Breaking Bad 2.02
Ding. Ding. Ding. DINGDINGDING.
"Grilled"
Yes, that bell has haunted my nightmares. I give kudos to them for making a bell into the most menacing thing I've ever heard. But this episode offered us a lot more that creepy bells.
Again, the opening sequence focuses on anything but the main players in the episode. Why does the show continue to do this? Is it attempting to string along some pieces that will be revealed in the finale? Anyways, I like them. They don't really set up anything to do with the situation until called for it. Revealing that this opening shot was Jesse and Walt in the trunk of Jesse's car seemed a bit odd to me. I understand having an understanding of their surroundings is necessary, but I almost would have liked to not know where they were. It would have been immensely interesting as a watcher to be stuck in the same situation as the two of them. Not knowing where you are can be one of the scariest things. This show relies on intense situations to gain the audience's trust and attention. It almost seemed a bit too obvious that Tuco lead them into the desert.
There is the image that Walt sees upon Tuco opening the trunk. He believes it to be Skyler, who looks pretty damn angelic. That look is usually used for when a person is trying to be saved. Does Walt want to be saved by Skyler? Or to admit what he is doing behind her back? Because he doesn't really seem to be that kind of guy. I admit, I don't really understand the dynamic between Skyler and Walt. They are that quintessential couple who has just lost their spark after years of marriage. But I don't really believe that either of them love each other. Or even liked each other that much. Which makes scenes like the "angelic" Skyler somewhat bizarre to me. Walt seems so desperate to hide everything from Skyler, to the point where he just isn't around or even communicating with her. I don't understand why he is still drawn to her.
On Skyler's end, I do see it a bit more. The scene where she is talking to the cop about Walt's disappearance, I love the touch that she has done most of the police work for them. I do think that once upon a time, she really loved him. But I can tell that she really does not like what Walt has become after the cancer diagnosis. Yet, she still wants him to go back to what he was, for her sake and for her unborn child's sake. And from experience, that's not a great thing to do. I can understand wanting a family life, but not at the sake of your sanity. And Walt isn't even the only thing she has to deal with. Marie still wants Skyler to forgive her. Basically, Marie is that person who wants everything to revolve around her and her issues when people have a lot worse at stake than a petty shoplifting incident that is still has not been admitted to. This doesn't give her much character depth, which is a little sad to me because it feels like the rest of the cast has had their moment to define them and Marie gets a weird shoplifting storyline.
Back in the desert, Tuco is literally going batshit and we meet the lovely Hector who haunts my nightmares with that damn bell. When giving the two of them water, Walt makes a grab for the jug first. It's a sign of power between the two of them, even though at this point in time, Walt has resigned to dying. Though, Jesse doesn't really have much of a life so it might be evened out. We also find out that Tuco believes Gonzo is working with the police, which shocks me a bit. I, for sure, thought Tuco still killed Gonzo but made it look like an accident. I knew the fact that the car stack being wobbly would probably come back into play, but I didn't think it was because Gonzo wanted to honor his dead crony more than hiding him under a stack of cars. And can I also laugh at the fact that Tuco is shocked that Walt's name isn't Heisenberg? Like, I feel most drug dealers have some sort of street name or low communication. I mean, does he really think Gonzo's real name is Gonzo? Well, it might be but we will never learn that now.
Then, the ricin cigarette appears. I really have to give credit to Jesse because he can really make up a story quick. And also make it believable. If it was only Walt, dude be dead. But, Jesse's quick thinking doesn't save them. So, they hatch the plan to still poison Tuco, just slipping the powder in his food rather than getting him to smoke it. Of course, they don't realize that Mr. Ding is actually communicating with the bell rather than just making annoying ding noises. Therefore, plan destroyed. Yet, during the confrontation scene, while being unnerved by the bell I can't help but wonder why Walt thought that Hector would lie for their asses. As far as he knows, the two of them are a bunch of low lives that Tuco picked up. Attempting to poison Tuco really didn't help their case. But I really have to give credit to the show for making a bell sound like the most menacing thing you will ever hear. It was original and provided the right amount of tension for the scene. It didn't rely on words or actions, just the single ding of the bell.
So, when the final confrontation happens, I couldn't help but feel a little...disappointed. Jesse shooting Tuco wasn't really an issue. It's what Jesse has wanted to do since he met the guy. And I have to say that Tuco is very determined to still put up a fight with a severe bullet wound in his stomach. It just felt odd to have Hank come into the picture to finish the fight. He has been such a nonentity in the Tuco case, what with questioning Walt's whereabouts, that I felt it to be a little stale. The car shootout wasn't too inspired. With as many bullets fired, I'm surprised there aren't more injuries from either party. I mean, a car door can only withstand for so long. Also, it was obvious that Walt and Jesse weren't going to be found by Hank, so it didn't give any emotion to Walt needing to run quickly away. There are other options that Walt could have taken with the situation, but I don't really know if they would work.
Odds & Ends
- How old is Jesse? His mother still refers to knowing about Walt as Jesse's chemistry teacher, but Jesse seems at least mid-twenties. I wouldn't really calling it normal for parents to remember every teacher their child had, especially when Jesse's parents don't particularly care for him.
- Walt did try to protect Jesse from Tuco's wrath before Jesse was thrown outside. Even though he continuously states that he doesn't need Jesse, he still tries to protect him. Is there something more to be found in their relationship?
- Again, Marie is not the brightest person. I don't remember what she said, only that not had to be underlined in my notebook repeatedly, so I obviously thought she was not focusing on a situation at hand.
