Breaking Bad - Season 5, Episode 4 "51"

Another spectacular season of Breaking Bad continues to roll along with this great episode.  Fewer shows have a greater sense of purpose and direction then Breaking Bad and now, so close to the end, the focus of the show really has become razor sharp.  We are watching the slow, inevitable self-destruction of Walter White.  We, the audience, know exactly what is happening and yet Walter himself has no idea, which makes the process all the more unnerving.  

 Over the years, there have been many shows featuring an anti-hero as protagonist.  The Shield and The Sopranos are two that come to mind immediately. One thing about those shows is that as terrible as the main characters were, there was some part of me rooting for them.  Breaking Bad has succeeded in making me hate Walter White.  The writing, and the excellent work of Bryan Cranston have done it.  I really dislike this guy, and I can't wait for him to get what is coming to him.

Those who watch Breaking Bad for awesome moments and one-liners may not find much of that this season, but the sense of dread, and of inevitability that pervades the show this season is truly great.  The pool scene in this episode was the latest example of an ominous scene that had me on edge throughout.  Much has been made of Anna Gunn and her shortcomings, and I must admit I'm not a huge fan of her work.  I think that her role as written this season could have been much stronger with a different actress, but this scene comes off so well nonetheless.  The character of Marie has never been known as a major strength of the show either, but she has been very good this season, and was great in the pool scene as well.  Her sense of legitimate concern for Skyler (as opposed to Walter, more preoccupied with his "business" and sense of pride) is palpable.

A major shout-out goes to Aaron Paul as well.  This season so far has been more Walter and Walter-Skyler-centric thus far, but I suspect Jesse will be getting his time to shine.  In the meantime, though, he has been so unbelievably good this season in a background role.  He has really shined in an understated role as the unexpected and sudden moral center of the show.

Also, I miss Gus.  Every time they show his picture or mention his name in the show, I get a little misty-eyed.  Dang it, Walter.