Only two shows I've ever watched command so much control over my jaw. Lost and Breaking Bad.
Within 5 minutes Breaking Bad shows they have not lost their ability to confound. The show opens to a group of teen boys skateboarding in a park bowl. Up and down, up and down as the camera follows the wheels. Grinding and slapping against the concrete. The camera pans back. It's NOT a skate park but the swimming pool of the Walter White (Bryan Cranston) household. The place is ram shackled abandoned and is as dirty as a highway underpass. Mind bending. After this the show picks up exactly where we left off and nothing seems out of place, it's like the 12 months never happened.
Hank stumbles out of the bathroom dazed at the revelation that Walt his brother in law in actually Heisenberg. The one he referred to indirectly as a 'monster' who he had grown tired of chasing. The very man that orchestrated the murders of eight men in jail cells across the country. Hank returning to the dinner party can barely look Walt in the eye. You could literally see his thoughts etched on his face as he glanced multiple times. This was subtly acted by Dean Norris who has always been excellent in his role as Hank. He immediately leaves with Marie and they drive home. Only the shock has finally hits him hard and he swerves off road and onto a driveway the splintering of a post box crunching under the tyres. He jumps his face is contorted in raw panic. The show dulls the sound to allow the viewer to experience what Hank is feeling first hand. Marie's voice could be heard muffled in the distance shouting "Hank are you okay?"
What I love about the show is the tone. Another great scene is Jesse and Walt's (well Walt's) conversation about the money. What was really chilling was Walt's lie to Jesse about not murdering Mike. Walt did it with such confidence and apathy to a soundtrack of lawn mower humming from outside. Normally a show wouldn't allow anything detract from a scene. Scenes like this almost feel like it's not a show but we are watching real life story.
The best scene in the episode is the confrontation with Hank and Walt in the garage. Everything in the first parts was meant to lead to this point and it was done fantastically. Not that I have the right or ability to judge what the writers should be doing. If I may analyse for a moment though the build seemed realistic and wasn't too hurried for Walt to clock on that Hank knew he was Heisenberg all along.
Walt's cancer coming back was the catalyst to lead him to the toilet and discover the Leaves of Grass was missing. It also serves as a plot device that will mean Hank has to decide whether pursuing Walt is worth it. Or will he just let him alone to die in peace. I think it's obvious what Hank will do.
9 out of 10
Within 5 minutes Breaking Bad shows they have not lost their ability to confound. The show opens to a group of teen boys skateboarding in a park bowl. Up and down, up and down as the camera follows the wheels. Grinding and slapping against the concrete. The camera pans back. It's NOT a skate park but the swimming pool of the Walter White (Bryan Cranston) household. The place is ram shackled abandoned and is as dirty as a highway underpass. Mind bending. After this the show picks up exactly where we left off and nothing seems out of place, it's like the 12 months never happened.
Hank stumbles out of the bathroom dazed at the revelation that Walt his brother in law in actually Heisenberg. The one he referred to indirectly as a 'monster' who he had grown tired of chasing. The very man that orchestrated the murders of eight men in jail cells across the country. Hank returning to the dinner party can barely look Walt in the eye. You could literally see his thoughts etched on his face as he glanced multiple times. This was subtly acted by Dean Norris who has always been excellent in his role as Hank. He immediately leaves with Marie and they drive home. Only the shock has finally hits him hard and he swerves off road and onto a driveway the splintering of a post box crunching under the tyres. He jumps his face is contorted in raw panic. The show dulls the sound to allow the viewer to experience what Hank is feeling first hand. Marie's voice could be heard muffled in the distance shouting "Hank are you okay?"
What I love about the show is the tone. Another great scene is Jesse and Walt's (well Walt's) conversation about the money. What was really chilling was Walt's lie to Jesse about not murdering Mike. Walt did it with such confidence and apathy to a soundtrack of lawn mower humming from outside. Normally a show wouldn't allow anything detract from a scene. Scenes like this almost feel like it's not a show but we are watching real life story.
The best scene in the episode is the confrontation with Hank and Walt in the garage. Everything in the first parts was meant to lead to this point and it was done fantastically. Not that I have the right or ability to judge what the writers should be doing. If I may analyse for a moment though the build seemed realistic and wasn't too hurried for Walt to clock on that Hank knew he was Heisenberg all along.
Walt's cancer coming back was the catalyst to lead him to the toilet and discover the Leaves of Grass was missing. It also serves as a plot device that will mean Hank has to decide whether pursuing Walt is worth it. Or will he just let him alone to die in peace. I think it's obvious what Hank will do.
9 out of 10