Breaking Bad (TV Series) Cornered (2011) User Reviews

Walt is the danger in this fantastic episode

[Vlayer · 8/10 · 15 September 2011]

Cornered is very much about Walt and him trying to convince everyone that he has everything under control. The scene most people will remember from this episode is his argument with Skyler, where he argues that he is not the danger, but rather he IS the danger.

Aside from that scene there were plenty of other great scenes in this episode and a welcomed return of the recurring dark humor that this show does so well. Jesse proved to us and Mike that he can handle himself and Skyler had to make a tough decision.

Walt made many dumb mistakes in this episode while trying to prove that he has control. He successfully figured out what Gus is trying to do concerning Jesse, at the cost of insulting the guy and making him mad. He managed to pay workers in the laundromat to clean the meth lab, only to get them sent back to Honduras. He even bought a car to impress his son, a car that he has to send back the next day and that hopefully does not ruin their gambling story. Walt is destroying everything around him, so in a way, he really is the danger.

Paranoia

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 9 December 2012]

After Walt's surprising openness at Hank and Marie's house the night before Skyler worries that he might be in danger from the same people who killed Gale; she reassures him that isn't the case but in doing so makes her worried enough to depart with the baby. When Walt gets to work he quizzes Jesse about what he was doing with Mike; questioning whether the robbery Jesse averted was real and ranting that Gus is just trying to drive a wedge between them... which of course he is. Walt's paranoia isn't eased when Jesse gets a call ordering him to work with Mike again leaving Walt to clean the lab on his own. Walt thinks he has found a way around this but it just leads to trouble for others. While out with Mike Jesse demonstrates his worth once again and shows he has initiative; this time dealing with some meth-heads who were on possession of blue meth stolen from one of Gus's lorries at the beginning of the show. Away from the drug trade Walt buys a car for Junior but when Skyler gets back she is far from pleased; it is far to flashy and only seeks to draw attention to the family; something she is determined to avoid.

This was another solid episode that showed Walt's increasing paranoia; he is starting to believe that everything that happens is part of Gus's plot to get rid of him... of course it might be! It is interesting watching Jesse being carefully nurtured by Gus and Mike; Gus knows he can't kill him so he might as well use him. The best scenes weren't the most action backed; the scene where Walt refuses to let Bogdan keep the framed first dollar he earned then spent it on a coke showed just how mean spirited he had become and when Skyler tossed the coin to decide where to go it nicely showed how she had no intention of really leaving... even if she didn't realise it until that point. The episode isn't devoid of action; in fact it opens with another attack on one of Gus's lorries and this time those inside aren't as lucky as Mike was; somebody is sending a message!

Who do you see?

[and_mikkelsen · 9/10 · 18 April 2023]

This episode is yet another important and significant episode of season 4! This episode is mostly remembered for the amazing scene with Walt and Skyler where she gets a glimpse of his Heisenberg personality and the look on her face says it all! This also says a lot about Walt!

As we previously have seen, Walt is a gut who wants to remain in control, and you could say he is most dangerous when he is not in control... as he will do anything to get back in control!

Also a great scene with him and Jesse that once again shows their relationship amd what Jesse feels after what Walt made him do and has treated him!

Great scene again at the end and grest dialogue! Overall the writing in this episode is really solid!

"Someone has to protect this family from the man who protects this family"

"I'm the One Who Knocks" *Spoilers*

[tyler-stimson · 24 May 2013]

While not necessarily the strongest episode of this series overall, Walt's monologue to Skyler represents a key turning point for his character and the story arc of the entire series.

"You clearly don't know who you're talking to, so let me clue you in: I am not in danger, Skyler. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No! I am the one who knocks!"

This scene is my favorite scene in the entire series. Cranston's delivery is perfect. Literally, it is perfect. I've watched that scene dozens of times and it never gets old. Some of the best acting I've ever seen, and not just on TV, in movies too. For that monologue alone, I give this episode a 10.

To me its the moment that best embodies Walter White's transformation from a hesitant, thoughtful, sympathetic character that we knew in the pilot, to the hardened criminal that he has now become.

