This week's episode was most definitely a throwback to season one. With this episode celebrating Walt's fifty-first birthday, it really makes you realise how much he's changed, along with everyone around him, within the span of only 12 months.
This episode continued to build up the plot and set things up for the assuming later chaos to come. The episode starts off with Walt embracing his Heisenberg persona once again and it seems with no current threat to be had, he feels invincible. He recklessly buys two new cars, and even throughout the episode it's clear he's come to the conclusion that he is has nothing to worry about. That is, with the exception of Skyler.
In contrast to the last time when Walt tried to buy his son a new car, Skyler remained silent due to her fear. In the past three episodes her character had been hitting that one note over and over, and finally we see it reach its peak. It would be an understatement to say Skyler's slow walk in the pool was disturbing. Along with some clear metaphoric undertones, it was a desperate plea to get her children away from Walt.
Seeing as the most common theme to this episode was the its contrast from season one, one of the most apparent uses of it was how Walt and Skyler had a role reversal. From as early as the breakfast, Walt was happily socialising with Walter Jr. while Skyler sat in silence as the audience had a clear idea what was going on through her head. The same goes with just the fact that Walt genuinely wanted a surprise party, while although Skyler would originally jump at the opportunity, this time tried to avoid the idea altogether with.
Skyler is currently trapped, and as Walt has made it clear, she has no escape. Though, it's clear that she has not decided to give up. Based on the first scene from this season as Walt celebrates his fifty-second birthday, we can assume she either succeeds or her family meets their demise (optimism is for the weak!).
Although Skyler is just as much of an accomplice at this point, I don't see why Walt still wants her around. I guess his drive continues to be his family, but even if that's the case, the family dynamics are now so twisted, it's hard to believe he'd want to live under so many lies and forced happiness. Then again it's not like anyone else is really under that impression, I'm implying about Walter Jr. who continues to be as oblivious as ever. At times I find it hard to believe he can be that dense.
It was clear that this episode decided to make its focus on the Walt's family, rather than the drug business, but Silvia still made an appearance in all her paranoid glory! In this case, she still has to procure the methylamine in hopes to keeping her life. Though, she managed to convince Jesse he couldn't take any because it was under police surveillance. Mike saw through this, but whether she was actually lying is still up for debate.
Nonetheless, Jesse chose to defend her, thus saving her life. Despite all that's he done in the past 12 months himself, it's clear he's still displayed as the innocent. Now more than ever as he kindly gives "Mr.White" a birthday gift, still blissfully unaware of how much Walt has toyed with his life.
In fact, that moment is what made Walt's speech to Skyler on how he'll make her like him because of how he managed to convince the same to Jesse, pretty ironic. His method was through tricks and poisoning a child. Maybe he'll be coming up with a similar plan to get Skyler back on his side? Anyway, this episode chose to end on the note that clock is ticking as everyone's waiting for something. On more than one occasion, time was mentioned, and this reoccurring theme is doing a good job and creating an urgency this season seems to have. Now it's just a wait to see when time will run out.
No comments:
Post a Comment