Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 13: "To Hajiilee" Review

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This review contains MASSIVE spoilers, yes I used all caps because having this episode spoiled would make you hate life. You have been warned

Is it even possible to write a coherent review about this episode? After watching it would you care what happened for the first 40 or so minutes? I would personally skim past everything and try to analyze the way this episode finished for hours. So let's do that. Let me start off by saying that the ending absolutely sucked. Not that it was bad or anything, but when it spawns tweets like this, this, and this and also causes one of my friends (the one who tweeted that last bit of genius) to say things like: "That episode was a half-measure" you know that they fucked up. You absolutely cannot leave us with a cliffhanger in this specific situation and I am about to go into detail as to why.

First of all, assuming Hank and Gomie meet their end, their deaths would be WAY less meaningful and/or shocking because we will have had a full week from the airing of this episode to deal with it and think about it. On the other hand, if they somehow survive (my beacon of hope is that Hank is two for two in shootouts and situations like these) it would be an incredible reach by the writers, very "Hollywood" if you will. Worse yet, they could opt to just skip the shoot out and show us the aftermath and move on. I think that last option would cause riots. Its a no-win situation. We are either heavily disappointed, or are rolling our eyes at a miraculous escape. Sigh. Despite the ending of "To Hajiilee" I must say that it is an absolute gem of an episode, a true Breaking Bad classic that had all the aspects of what made this show so good over the years.

We had Walt being his despicable self with his ploy to lure Jesse to Andria's house. We had Hank finally displaying the type of police work that we saw him display when he was on the hunt for Gus. Taking Jesse's phone, figuring out that Walt buried his money, and fleecing Huel were all really good moments and were very fun to watch. The cream of the crop however, was tricking Walt into revealing the location of his buried treasure. Hank created a way in which Walt would have absolutely no chance to call for back-up or see the trap coming. Really good stuff.

Next week literally can not come fast enough. Only. Three. Left.



Overall Rating For This Episode: The tension in this episode was unbearable, the plot was fantastic, and as we round the corner and come into the home stretch; I could not imagine a better way (despite the ending). There is absolutely no doubt that this episode receives a 10/10.

Note: The Ending itself received a -092138120983/10 but it really could not ruin the overall brilliance. 

Best Scene: Everything from the point that Walt saw the picture which he thought was his money all the way through to the gunfight. Absolutely the most dramatic moment of the series to date.

Best Quote: "Walter White... You are under arrest" In what may be some of his last words, there can only be one choice
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Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 12: "Rabid Dog" Review

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As always, this review will contain spoilers. If you have not seen the episode yet and do not wish to have it ruined, stop reading now and come back once you have seen it. You have been warned

"Rabid Dog" the title of this episode is a nice homage to "Problem Dog" (season four, episode seven) in the sense that it is all about Jesse and how his actions have stirred the pot once again. Last week we ended with Jesse pouring gasoline all over the White residence. Unlike the previous few episodes, this one did not pick up right at that point (although it easily could have once we saw where Jesse disappeared to) but rather at the point where Walt got to his house and noticed Jesse's car. The events that followed were a bit too "Hollywood" for my liking.

What do I mean by Hollywood? Its when a TV show sacrifices an established premise (in Breaking Bad's case its: meticulous and realistic situations) in favor of more flashy scenes that only serve to either a): advance the plot towards a desired direction quickly so that no one questions it, or b): to have a spectacular scene (think "One Minute") that has fans talking for a while. In one case I accept it and enjoy the fireworks, in the other I am bitterly disappointed and feel that the show can do better. In this episode's case some such events stand out: Walt arriving literally one second after Hank and Jesse leave his house, and the last scene. Man I hated the last scene. What are the odds that a guy who, looks like an absolute thug, is standing at a perfect distance from Walt to make it seem like he is on orders to kill the first person to approach, mean-mugs the entire time, and picks up his daughter three seconds after Jesse threatens Walt? That is pure Hollywood and this show is better than that. I could think of nine different ways that they could have done that scene better.

Having said all that, the episode did have some nice positives. Hank revealing to his partner that he could care less if Jesse dies as long as he gets Walt in the end, Marie (best season for her by far) having very realistic and emotional scenes, Skylar throwing out the suggestion to kill Jesse (at this point I do not think there is a single fan who wants her alive), and lastly, Walt making the call to our old friend Todd (also known as child murderer). This Jesse situation (can we get a clarification from the writers? Lily of the Valley poisoned Brock, not the Ricin! This is a really fristrating plot flaw) has escalated to the point where Walt is asking from help from a dangerous party. Considering the fact that we know (to some extent) what happens a year from now, I am really excited to see how things fall apart. Only four episodes to go.

Overall Rating for this episode: 7.7/10 An underwhelming episode, fueled by unrealistic plot progression that will probably wind up being the worst episode of this season. Let's just get to next week already.

Best Scene: The show runners really want people to say stuff like "OH WOW, IF JESSE ONLY WAITED ONE SECOND" yeah that is not happening. I am going with the scene where Hank convinces Jesse to help him bring down Walt.

Best Quote: "He can't keep getting away with this" - Jesse