The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

This season's first episode of Breaking Bad was entitled "No Mas." It was where Walt decided he was done cooking. The latest episode was "Mas," so you know where that's going. With Walt back in the game, it feels like the season has started in earnest.

The prologue shows what Jesse did with the life savings Walt gave him to buy an RV in season one--most of it was spent for a night out with the boys. Jesse was even more irresponsible than we thought. This is yet another show opener that delves into the past, and brings back a dead character--whom we discover, in effect, stole the RV from his mother and sold it to Jesse at rock bottom prices. But this prologue also has a plot purpose. Hank is chasing down this particular make of RV. (Bounders. That name has always struck me funny, with its negative meaning.) If he can find the right one, he figures--correctly--he can find the source of all the blue meth that's floating around.

Hank, having turned down the promotion to El Paso, sees it going to his partner. It's tough on him, and he has trouble admitting to the rest of the world he can't handle the scene there. So he's turned all his energy toward dealing with the local meth problem--which, actually, is as big as it gets, and is probably more important than the work he'd do in El Paso. Too bad he doesn't know the meth-mastermind "Heisenberg" is his brother-in-law. Hank is in denial about his problem, or at least won't discuss it with his wife, Marie. By the end of the show he's traced the RV to the mom with the dead son. He can tie the kid to Jesse Pinkman, who's already on his radar. But how and when will this lead to Walt, who's split with Jesse?

Walt, you see, has finally gone back to Gus. When we first see him he's in his closet, quietly but vehemently arguing with Jesse over the phone about how he stole his formula. That's Walt all over. Walt sees through Gus's ploy of paying him half the money for Jesse's low-grade meth, but Gus knew he would. The point is they're talking. Gus takes him on a tour of his new lab, if he takes the job. (The music is beatific, which is almost too much, but works.) It's beautiful, and pristine, and safe, but it's more than that. Walt is a guy who's always had trouble with his anger. If he could handle people like he handles chemistry, he could be a multi-millionaire business owner and a Nobel prize winner. Gus is offering Walt what he's always felt is his due. He'd run a top notch lab, to his specifications, and make millions turning out a great product, better than anyone else around. (That Gus will throw him to the wolves when he's done isn't discussed.)

Gus knows how to push Walt's buttons. Walt's lost the only thing that matters to him, his family. Gus explains that real men do what's right for their family even if they're not appreciated. Walt has a teenage son with cerebral palsy and a newborn--it could take millions to see them through, and Walt may not be around much longer. Time to man up. Walt bites.

Meanwhile, Skyler is having second thoughts. She realizes her relationship with Ted isn't going anywhere. She softens to Walt, and even thinks a bit about the money. (Her lawyer notes Walt has made her an accessory after the fact. Lawyers, always naysayers.) After hearing Marie complain about how Hank's business is gnawing at him, making him crazy, it makes her think twice about Walt. What he's going through is worse (and Hank is closing in, too).

She's ready to talk to Walt, but he's flown the coop and finally signed the divorce papers. He took the money with him as well.

He has a meeting with Jesse at Saul's place. Walt gives Jesse the half-payment he received, but then tells Jesse he's through. He's not interesting in making a deal for a small percentage of Jesse's take, he's going to make millions cooking for Gus. Jesse can make his crap whenever and wherever he likes, he's not cooking with Walt any more. Walt can be cold. Saul lines up with Walt, of course--he knows who's got the potential here.

So the world is falling in on Walt, but he's not aware of it. He's going to bury his nose in work and come up with three million in three months. But everyone's after him--Hank, Skyler, Jesse and even the Mexicans. It's only a question of who will get to him first.

PS The titles to my posts are often plays on words. I generally don't draw attention to them, but I have to say, even if you don't get this one, I think it's one of the best I've ever done.