Breaking Bad Review: ‘Shotgun’ Bang Up Job

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Note: Episode review contains substantial spoilers.

Jesse’s job description just got a bit longer…

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AMC’s Emmy winning series Breaking Bad aired the fifth episode of season 4 and it looks like Jesse (Aaron Paul) is shooting for greater heights again. Walt (Bryan Cranston) on the other hand is regressing and there is a moment of déjà vu – more on that in a second. Meanwhile Mike (Jonathan Banks) is keeping Gustavo Fring’s (Giancarlo Esposito) operation running smooth and the green rolling in.  If you’re one of the citizens of TV Land who have not tuned into this great hour of television – check out our prior review which outlines the series’ premise.

The show’s opening really lurched us into action and I loved the throwback to a certain Season 1 scene.  Long time fans of the show – did Walt’s mad dash through the desert come back to mind again?  Interestingly, this this time, Walt was not fleeing trouble but rather running head first into it.  If Gus seriously thinks that Walt’s attempts to 86 him are all going to fail, then I seriously believe Gus’ killer instinct is weakening.  Sure Gus may have slipped out the back when Walt came barking up his tree (or restaurant) but some crazy little voice is telling me that Walt will manage to end Gus’ reign of terror.

The highlights for Walter end with the temporary band-aid applied to his relationship with Skyler (Anna Gunn)  and this was truly Jesse’s episode.  If the teaser at the beginning didn’t indicate enough, Jesse apparently is an addition on Mike’s crew for the money drops.  The one-way conversation between him and Mike as they lugged from one deserted place to another was brilliantly comedic.  This is one part of the series that really shines – the strangest moments of dark humor come up in the midst of the living hell that our intrepid Meth cooks experience.

Credit: Amctv.com

Back to Jesse – I am surprised that Jesse is reverting to his prior naivety and thinking that he is safe in Gus’ corporation that is bleeding from every seam.  If this is an act on Jesse’s part then he has my support but it is so uncharacteristic of him to be so cool with Gus and Mike.  While his respect for Walt has understandably declined – I just do not see his character making such a move.  Gilligan is playing with us as far as Jesse and he knows it.

The moment in the episode that really blew the lid off the jar would be the get together Walt and family had after the purchase of the car wash.  Walt’s biggest weakness is his Heisenberg ego that is unwilling for one moment to lower its pride.  Hank (Dean Norris) is like a bulldog in his persistence so when he stated that he’s completely ready to call the case closed – Walt really shot himself in the foot by dangling a new carrot in front of Hank.  Sorry Walt you aren’t the quintessential “genius” here…but hope isn’t lost for Walt, the car wash is in their hands, if Walt finds a way to off Gus and pocket the money he’s in the clear.  Of course, he has Mike’s unyielding detection to get past which isn’t exactly easy.

While I didn’t mind the slow paced past 4 episodes – it felt like a refreshing twist that the plot was thrown into the blender and set to warp speed.  The way the elements are mixing are unsettling and create major on-the-edge-of-your-seat action.  My mind is whirring trying to connect the alliances and determining who will stick loyal to whom.  C’mon Jesse get in gear and Mike – enough accepting this “no questions” nonsense…do you really think Gus doesn’t see you as a pawn in his scheme as well?

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