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[BenjaminBirdie]

This episode was 'filler' in the same way that the episode in Tuco's uncles cabin was 'filler'.

Which is a fuckawesome way to start a season without answering a ton of questions or setting up a ton of storylines.

It was filler in that it "filled" the world with almost 55 minutes of quality television.

 

[blahblah...blah]

It was filler in that it "filled" the world with almost 55 minutes of quality television.

I really don't understand people who were disappointed by this episode. Yes, it wasn't as fast-paced as something like One Minute, but it was deliberate, not slow; intense, not boring.

Any show that has the confidence in its writers, directors, actors and DPs to have a single, ten minute long scene with next to no dialogue, and manages to make it gripping, horrifying and powerful deserves all the credit in the world.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

I really don't understand people who were disappointed by this episode. Yes, it wasn't as fast-paced as something like One Minute, but it was deliberate, not slow; intense, not boring.

Any show that has the confidence in its writers, directors, actors and DPs to have a single, ten minute long scene with next to no dialogue, and manages to make it gripping, horrifying and powerful deserves all the credit in the world.

A. Men. To. That.

 

[kehs]

I'm looking forward to people's commentaries on the slow episodes for this season.

lol

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Yeesh. That Alexander album was $5 on Amazonk. I've only listened to "Truth". All. Day.

Help.

 

[Salsa]

Well i loved it.

It was everything i wanted to be and the way the chain of events took off is basically the way i thought it would.

Only thing im not too fond of is the "place" where Jesse is now, hope he snaps out of it soon.

 

[Saty]

What was so noteworthy in this ep that should have gotten me all excited? This could have been Ep.14 in last season. As a season opener it's rather weak and doesn't really get the season starting.
I don't need it to be fast-paced, but they were taking too much time getting across a message we got and there couple of scenes that were out of place which only made the ep look the more lackluster.

Judging from memory, this was a worse ep than any of last season's.

 

[Puddles]

"Uno or dos?"
"Dos."

:lol

 

[dead souls]

Joker? Troll? There's nothing funny or trollish about thinking that Skyler White is among the worst characters in the history of television and that fucking Ted was one of the lowest acts ever performed by a major character.

Fucking laughable.

 

[Spectral Glider]

Still STILL don't get how people saw that coming. Still. Days later.

Probably comes from years of watching movies or reading stories like these. Like I said, once Mike asked him twice if he was seen at the crime I knew it was going to play badly for him. Didn't know if it meant immediate death, but knew it was trouble. And you know no major harm is going to come of the two main characters, at least not in a season opener anyway. So I figured it out as Gus was getting changed...what shocked me was the brutality of it. And I enjoyed the acting of everyone involved during the scene, that's what made it a good episode for me, even if there was an air of predictability to it.

 

[cacophony]

Yeah the main reason I saw that coming was because I knew that Gus was not going to kill/harm Walt or Jesse. So that only leaves Victor.

 

[Cornballer]

- AMC: Bryan Cranston (Walter White) Answers Fan Questions

No spoilers - just a couple answers about his method, the character, and the pizza toss.

 

[kehs]

What was so noteworthy in this ep that should have gotten me all excited? This could have been Ep.14 in last season. As a season opener it's rather weak and doesn't really get the season starting.
I don't need it to be fast-paced, but they were taking too much time getting across a message we got and there couple of scenes that were out of place which only made the ep look the more lackluster.

Judging from memory, this was a worse ep than any of last season's.

Puddles, you got some competition.

 

[BigAT]

No one thought it was possible that Gus was going to cut off a finger, mutilate or otherwise scar them? This isn't a show that is afraid to do serious harm to its main characters (see Hank or the numerous times that Jesse has been beaten to a pulp) and I don't think it is unreasonable to see serious, but non-lethal, physical punishment come to Walt or Jesse as a result of their actions. I appreciate that it wasn't especially possible for him to kill Jesse or Walt (at least in a season opener) but it's not like he was wielding a gun or some other object that only concludes in death, he had a box cutter which is much more likely to be used for small cuts rather than killing someone.

 

[TheOddOne]

I thought Gus was going to cook, just to show Walt who's boss.

 

[kehs]

I was half expecting Jesse to get beat up.....again.

Poor guy.

 

[Spectral Glider]

No one thought it was possible that Gus was going to cut off a finger, mutilate or otherwise scar them? This isn't a show that is afraid to do serious harm to its main characters (see Hank or the numerous times that Jesse has been beaten to a pulp) and I don't think it is unreasonable to see serious, but non-lethal, physical punishment come to Walt or Jesse as a result of their actions. I appreciate that it wasn't especially possible for him to kill Jesse or Walt (at least in a season opener) but it's not like he was wielding a gun or some other object that only concludes in death, he had a box cutter which is much more likely to be used for small cuts rather than killing someone.

