Other TV 23 - 29 May

Posted by The TV Critic on 26 May 2010 | 0 Comments

Tags: Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad - 310 - Fly

Another terrific episode. In producing such a minimalist episode the show demonstrates the mastery it has over its two main characters. I feel like I know Walt and Jesse so well now that seeing them do almost anything is fascinating. I found myself transfixed by the opening minutes as Walt chases the fly around the lab. But as the episode unfolded once more we were treated to the wonderful dynamic which the two share. Business partners, best friends, enemies, father and son, pain in the ass - they are everything to each other. Despite how much they annoy one another the writing finds ways to show how much they care for one another and how much they are dependent on the other for emotional support.

I also loved Walt's speech about how he should have died by now. Viewers knew he felt like this. When the doctor told him the good news about his remission he bloodied his fists in anger and frustration. His whole plan revolved around dying a hero leaving Skyler with enough money to always think back on him as a wonderful husband who did what he had to do for his family. Now he is living on and causing more and more suffering including to the marriage which he broke the law to serve.

We also know that in times of stress Walt slips into obsession to take his mind off his problems. We saw this again after his remission when he began trying to remove rot from his house and here it is the fly. Walt is smart enough too, to know that he and Jesse are almost in deeper danger working for Gus. At least out in the real world they had options to hide from the drug lords but now he knows he could be murdered in an instant and no one would know why or find out who did it. And of course the final word on this show is consequences. Walt shows his love for Jesse by telling him kindly that he should stop stealing meth or they will be in big trouble. In another show he wouldn't have noticed and the theft would have been a big point of drama. But in Breaking Bad actions have immediate and far reaching consequences and that's just one of the reasons it is a great show. 

Party Down - 206 - Not On Your Wife Opening Night

I appreciated the idea of this episode, a farce within a farce. But I don't think it worked. None of the misunderstandings or mistaken identities were built up as having much significance and so the jokes didn't land. I know some of the overacting was by design but most of that also sucked me out of buying into the craziness. Roman making out with two people while tending bar crossed a line which the show often flirts with - where the waiters so abandon their jobs you would think they would get fired or reprimanded.