great! :)

Noah-That's right, I forgot the name of that episode of the X-Files. There was a bullied kid who could control flies with his mind or something, and he made them attack bullies, and Aaron was one of his victims.

Heres another little Bryan Cranston Trivia nugget for you all. Do you remember him in Saving Private Ryan?

Neither did I till I watched it again the other day. He has a bit part in the beginning right after the Beach landing at Normandy. He played an army officer in the office that was part of the meeting in which the General says they have to get the mission to find Private Ryan. In his scene he is missing an arm and his sleeve is sewn up where the arm was. LOL

Love this show! I do have a question. How did Hank track Jesse's car to the dessert? Do those low riders have some kind of tracking device or what? Thanks for your help.

Bryan can play any part so well! :)

I was wondering the same thing about Hank finding Jesse's car. Maybe he put out an APB on it, and somebody reported seeing it out there? I don't know.

I'm a bit bewildered as to why after finding Walt stark naked in a supermarket, he's all of a sudden shown recuperating in a hospital bed? I don't know about the laws in NM, but around where I live if you go and pull a stunt like that you'll be cuffed and stuffed then hauled off to the clink on a whole bunch of charges.

Did anybody else notice whenever Jesse was standing on the street after the DEA let him go, there was a beige Pontiac Aztec just like Walt's parked there? When I first saw it, my thought was how did Walt get out of the hospital that quick to go pick Jesse up?

To Holly and James26: After Jesse's mother told Hank that Jesse had a lot of money invested in that '89 Monte Carlo lowrider (that "bouncing car"), Hank went on a hunch that he may have had that car protected with a Lo-Jack system, which can track a car's whereabouts if it is stolen or needs to be located. Upon leaving Jesse's mom, Hank called one of his DEA guys to do a check on that.

Ohhh, okay. I forgot about that. Thanks! :)

Does anybdoy know where to get Walter's hat ? What kind is it ?

Seems to me like the DEA would have scoured the scene of the shootout w/ Hank and Tuco.....and would have found the 3 cell phones Tuco disposes of at the beginning of ep. 2...........

This is my first post......cheers......BREAKING BAD is the best show on tv CAN'T WAIT TILL 9!!!!!

By jamm54 on March 24, 2009 12:51 AM
Has anyone else thought it's funny that it's Mr. Pinkman and Mr. White in business together.....that there's got to be something to that? It reminds me of Reservoir Dogs and all the robbers (Mr. White, Mr. Orange, Mr. Pink, Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Brown).Walt is surely turning into Mr. Black.

In one of the previous episodes, Walt & Skylar attend the B-day party of Elliott, a former colleague...where it's mentioned that Walt, is the "White" of his company "Grey Matter."
If my faltering, alcolhol/drug-ravaged memory serves me right, his last name was "Black." ;)
Please, also forgive me, for any misspellings of names, due to the same reasons! =\

Oooh, that's kind of cool. So the owner of Grey Matter is Elliott Black? Black and White together makes grey, or grey matter is brains (I always thought). And strange that Walt's wife's name is of the sky.

jamm54, ahhhhh, yes! We're on the same brainwave! LOL LOL LOL
Except...it did'nt occur to me, about Sky...Good one!
Maybe the Season Finale` will end with a rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow???" ;)
Whatever ends up happening, this show keeps me, at the edge of my seat...
Addicted...and, wanting MORE!!!

Well, Jesse has already done his Blue Man impersonation in Ep. 4 via the port-a-potty!

LMAO! Poor Jesse!! Bless his heart!!!
Unfortunately, I only caught bits & pieces of that episode...AND, missed the Encore! Dammit! >=(
We'll get this "Color Scheme" figured out yet...maybe there's a clue, in the Drug Ballad, since the title of it, means Black & Blue?

Check it y'all, What you will find out is that Walt don't come from Disney, he is about to be a Big Baller Shotcaller and will show that in spite of his colleagues surpassing him in the career lane, he is due to surpass them in the real life lane. It will be a first hand education he will have received in the streets - with law enforcement - and in love. His wife is going to come around, right now she is veering away to her safeground which is boring and led to where they were found at the beginning of the show. But I guarantee that as soon as Walt starts coming into his own, and developing into the Man he has never shown, because in actuality he is smarter and sharper and more Man than his coworkers, her and all his colleagues will be bowing down. Walt's about to get some of the "propers" that he has been missing and the drug scene is going to bring it all out in him and to him. He's about to experience a glorious rising in a variety of ways ( yup). He is going to take his ace - boon with him and they both gonna be some fly homies !!!!!! Can you feel what I'm telling you?? ..............Skylar is gonna feel it because he loves her deeply and deeper and she's gonna look at ya boy with new vision and see her" boo" in ways she never imagined. He will be sooooo exciting to her, just watch. I know how it goes.................enjoy the bloominessence of the Big Dub ( the first part of pronouncing W) . Instead of Big W, for short and code and nickname it will be' Big Dub" Hell.........he might get some implants to back that up! Wait, thats Skylar who'll be backin that up............. What Miss Skylar gonna do then.? Get up, smile, and go change some diapers !!.

Oh , for those wondering about ol' hardnosed Hank bro in law............he is Walt's ace in the hole. He is gonna look the other way when his brother in law does finally get caught because he will have developed so much respect for what Walt has achieved. Just a few predictions.......any bets???

Doesn't anybody remember in the first or second season Jesse hired the same (I believe) tow truck man to tow the RV to his yard. There was a dispute about money then also. It looked very much like the same scene. I don't know how Jesse will get the RV back this time, but that time he broke into the tow yard and drove it out through the fence.

Also, Walt already had a "fugue" state once before when he appeared naked somewhere (I believe it was a store then also) He was hospitalized then too and had to see a psychiatrist. The doctors kept talking about how it needed to be determined what this episode was, and how important it was that this not happen again. Nobody mentioned it already had happened once before not even his wife. She almost certainly would have mentioned this has happened before!

The scene with Skye in the bedroom and Walt with the hat. Maybe I'm delusional, but that looked familiar too. I have never seen a show that used parts from a previous episode and blended them into a current show. And, wasn't that Sgt. Sanchez from the Closer who played Tuco? If so, he's a very good actor.

I love this show. The bathtub falling through the ceiling just about took my breath away. Wow, what a scene!