Thought about that....but maiming them doesn't really help them to cook meth, on a specific schedule anyway. Plus I dunno, just the way the scene was staged, made it seem like Victor was getting it. Gus never really goes near Walt or Jesse or instructs Mike to make any preparations for them or anything of the like. And the way he stands near Victor was the final clue IMO.

 

[BigAT]

I thought Gus was going to cook, just to show Walt who's boss.

That's actually what I thought for a moment as well, right when he started to change out of his clothes. That it would be revealed that he actually started as a cook before becoming the head honcho.

 

[RobotNinjaHornets]

No one thought it was possible that Gus was going to cut off a finger, mutilate or otherwise scar them? This isn't a show that is afraid to do serious harm to its main characters (see Hank or the numerous times that Jesse has been beaten to a pulp) and I don't think it is unreasonable to see serious, but non-lethal, physical punishment come to Walt or Jesse as a result of their actions. I appreciate that it wasn't especially possible for him to kill Jesse or Walt (at least in a season opener) but it's not like he was wielding a gun or some other object that only concludes in death, he had a box cutter which is much more likely to be used for small cuts rather than killing someone.

The only reason that I didn't even think of that was because I read an article that said someone wouldn't survive the first episode.

I wish I hadn't read that

Still, tense as FUCK.

 

[brianjones]

I thought Gus was going to cook, just to show Walt who's boss.

yeah me too

 

[vazel]

I thought Gus was going to cook, just to show Walt who's boss.

That's what I thought at first too. That he was going to reveal himself to be a good cook but he prefers to be hands off and let others do the work. But then the way that other character was positioned in the scene tipped me off that he was going to get killed.

 

[Aquavelvaman]

http://i.imgur.com/KNpkS.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]
I like that they made an actual html file instead of just a jpeg of something that looked like a website

 

[tycoonheart]

I thought Gus was going to cook, just to show Walt who's boss.

This was exactly my thought when he was putting the hazard suit on.

Then he got the box cutter.

At this point I thought he was going to cut (not kill) Walt and/or Jesse, especially when he started circling them.

Then he went and stood right next to Victor. This is when I thought he was going to kill Victor, but I figured he would jab the box cutter into Victor's chest.

When he slit his throat, I was like... WTF OMG DID HE JUST DO THAT!!!

 

[daw840]

IMO, You have to be a jaded person to not have liked that episode....

 

[RobotNinjaHornets]

IMO, You have to be a jaded person to not have liked that episode....

*avatarquote*

 

[daw840]

*avatarquote*

...
...
...
GET BACK TO WORK
...
...
...

 

[Zeliard]

It saddens me that some people find scenes with no dialogue to be "slow." I don't even want to know what these people thought of the opening to There Will Be Blood.

 

[vatstep]

It saddens me that some people find scenes with no dialogue to be "slow." I don't even want to know what these people thought of the opening to There Will Be Blood.

I think the deliberate pace of the show is what makes it so intense and gripping. I guess not everyone feels that way. Maybe they'd prefer more explosions like in S3. :|

 

[Lafiel]

It saddens me that some people find scenes with no dialogue to be "slow." I don't even want to know what these people thought of the opening to There Will Be Blood.

What's amazing about how it's done in breaking bad.. is you rarely see that kind of direction in television, mostly in films, which in a good way differentiates breaking bad from most television shows.

 

[vazel]

It saddens me that some people find scenes with no dialogue to be "slow." I don't even want to know what these people thought of the opening to There Will Be Blood.

Or some of the scenes in Once Upon a Time in the West. I can understand some people not appreciating scenes like that but to actively hate on them... tsk tsk.

 

[Bowdz]

It saddens me that some people find scenes with no dialogue to be "slow." I don't even want to know what these people thought of the opening to There Will Be Blood.

Seriously. I thought the entire episode was great, but the whole scene with Gus was simply masterful. So much was said about each characters motivations, character, and relations to upcoming events with so little dialog. It is amazing that after watching it at least 10 times, it is still as intense as it was the first time (although the same can be said for any of the "Oh shit" scenes in BB). Good, deliberate changes of pace are what keep shows like BB and MM ahead of the rest of the pack.

 

[PhoenixDark]

What was so noteworthy in this ep that should have gotten me all excited? This could have been Ep.14 in last season. As a season opener it's rather weak and doesn't really get the season starting.
I don't need it to be fast-paced, but they were taking too much time getting across a message we got and there couple of scenes that were out of place which only made the ep look the more lackluster.

