August 20, 2012

Season 5, Episode 6: “Buyout”

Purity level: 65%

Leave it to Breaking Bad to zig when we expect it to zag. Following one of the strongest, most action-packed hours of the series, I was certain this week’s episode would pick up right where we left off: with Todd firing his gun and killing the child witness. But this show is nothing if not surprising. Instead of giving us a glimpse of the immediate aftermath, “Buyout” opens with an understated, wordless sequence of the gang (minus Jesse, who surely couldn’t stomach more gore) disposing of the child’s body and his dirt bike in a couple of those vats of acid they always seem to have on hand for such occasions. Once covered up, his murder is barely referenced again. But its repercussions shake the already unstable foundation of our three amigos.

After collectively deciding to keep Todd on the payroll, members of the gang begin to defect. Mike, realizing he can no longer stay ahead of the DEA heat, volunteers to leave, an announcement Walter welcomes. But it’s Jesse’s intended departure that Walt can’t abide. He doesn’t want to sell the methylamine (even if it means they each pocket a cool $5 million), and invites Jesse over to try to change his mind during the most awkward dinner ever. Jesse is just beginning to sense the depths of Walter’s depravity and tries to maintain a façade of normalcy with a flurry of small talk; Skyler, however, knows exactly who her husband is and no longer sees the point in keeping up the charade.

But one hilariously awkward scene does not a good episode make. This felt less like a cohesive hour and more like a belaboured setup for next week, not to mention a compilation of sound bites. The show’s writers have a history of crafting lines that are now ingrained in pop culture (“I am the one who knocks”), but this is the first time it felt like they were trying too hard (“I’m in the empire business”). Also, the idea that Mike would leave Walter alone and tied to a radiator is hard to believe. But it set up one hell of a cliffhanger: Mike returns to the office to find that Walter has escaped and hidden the methylamine. He’s about to kill Walter, but Jesse stops him, insisting that Walter has an idea that ensures Mike and Jesse get their $5 million and Walter gets to keep his methylamine. “Everybody wins,” intones Walter as the screen fades to black.

This Week’s ‘Who’s Bad?’ Index:

Mike: Despite his inability to keep Walter locked down, the hardened heavy wins the week for his repeated evasion of the DEA, not to mention his warning to Todd: “The next time you bring a gun to a job without telling me, I will stick it up your ass sideways.” 8 blue crystals out of 10.

Walter: He told Jesse that the little boy’s murder was keeping him up at night and Jesse would have believed him if he hadn’t come back into the room and heard Walter whistling a jaunty tune like he didn’t have a care in the world. Jesse is (finally!) beginning to question Walter’s motivation (“Is a meth empire really something to be that proud of?”), but Walter once again managed to manipulate Jesse into following his plan. 7 blue crystals out of 10.

Skyler: It looked like she was going to break her silence and finally ‘fess up to Marie – and just then she found out Walter blabbed about her affair. Realizing that her husband has cut off all escape routes, she swallowed her secret – along with a whole lot of wine. 5 blue crystals out of 10.

jenmcdonnell@gmail.com
(This recap first appeared on Canada.com)
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Podcast: Last week I joined Canada.com’s Jonathan Dekel and Dan Lytwyn to discuss one of the best episodes of the series (“Dead Freight”) and Walter White’s evolution into “Greedy Buttface Guy.”