Caballo Sin Nombre" Review
“Caballo Sin Nombre” starts off with Walt singing (believe it or not), “A Horse With No Name” before getting pulled over by a police officer. He flips out at the officer, in a manner that’s somewhere between funny and uncomfortable. It was nice to see Hank come to Walt’s rescue and learn about the tension between Walt and Skyler. We know Hank doesn’t want to get involved but I like that he’s on Walt side.
One of my favorite parts of this episode (besides the ending, which I’ll get to) is Jesse getting his house back. It’s felt like a long time since we’ve seen the house (or his cold, distant parents). This episode makes them more unlikeable than ever… something I didn’t think possible. They are so nasty, in a reserved kind of way. Thank God for Saul - he’s a great character and the only one who could get Jesse’s house back legally. It felt like justice in the corrupt manner that only Saul could deliver.
Also, maybe it’s me, but Jesse is so different this season. From his outfits to his manner of speaking… he feels like a new character. I guess that’s what rehab does to a person, but it’s alarming how different he comes across.
One scene in particular that’s really uncomfortable to watch is Walt putting on cologne, using mouthwash, and bringing over a pizza to try and win his family back. We know it’s not going to work given Skyler’s determination to stay clear of Walt, so it’s really painful to see him smiling at the doorstep with a pizza. I must say though, that I find it hysterical how the pizza ends up on the roof and still hasn’t come down by the episode’s end.
And speaking of the episode’s end (I told you I’d get to it!), “Caballo Sin Nombre” has one of the most intense endings in recent memory. First, the setup is very interesting. Mike (who I’m so glad is back this season) taps the house while Walt decides to move back in on his own. That’s a very bold move and I wonder how it’s going to play out next episode. I really didn’t think Walt would have the guts to do that, since he’s always so respectful of Skyler.
Then come the cousins, calmly sitting outside the bathroom while Walt showers, holding a sharp axe. One of them picks up the teddy bear’s eye, looking it over. I love how that eye continues to make appearances in the show. I hope that continues throughout the rest of the season.
Now we’ve spent the last two episodes seeing how ruthless the cousins can be. That’s what makes the scene so unnerving. It feels a lot like Tuco, where you’re on edge because you don’t know what he’s capable of. There’s almost no logic behind the cousins’ actions… just violence. Gus saves Walt’s life by sending the cousins a text message, making me wonder how close they are to Gus. I know these characters are all involved with drug dealing, but to be able to text message each other suggests they’re pretty damn close.
Also, this is a random point, but I want to mention it. It seems that Walt is developing a bit of OCD. In last week’s episode, we see him trying to cut the sandwich into a perfect square, as he cuts more and more of the crust off. This week, he goes to the pool near his condo to skim off the lone band-aid. I like that the writers put it in and I wonder how far they’ll take it. The OCD thing shows how all of these events have affected Walt psychologically.
“Caballo Sin Nombre” is another great episode that leaves lingering questions as to how all of this is going to play out… and I can’t wait to see.
-MP