Judging from memory, this was a worse ep than any of last season's.

I kind of agree. It was a decent ep but had a weird, trivial atmosphere. Also while THAT scene was great, it was telegraphed. I felt he should have killed that guy and Jesse to make the most sense. He had no way of knowing whether Jesse was seen, and considering Jesse fucks everything up it would have been a good assumption he botched it somehow. Kill the dude, kill Jesse, then threaten to kill Walt's entire family if he refused to cook. Jesse offers so little to the scheme when you think about it.

As a cautious man, it also made little sense for him to kill the guy himself. Seemed more like a writing decision to deliver a big "holy shit" moment to an otherwise stale episode

 

[RaidenZR]

- AMC: Bryan Cranston (Walter White) Answers Fan Questions

No spoilers - just a couple answers about his method, the character, and the pizza toss.

OMG The pizza flinging was real!

+1000 Cranston

 

[dave is ok]

I rewatched it and actually enjoyed it more the second time. Knowing what was going to happen let me enjoy the writing and direction more. So many great lines and shots

Nice little callback to some dialogue from the finale in "If you make it me and Jesse versus Gale, Gale loses"

 

[Imm0rt4l]

"Uno or dos?"
"Dos."

:lol

I found that much more sad than funny. Actually I didn't find it funny at all :/.

 

[JoJoShabadoo]

This episode was 'filler' in the same way that the episode in Tuco's uncles cabin was 'filler'.

Which is a fuckawesome way to start a season without answering a ton of questions or setting up a ton of storylines.

The first season and first half of season 2 are a blur to me... You just made me want to rewatch it! Specifically that episode.

 

[kehs]

I kind of agree. It was a decent ep but had a weird, trivial atmosphere. Also while THAT scene was great, it was telegraphed. I felt he should have killed that guy and Jesse to make the most sense. He had no way of knowing whether Jesse was seen, and considering Jesse fucks everything up it would have been a good assumption he botched it somehow. Kill the dude, kill Jesse, then threaten to kill Walt's entire family if he refused to cook. Jesse offers so little to the scheme when you think about it.

As a cautious man, it also made little sense for him to kill the guy himself. Seemed more like a writing decision to deliver a big "holy shit" moment to an otherwise stale episode

This isn't Lost.

 

[Zeliard]

As a cautious man, it also made little sense for him to kill the guy himself. Seemed more like a writing decision to deliver a big "holy shit" moment to an otherwise stale episode

From Gus' perspective it was actually a good business move because he put the fear of god into Walt and Jesse, and he did it without having to do something like threaten Walt's family. Gus killing Victor himself had an impact on both the characters and the viewers that wouldn't have been the same had Mike or whoever else do it. Even Mike was taken aback by it, since Gus may not have demonstrated such brutality in front of him before.

 

[PhoenixDark]

From Gus' perspective it was actually a good business move because he put the fear of god into Walt and Jesse, and he did it without having to do something like threaten Walt's family. Gus killing Victor himself had an impact on both the characters and the viewers that wouldn't have been the same had Mike or whoever else do it. Even Mike was taken aback by it, since Gus may not have demonstrated such brutality in front of him before.

But they already know Gus will kill them if he's crossed - that "message" didn't need to be sent. Finally, as a cautious man it makes no sense for Gus to let Jesse live. He has absolutely no way to know he wasn't seen.

Being the dumbass he is, Jesse even decided to sit in his car after the deed.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

I kind of agree. It was a decent ep but had a weird, trivial atmosphere. Also while THAT scene was great, it was telegraphed. I felt he should have killed that guy and Jesse to make the most sense. He had no way of knowing whether Jesse was seen, and considering Jesse fucks everything up it would have been a good assumption he botched it somehow. Kill the dude, kill Jesse, then threaten to kill Walt's entire family if he refused to cook. Jesse offers so little to the scheme when you think about it.

As a cautious man, it also made little sense for him to kill the guy himself. Seemed more like a writing decision to deliver a big "holy shit" moment to an otherwise stale episode

I think it made perfect sense, its really him just illustrating a point that he's cold and putting fear in them. And Walt said, if he killed Jesse, he doesn't get Walt to cook.

 

[Zeliard]

But they already know Gus will kill them if he's crossed - that "message" didn't need to be sent. Finally, as a cautious man it makes no sense for Gus to let Jesse live. He has absolutely no way to know he wasn't seen.

Being the dumbass he is, Jesse even decided to sit in his car after the deed.

