'Breaking Bad,' Season 4, Episode 7, 'Problem Dog': TV Recap - Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Chris Simmons
Last night's episode of "Breaking Bad," titled "Problem Dog", marks the official midpoint of the season, so as well as recap the events of the show, let's also take stock of where everyone is, mindset-wise, and what portends for them in the weeks to come.
Jesse is still in a state of confusion, or so one would think. He's playing a video game, appearing to clearheadedly shoot the bad guys on the screen, but before long, the character morphs into Gale, as he was as Jesse put a bullet in his brain. He is obviously tortured, and can't wrap his arms around the concept that, in all likelihood, he has gotten away with murdering Gale. More on him later…
Walt is frustrated that, on top of Skyler's taking the sweet ride away from Walt Jr., the dealership won't take the car back. So he takes it on a joy ride, doing donuts in a parking lot until the car is stuck on a parking bumper. For him, the car is now totally useless, so he sticks a paper in the fuel tank, lights it and watches as it blows up.
Saul estimates Walt's stunt cost him over 50 G's. Walt doesn't care.
For him, the only problem he has is Gus. They discuss hit men, but Saul warns against the possibility, citing that Mike probably knows anyone they can come up with.
Undeterred by Saul's pessimism, Walt works on Jesse, who's sober-minded enough to repaint his house from the crude tagging. At first, it appears that Jesse has become immune to his partner's hectoring about Gus' real motives in "promoting" him in the operation.
But finally, Jesse tightens his jaw and tells Walt that, regarding Gus, "I kill him, first chance I get!" Following up on this, Walt uses that chemistry genius brain of his and cooks up a little powdery cocktail that apparently could kill Gus without being detectable in a toxicology report. He gives the stuff to Jesse, who puts it in his cigarette for possible later use.
Meanwhile, Skyler is already overwhelmed by the demands of running the car wash when Walt comes in with some cash in need of laundering…274 thousand dollars worth. She is more than surprised over that amount, and floored when she realizes that there's millions more where that came from. They argue over the situation, and Walt leaves before a solution presents itself.
Hank takes Walt Jr. on a lunch trip to Los Pollos Hermanos, ostensibly to cheer his nephew up over losing his car. While there, they are greeting very warmly by Gus, ever the gracious successful legitimate businessman. He even gets Hank a refill on his diet drink. But back in the parking lot, Hank's real motive for having a chicken lunch is clear, as he delicately places his cup inside a plastic bag.
Undoubtedly, more on this coming up…
Jesse is again driving with Mike to the secret meeting he arranged for Gus with the rival cartel. He's given a gun and real responsibility as a member of Gus' protection team. He's told to make some coffee, and while doing so, seriously ponders using Walt's concoction, but there just isn't time. The meeting takes place, where under English subtitles, we learn that the rival cartel representative isn't interested in Gus' offer of 50 million dollars. In fact, there really isn't any negotiation, meaning both sides are bracing for something even more volatile than what's been going on. Mike tells Jesse so, and seems to truly trust that he can deliver when necessary.
Later that night, Jesse resurfaces at his Narcotics Anonymous meeting location, where he kinda-sorta lays out his dilemma, referring to a "problem dog" he put down (killed). Most of the others try to absolve him of his actions, but he eggs them all on with extreme edge until one of the ex-addicts sharply admonishes him for killing the "dog". This is just what Jesse wants to hear…needs to hear. But even this doesn't provide the catharsis that he's hoping for.
The next day, Hank has a meeting with his old DEA partner Steve Lopez and their boss. He slow builds up to the reason for the meeting: he's been working the connection between Gale and an expensive piece of equipment probably used to cook meth. He mentions Gus, which his colleagues shoot down. This is Gus Fring, benevolence personified, they're talking about. But just then, Hank pulls out his smoking gun:
Gus' prints from the soda cup, which match prints taken from Gale's apartment. Boom.
So, where are the characters' mindsets going into the second half of the season? Gus and Mike are braced for war. Hank is so close to getting his mojo back. Skyler is gonna find a way to make the car wash work, in all senses of the word. Jesse is determined to purge himself of his self-induced guilt, no matter who that takes out in the process.
And Walt, he's just getting deeper and deeper into dangerous waters from which there is no safe haven. And even if he doesn't drown, the Walt who may emerge may be the most dangerous man in New Mexico.
The second half begins in less than seven days now. Strap in, and see you all next week…
29 Aug, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEiHslZya0pKBMNX91YOi3sKDVDPw&url=http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/08/28/breaking-bad-season-4-episode-7-problem-dog-tv-recap/?mod=google_news_blog
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