Something to say

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 21 March 2021]

Another interesting and reflective episode. Not a huge amount happening on the surface, but it's all about the depth here. Walt gets an exceptional speech which really reflects the darkness of where his character's at while the rest always has something to say.

Skyler MF White, yo!

[caballero-19 · 10/10 · 24 February 2022]

Truly explosive and incredible Anna Gunn's acting as Skyler White, the last moment became the reason why Skyler maybe doesn't always agree with Walter's criminal life but she always tries to tolerate it, that's a pretty hard position to be in.

I absolutely love every line of dialogue and the delivery of actors, in the first beginning Bryan Cranston gave us one of the most iconic moment of Heisenberg, the famous line: I'M NOT IN DANGER, SKYLER, I AM THE DANGER, A GUY OPENS HIS DOOR YOU THINK THAT OF ME? NO, I AM THE ONE WHO KNOCKS!

Powerful.

Among the greatest episodes

[UniqueParticle · 10/10 · 13 March 2021]

Corned has some of the best dialogue in the series, most do but this one in particular has a famous quote and one of my favorite things ever the drug sequence around 36 minutes in with Damion Harriman. I love the impact Breaking Bad has me even with this being the 4th time seeing it!

Walt is Going off the Deep End!

[g-bodyl · 9/10 · 15 January 2015]

This is the sixth episode of the fourth season of Breaking Bad. This episode should be highlighted for numerous reasons, but Bryan Cranston deserves the best. His speech in the beginning of the episode and the way he shows the former car wash owner who is boss was just magnificent. But we also get fantastic acting from Anna Gunn and Aaron Paul.

In this episode, "Cornered," Walt explains to Skylar in a fiery speech about how important he is to the meth suppliers, which causes her to take the baby and leave for a few days. Meanwhile, Jesse continues going out with Mike on errands for Gus, this time around trying to reclaim meth that was stolen from them. Walt shows his disapproval in an unexpected way. Also, Walt decides to buy his son a car.

Overall, this is a fantastic episode and one that has Skylar beginning how truly dangerous Walt's job really is. That outburst by Walt in the beginning is the most memorable speech in recent television history. But this episode also shows how Walt may be reaching his critical point. I rate this episode 9/10.

Cornered (#4.6)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 4 January 2014]

In this episode Walt is cornered by Skylar when she confronts him with the question if he is in danger. He refuses to admit it by telling her the beautiful speech of how he is the guy who knocks, but she doesn't buy it. I do have mixed feelings about Skylar now which is good. I have understanding for her even though she does annoy me simply because of me liking Walt.

I also liked to see Jesse dealing with the meth heads. The guy digging a hole was kind of funny.

And I like to see that it seems that Mike is developing liking for Jesse.

Knock knock! Who's there? *gets blown across the room*

[Trey_Trebuchet · 9/10 · 27 April 2023]

This one ended up being surprisingly great!

This season has been good, but I'm not sure I'd say (so far) that it's quite as good as the previous. I feel like this episode is likely the turning point of the season though. Nothing super action packed past the opening scene (which was brutal), but the drama and acting is very compelling.

I can't say I blame Skyler for leaving all of a sudden and even debating on taking that further and longer. Her reaction to Walter's speech and confrontation was acted so well by her. Anna Gunn is great, and Skyler explaining how mad her son is going to be at her again was super sad. I feel for her personally.

Walter, on the other hand, is still a great character, but I certainly don't see him as the hero of this story as of now, or if this show even has a hero. It's people making questionable choices, some choices just straight up horrible, much like Walter. His infamous "I'm the one who knocks" speech is something I hear quoted often, but it was legitimately well written and VERY well delivered from Cranston.

Jesse's relationship with Gus and Mike is really interesting. Mike seems to start liking him (maybe), and Gus's manipulation is sad to see. Jesse's self esteem could potentially be ruined all over again if and when he finds out. The meth house scene was really well directed and pretty intense for what it was!

All of this ends with a really well made conversation between Walter and Skyler that was heartbreaking and probably very true. I loved this episode and I love this show.

