Wednesday, July 20, 2011

What I’m Watching: Breaking Bad (Season Premiere)


Breaking Bad: Season 4, Episode 1 “Box Cutter” (B+)

If ever there was a season finale to be recovered from, it was “Full Measure,” the whopper of a season ender that saw Walt and Jesse taking desperate steps to keep themselves alive by deciding to execute Gale. It’s most certainly a recovery episode, as things slowly inch back towards whatever normal could was on this show. Gale gets one last awkward honest encounter in the flashback before the opening titles, after which we discover that Gale has in fact been shot and killed, which has sufficiently angered Victor. The revelation that Victor can cook was a surprise, but Walt managed to really rip his skills apart, staunchly defending Jesse the entire time. Gus was not happy at all, and I presumed the entire time that Gus was going to end up killing Victor instead of Walt and Jesse. Nonetheless, the sight of Gus coldly slitting Victor’s throat with an X-Acto knife was quite chilling and horrifying. Gus was silent the whole time, and his sole line of “Well, get back to work” was equally scary. Hank is not looking good, and Marie’s definitely not helping the situation with her cheeriness and nosiness. Skyler seems considerably calmer than she has been in the past, but Walt still isn’t going to be opening up to her any time soon about the latest developments in his life. That last shot of Gale's lab notes is haunting, and I have a feeling this is going to be one long, devastating season much like the two before it.

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