"Grilled"
Yes, that bell has haunted my nightmares. I give kudos to them for making a bell into the most menacing thing I've ever heard. But this episode offered us a lot more that creepy bells.
Again, the opening sequence focuses on anything but the main players in the episode. Why does the show continue to do this? Is it attempting to string along some pieces that will be revealed in the finale? Anyways, I like them. They don't really set up anything to do with the situation until called for it. Revealing that this opening shot was Jesse and Walt in the trunk of Jesse's car seemed a bit odd to me. I understand having an understanding of their surroundings is necessary, but I almost would have liked to not know where they were. It would have been immensely interesting as a watcher to be stuck in the same situation as the two of them. Not knowing where you are can be one of the scariest things. This show relies on intense situations to gain the audience's trust and attention. It almost seemed a bit too obvious that Tuco lead them into the desert.
There is the image that Walt sees upon Tuco opening the trunk. He believes it to be Skyler, who looks pretty damn angelic. That look is usually used for when a person is trying to be saved. Does Walt want to be saved by Skyler? Or to admit what he is doing behind her back? Because he doesn't really seem to be that kind of guy. I admit, I don't really understand the dynamic between Skyler and Walt. They are that quintessential couple who has just lost their spark after years of marriage. But I don't really believe that either of them love each other. Or even liked each other that much. Which makes scenes like the "angelic" Skyler somewhat bizarre to me. Walt seems so desperate to hide everything from Skyler, to the point where he just isn't around or even communicating with her. I don't understand why he is still drawn to her.
On Skyler's end, I do see it a bit more. The scene where she is talking to the cop about Walt's disappearance, I love the touch that she has done most of the police work for them. I do think that once upon a time, she really loved him. But I can tell that she really does not like what Walt has become after the cancer diagnosis. Yet, she still wants him to go back to what he was, for her sake and for her unborn child's sake. And from experience, that's not a great thing to do. I can understand wanting a family life, but not at the sake of your sanity. And Walt isn't even the only thing she has to deal with. Marie still wants Skyler to forgive her. Basically, Marie is that person who wants everything to revolve around her and her issues when people have a lot worse at stake than a petty shoplifting incident that is still has not been admitted to. This doesn't give her much character depth, which is a little sad to me because it feels like the rest of the cast has had their moment to define them and Marie gets a weird shoplifting storyline.
Back in the desert, Tuco is literally going batshit and we meet the lovely Hector who haunts my nightmares with that damn bell. When giving the two of them water, Walt makes a grab for the jug first. It's a sign of power between the two of them, even though at this point in time, Walt has resigned to dying. Though, Jesse doesn't really have much of a life so it might be evened out. We also find out that Tuco believes Gonzo is working with the police, which shocks me a bit. I, for sure, thought Tuco still killed Gonzo but made it look like an accident. I knew the fact that the car stack being wobbly would probably come back into play, but I didn't think it was because Gonzo wanted to honor his dead crony more than hiding him under a stack of cars. And can I also laugh at the fact that Tuco is shocked that Walt's name isn't Heisenberg? Like, I feel most drug dealers have some sort of street name or low communication. I mean, does he really think Gonzo's real name is Gonzo? Well, it might be but we will never learn that now.
Then, the ricin cigarette appears. I really have to give credit to Jesse because he can really make up a story quick. And also make it believable. If it was only Walt, dude be dead. But, Jesse's quick thinking doesn't save them. So, they hatch the plan to still poison Tuco, just slipping the powder in his food rather than getting him to smoke it. Of course, they don't realize that Mr. Ding is actually communicating with the bell rather than just making annoying ding noises. Therefore, plan destroyed. Yet, during the confrontation scene, while being unnerved by the bell I can't help but wonder why Walt thought that Hector would lie for their asses. As far as he knows, the two of them are a bunch of low lives that Tuco picked up. Attempting to poison Tuco really didn't help their case. But I really have to give credit to the show for making a bell sound like the most menacing thing you will ever hear. It was original and provided the right amount of tension for the scene. It didn't rely on words or actions, just the single ding of the bell.
So, when the final confrontation happens, I couldn't help but feel a little...disappointed. Jesse shooting Tuco wasn't really an issue. It's what Jesse has wanted to do since he met the guy. And I have to say that Tuco is very determined to still put up a fight with a severe bullet wound in his stomach. It just felt odd to have Hank come into the picture to finish the fight. He has been such a nonentity in the Tuco case, what with questioning Walt's whereabouts, that I felt it to be a little stale. The car shootout wasn't too inspired. With as many bullets fired, I'm surprised there aren't more injuries from either party. I mean, a car door can only withstand for so long. Also, it was obvious that Walt and Jesse weren't going to be found by Hank, so it didn't give any emotion to Walt needing to run quickly away. There are other options that Walt could have taken with the situation, but I don't really know if they would work.
Odds & Ends
- How old is Jesse? His mother still refers to knowing about Walt as Jesse's chemistry teacher, but Jesse seems at least mid-twenties. I wouldn't really calling it normal for parents to remember every teacher their child had, especially when Jesse's parents don't particularly care for him.
- Walt did try to protect Jesse from Tuco's wrath before Jesse was thrown outside. Even though he continuously states that he doesn't need Jesse, he still tries to protect him. Is there something more to be found in their relationship?
- Again, Marie is not the brightest person. I don't remember what she said, only that not had to be underlined in my notebook repeatedly, so I obviously thought she was not focusing on a situation at hand.
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