User Reviews

Pros:

• First appearance of Bill Burr as Kuby
• Hank is brought back into the Heisenberg investigation
• Huell's awkward introduction to Walt and Skyler

Cons:

• This is Marie at her most obnoxious
• Jesse's increasingly sketchier parties get a little repetitive

It is a slow episode, one of the slowest of the series, but it's easy to overlook the extremely important piece that is moved into place: Hank is moved much closer to Heisenberg

This is the third episode of the fourth season of Breaking Bad. Like the previous episode, this episode is a slow-burner and takes it time telling the story. It's more or less the same plot, but there are more interesting moments here. Aaron Paul as Jesse shows some surprising depth as he has these bleak parties and shows a passion for go-karts in one memorable scene. It's nice to see Anna Gunn becoming more open in Walter's criminal life. Finally, Bob Odenkirk as Saul is able to inject some lighter moments in the episode.

In this episode, "Open House," Skylar is becoming more passively active in Walt's life as she still attempts to buy the car wash for money laundering duties and this time may have some luck with the help of Saul. Walter is angry that a camera was installed in the meth lab. Meanwhile, Jesse continues throwing parties to make his mind dwell elsewhere and Marie begins her kleptomaniac activities at open houses to help her ease the problems she has been having with Hank.

Overall, I thought this was a solid episode. It's not the greatest episode in the Breaking Bad's repertoire, but it is more interesting than the previous episode and it is nice to see a big problem of Marie during Season One make a return in this episode. I rate this episode 9/10.

Great episode. Only thing that has managed to make Go Karting sad

Season 4 is amazing one of the best seasons of tv of all time, but this episode is a little weak for breaking bad standards. Honestly this might be the most forgettable episode of the show. Really I can't think of much that I like of this episode, besides when Saul is on. He's one of my favorite characters and Bob is an astounding actor like rest of the cast, just not anywhere near top tier braking bad episode.

It's only the third episode in this season of Breaking Bad, but it already feels as if we've been served the same plot for ages. Besides more and more character development in Skyler and Jesse, "Open House" is sparse on new ideas and difficult to enjoy.

As Jesse's parties grow bleaker and bleaker, Aaron Paul impresses me even more through his almost wordless, yet still so deep acting – especially the go-kart scene near the end of the episode was a small, but mentionable gem. The bigger part of this episode was definitely focused on either the Schraders or the Whites though, and while these also had some nice parts here and there, the average was rather low. Especially Marie bringing out the kleptomaniac side of hers was overly long and resulted in a ridiculous and redundant crying scene of Betsy Brandt.

Skyler got a tad more interesting in "Open House" as she is willing to passively participate in Walt's crime by becoming a (different sort of) criminal herself, yet that doesn't say a lot for a character that bored and annoyed me for pretty much all three seasons up to that point. This story part had some blatant stupidities in it, such as the "It's been six hours, he won't call – he calls" and the "Giving a random guy instructions over headphones so he can manipulate someone else in your favor" clichés. At least Bob Odenkirk was able to uplift both the humor aspect and the quality of it with some trademark stupid jokes.

As you see, there really were only few things for me to appreciate in "Open House", an episode that proves yet another time that Breaking Bad is weak when the story is evolving slowly.

Main question of the episode : how do we buy the car wash station ? Wow that's really a thrilling question, don't you think ? No ? No. Not really.

Too long scenes with too few arguments, only one conflict outside of the family (Mary strikes again too) This episode relies a lot on our memories, much more than the previous one. I think we miss events and action.

The characterization is really brilliant, the actors still great, and many interesting plots are put on... but it is still a promising beginning.

I hope next episode will be more consistent.

Two characters fans hate have a chance to shine here while the male leads ride shotgun: As pathetically guilty Jesse begins squandering his money, Hank begins a case that will grow and Walt is Mr Mom, Skylar has her best episode conning the eyebrows guy from the car wash business, and her scenes with Saul right from when they first met, are wonderful... I think she compliments his sleazy nature better than anyone (mind you, in Better Call Saul he becomes a leading man, so perfect girl Kim doesn't count because he's NOT the same character on that series)...

And best yet Marie and her stealing has always been fun; especially when she calls the realtor lady "Fatty" that was hilarious...

Kudos to the lady's of Breaking Bad despite the fact they get no respect otherwise.

'Breaking Bad' is one of the most popular rated shows on IMDb, is one of those rarities where every season has either been very positively received or near-universally acclaimed critically and where all of my friends have said nothing but great things about.

Very few shows in recent memory had me so hooked from the very start that before the week was over the whole show had been watched, especially when for a lot of shows now airing watching one episode all the way through can be an endeavour. 'Breaking Bad' had that effect on me, and its reputation as one of the best, consistently brilliant and most addictive shows in many years (maybe even ever) is more than deserved in my eyes. Its weakest season is perhaps the first season, understandable as any show's first season is the one where things are still settling.

Actually everything is established remarkably from the very start, but once the writing and characterisation becomes even meatier the show reaches even higher levels.

"Open House" is not one of the best 'Breaking Bad' episodes and there is better in Season 4. Still consider it great with a good deal of what makes the show so good present. It is a slow-burner and could have been tighter at times, but there is less of a filler episode feel than the previous episode and there are touches of light levity that balanced well with the episode's overall tone.

Visually, "Open House" is both stylish and beautiful, with photography and editing that are cinematic quality and put a lot of films today to shame, where there are a lot of visually beautiful ones but also some painfully amateurish looking ones. The music always has the appropriate mood, never too intrusive, never too muted.

The writing in "Open House" is a fine example of how to have a lot of style but also to have a lot of substance. The dialogue throughout is thought-provoking and entertaining. The story is generally interesting and absorbing, with the pace of it consistently deliberate but not dull.

Can't say anything bad about the acting. Bryan Cranston is phenomenal as one of the most fascinating anti-heroes, or even of any kind of character, in either film or television. Aaron Paul has never been better and his and Cranston's chemistry is a delight. Anna Gunn is affecting and Bob Odenkirk provides some welcome levity. The characters are compelling in their realism and the episode is strongly directed.

In summary, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Significant events. Marie is picked up for stealing from real estate open houses. This takes her back to her shoplifting days. Only Hank's connections keep her out of jail. Meanwhile, Skyler uses shady means to get the carwash guy to sell to them. She goes practical on Walter. They now are richer than rich but have to watch themselves constantly. At the end, one of Hank's former colleagues brings him something that is certainly going to bring about trouble.

This is for sure the worst breaking bad episode. It is full of character development in it, but there is nothing really remarkable about it. And what makes this worse than Fly is that Open House follows kind of the same format as every other BB episode. Even though it is the worst, doesn't mean it is bad, for sure.

My overall rating of "Breaking Bad"'s Season 4: 5/10

An episode where absolutely nothing of any importance happens and every character other than Saul is dumb, illogical and unpleasant. An easily skippable episode full of absolutely pointless and joyless scenes.