"Thirty-Eight Snub" Review
This week has an awesome teaser as Walter White purchases an illegal, untraceable revolver from a badass arms-dealer. That scene played out nicely since the arms-dealer was both careful and practical. He questioned Walter’s motives; he didn’t simply take the money and run. As the episode progresses, we see Walt is ready to use that gun… and as soon as possible.
Quickly escalating from buying a gun to practicing draws from a chair, Walt eventually decides to go to Gus’ house and get it over with. In a beautifully lit scene, Gus calls Walt as he approaches the house, instructing him to go home. It’s a move that shows Gus’ caution - of course he’d have his home under surveillance. Likewise, it was a great decision to leave Gus out of this episode. We don’t know what he’s up to, making and the possibilities make this episode more frightening.
Meanwhile, Skyler puts on her business clothes and tries to buy the car wash. That was a fun scene, and it was nice to bring back the “man with the never-ending eyebrows,” as Saul would say. I have a feeling we haven’t seen the end of this. Skyler was insulted here and I’m sure she’s planning her revenge. It’s due-time she broke bad like Walt.
I didn’t expect Hank and Marie’s story to be so dark this season. However, it’s important to note that their story-arc is realistic, given the current situation. Marie is with Hank constantly and is becoming more of a nurse than a wife. To Marie, she’s simply being a faithful wife, yet to Hank, she’s becoming a pain. The scene where Hank tells her to get out is especially hard to watch and I wonder what sort of solution Marie will come up with. That being said, their story isn’t humorless. I don’t imagine the rock vs. mineral debate ever getting old.
Jesse’s current lifestyle is especially important this week, as he’s still trying to come to grips with his actions in “Full Measure.” It’s a frightening notion - being a murderer - and Jesse does all he can to avoid accepting reality. His seemingly never-ending party has to come to an end, and the final image is particularly striking. Rather than turn off the music and face the silence alone, Jesse blasts the speakers, shaking quietly.
There was a really nice scene between Jesse and Andrea. We realize that Jesse left her a large sum of money in the events preceding “Half Measures.” Rather than try and give the money back to Jesse, she keeps it... The storyline is left open and I like that. I wonder if we’ll see more of her by the season’s end.
I must say, though, my favorite scene of “Thirty-Eight Snub” is between Walt and Mike at a bar. Bryan Cranston and Jonathan Banks are such fine actors and seeing them together is always welcome. Walter tries to quietly get Mike on “his side” in the war against Gus. This is the moment when Walt finally faces an injury on Breaking Bad. Usually Jesse’s the punching bag and seeing Walt get hit in the face is a nice change of pace.
Overall, “Thirty-Eight Snub” deals with the consequences of character’s actions, all the while ratcheting up the feud between Walt and Gus. I have a feeling Gus will act soon and I doubt he’s happy about Walt’s actions thus far.
What did you think? As always, let me know in the comments below.
-MP