After sketching a rough outline of the new players for season 5 and setting up a shadowy, and somewhat ambiguous, start to the final season story arc, Breaking Bad gets back to its core device tonight: drugs.
The logistics of drug production and distribution has contributed to some of the more interesting story blocks of Breaking Bad, and “Hazard Pay” does not disappoint. From the mobile lab of season one to the industrial lab of seasons 3 and 4, Breaking Bad has always concocted an interesting setup for Mr. White and Jessie to do their thing. To give you precise details of what they hobble together for their first cook in “Hazard Pay” would constitute major spoilers, but let’s put it this way: has Walter White ever come up with any blahsy solutions to anything? Here are a few things I can tell you about tonight’s episode:
Business Clashes
It may be a three person operation, but Mike and Walter are already clashing over just who is actually in charge; and one of them is taking the power struggle very personally. On top of the first minor scuffle between Mike and Walter, we find out that Mike is bringing some silent partners to the venture that may turn out to be a burden to Walt.
Breakdowns
Skylar has an explosive breakdown in front of Marie, who will not rest until she finds out what has her sister in such mental anguish. This puts Marie on the offensive with Walt, who offers an excuse that could wind up causing even further damage to his relationship with Skylar.
While We’re Talking Relationships
Up until this episode I’ve watched the interactions between Skylar and Walt a little passively. Walt does seem slightly more Testosteroned up and either oblivious to his wife’s fear of him, or basking in it. In Hazard Pay we get a few more variables and it looks like this equation may be getting more solvable: there is a clash brewing between Skylar and Walter. Or more appropriately, Skylar and Heisenberg. To what magnitude remains to be seen, but we have seen Walter poison children, and his hubris is clearly out of control, so is there a limit he won’t go to? Bringing me to:
Parallels
“Hazard Pay” is a more linear episode than 5.01 and 5.02; fewer balls in the air and a more perceivable theme to reference across the separate story spaces. In the Walt, Mike, and Jessie space, we have a partnership that on the surface is shaky at best, with compromise being the biggest source of contention. Behind Mike’s back, we get a very clear image of Walt’s inflated sense of importance and the lengths that he feels could be necessary to get things going his way. Ironically, our view of Skylar’s space mimics this in various ways. Is the parallel just in my head, or in a subtext driven way is “Hazard Pay” alerting us to change in Walt’s marriage that could have disturbing implications for the Breaking Bad story?
Breaking Bad “Hazard Pay” Airs tonight at 10PM EST on AMCTV
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