"Want some breakfast?"
'Down' is a bleak episode of Breaking Bad, one that's difficult to watch at times. Yet it's also a fascinating look at how the decisions that Walt and Jesse have made, both individually and together, have affected their relationships with the people that matter to them.
Jesse finds himself being kicked out of the house he's been living in by his parents, leading to him being turned down by all his friends and eventually returning to the RV. It's the lowest point we've seen Jesse at so far, as he lies on the floor of the vehicle crying.
Walt, on the other hand, begins to notice his wife and son drifting further away from him, with Walter Jr.'s insistence on being called Flynn particularly hard for him to take. Walt tells Jesse on the phone that "no amount of pay-per-view channels is going to make a difference..." and unlike before, Skyler now seems aware that it probably isn't who Walt says it is on the other end. She doesn't know quite what is going on, but she knows Walt is holding things back. Their relationship also reaches a new low here, as she repeatedly leaves the house for hours at a time, not telling Walt where she is going. It's a sign of her desperation that she lights up a cigarette at the end of the episode. While certainly a terrible decision on Skyler's part, it's hard to argue that Walt should bear none of the blame.
Walt and Jesse's relationship takes a turn for the worst as well, as they end up fighting in the RV as Walt tells Jesse what a disappointment he is. Moments later though, they reconcile. It seems likely that they will be heading off to cook a new batch sooner rather than later.
This episode also marks the return of the teddy bear in the opening, in what we can still only assume is flash-forward to future events. Again, I will not say anything else on this for now - only that it is very intriguing.
With 'Down', season 2 delivers yet another very strong episode - it's a joy to watch these characters' stories unfold.
9.1/10
'Down' is a bleak episode of Breaking Bad, one that's difficult to watch at times. Yet it's also a fascinating look at how the decisions that Walt and Jesse have made, both individually and together, have affected their relationships with the people that matter to them.
Jesse finds himself being kicked out of the house he's been living in by his parents, leading to him being turned down by all his friends and eventually returning to the RV. It's the lowest point we've seen Jesse at so far, as he lies on the floor of the vehicle crying.
Walt, on the other hand, begins to notice his wife and son drifting further away from him, with Walter Jr.'s insistence on being called Flynn particularly hard for him to take. Walt tells Jesse on the phone that "no amount of pay-per-view channels is going to make a difference..." and unlike before, Skyler now seems aware that it probably isn't who Walt says it is on the other end. She doesn't know quite what is going on, but she knows Walt is holding things back. Their relationship also reaches a new low here, as she repeatedly leaves the house for hours at a time, not telling Walt where she is going. It's a sign of her desperation that she lights up a cigarette at the end of the episode. While certainly a terrible decision on Skyler's part, it's hard to argue that Walt should bear none of the blame.
Walt and Jesse's relationship takes a turn for the worst as well, as they end up fighting in the RV as Walt tells Jesse what a disappointment he is. Moments later though, they reconcile. It seems likely that they will be heading off to cook a new batch sooner rather than later.
This episode also marks the return of the teddy bear in the opening, in what we can still only assume is flash-forward to future events. Again, I will not say anything else on this for now - only that it is very intriguing.
With 'Down', season 2 delivers yet another very strong episode - it's a joy to watch these characters' stories unfold.
9.1/10