Breakage (5 Apr. 2009)

Walt and Jesse decide to start their own little empire with the help of Jesse's friends: Skinny Pete, Combo, and Badger. Meanwhile, Hank tries to pull himself together after his encounter with Tuco.

Director:

Johan Renck

Writers:

Vince Gilligan (creator), Moira Walley-Beckett

Stars:

Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Bryan Cranston	...	Walter White
Anna Gunn	...	Skyler White
Aaron Paul	...	Jesse Pinkman
Dean Norris	...	Hank Schrader
Betsy Brandt	...	Marie Schrader
RJ Mitte	...	Walter White, Jr.
Krysten Ritter	...	Jane Margolis
Matt Jones	...	Badger
Steven Michael Quezada	...	Steven Gomez
Michael Shamus Wiles	...	ASAC George Merkert
Dale Dickey	...	Spooge's Woman
David Ury	...	Spooge
Tom Kiesche	...	Clovis
Charles Baker	...	Skinny Pete
Rodney Rush	...	Combo

Storyline

Walt continues his treatment and is starting to feel better but is concerned at the growing medical bills. Jesse begins to re-establish himself paying off his debts and getting a new place to live. He's interested in the renter however, Jane Margolis who next door. Walt and Jesse soon rev up the RV and are cooking again. Jesse's not keen on selling the stuff on the street and suggests he and Walt take over Tuco's role as a distributor. Hank and the DEA have come across the name Heisenberg and aren't sure if he's real or just an urban legend. Hank is promoted and soon appointed to a tri-State drug task force. He may have health issues of his own however.

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Plot Keywords:

medical bill | office manager | welding | robbery victim | congratulations | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2009 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

High Bridge Productions, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song that Hank sings while he is brewing is a 1970s advertising jingle for Löwenbräu.

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Goofs

When Skinny Pete, Badger, and Combo come over to Jesse's, the knocking sound continues after the person at the door, in silhouette, has stopped knocking.

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Quotes

Walter White: ...that leaves us with a total of two choices. We go into business with yet another homicidal lunatic... or you and I start - You selling whatever you can.
Jesse Pinkman: There's a third way.
Walter White: And what would that be?
Jesse Pinkman: We got to be Tuco.

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Soundtracks

"Here's To Good Friends"
(uncredited)
Written by Bill Backer
Performed by Arthur Prysock

User Reviews

Back in business

Once Walt has paid his medical bills and Jesse has found somewhere to live and settled things with Clovis all their money has gone so they must go back into production; the problem is they still have to sell it. Walt thinks they have two options; firstly they can find another psychotic distributer like Tuco to sell it for them or Jesse can spend his time selling it on the streets... Jesse has a third option; they become distributors themselves; he already knows a few guys who can sell it for him and is sure he'll find more in time. Everything goes well until a couple of junkies rob Skinny Pete; Jesse is willing to write the loss of as 'breakage' Walt isn't though; he believes they have to make it absolutely clear that such activities won't be tolerated or everybody will think they can steal from them... after all Tuco wouldn't let it go if somebody stole from him. Hank meanwhile is having difficulties in the aftermath of his shootout with Tuco even though it has led to him getting an important promotion that will lead to him spending half his time in El Paso.

This was a great episode that showed just how far Walt has come from the opening of the series where he was a meek school teacher; who would have though that in such a short time he'd have turned into the sort of person who would direct his partner to kill people? It was good to see Hank's reaction to the shooting; all too often on television we see police officers kill criminals then carry on as if it was no big deal but hear we see an officer who is affected. Dean Norris once again did a fine job in the role; for once not being the comedy relief.