Breaking Bad: "Blood Money"

This is my first attempt at blogging specific episode write-ups for a televisions show. "Breaking Bad" only has eight episodes left, making its final half-season ideal for this experiment. Spoilers ahead for the whole show that has aired so far. Let's do this thing.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that Hank would put the pieces together so quickly and we'd get a major confrontation between Hank and Walt at the end of this episode. Things had to start escalating quickly in order to get us to the flash-forward Walter White who pulls up to his destroyed family home in the pre-credits sequence and frightens the lady next door just by saying hello. That sequence promises the audience two things - first, that Walter White is going to be outed to the public as Heisenberg, his name and reputation forever tarnished, and second, that we're going to get some loose ends tied up. The biggest loose end from last year, the ricin cigarette, is retrieved from the remains of Walt's bedroom, but who is it intended for?

"Blood Money" spends most of the episode checking in with all the major players left on the board and where they stand. We pick up right where we left off with Hank in the bathroom, who is so affected by his revelation that he has a panic attack driving home. Luckily this provides him the cover to start working his new lead in private, including a new variant on the cook sequence - a case file review montage. It's also a clever way to review Walt's major crimes so far, giving us a brief look back at Gus and Gale and even the grainy surveillance video of Walt and Jesse's first methylamine heist. Hank is so tight-lipped throughout the episode, barely saying a word to Marie, enduring a frightening trip to the hospital, silent during the case file review, and evasive in the face of a newly menacing Walt. So his physical attack is a wonderful, jolting surprise. Dean Norris and Bryan Cranston get to face off in a way I wasn't expecting to see for at least a few more weeks.

After all, there were plenty of other major developments in this episode. After Badger and Skinny Pete regale us with their plans for a "Star Trek" pie-eating-contest episode (extra points for the high level of nerdy details), Jesse tries to figure out how to get rid of the five million in "blood money" Walt gave him. This leads to a quick visit with Saul, and then what may be the most important conversation that took place this week - Walt trying to persuade Jesse that Mike's still alive. Jesse is willing to agree with him, as he's agreed with Walt in so many other similar conversations over the years, but clearly he's not buying Walt's version of events. The next time Walt tries to sell him a lie, I expect Jesse's going to call him out on it. He's not quite there yet, but the guilt is getting to him. I hope we get to see the repercussions of Jesse's Robin Hood escapade next week.

Twitchy Lydia also showed up briefly, to try and entice Walt to come back to work for her, giving the Whites a chance to demonstrate their newfound loyalty to each other. Walt shows he's willing to be honest. Skyler reciprocates with a show of protectiveness. The whole car wash scene was delightful, the way Skyler was unexpectedly insightful, the spiel about complimentary coffee, and Lydia continuing to do a terrible job of keeping a low profile while conducting nefarious business negotiations. However, this also seems to telegraph that one or both of the Whites may not maintain this new status quo for much longer. Walt's empire building tendencies have shifted to new money-laundering car washes for now, but I expect him to backslide quickly.

I didn't expect Walt's cancer back so soon, but then it was worth it to allow for some big season premiere fireworks, but still keep Hank at bay. For now Walt has forced Hank into a standoff, with perhaps his smoothest and most devastating Heisenberg argument yet. Walt has been here so many times that he knows how to handle these confrontations now, and his assuredness is terrifying. The other two storylines set up in this episode are probably going to see the most progression for the next few weeks. Events are still in the early stages of being set in motion, and we've got a ways to go yet before we get to Walt and the ricin cigarette in the flash-forward.

After all, one major character was nowhere to be found in this episode: Todd. Jesse Plemmon's name is in the credits and he's all over the marketing materials so we know he's got a significant part to play this season.

Have an A1 day, everybody.
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