Maybe it's just me, but...

[silverton-37959 · 7/10 · 10 March 2023]

I'm watching this all for the 2nd time, 12 years after BB was popular on TV. This time around, I see Walter differently. He isn't just an anti-hero, he's basically an evil guy at this point in the story. He has been manipulative, always seemingly for a good reason, but now it looks as though the character has become amoral.

For the entire run of this show, I, and many others, I think, saw Walt as the hero who did bad things sometimes because he had to. Now it looks as though he does bad things willingly in order to make things go his way. That's kind of a big change from seeing this tragic guy who is dying of cancer and wants to make sure his family is going to survive his passing. That's what it looks like now, that old Walt is one of the bad guys himself.

At this point, he's no longer definitely dying of cancer, and his character is not the same. I don't know why this is clear to nme at this point in the story. The first time around, I didn't see Walt as evil until much later.

What's the End Game

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 6 May 2018]

So Walter goes through hell again, wondering what happened to Jesse. Meanwhile, the guy is running around with psycno Mike. Walter is trying to do the job. He knows he has overstepped his bounds and is probably doomed. So it's into panic mode. But it would appear there is some kind of grand plan. What it is is beyond me. But I'll continue to watch. Walter makes a foolish purchase which shows how little power he has to even do kindness.

A solid episode

[yavermbizi · 7/10 · 5 May 2020]

My overall rating of "Breaking Bad"'s Season 4: 5/10

When it comes to highlights of this episode, most people seem to point out Walter's short monologue about being "the one who knocks" - to be honest, that scene didn't feel that impressive to me. My personal favourite would be Jesse and Mike's stakeout sequence and overall chemistry - I've really loved the idea of Jesse building a life for himself within Gus' empire in this season, and Mike is an amazing character that plays off Jesse very very well.

There were some cornier moments - buying the car, the opening sequence (even if the idea of it is pretty great), the entire carwash sequence etc, but this episode is still among the best of this season because it pulls the series along nicely without derailing it - a fine skill.

Jump higher!

[master-bot · 4/10 · 22 August 2011]

The shark said "jump higher", and so they did...

The writers may be running out of ideas in season 4 cuz the show jumped the shark somewhere in it.

On one hand the entire cover story of the laundered money is becoming too cumbersome and unexciting.

On the other hand, character development has come to a halt. Everyone is static. Skyler, Jesse, Walter Jr. are completely motionless.

Well, everyone except maybe Walt, who's actually going backwards. Walter White from season 4 is some kind of carbon copy of the original, a faint shadow. Whereas the original Walt was smart, sensible, with lots of common sense, this one is reckless, hateful, and more unstable than a chemical reaction gone bad. For a meth cook who seeks job security, as well as personal security, he behaves in ways contrary to what one would expect of him. What's worse is that he's not only losing his common sense, but he seems to be losing his short-term memory as well (fugue state maybe?) For example, after the scene with the expensive champagne, we expected Walt and Sky to be on the same page about being frugal spenders. All of a sudden Walt decides that champagne wasn't enough, so he buys a Dodge Challenger for Jr. Excuse me??? I don't recall Walt being drunk at the time...

Which brings me to my next point - the writers should stop using Walter-gets-drunk-and-can't-control-himself cheap shenanigans to artificially push the story. That's crap.

So while the story is receding from fun characters like Saul and Hank, it's also reducing the main characters to carbon.

The show had a decent run though. It was fun while it lasted.

More in the style of this episode, please.

[stillworkingfortheknife · 20 December 2013]

As is unusual for Breaking Bad, the IMDb user ratings for "Cornered" do not at all indicate how good of an episode this is. And with that I'm not only thinking of Walt's famous "I am the one who knocks" speech (which is outstanding, nevertheless), but about the whole 46 minutes, throughout filled with excellent performances, hugely entertaining character interaction, and a great atmosphere, especially in the scene, in which a meth den is visited by PI-ing buddies Jesse and Mike.

