I just like the idea that through the superlab-cam, Gus has seen that Jesse lacks motivation. If injected with a sense of purpose, he could be a better employee. Gus has probably pulled this on a fast food level at Pollos Hermanos before.

Keep alcohol away from Walt. There's clearly a lot of stuff that Walt keeps bottled up that just erupts when you throw booze on it. Remember the tequila scene with Walt Jr?

This episode had some really breathtaking cinematography too. I loved the high crane shot with the windmill and all the motion controlled time lapse they've been doing this season. Quality stuff.

Since when do vegans eat fried chicken?

This was probably my favorite episode of the season so far. Jesse/Mike and Jesse/Walt yes, no unconnected Skylar, Hank or Marie mess.

The wine-induced Walt pride madness at the end was the best. That's not even him playing the long game with Gus... that was pure self-destructive arrogance about the word 'genius.' If it happens to corner the chicken man as an unintended consequence, well, that'd be so in line with the show's brand of dark coincidences.

It's hard to sense Gus' motivations when he's not even on screen. Yep, it's given Jesse some much needed pep, but it's also driving a jealous rift between him and Walt.

Great direction. Loved the desert windmill and time lapses as well.

I don't know, sometimes Walt seems like a whiny baby always saying, "Jesse?!? Where's Jesse?!?" and then calling everyone and getting in his car and freaking out. Maybe it's just me, but it seems repetitive and slightly annoying

If your life depended on Jesse you would be freaking out like a baby also

What about the guy who showed up at the lab and operated the forklift? Is my memory failing me here ... have we met that guy before? For a second I was tempted to think that he was "the new Gale" but maybe he's just another one of Gus' heavies. (?)

We've seen him briefly, but I don't think he's spoken before. I think he's supposed to replace the guy who got razored to death by Gus

i read in an interview/creator q&a somewhere that his name is tyrus and that he's victor's replacement... it was his voice in the phone call in the second episode when walt was walking up to gus' house. he's also showed up in the lab before and been briefly seen staking out jesse/walt's house. other than that, he's even less present than victor was.

That was his voice in the second episode? Where did you read that? That is very interesting. I thought for sure it was Gus or Mike. Mike always seems to be the person who steps in and intercept Walt's terrible ideas when he goes after Gus. In the last episode it was Mike (I think) that called when Walt was in the chicken joint.

This brings up another question which I always wondered. Who was the voice that told Hank to get away when the silent twins were approaching him in the parking lot? Was that Mike or Gus?

no way. Mike called Walt when he was walking up to Gus' house. Mike called Walt to warn him about the twins.

Mike is always watching.

Mike is always protecting.

I think Mike is Walt's guardian angel and eventually will side with Walt when the time comes.

here's my source on the creator answer for the second episode (see bottom of post).

was it mike who called hank a minute before the twins came for him? i could never determine for sure. damn gravely voices.

yep, it was def the new black dude that called walt when walking up to gus' house
listen again when you get a chance on a re-run or dvd ... not mike's voice at all

though i do totally agree with you on mike being a sort of guardian angel for walt, the time will come

Gale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wugY6HNL ... r_embedded

More so then before, after last night I wish they would kill Skylar off already.... enough said.

completely agree. I wish they would continue to spin her into a criminal mastermind. Walt is a Meth chemist making millions of dollars for a drug kinpin. Does she really think bloodshed is not part of the drug trade?

One thing that seems obvious to me is why the cartel hasn't crossed the border and tried to kill Walt? Despite his money making pure meth recipe, if they killed the cook it seems Gus would have an inferior product to sell (although Jesse might be able to come close to duplicating it) or at least have to close shop until he got things back in order. Hopefully they will think of it and waste Skylar by mistake when coming after Walt.

Top 3 Skylar deaths:

1) Lit up by the cartel in a rain of bullets
2) Some kind of carwash death scene being sprayed with foam and water
3) Airplane drops from the sky after arguing with Walt and she does her little "get in the car and pull out of the driveway" scene for the 90th time.

OK maybe the last is wishful think but you get what I mean...

i love all the scenes with jesse and mike, and man that camera shot on the shovel was awesome!

this season is really getting good, the last two episodes have been fantastic

Not to get all Alan Alda on y'all, but I think this Skyler hate is a little extreme. I can take the casual misogyny with a grain of salt, sure, but I think it misses the point completely on an essential level of the intentions of the program.

A story of a decent guy and his path towards total corruption of character is only made truly interesting by seeing the perceptions of and effects on those around him, and who better than a once loving wife who's had to experience and assimilate as much as Skyler has to illustrate that? She's essential to the heart, intention and balance of the story now, and she always has been.

The writers all but had her state her current role in the story directly to the audience of haters last night, when she said that she knows people will perceive her as a b*tch, but "Someone has to protect this family from the man who protects this family."

Without Walt's motivations to get into this mess in the first place, what have we got?

agreed. you're probably right. Requisite annoyance.

That was a great line above by Skylar.

Well said, Toothaction. I think when fans start rallying for the death of a character like Jesse or Skyler (or Betty Draper, or Janice Soprano, or...) it's more of a knee-jerk emotional reaction. I had a really hard time when Skyler announced her affair with Ted. I was mad at her, sure. But as far as last night's episode goes, I AGREE WITH SKYLER! Drink 12 dollar champagne, buy Jr. a used Honda Civic and stay incognito!

Absolutely brilliant. Best object-cam since the bowling ball-cam in ... you know, that movie. And it was over in a flash.

This is Skylar's big season. She doesn't annoy me any more. She's the ensemble's anchor at this point. Walt is losing it and has no other life preserver.

Loved the sweet little routine with Walt asserting himself with Mr. Carwash's first earned dollar.

Jesse's new job sure did jerk him out of that funk he was in. Pretty clear his primary loyalty transferred quickly to Mike, or at least that's how it seems. His brief interaction with Gus was interesting. What is it Gus "sees" in Jesse? The capacity to kill?

"i hear you can handle yourself." gus knows that jesse's downward spiral was all about killing gale. i think he sees potential for muscle and beyond that a level-headed chef for his operation. one comment i read pointed out that gus and mike have been kinder to jesse about his abilities than walt has been in a long time. also loved the whole idea of the shovel scene haha.

"i am the one who knocks." powerful scene, but this must be right where i stopped empathizing with walt.

I still hope Skylar dies. I'm not budging on it.

I think Gus and Mike realize that Jesse needs a sense of self worth and if they can fill that void it will be easier to manipulate him against Walt.

I had the great honor of doing some work for the opening teaser of tonight's episode of Breaking Bad. Tune in and see!

Please tell me you snuck some Kaiju in

Congrats buddy thats exciting !