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'Breaking Bad' Recap: Mike Gets Dragged Into Walt's Time Bomb

by Linda Sharps on July 23, 2012 at 2:50 AM

(Spoilers ahead!) Oh man, let's talk about Breaking Bad, shall we? Last week's premiere episode set us up with Walt, Jesse, and Mike teaming up ("Yeah bitch! MAGNETS!") to destroy Gus's laptop -- and the meth-lab security footage it contained -- but they also inadvertently revealed a bunch of damning offshore bank account numbers in the process. We got an unsettling glimpse into the cancer-recurring/gun-purchasing Walt of Some Unknown Time From Now, so we can assume some pretty terrible things are going to happen in this last season.

Here's a roundup of tonight's most WTF moments, of which there were MANY:

Das Germans. Oh hey, it's Madrigal, the once-faceless German parent corporation of Pollos Hermanos, with an Herr Somebody who transitions from robotically tasting a dipping sauce called "Franch" to taking his own life in the men's room via defibrillator so as to avoid being interrogated by the cops. Hell of an open, Breaking Bad.

Lydia. Mike's meeting with the bumbling, nerve-wracked Lydia in the diner was pure comedy, which made the later events of the episode even more shocking. Lydia (who works for Madrigal, I assume? I was never entirely clear on this) is worried about loose ends, Mike is disgusted at her pussy-footed implication that all eleven of Gus's high-level guys should be killed. Drink your dumb hot lemon water, Lydia! You're clearly not cut out for a life of crime! In fact, I bet we never even see you again! *foreboding music*

Walt's evil subterfuge. Walt plants the fake "missing" ricin cigarette so that Jesse has a breakdown over the fact that he nearly shot his good faithful buddy Mr. White over it, and holy shit, at this point I'm starting to think the entire last season has to be building towards the epic showdown that will occur when Jesse finally learns about all the increasingly horrible ways Walt has deceived him. Or do we even want such a painful revelation to happen to Jesse, who we all kind of love?

Walt's pitch to Mike. Walt tries to sell Mike on Blue Meth Kingpin II, This Time We'll All Be Owners! Boogaloo. Mike declines, saying he wished Jesse saw it too, but, "You're trouble. You're a time bomb, tick tick ticking away."

Hank inches closer to the truth. Hank and his partner are going full speed ahead on the Fring investigation, and they drag Mike down to the station to answer a few questions. Bad news for Mike: thanks to those uncovered bank account numbers, Hank's team now knows about the $2 million that was socked away for Mike's granddaughter. Mike's in hot water, but worse, Mike's now incentivized to earn a bunch of cash. Say, for instance, with an egomaniacal, unscrupulous meth dealer.

Lydia's second act. Mike learns Lydia was paying a guy to kill those 11 loose ends, including Mike himself, and he shows up at Lydia's house. A chilling scene ensues in which we see Lydia begging him to spare her face and to leave her body where her daughter can find it so that the little girl doesn't believe she was abandoned, and I was positive Mike was going to shoot her. Positive. But no, he spares her life ... and asks her if she can get methylamine, which Walt needs to make his high-end, non-Sudafed-based meth. Oh, Mike.

Yet another profoundly creepy scene between Walt and Skyler. I never thought I'd feel sorry for Skyler, but my skin literally crawled when Walt climbed in bed with her and started giving her those gross, sticky-sounding kisses as she lay there, completely traumatized. It was so invasive and awful and how about that placating line of his, "There's no better reason than family"? (Which cleverly underscored Mike's motivation, by the way.) Can you even remember the Walt of season one at this point? Goddamn, what a show.

It seems like last week's episode was mainly intended to wrap up any dangling plot points after the season 4 finale, and tonight was the true kickoff to season 5. The focus on Mike was masterful, not only because Jonathan Banks is such a fantastically talented actor and a pure joy to watch in this show, but because we're rooting for him. We like him, we want him to break free, yet he's getting sucked into Walt's vortex along with everyone else. Unlike everyone else, however, Mike knows exactly how fucked the situation is ... along with the price he's likely to pay.

What did you think of tonight's Breaking Bad episode? Are you hoping Mike manages to extract himself from Walt?

Image via AMC

Filed Under: television

Comments

8
  • Joie
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Joie

    July 23, 2012 at 10:08 AM
    It's hard to believe there was a time I rooted for Walt. Now it seems more like Mike or Jesse will take over as the protagonist of this show.
  • terry77
    -- Nonmember comment from

    terry77

    July 23, 2012 at 10:38 AM
    Another great edge of my seat episode! Loved the beginning, very quiet but you knew it wasn't going to end well for that guy. As he was walking up the stairs, I knew he wasn't going to live. He already looked resigned to death. I'm still in shock over Walt poisoning the kid!! Poor Jessie! I've liked Mike since he first showed up and I hope he lives. Endearing how he dotes in his granddaughter, but it is so cold with his "job". Only reason
  • terry77
    -- Nonmember comment from

    terry77

    July 23, 2012 at 10:39 AM
    Dang it...Lydia is still alive is because of her daughter. Hank's face definitely showed he's thinking about someone under his nose. Love this show, good recap!!
  • Gwens...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Gwensarah Rymer

    July 23, 2012 at 3:45 PM

    Oh that scene with Walt and Skyler creeped me out too! I remember a few seasons ago, when Jesse was in the hospital after Hank attacked him, telling Walt "ever since I met you, I've lost everything" and just have a feeling that the last season is going to wind up with Jesse finally figuring out the extent of Walt's manipulation and betrayal. From Jane's death to the kid getting poisoned. I have a feeling Walt's end will be at Jesse's hands and it's so sad because Jesse is a good heart. I'm also Team Mike, I've loved him since he came into the show.


  • Amber...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Amber Scott

    July 23, 2012 at 5:20 PM
    I loved the episode and I love the show to pieces, and your recaps are solid gold. And since you mentioned Jonathan Banks' acting chops, did you see that video floating around of his first acting role? Holy wow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTEOpEGvcKA
  • Cafe...
    --

    Cafe Sheri

    July 23, 2012 at 7:40 PM

    Dear god, the scene with Skyler. And shit, she's completely lost all her power.


  • H
    -- Nonmember comment from

    H

    July 24, 2012 at 1:34 PM
    I'm Team Jesse, Team Mike and Team Skyler (in a weird way) and holy crapola there are so many fantastic performances by terrific actors/actresses on this show! That - and whenever I see writers listed in the credits, I'm reminded that the actors and actresses are not the only ones who deserve credit for the fact that I watch this show with my mouth agape and my buttocks gripping my seat!
  • H
    -- Nonmember comment from

    H

    July 24, 2012 at 1:34 PM
    I forgot - love your recaps!
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