Note: Full spoilers for the episode follow.
If you haven’t already given kudos to the Breaking Bad writers (and why haven’t you?), this is the episode to do it.
“Hazard Pay” was about rebuilding the empire and it was done with the pragmatic, detail-oriented planning we’ve come to expect from the show. Nothing major happened; there wasn’t any explosion or raised tension or even a cheap death. That's what made it so good.
My goodness, who would’ve thought a cardboard box company wouldn’t be a good place to cook meth? What genius to think about a fumigating business. And there were no real questions that popped up from this--no skepticism from any Lehmen. I mean, I don’t own a box-making business, but (as usual) it looks like they did their due-diligence on this.
The little pieces of the business have been picked back up and with a few simple explanations. Mike will organize the business, Walt and Jesse will take care of cooking. Mike set the boys up. His little speeches, both to the inmate and to the fumigation employees, were awesome. Mike’s the ultimate badass (and also a murderer, but you know). He’s a people person and doesn’t BS anyone. He’s direct. He keeps promises he makes, sometimes at his own expense. That little moment where Walt looked at Jesse during the fumigation workers speech defined everything—it was a little absurd and kind of fun to see Walt and Jesse be on this side of the business. Badger and Skinny Pete picked up some roadie equipment, the fumigation guys moved in the equipment after signing a family and next thing you know Bob’s your uncle. They can cook again.
There wasn’t anything out of place, either; it was just efficient storytelling. There’s no time or dates or anything, but it moves quickly enough to give you an idea: maybe a week, maybe two. Our only time reference was when Marie dropped something about it being a year since Walt was diagnosed in episode 1 of Season 1.
Jesse and Walt ditch meth cooking to take on a pest extermination business.
Other pieces of the Season 5 puzzle were set up.
Skyler’s going mental. Who can blame her? Her husband’s a murderer, she’s afraid for her own life and he’s pushing himself back into the family. This has been extremely transparent so far and good. I don’t remember the last time a fanbase has been so inaccurate about a character. Skyler became a punching bag for fans who sided with the protagonist, and it’s understandable (on some level), but it became too vicious. She’s just a character in a TV show and although this show likes hyper-realism, she’s flawed and human. Now she’s the battered wife syndrome martyr. He’s watching Scarface with their son and baby daughter and laughing. The cigarette is her cry for help and she can’t talk about it even to her own sister.
It stinks. I liked Skyler as a strong woman who didn’t take guff from her husband. It’s cool that this goes to how Walt has destroyed everything in his wake, but I miss that. Oh well. If you’re gonna make an omelet, you gotta break some eggs.
Jesse meanwhile broke it off with his girlfriend, Andrea, after he and Walt had a bro-talk on the couch at the fumigated house watching a Three Stooges movie. Two things about this. First, how fun is it to see them have that scene? As barbaric as Breaking Bad has been in the past few seasons, it’s nice to see them have a good, non-chaotic scene; just chatting. Walt’s advice was "share with her in order to have a good relationship" and Jesse couldn’t.
And number two, this sets up the ultimate finish for the show: Jesse’s redemption. Andrea represents the possibility of having a home life for Jesse and that he chose to break it off with Andrea means he doesn’t want her involved in this at all. I’m guessing when the show’s over, he goes back to her.
“Hazard Pay” was an above-average episode with beautiful, artistic shots and some creative, efficient writing. Despite it’s unusual amount of set-up, it gave us some sweet and sour intimate scenes (Andrea asking Jesse if he’s OK; Jesse and Walt talking on the couch; Walt telling Marie what’s going on) that forwarded every character’s arc and the story as a whole. It took one dang episode to get the business back up and used a little TV magic along the way. That’s pretty good.
Like every other Breaking Bad season, the first few episodes are cleaning up after last season. It’s been a quick clean up and we’re having some fun along the way. I wonder what’s going to happen between Mike and Walt after this. And how is Mike going to get ushered out before the end of the series? Or will he?
Ah, we’ll find out eventually, right?
Source : feeds.ign.com
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