Once Upon a Time Dating

I loved this episode. It had all of the elements of a classic episode of Breaking Bad: uneasiness, humor, symbolism, and good ol’ cooking meth.

But I do have to say, Walt has surpassed evil and has just become a complete tool. I mean seriously, he’s a douchebag. The episode started with him moving back in without Skyler’s knowledge, and just nonchalantly telling her it would work out with a smug smile on his face. When he pushed her clothes aside and just threw in his own items I was almost screaming at the screen telling Skyler to punch him in the face at that very moment.

Mark my words people: Mike will win an Emmy next year for his performance this season. He is a combination of all of the best qualities in Walt and Gus: smart and ambitious, but also careful and aware. I also loved what Walt said about Mike to Saul and Jesse when they met before visiting potential new meth labs: “He threatened Jesse. He probably threatened someone before breakfast. It’s what he does. Grow a pair.”

When Walt, Jesse, Mike, and Saul were touring potential new labs, I knew that they wouldn’t make the same mistake they made with Gus and develop a permanent lab that they go to every day. It’s way too risky and would also be redundant- so when they decided to start cooking in people’s houses being exterminated, I thought it was brilliant. Is it just me, or do you sometimes wonder if actual meth dealers watch this show and are getting ideas? I always wonder if people who watch Dexter are actual murderers watching the show to get some tips, and I have similar concerns watching Breaking Bad. So to all the people who get their houses exterminated for termites in the future, meth will probably be cooked in your home. Just a warning.

Marie’s lunch with Skylar started out as a scene of Keeping Up With the Kardashians would: some sisters eating salads, drinking diet coke, and gossiping. Interestingly it also ended the same way, with one of the sisters going bat shit crazy. But Skylar’s only problems are not just that her husband is Scott Dissick and her daughter’s name is Peneople… her husband is a meth dealer with cancer, she has two children to take care of, her ex-boyf is in the hospital because she put him there after cooking his books and sending creepers to his house, and she kind of looks like she’s gained some weight. Therefore it wasn’t surprising when Skyler started lighting up and screaming “shut up” at Marie repeatedly.

I saw on my guide’s description of this episode: “Walt confesses to Marie”, and got really excited that he would tell her he cooks meth. Alas, it’s only the beginning of the second to last season, so I subconsciously knew that wouldn’t happen. After his conversation with Marie, Walt knew his wife was upset in her bedroom after just having a mental breakdown, and he just casually scrolled into the kitchen, bit into an apple, and chilled out with his kids watching Scarface. Way to be compassionate Walt- this furthered your douchebaggery. Skyler’s face when she saw her family watching a movie that basically portrays who Walt has become was EPIC… Anna Gunn should win the Emmy for her facial expressions alone.

The scene with Walt and Jesse relaxing on the couch and drinking some beers was refreshing, because it was one of the first times I saw Walt treating Jesse as his equal. He was inquiring about Jesse’s relationship, talking about Brock (who Walt awkwardly met and sat on a couch with after low-key poisoning him), but then revealed his true intentions: he just wanted to find out if Jesse told Andrea about their operation. And likely was only pushing marriage because a wife can’t testify against her husband in court. Congrats Walt, I’m beginning to hate you.

And then, the final scene. Walt’s sense of entitlement to the money was beyond childish and really proved to me that while this man is a brilliant scientist, he is no businessman. He clearly doesn’t understand that there are many people who go into not only making this operation function, but function without police involvement. Walt walks away upset with $117,00 after one cook, and seems to forget that when this show started he was making only $45,000 dollars a year as a high school chemistry teacher. It’s wonderful to see how mature Jesse has grown over the past five seasons, but incredibly frightening to see how Walt’s ego has grown even more.

Sidenote: I miss meth-head Wendy. Like a lot.