Breaking Bad - Buried

Walt's time as Heisenberg is coming to an end.  Now, as the lies he's built around himself begin to crumble, we begin to see his third transformation.



Ever since the start of season 5 there's been on question on everyone's mind.  How did Walt end up celebrating his 52nd birthday in a shitty diner before buying Tony Montana's ridiculous gun?

Buried pushes us further towards that intense climax. 

We start with Jesse, after his Robin Hood routine has ended with a crash, lying, spinning, disconnected to the world around him.  Aaron Paul has showcased himself as an amazing actor before, but here he absolutely shines.  He speaks not a single word of dialogue in the entire episode.  But he doesn't have to.  His face tells us more than any lines ever could about the emotional disconnect he's going through.  His mind shutting down in the face of the guilt of the deeds his old chemistry teacher has dragged him into.

If Jesse is the moral center of the show, he's one who has become tired, burned out and used up.  Ever since the death of the Kid in the train heist he's been on a downward spiral bringing him to this point.  He can take no more.

Skyler on the other hand appears to have found strength in abundance.  Hank contacts her nearly immediately after the electrifying confrontation with Walt in the previous episode, demonstrating that he has no intention of treading lightly.  At first, Hank treats her as a victim.  It's interesting to note the lengths that Hank is prepared to go to capture Walt now.  Skyler is his sister in law and he's never demonstrated anything but love for her.  Here, he tries to coerce her into making a statement without a lawyer present, not even realizing why that might be bad, simply that desperate to find some kind of concrete proof against Walt.

But Skyler stopped being a victim of Walt's a while back, when she acquired the carwash.  She is as much a partner now as Walt's other associates.  So when she creates a scene and escapes Hank, then later has a tearfilled confrontation with her sister but still stops her from taking the baby, we can see, she's in this too now.  When she at last talks to her husband she confirms it.  She may not be happy.  But she is at least on his side.

This episode seemed mostly about the side characters, Hank, Marie, Skyler.  Walt's subplot, involving burying the money out in the desert, is almost an aside, and though we can be certain that those numbers and the barrels will be important in the future, they seem almost irrelevant here.  Bury your money Walt.  The noose is tightening.

Posted in: bad, blue meth, breaking, breaking bad, bryan cranston, buried, TV, TV Review, walter white