What I enjoyed most about this episode – and I honestly never believed I would ever say this – is Anna Gunn's acting, which she would've been ill-advised not to submit for consideration for the Emmy Awards. At the beginning of the episode it's merely good, as her reaction to Walt going HAM on her doesn't manage to outshine the unforgettable scene Bryan Cranston has just delivered, but later on, she gets two moments to show all her talent and, oh boy, she does. The coin flipping at the Four Corners Monument may not be that spectacular, but I adore how simple yet momentous it is. And then, her showing her husband who's the man in the house is sheer acting brilliance. Actually, this scene comes ironic in an episode, in which Walt is the most badass since that one time when he partially destroyed Tuco's "office". Him owning Bogdan was the most relieving to see and this time around, he doesn't even need to grab his crotch to do so.

Going through all the scenes of "Cornered" in my head again, I can't think of one I didn't like and that has been as rare as Bogdan shaving his eyebrows in recent Breaking Bad history. The episode isn't perfect and could have profited from a bit more thrill or the eerie mood TUCKER!'s abode had to offer, but all in all, I was just happy to see a really good Breaking Bad episode once again.

Cornering danger

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 12 June 2018]

'Breaking Bad' is one of the most popular rated shows on IMDb, is one of those rarities where every season has either been very positively received or near-universally acclaimed critically and where all of my friends have said nothing but great things about.

Very few shows in recent memory had me so hooked from the very start that before the week was over the whole show had been watched, especially when for a lot of shows now airing watching one episode all the way through can be an endeavour. 'Breaking Bad' had that effect on me, and its reputation as one of the best, consistently brilliant and most addictive shows in many years (maybe even ever) is more than deserved in my eyes. Its weakest season is perhaps the first season, understandable as any show's first season is the one where things are still settling.

Actually everything is established remarkably from the very start, but once the writing and characterisation becomes even meatier the show reaches even higher levels.

"Cornered" is not one of the best 'Breaking Bad' episodes and there is better in Season 4. Still consider it great with a good deal of what makes the show so good present. It could have been tighter at times, but it's absorbing from start to finish.

Visually, "Cornered" is both stylish and beautiful, with photography and editing that are cinematic quality and put a lot of films today to shame, where there are a lot of visually beautiful ones but also some painfully amateurish looking ones. The music always has the appropriate mood, never too intrusive, never too muted.

The writing in "Cornered" is a fine example of how to have a lot of style but also to have a lot of substance. The dialogue throughout is thought-provoking and entertaining. The story is generally interesting and absorbing, with the pace of it consistently deliberate but not dull.

Can't say anything bad about the acting. Bryan Cranston is phenomenal as one of the most fascinating anti-heroes, or even of any kind of character, in either film or television. Aaron Paul has never been better and his and Cranston's chemistry is a delight. Anna Gunn is affecting, the episode is strongly directed and the chemistry between the actors is on point.

In summary, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Finally some support

[ignisgeodacius · 8/10 · 3 September 2021]

For the longest time in this series Skyler came across as almost a villainous character with the way that she treats Walter. Finally in this episode she actually shows some actual regard for his well being. It is refreshing considering how lousy his family is in general(extended family included).

Knock harder, Walter

[puzgolac · 5/10 · 22 December 2022]

Yay, it's so good that we again have some more family drama in the White family... said no one ever. This is another slow episode, and the return of the White family drama to the spotlight, which was never a good thing. The slowness is not as bad as it was in some other episode, but it is quite noticeable. As so many times before in this show, the important parts of this episode could have been merged with the important parts from other episode, while omitting the boring, unnecessary parts and it would have been much better.

Much worse that the slowness is yet another personality switch. This time it is Skyler's time to be the reasonable, sympathetic one, while Walter is now the unreasonable (and kind of stupid) jerk. Also, one moment he is this tough guy (the what is referred to as the "famous" "I'm the one who knocks" speech), yet later he goes back on that and he is nearing the wimpy Walter from some of the earlier times.

There is also more of the same with Jesse, and we are treated to more of Mike's empty stares and looking like his brain is turned off.

So knock harder, Walter, maybe some door will open and this show will finally move from its standstill.