BREAKING BAD - "Half Measures"

The calm before the storm. That's what the latest episode of BREAKING BAD felt like for 99% of it's running time. Well, calm for BB. Not that this show is fraught with action and adventure every week, but there's almost no interaction that isn't as tense and exciting as most action scene's I've seen. After all the show managed to turn a common fly into one of the most haunting symbols of paranoia and self-doubt I've ever seen. So even though this episode was filled with a lot of talk, it set the scene beautifully for things to come.

But back to this week. This week, we learned what Walt is capable of... and what he isn't. Mike gave as impassioned and logical an argument for killing Jesse as I could've imagined. Really, what does he bring to the table? (I say this from characters like Mike's point of view, obviously Jesse is invaluable to the show). It makes perfect sense to get him out the way. But Walt just can't go there (yet?). I like that they didn't show Walt weighing his options, and pretend he may authorize the death of Jesse. We know he's not quite capable of that, and in fact he does pretty much the exact opposite. He kills for Jesse.

For a moment I wondered if this was too far for even Walt, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it made total sense. The man has lost the trust of the one person that mattered most to him, and much of this season has been devoted to Skyler reminding him that no matter how much she may accept his "business", the fundamental trust has been broken between them. So when Jesse feels he's been betrayed by Walt, it makes perfect sense for Walt to go to extremes to win that trust back (and, ya' know,murder a couple of child killers in the process).

So what happens next? Well, the finale is next week and as calm as this episode was, it certainly propelled the show forward into what should surely be an insanely tense season finale. What else would you expect from the best show on Television?

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RANDOM THOUGHTS

- I wonder what role Hank will play in the finale? Since his hospitalization, he's had (understandably) little to do. I wonder if he has much to do next week or if his arc this season will lead mostly into next season.

- I like the idea of Skyler running the car wash but her Wikipedia-ing "money laundering" felt a little silly and I hope if she DOES run Walt's laundering business, it doesn't stretch credulity too much.

- Is there a more propulsive word than the last one spoken at the end of this episode? I think not. Can't wait for the finale.