It's one thing for Gus to say something, but another thing entirely for him to actually act on it. Gus, by killing Victor the way he did, sent a message out that words never could have. Even Mike got the message, which to him was "you better not fuck up like this fool did."

Jesse's all fucked up right now. He's reeling from Gale and now after Victor, he's trying to desensitize himself to everything by putting on a tough guy act, but he's going to be damaged for a long time probably.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

It saddens me that some people find scenes with no dialogue to be "slow." I don't even want to know what these people thought of the opening to There Will Be Blood.

My issue (it's not even as "issue," really) is just that the to have the big boss man walk around in a menacing way without saying a word has been done quite a lot and seemed out of character for him, I guess.

Scenes without dialogue can be incredible.

 

[Lafiel]

I kind of agree. It was a decent ep but had a weird, trivial atmosphere. Also while THAT scene was great, it was telegraphed. I felt he should have killed that guy and Jesse to make the most sense. He had no way of knowing whether Jesse was seen, and considering Jesse fucks everything up it would have been a good assumption he botched it somehow. Kill the dude, kill Jesse, then threaten to kill Walt's entire family if he refused to cook. Jesse offers so little to the scheme when you think about it.

While that scene was definitely predictable, I don't think that takes away from the scene at all, i mean what matters is the execution, not the predictability of it, and the execution of that particular scene was very strong.

 

[Zeliard]

My issue (it's not even as "issue," really) is just that the to have the big boss man walk around in a menacing way without saying a word has been done quite a lot and seemed out of character for him, I guess.

Scenes without dialogue can be incredible.

I got more the sense that Gus was enraged and could barely contain it. It didn't feel gimmicky at all to me. He had nothing to really say there; Walt was blurting his guts out and doing all the talking for everyone in the room.

I actually love the fact that Gus didn't say a word because it means you have no idea what his original plan was. Was he always going to kill Victor right there in front of them? It's likely Victor was dead anyway, since he was seen at Gale's, but was Gus planning on killing him in the lab when he walked in through that door?

Or did Walt's pleading and logical outbursts actually sway Gus? Was Gus originally planning on killing everyone in that room except Mike? You don't know because his demeanor was steady throughout, and that just adds to the intrigue, IMO.

 

[PhoenixDark]

My issue (it's not even as "issue," really) is just that the to have the big boss man walk around in a menacing way without saying a word has been done quite a lot and seemed out of character for him, I guess.

Scenes without dialogue can be incredible.

It was totally out of character; it's like Obama beating the shit out of someone. Walt and Jesse already know Gus will kill them and their families if he has to, without hesitation. He's not some petty mob guy collecting a vic. He's an international drug dealer.

 

[Trent Strong]

I don't get the Skyler hate. Yeah, she can be kind of bitchy, but her husband is a sociopath.

 

[Zeliard]

It was totally out of character; it's like Obama beating the shit out of someone. Walt and Jesse already know Gus will kill them and their families if he has to, without hesitation. He's not some petty mob guy collecting a vic. He's an international drug dealer.

Which is what makes it so striking and impactful when he gets his own hands dirty. And then you realize "well, yeah, the guy is at the top of the meth distribution world, he's probably done a lot of heinous shit to get there." The fact that you didn't think he was capable of it is what makes the writers entirely justified in actually showing it.

 

[Drewsky]

I don't get the Skyler hate. Yeah, she can be kind of bitchy, but her husband is a sociopath.

I wouldn't say Walt's a sociopath. There have most definitely been times that he showed remorse for his actions. I'm not saying he's a good guy! So let's nip that argument in the bud now.

 

[kehs]

I wouldn't say Walt's a sociopath. There have most definitely been times that he showed remorse for his actions. I'm not saying he's a good guy! So let's nip that argument in the bud now.

Has he though? Anytime he has feigned remorse is out of self preservation.

 

[Superimposer]

No one thought it was possible that Gus was going to cut off a finger, mutilate or otherwise scar them? This isn't a show that is afraid to do serious harm to its main characters (see Hank or the numerous times that Jesse has been beaten to a pulp) and I don't think it is unreasonable to see serious, but non-lethal, physical punishment come to Walt or Jesse as a result of their actions. I appreciate that it wasn't especially possible for him to kill Jesse or Walt (at least in a season opener) but it's not like he was wielding a gun or some other object that only concludes in death, he had a box cutter which is much more likely to be used for small cuts rather than killing someone.

I definitely thought this was going to happen, so what actually happened definitely surprised me at least. Not only in terms of the story and Gus' character, but in terms of this show as well. Never seen anything as drastic and violent in this show before (unless I'm forgetting something obvious)