Breaking Bad Re-Up: Sunset
Not only was this the most intense episode of the season, but I’d put this up there with the best episodes Breaking Bad has ever put out. The entire scene where Hank was circling the RV like a shark had me white-knuckled. Walt’s Saul-solution to the Hank problem was pretty shitty, even for a bastard like Walt. But now it’s not just about staying out of El Paso for Hank; now it’s personal. He’s got Jesse’s number and he’s tasted blood.
But now the Cousins also have Gus’s blessing to go after Hank. It’s funny, I never even thought about why the Cousins weren’t going after Hank. I just thought it was because the audience isn’t as invested in Hank as they are Walt, but turns out the Cartel wouldn’t let them get vengeance directly on a DEA agent – the one who actually pulled the trigger on Tuco. Gus needs Walt around at least until his new lab partner Gale can learn the Heisenberg formula, so sure, let the Cousins quench their thirst on Hank’s blood for the time being. Those moments between Walt and Gale were really cute, but the RV time with Walt and Jesse was much better and a nice season 1 throwback.
They would never admit it, but Walt and Jesse seem to be drawn to each other. They need each other. And now with the RV gone, I’m wondering if Walt is going to invite Jesse to come along to the Meth Cave. Or if Gus would even go for that.
It was great to see Badger back (and Riverdancing). I don’t know why, but I really like him. He’s such a fuck-up but I still want to have a drink with him.
Great cameo last night by Larry Hankin, aka Tom Pepper, the would-be Kramer from “The Pilot.”
- Oh Mars
April 26th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
My only problem with this episode is that it reaffirmed the obvious that I saw coming since the season’s premiere. Hank is going to be the solution to the problem of the Cousins.
April 26th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I think ya got Hank and Walt mixed up in a couple lines, i.e. “moments between Hank & Gale”.
Great episode, loved how Hank’s cell ring was highlighted when he was watching Jesse, and was the only sound in the hospital. His face when he realized he had been fooled was priceless.
My issue with this episode was the cousins in the restaurant. For all the effort Gus goes through to keep a low profile, it seems like letting them hang around would attract too much attention. Seemed a little out of place, but he has had other meetings there and pulled the cousins off Walt by calling them to Pollos Hermanos.Besides that, one of my favorites so far.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
@Trim – Fixed! Thanks for the heads-up.
April 27th, 2010 at 12:06 am
Agree with Trim about the cousins in the restaurant… way too conspicuous. But, Crook, I don’t mind knowing there’s a showdown between Hank and the cousins coming… as long as it ends w/ the cousins dying. They kinda bore me. Okay, they’re all about la Santa Muerte… what else they got?
And as long as we’re picking apart minor flaws, I thought the long shot of the cousin appearing from nowhere to massacre the cop was a bit lame. Sure, from 20 yards we won’t hear him coming, but I have trouble believing the cousin could tread so lightly over the gravel in his boots as to avoid notice from 5 feet.
Anyhow, great episode, and I appreciate the recaps!
April 27th, 2010 at 11:58 am
I personally don’t see Walt as a bastard at all, and you aren’t the only one to refer to him as such. I see him as a guy who was out on his luck, tried to make big money fast and screwed up. His intentions have always been in the interest of his family, no matter how grizzly his situation became.
I don’t see him as a bastard because he’s a middle aged man who got caught up with shit he never even knew really existed, how else would an actual 45 year old man act in his shoes? He’d be just as confused and would make similar bad decisions.
Now, Walt is so knee-deep in shit that he’s thinking “fuck it, I’ve always wanted to be a REAL scientist, with a REAL lab, making some REAL shit, not teaching a bunch of disinterested high schoolers how to light a Bunsen burner.” and now, he totally has that chance, despite how crooked it is…
April 27th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
You bring up some great points Stank, and one of the things I love about this show is the audience schism concerning Walt’s nobility.
“Bastard” may have been too harsh. He did go into this game with the best intentions, but it’s obviously worn on his soul. He’s still unable to come to terms with his role in the plane accident. His decisions have also brought the Cousins to town – and they’ve done their share of murders on the hunt for Walt. He seems blind still to the negative effects the meth and money have brought his family.
Then again, he is paying the bills. Great grey-hat character.
April 27th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
To be honest, the whole plane crash angle seemed too disconnected to me. I know it was ultimatley Walt’s-fault that whats-her-name died because he chose not to save her, but again that decision was ultimatley made with the same intentions Walt had going into this whole mess. Plus, to me, I see the fathers depression and the plane crash as just too loose. Compared to how other things are connected in the story, i just cant really accept that a father’s depression would cause him to down 2 fully loaded aircrafts. But thats just me.
Also, Walt is not-yet aware of the Twin’s bloody wake, so you can’t really fault him for that…yet.
I do agree with the oddity of the length of time which Gus allowed the Twin’s to stay in Los Pollos. But at the same time, it totally went along perfectly with his normal demeanor -calm, collected, showing zero emotion other than a few smiles shot to some satisfied costomers.