It's Fine Television

Fascinating episode of Breaking Bad, "I.F.T.," with a great curtain. It's filled with scenes where characters sit down and calmly explain why they do what they're doing. Sort of the anti-Lost.

We have a prologue where we see how Tortuga lost his head. Unnecessary. It shows us the Mexican cousins were behind it, but aside from that, we already knew this happened and didn't care why. By the way, the cousins not talking is a bit affected. They're beginning to remind me of the freaky twins in Matrix Reloaded.

But then we start where we left off last week. Walt has moved back in, whether Skyler likes it or not. He's a bit unhinged, but there's a method to his madness. He doesn't believe she'll tell (I think), but more important, he realizes his family is everything to him, so he's got nothing to lose. Skyler comes home and calls the cops.

Walt Jr. arrives first, happy to see his dad. The the cops, and Skyler is, once again, the bad guy. She and her husband aren't officially divorced, or even separated, and he hasn't laid a hand on her, so Walt's even within his rights to break in. She could have him removed if she mentioned he makes meth, but that's a bridge too far. So guess what? Walt's back. It's a parody of a happy family, but Walt either doesn't notice or doesn't care.

Meanwhile, Jesse's in his empy large home (as opposed to his old empty small home). Saul comes in to remind him to get cooking. Or at least get Walt cooking, he'll make it worth his while. Good old Saul. But all Jesse can do is listen to his dead girlfriend outgoing voice message, over and over. He's not ready to do anything else. By the end of the show, the phone message is disconnected and he's ready to start up the lab again, though I doubt he can do it without his mentor.

Looks like Hank will be called back to El Paso. This surprised me a bit, since the tragedy last time, but I guess strings have been pulled. Hank is actually a smart cop (even if he can't see the meth under his nose), who sees further than most in his coworkers. But his panic attacks suggest he might not be ready for the field. He'd probably be best behind a desk, not in El Paso. This is probably why he picks a fight with some guys holding in a bar, a move which is otherwise very un-Hank-like. He's either trying to prove something to himself or to others.

The cousins last seen letting Hank live (for the nonce) pick up Tio and bring him and a spokesman (since they don't talk and Tio only rings, they need one) for the cartel to Gus (who speaks Spanish). They have a nice scene where each side explains their position. Heisenberg is blamed for Tuco's death and blood is required. But Gus, who's in the good graces of the cartel, is doing business with Walter White. They seem to work out a deal. Gus says after their business is complete, Walter is of no use and they can do what they want, but hold off until then. (Why is his use limited? Well, Gus obviously knows about Walter--he saw he had lung cancer, and probably knows all about his life. He wants him for three months--summer vacation? Either he figures it'll be his last big cookout, or more likely he'll teach new cooks his secret recipe.) However, it seems unlikely Tio or the cousins can wait that long.

So Walt's in huge trouble. Some tough guys want to kill him and he's only protected (slightly) by a guy who's willing to see him dead eventually. From the start Walt and Jesse have been in way over their head, and they just keep getting in deeper. Walt is very smart, and getting tougher, but he doesn't even realize what's going on. (Of course, Hank actually killed Tuco--Walt and Jesse didn't quite have the guys.  Wonder what the cousins would do if they found out?) It's hard to see how Walt will extricate himself. He might think he's pulled himself out, but if he won't cook, that only brings his execution date closer.

Skyler meets with her lawyer and, in a big moment, finally tells someone what she knows. Of course, a lawyer is one of the few people who can not only keep a secret, but is required too. (Though there are ways out of the confidentiality requirements, particularly if future crimes are going to be committed.) Skyler needs to tell someone, considering all the crap she's getting. The lawyer insists she call the authorities and get Walt out of there. (Though, as Saul noted last week, what's to stop the DEA from taking her house?) Skyler explains (assuming she isn't lying to herself) that she can't tell. She couldn't hurt her family--particularly her son--by revealing her husband as a criminal. Furthermore, since his days are numbered anyway, she figures she can just wait him out.

Last season Walt was annoyed because he couldn't tell Skyler where all the money was coming from. He may have been doing horrible things for it, but, down deep, he was proud. He'd always been a proud man, turning down money and chances for greatness in the past, so he'd like her to know what he'd done and how successful he'd been. He finally gets the scene he's wanted for so long. He shows Skyler all the money. A sack at her feet with, I'm guessing, a half a million or so. He also gets to have the talk he's always wanted to have. He worked hard for the money. he earned it, it's not stolen. And it represents the future, everything she needs, everything it's his duty to provide. Ever since she found out he was lying to her, she's had nothing but contempt for him. But maybe a huge sack of money at her feet will turn her head? Or is Walt still dreaming?

She goes to work and throws herself at Ted. Ted's been waiting for this--it's why he hired her--but he didn't really think it would happen. So at least someone gets his wishes this show.

She returns home, to her faux-happy household. Walter is making dinner, and full of happy talk. He may even believe she'll come back home and say "Walter, you're right, thanks for making all this money. Come back home. I love you." But she stares at him coldly, grabs the salad bowl, and says...well, the title is an acronym of what she says. She can't force him out of the house, but she can make it clear she has contempt for him, and their marriage. And never forget, I'm in charge of this relationship, not you. The money will not lead to a happily ever after.