Breaking Bad 3x05

In a flashback all the way to the beginning, we see Walter White giving all his savings to his former student Jesse Pinkman so as to buy an RV (recreational vehicle – i.e., the camper van they will soon use as meth lab). Instead, Jesse burned most of the money with his buddies Skinny Pete and Combo at a strip club. Early in the morning, Combo offers Jesse a quick deal for the remainder of the money. Jesse’s too hung-over from liquor, drugs and strippers, to realize they just stole the van from Combo’s mother. Back in the present, DEA officer Hank Schrader is humiliating himself in front of his wife and partner by tenaciously pursuing the “Heisenberg” figment of an investigation. He has basically searched for every single RV of the make he saw on the ATM’s security tapes. Except for one, of course, the one Jesse stole, but that Combo’s mother never reported. Now Combo’s been dead for two months – killed on the street by rival dealers. That is, in the end, what Hank learns. Plus, at Mrs. Ortega’s house he finds a picture of Combo at the strip club – with Jesse. For his part, secretive businessman Gus Fring finally has his chance to appeal to Walt’s weaknesses. He shows him the state-of-the-art underground laboratory (concealed by an industrial laundry facility) which he has built for him. And he tells him a man provides for his family even if he’s not loved, because that is simply what a man does. It’s the clincher of the deal!

Walt’s wife Skyler is starting to have second thoughts. Maybe Walt did change after he was confronted with death, maybe he did it all for the good of his family, maybe he’s a good father to their children. But then her divorce lawyer hammers in the nail. “You may not have married a criminal,” she tells her, “but you are married to one now.” And she urges Skyler to leave the house, because she is accessory to Walt’s crimes, she’s culpable. When she comes back home, Walt’s gone and signed the divorce papers. At the law office of sleazy Saul, Walt and Jesse have a confrontation. Walt hands Jesse his half of the money from the deal with Gus. Then Walt tells them he’ll be earning $3 million by working for Gus for three months. Jesse’s out of business. They have become competitors now on the same market, rival drug dealers – and Hank’s already onto Jesse. This is going to be interesting! Things have really picked up and our patience has paid off. The season has gradually built up the dramatic tension and the audience is now reaping the rewards. What is going to happen with Tuco’s Cousins? Will Hank trace Jesse through the van? Will Skyler come to accept Walt’s choices or will all his efforts be for naught? It’s impossible to stop watching this show now. You just have to know what will happen next. Excellent!