"Grilled" is every bit as hot as its title suggests – in fact, it's most definitely the show's most intense episode up to that point. One could likely have reasoned that from the unexpected cliffhanger in season two's opener, in which Walt was trapped in Tuco's car at the point of the pistol. And as the mysterious pre-credits shots already indicate, Señor Salamanca has chauffeured Walt along with Jesse to the back of beyond, one of the many deserts in New Mexico.
Walt's pregnant wife Skyler finally talks to her sister again, but only due to her husband's absence, which prompts the two along with Walter Jr. to gild Albuquerque with pictures of the smiling family father turned star rated crank chef Heisenberg. Walt's bad-ass brother in the DEA also helps the three in a freelancing mission to find the involuntarily vacationing troublemaker. These three partly intertwining story parts make "Grilled" one of season two's best episodes, if you can fully accept the unrealistic shootout at the end, even the best. And if not, that part isn't of much consequence since the creeps-giving scenes at Tuco's leisure residence will be the parts you remember most. Four consummate actors (the mute Mark Margolis will knock your socks off) give these scenes a unique touch and will make you bemoan the fact that this constellation only exists in this single episode. The other two story parts are no match for that, but they too are written and staged excellently, especially when Dean Norris's Hank comes into play.
Walt's pregnant wife Skyler finally talks to her sister again, but only due to her husband's absence, which prompts the two along with Walter Jr. to gild Albuquerque with pictures of the smiling family father turned star rated crank chef Heisenberg. Walt's bad-ass brother in the DEA also helps the three in a freelancing mission to find the involuntarily vacationing troublemaker. These three partly intertwining story parts make "Grilled" one of season two's best episodes, if you can fully accept the unrealistic shootout at the end, even the best. And if not, that part isn't of much consequence since the creeps-giving scenes at Tuco's leisure residence will be the parts you remember most. Four consummate actors (the mute Mark Margolis will knock your socks off) give these scenes a unique touch and will make you bemoan the fact that this constellation only exists in this single episode. The other two story parts are no match for that, but they too are written and staged excellently, especially when Dean Norris's Hank comes into play.