Measured Response

Quite an episode of Breaking Bad this week. "Half Measures" was about people's plans, some that worked out better than others. Perhaps because, as they learned, that half measures don't work.

This episode was maybe more explicit than any I'd ever seen on basic cable. There was violence, as always, but we also heard the word "shit" a lot of times (including two references to shitting in your pants) and then there was the opening. We're at BB's favorite rundown hotel/crack den/whorehouse, where we see a woman (whom we've met before) plying her trade. To the Association's sprightly tune "Windy," we see a montage of her day, including more than a few BJ's. At the end, she brings money and burgers to the dealers who had Combo killed.

Back at the regular show, Skyler is still pushing her plan for Walt to buy the car wash. Walt doesn't like it, but, in a funny haggling scene, he's willing to give in if she allows him certain house privileges.

At work, Jesse, who has his own plans, wants to meet Walt for a beer later so they can have a conversation. At the bar, he explains he's met the dealers who had the kid--Tomas--kill Combo. He wants to take them out, and wants Walt to whip up some of that ricin that he made to kill Tuco. Walt realizes how insane this is--funny thing is when Jesse was regularly getting high he may have been less dangerous.

Walt says they're not murderes. Maybe not, but they sure seem to leave a trail of bodies behind. In any case, Jesse says he'll do it, with or without Walt. While the two have been estranged this season, Walt still seems to have fatherly feelings for Jesse (he's the terrible son I never had), and wants to stop him. So he goes to Saul with a plan of his own.

First, though, we see Marie and Walt Jr. play cards with bedridden Hank, who's acting like a miserable prick. Marie has a plan, too--to get him out of the hospital and back home. But Hank's plan is to stay put. (There's a slight threat he'll find out about Walt's money, but Marie prevents that).

At Saul's, Walt wants to stop Jesse from going ahead. Let's have him arrested, take him off the street for a month, let him calm down. Saul calls Mike, the fixer. It's always good to see Mike.

Jesse's going ahead with his plan, talking to "Windy" about how he'll poison the dealers through the hamburgers she brings. He'll supply her with as much quality meth as she can take, of course, so she goes along. (He's used her before, she, for a meth-head, she can be trusted.)

She has a kid, by the way, and so does Walt. He's taking care of his when Mike calls (after ensuring Skyler's out). Mike has helped Jesse before, and helped Walt as well, but I believe this is the first time Mike reveals to Walt his real boss is Gus, not Saul. He explains he won't go along with Walt's plan. Telling a long, compelling story of when he was a cop, he notes that with some people half measures don't work, they just make things worse.

Jesse is ready to make his play, with the hooker and the burgers, when Mike picks him up. He brings Jesse to a meeting place, where there's Gus (Jesse's first face-to-face) and Walt--and the two dealers he was planning to kill. Gus, who can be a cold-blooded killer, is willing to broker a deal out of his respect for Walt, and only out of that respect. (Last week he told Walt not to make the same mistake twice, and this week Mike tells Walt don't take half measures, but Walt just won't give up on Jesse.)

There's trouble, but Gus gets the dealers to stop using kids and has Jesse shake their hands and promise to keep the peace. Jesse's not exactly a happy camper when Walt drives him home, but at least he's standing down.

At the hospital, Marie gives her husband a sponge bath. But then her hand starts heading south (told you this episode was explicit) and she makes him a deal. If she can give him a happy ending in under a minute (even if he doesn't want to cooperate), he'll come home. Cut to: Hank being wheeled out of the hospital. (A good scene, but also helpful when it looked like Hank was gonna be stuck there, boring us.)

Jesse's at his new girlfriend's place when she receives the news that Tomas has been killed. Jesse knows who did it and he's not happy. Now all bets are off.

Walt doesn't hear from Jesse for a while. He figures he's still steaming, but then hears about Tomas. He leaves his old house, though this is one of his pre-arranged dinner nights.

Jesse's at the corner (doing coke--great), watching a deal go down. He gets out of his car, armed. The dealers knew this--expected it. Jesse's a screwup and it looks like this will be his last, Quixotic gesture. Then, out of nowhere, non-murderer Walt comes driving in mowing down the two dealers. Then, for good measure (and not half measure) he grabs the gun of one who's still alive and shoots him in the head. He tells Jesse to run and that's the show.