Breaking Bad S5e3: Hazard Pay – Walt Gets Wicked

Walt has a new hero that he wants his family to know about: Scarface.

After Walt learns from Marie that Skyler has had a breakdown, he not only falsely blames and reveals her affair with Ted, he recognizes how shattered and frightened his wife has become since truly learning what her husband is capable of. His reaction: to gather their children around the television and blare the conclusion of Brian de Palma’s Scarface, cheering on the hyper-carnage to rouse Skyler from her self-imposed seclusion in the bedroom.

Walt once again asserts absolute control, here showing Skyler that her fears mean nothing to him – other than a novel avenue to exploit her. By encouraging Walt Jr. to yell

Breaking Bad S5e2: Launching Lydia

Mike is back from Mexico, here playing with his granddaughter Kaylee, in whose name Gus Fring had funneled over two million dollars into a secret offshore account, which has been traced by Hank and seized by the government, pushing Mike back into the game, even with Walt, who he considers a time bomb, as his partner.

The fifth season of Breaking Bad has begun, and my obsession with Gus Fring shows no hint of abatement.

Mike’s return from the makeshift ER in Mexico suggests that I’ll learn more about Fring as the season moves forward, but then, Mike really know how to keep his trap shut. Note the poker face he maintains after Hank announces that the two million