I remember watching this episode when it first aired and I thought it was a pointless boring episode that stopped the story-line from progressing. And at the time i couldn't care less about any symbolism or metaphors for the fly. All I cared about at the time was how high up could Walt and Jesse rise through the ranks of the drug empire?
But when you watch and listen to all of the dialogue, especially after about 10 minutes in you will find the episode is quite intriguing. Walt speaks to Jesse about Janes death, and meeting her father at the pub. He has feelings of guilt that he wants to apologize for, but its difficult because one slip of the tongue and his relationship with Jesse will be irreparable.
However the main focus of the episode is elusivity. It sums up the whole Breaking Bad series. Walt and Jesse become involved in the drugs industry because they see it as a means to an end, with that end being happiness (to have money, live a life of luxury with family and friends that they love and care for). But every time Walt and Jesse are almost there, they just fall short or have some sort of setback.
At first they just want money, but when they get it they somehow lose it or have to waste it on some other need that the money wasn't originally intended for. Then when they finally get the money they cant put it to good use, because Jane dies causing Jesse to lose direction, and Walt is divorced by Skylar. And later after series 3 when they finally have all the money in the world its no good to them, because they've lost anyone they've ever cared for, and all the hard work and crap they've been through together has all been for nothing.
The fly in the episode represents the elusivity of happiness - its always just out of reach for Walt and Jesse. Even when they finally think they have it, and you think Walt can go to sleep with peace of mind after accomplishing his goal, it comes back. Happiness eludes them, and its because of the path that Jesse and Walt have taken. Very seldom does someone get involved in the drugs industry and come out clean on the other side. Its the whole premise of the show. No amount of effort, ingeniousness or luck will see you rewarded by becoming involved in the drugs industry. It will contaminate your life and the lives around you.
But when you watch and listen to all of the dialogue, especially after about 10 minutes in you will find the episode is quite intriguing. Walt speaks to Jesse about Janes death, and meeting her father at the pub. He has feelings of guilt that he wants to apologize for, but its difficult because one slip of the tongue and his relationship with Jesse will be irreparable.
However the main focus of the episode is elusivity. It sums up the whole Breaking Bad series. Walt and Jesse become involved in the drugs industry because they see it as a means to an end, with that end being happiness (to have money, live a life of luxury with family and friends that they love and care for). But every time Walt and Jesse are almost there, they just fall short or have some sort of setback.
At first they just want money, but when they get it they somehow lose it or have to waste it on some other need that the money wasn't originally intended for. Then when they finally get the money they cant put it to good use, because Jane dies causing Jesse to lose direction, and Walt is divorced by Skylar. And later after series 3 when they finally have all the money in the world its no good to them, because they've lost anyone they've ever cared for, and all the hard work and crap they've been through together has all been for nothing.
The fly in the episode represents the elusivity of happiness - its always just out of reach for Walt and Jesse. Even when they finally think they have it, and you think Walt can go to sleep with peace of mind after accomplishing his goal, it comes back. Happiness eludes them, and its because of the path that Jesse and Walt have taken. Very seldom does someone get involved in the drugs industry and come out clean on the other side. Its the whole premise of the show. No amount of effort, ingeniousness or luck will see you rewarded by becoming involved in the drugs industry. It will contaminate your life and the lives around you.