web counter
 

The Single Best Episode of TV in 2010 So Far

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (22)

bb-episode307-main-789x349.jpg

I watch a lot of television, folks. But in 2010, nothing was as good as last night’s episode of “Breaking Bad.” The show has been slow to heat up this season, even while it’s been as absorbing as always. There haven’t been a lot of high-impact moments (save for Skyler’s wicked confession to Walt that she was fucking her boss). But last night’s episode went in with one, and then turned right around blew the holy hell out of high-impactness at the end.

That was good fucking TV.

Momentum has been incremental this season. As far as the characters go, they are essentially where they began the season at: Walt and Skylar are still separated. Walt and Pinkman are still separated. And Hank is still teetering on the edge of that breakdown. Two things changed in that respect last night: Hank finally had his meltdown, and Walt and Jessie are reunited, at last. To what end, however, is still unknown.

The episode kicked off with Hank — still fuming because he believed that Jesse Pinkman had duped him into believing that his wife had been airlifted to a hospital and was in critical condition in order to escape search of the RV — busting down Jesse’s door and beating the holy mess out of him. Laid up in the hospital, Jesse promises to press charges and drive Hank to suicide while also ruining Walt. Meanwhile, the bad-ass Mexican cousins (do they even have names?) have fingered Hank as Tucow’s real killer and are out to seek their revenge. That also sets up one of the greatest comedic scenes of the season, when the cousins buy bullet-proof vests from a fast-talking hillbilly played by the always incredible Sean Whalen (someone get this man a series! He may be my favorite television “that guy”) and decide to test the vest on Whalen first (his survival leaves open a small glimmer of hope that he might reprise his role).

After Skylar pleads with Walt to do something about getting Pinkman to drop the charges, Hank takes it out on his poor lab assistant (David Costabile, who is another great “that guy,” and is either a bad guy (“Damages”) or a weak-willed one, depending on his facial hair). Walt eventually fires his lab assistant, swallows his pride, and asks Jesse to be his partner again, sealing the deal by telling Jesse that his meth is as good as his. That’s all poor Jesse wanted to hear. Reunited, folks. And it feels so good. Keeping those two apart has fueled much of this season’s anxiety.

Jesse, in turn, drops the charges against Hank, and the vice temporarily loses its grip on Hank, but only for as long as it takes to walk from the flower shop to his SUV, which the cousins are approaching with the intention of blowing Hank’s brains out. Gunfire rains. Cousin #1 gets pinned between the SUV and another car. Cousin #2 takes five rounds in the chest and, unfazed (thanks to the bulletproof vest), puts two in Hank’s stomach before deciding to fetch an ax to finish the job. However, before he can drop the ax on him, a bloodied Hank puts one through the back of Cousin #2’s head. Kerplat.

Gorgeous.

Where does the show go from here? Presumably, Cousin #1 survived, which means that both Hank and Walt still have targets on their head. But Hank — who is pursuing both Walt and Jesse — now sort of owes them one, since it looks like Hank will get his job back (assuming he does survive those bullet holes). And while Jesse is reunited with Walt, it’s not entirely certain that Jesse’s intentions are good. The great thing about “Breaking Bad” is that no one’s morality is certain. None of the characters’ actions are particularly likable, but they all manage to remain sympathetic. That’s the genius of showrunner Vince Gillian.

There are still six episodes left this season, folks. I’m excited to see where it goes after last night.









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← Is Sarah Jessica Parker the 7th Cylon | Sex and the City 2 Movie Poster | News: Because the Universe Hates You, An Ongoing Series | Abrams Loses The Dark Tower, Ron Howard Taking Over →









Comments

It looks like the cousin that survived gets his legs amputated. He also has super human strength because I would have cried if my pelvis was crushed.

Posted by: bots at May 3, 2010 10:04 AM

I'm so glad you wrote about this episode - I was holding my breath and screaming at Hank at the end. "Get it in, get it in!" (about the bullet) Fantastic episode.

I was also appropriately horrified by Tuco with the cousins as boys; what an insight to their single-minded killer mentality.

Posted by: Cindy at May 3, 2010 10:05 AM

Er - Uncle Tio, not Tuco.

And how is it that cousin 1 doesn't die from blood loss? How many times did Hank smack that car into the next?

Names: Marco and Leonel.

Posted by: Cindy at May 3, 2010 10:10 AM

That speech from Jesse was just heartbreaking, which is saying a lot considering he was talking about cooking meth. All he wanted was Daddy's... I mean Walter's approval.

Dude deserves some kind of award for that shit.

Posted by: Paul Southworth at May 3, 2010 10:20 AM

If you've read this whole article, it's safe to assume that we don't have to worry about spoiling anything, right?

Couldn't agree more with this, and should be noted for one of Aaron Paul's (as Pinkman) most compelling performances yet. With regards to likable characters, I just can't help but love Bob Odenkirk as Saul.

However, before he can drop the ax on him, a bloodied Hank puts one through the back of Cousin #2’s head. Kerplat.

With a hollow point bullet given as a sample from the arms dealer that would "shred your momma's head like a cabbage".

Posted by: branded at May 3, 2010 10:23 AM

And how is it that cousin 1 doesn't die from blood loss? How many times did Hank smack that car into the next?

