Quick Take: Breaking Bad, "Bullet Points"
“Yeah you do have a little shit/creek action happening.” – Saul
Review: Breaking Bad, "Bullet Points"
(S0404) “Bullet Points” is the Breaking Bad equivalent of The Simpsons' episode, “22 Short Films About Springfield.” There wasn’t so much an overall theme (other than maybe the continual deterioration of everyone’s situation) to the episode as there were five or six vignettes, connected sure, but each serving their own purpose. So with a title as fitting as “Bullet Points,” why fight it?
CHICKEN TRUCK
Mike begins the episode riding along in the back of refrigerated chicken batter truck. The ride becomes eventful when the truck is apparently pulled over and the driver killed by two men armed with machine guns. The men proceed to put a hundred or so bullet holes into the back of the truck, spilling quite a bit of meth-hiding batter all over Mike’s nice parka and fingerless gloves with the mitten flaps. When they enter the truck to investigate, Mike quickly disposes of them (because Mike is badass) and checks on his grossly shot-up right ear.
We learned in last season’s finale that someone is opposing Gus’ monopolistic business (presumably the remaining members of the Mexican cartel). In that episode, Mike remarked that the first group of attackers was hardly the A-Team. So what about these new would-be assassins/meth thieves? Mike dispatched them quickly but it’s interesting to point out they knew enough about Gus’ business to find and run-down the truck. And yet it’s also interesting that Gus knows enough about this opposing force to have Mike prepared for such an attack.
WALT AND SKYLER
Knowing that the carwash purchase is imminent, Skyler decides it’s time to “come clean” to Hank and Walter Jr. about Walt’s fictionalized gambling addiction in order to cut off any suspicions about the source of this newly-acquired income at the pass. And Skyler being the somewhat exceedingly cautious (at least in Walt’s opinion) criminal mastermind that she is, sets up a read-through of her script with Walt.
This was a surprisingly long scene and while it had a great, often humorous interplay between Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn, the one moment I most took away from it was when Walt seemingly apologized to Skyler for putting her and the rest of his family through this whole mess. And then it turned out he was just practicing his lines for the live show. Skyler’s right. She’s not as good of a liar as Walt.
THE SCHRADER HOUSEHOLD
Unfortunately for Skyler, Walt barely follows his script because a new revelation discovered at the Schrader household distracts him: Hank is consulting on Gale’s murder case. Fortunately, Hank and Walt Jr. (and I guess, Marie) still buy the gambling story and Walt is able to get Hank to show him more case materials. So far, it seems as if the Albuquerque P.D. has no connection between Gale and Jesse, but they are looking into a person of interest (who they won’t likely find since it’s probably Victor).
There’s a moment when Hank is talking about the initials “W.W.” that appear in Gale’s Lab Notes file that he begins to maybe, just maybe suspect that Walt could be involved. Walt suggests that W.W. refers to Walt Whitman, and Hank seems to accept it. But the seed has been planted, you’d have to think.
WALT AND SAUL
This vignette was all about Walt getting a chance to vent (and maybe recap to the audience) just how quickly his foray into drug production has spiraled out of control. Saul mostly just nods his head and so Walt can let it all out, but he does bring up a suggestion if Walt really thinks things are going to turn especially ugly. There’s a man that can be hired who will make you and your loved one disappear. For a moment, Walt considers this before dismissing the notion. But he likely won’t forget about that such an option exists either.
JESSE
Is this the end of Captain Cook? On most shows I’d say of course not. No way the cast would kill off the second most important character not even halfway through the season. But once Breaking Bad killed off the Cousins before Walt even got a chance to be confronted by them, I can’t ever say I know what the writers might pull next.
He doesn’t care about anything and his increasingly reckless behavior is brought to Gus’ attention by Mike. The never-ending meth party at his house is one thing, but he doesn’t even flinch when one of his “friends” steals the duffle bag full of money that he doesn’t even come close to hiding well enough in his bedroom. Mike and New Victor catch the thief and bring him and the money back to Jesse who nonchalantly takes it and basically says he can care less what Mike does with the blindfolded, tied-up man on his living room floor.
Jesse is so indifferent to everything going on around him that when Mike is driving him out to the middle of the desert for what all but appears to be his execution, he doesn’t even care. He might as well be getting driven to soccer practice. It’s just the next step in a situation that Jesse knows is inevitable. The fact that it’s also the last step is just a minor detail.
Lingering thoughts about "Bullet Points":
I thought this was a powerhouse of an episode, Breaking Bad operating above the very high bar it has already set for itself. The best moment -- chilling, funny, super intense all at once -- was Hank rolling out "Major Tom" for the amusement of Hank and Walt, Jr.
Interesting aside that Hank is perfectly willing to blur ethical lines to throw on video footage of a murdered meth cooker for his family at a dinner party, right?
Also, the "W.W." conversation (amongst others) makes you believe that there will be a major Walt v. Hank confrontation at some point. I'm thinking this might not happen until the final season (which is now supposed to be Season Five... sniff).