As they cut to the wide shot of the parking lot shortly before rolling the credits, you can see Brother #1 still on the ground motionless right where he had been crushed.

Posted by: branded at May 3, 2010 10:40 AM

But shouldn't he be dead?

Posted by: Cindy at May 3, 2010 12:21 PM

Loved the scene with the kids and the beer. Holy crap.

Although I still think Skyler's whispered confession from a couple of episodes back is going to be one of my all-time favorite TV scenes.

Posted by: Wednesday at May 3, 2010 12:53 PM

I thought they were brothers, not cousins. I think Tuco was their cousin.

Whatever. A great episode anyway you look at it.

Posted by: Dr. Mantis Toboggan at May 3, 2010 1:43 PM

Tio = Uncle in espanish

Posted by: Klempenski at May 3, 2010 5:27 PM

I'm sorry. That might have been a bit rude. Who am I to say somebody can't be named Uncle Uncle?

Posted by: Klempenski at May 3, 2010 5:52 PM

Aside from the amazing scene where Skylar revealed her affair I hadn't been particularly interested in much of what was going on on Breaking Bad this season. Until now. I was sitting straight up pleading with the television Gods to let Hank load that gun. I know everyone likes Jesse but I absolutely loathe him and love Hank. It would've killed me if the Cousins killed him.

I know everyone on here will disagree but I thought that scene where Jesse was screeching his sadness and depression at Walt was way overacted and annoying...bitch. The worst part is that I think I like the character Jesse (the way he's written) but Aaron Paul just ruins it for me.

Posted by: becks at May 3, 2010 10:51 PM

Um, it's Vince GILLIGAN, little buddy. And Dean Norris as Hank absolutely PWNED this show this week. When's his highlight reel from this week going out to the Emmy voters?

Posted by: Pete_LV at May 3, 2010 11:43 PM

I absolutely love this show.

There are more mouth-agape moments for me in this show than there are in Lost. And I fucking love me some Lost.

Posted by: Roaddog at May 4, 2010 3:26 AM

Preview of coming episodes showed the surviving brother in the hospital - maybe the same hospital as Hank?

Love the use of flashbacks in this show. Expect to see one with the lead up to the parking lot shootout. Have a feeling Mike made the heads up you gotta a minute call to Hank. Remember, he's the one who watches your back.

Posted by: nosuchthing at May 4, 2010 9:21 AM

Is that the bald dude's name? Mike? I think Gus played this whole thing out: Sent the cousins after Hank, then had Mike tail the cousins, tip off Hank, and see who's left standing. There was already bad blood and mistrust between the Cartel and Gus -- and if those two were in his way Gus found the perfect way to remove them from the equation and at the end of the day it just looks like a hit gone wrong. Brilliant.

Posted by: Stacey at May 4, 2010 11:05 AM

Yeah, I think it's Mike - the guy who works for Saul.

And I agree with your analysis on Gus. I think it was a win for Gus no matter who was left standing.

But it looks like the remaining cousin will have one more shot at Hank or Walt.

Hard for me to believe Gus will go along with Jesse workin the lab - and I'm sure Hank still supsects jesse. Seems it would be easy enough to tail Jesse to the meth lab - where you would find Walt, Jesse and maybe even Gus.

Whatever, I suspend my disbelief at times....it's a great show.

Posted by: nosuchthing at May 4, 2010 11:20 AM

Meant to say Mike works for Saul and Gus....:)

Posted by: nosuchthing at May 4, 2010 11:33 AM

Yeah, but that's the beauty of the situation: No one is tailing Jesse. He was Hank's white whale. No one else on the force gives a shit and now Hank is, at the very least, suspended from active duty. And massive gunshot injuries notwithstanding, even if Hank tried to investigate further on his own, he'd only land himself in more hot water.

Posted by: Stacey at May 4, 2010 1:56 PM

I adore this show!!
Even if there hanven't been that many 'fuck me this is awsome' moments this season, I find it briliant anyways... The way even when 'nothing' is happening there's just so much tension all the time! And this episode... Wow!!! And maybe now Hank's suspicions on Jesse will just grow, as he'll probably thing he had someone try to kill him, no?? And that's why he dropped the charges..
(And tio is also uncle in portuguese. Random...)

Posted by: Mariazinha at May 4, 2010 2:19 PM

Yep, the DEA has no one on Jesse's tail. I just think Gus wouldn't want to take a chance on him being tailed to the lab. But then it Wouldn't surpise me if Gus has someone on the take in DEA, too.

Next episode I'm looking for a chance meeting in the hospital between Hank and the surviving cousin. And of course if Walt stops by to visit Hank and is seen by the cousin.....could get interesting.

I sure hope this show gets renewed for many more seasons.....

Posted by: nosuchthing at May 4, 2010 2:35 PM

I like this show a lot. And, like the episode. But, I was let down on how they had the cousins go after Hank. After showing us all season that not only are they psychotic, they are also very good and professional. Why would they have gone after him in broad daylight in a parking lot? Why approach and stand directly behind the large S.U.V. and open fire through the rear window (which would not give effective aim)? Why go back for the Axe? Not to mention that the one cousin would have gone down and have broken ribs from being shot, even with the vest. All in all, they kind of built these characters up all season, and then threw that all out the window for this episode. Did not make sense in a show aiming for some kind of realism.

Posted by: chessy at May 13, 2010 2:51 PM