Breaking Bad (TV Series) Problem Dog (2011) User Reviews

Incredible performance by Aaron Paul

[Vlayer · 8/10 · 16 September 2011]

Right from the start we know that this episode will focus on Jesse. Still haunted from the killing of Gale, we see as he struggles to keep his feelings inside until he finally unleashes them.

Walt has been acting reckless these last episodes, without any care of the consequences. He doesn't care because he knows that he will die soon unless he kills Gus. The problem is that he can't get near him, the solution however, is to have someone else kill him.

Last season we heard Jesse say that he accepted who he really was, he was the bad guy. He didn't know the real meaning of those words until the finale when he shoot Gale. Now he has to kill again, for the same man as before.

At the same time, he has to follow orders from the man who works for the one who he has to kill. Jesse asks Mike what Gus sees in him, the response he gets is "Loyalty". Yes, Jesse has been a very loyal companion, but because of it, he has gone through many terrible things.

Jesse returns to the Narcotics Anonymous group, where he finally tells everyone how he feels. He was told to accept who he is, but he can't, no one can. This is an incredible scene, and Aaron Paul proves to us yet again that he rightfully deserved his emmy win last year and maybe even again.

The last scene is with Hank, with strength and confidence he meets with his former partner and boss and tells them about his theory on Gus. A fantastic, chilling scene as we see the old Hank return, and with hard evidence that Gus had been in Gale's apartment, before the episode ends.

Problem Dog (#4.7)

[ComedyFan2010 · 10/10 · 4 January 2014]

Perfection. This episode was beautiful.

For once, I loved the whole story about Jesse struggling with trying to kill Gus. Even though he did kill somebody, he really doesn't have it in him. This is actually a big difference between him and Walt. While I do love Walt's character, he sure didn't have as much trouble as Jesse after killing people. The scene at the meeting was beautiful. Aaron Paul's acting was amazing, he surely got me to tears.

And another great thing was the ending. Hank getting after Gus and finding his fingerprints. It sure seems that Gus is being surrounded, either by Walt or Hank.

For an 8.9 on this site, this is an underrated episode.

[TheFirst01 · 9/10 · 7 August 2019]

Problem Dog has some of the best character developments of any Breaking Bad episode to date.

Incredible buildup episode

[bobby-06724 · 10/10 · 16 October 2019]

Amazing episode, with a ton of tension and plot points building up. The performance by Aaron Paul at his NA meeting was absolutely incredible; and hats off to the writers of that scene. I'm rewatching the show, and that was probably my favorite scene up to this point. Incredible show that is certainly worth the rewatch.

With this episode, the problems I had with the season are gone.

[stillworkingfortheknife · 20 December 2013]

Most of the time, when I comment that an episode of a series or a film felt way longer than it really is, I do not mean it as a compliment. However, in the case of Breaking Bad's "Problem Dog", this serves as a tremendous asset as the series has just got great again and this episode gives you tons of scenes to relish.

Commencing with a wonderful scene of Jesse aggressively playing first- person shooters intercut with visions of dead Gale, "Problem Dog" gives you the first hint that this will be Aaron Paul's episode. Paul, who has been in the background of either Bryan Cranston or Giancarlo Esposito for most of the series, gets various opportunities to shine this time around and got to a new apex in terms of acting quality. With that, I don't necessarily mean his admittedly impressive monologue while visiting (not attending) his former twelve-step program, but more the paramountly portrayed inner fluctuation as he stands between Gus and Walt.

Cue Walt, who uses his screen time to burn a brand-new car most people would have to work all their life to pay for and then charges his lawyer Saul with disguising that this happened, for which he receives a bill most people would have to work a whole year to pay for. While Bryan Cranston did well in the scenes he was in, he was far from being this episode's center due to Giancarlo Esposito and Dean Norris showing off their prowess as well. The latter of these two is currently becoming essential to the plot again and created a great cliffhanger with his revelations just the way he did two episodes before "Problem Dog".

There'd be so much more to list on why this episode is one of Breaking Bad's best thus far, but frankly, I'd enjoy it much more to watch it again than writing an overly long review about it.

More dangers for Gus

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 18 December 2012]

Walt knows that Gus does not trust him and as such he knows that Gus will get rid of him as soon as he finds somebody capable of making methamphetamine as pure as Walt makes. He also knows that there is no way that he can get close enough to Gus to kill him; Jesse might be able to though so he comes up with a plan; he just has to persuade Jesse agree to it and get the opportunity. This isn't the most pressing danger for Gus however; the cartel is still determined that he will not walk away from their agreement. He arranges to meet with them but they only send one man and he isn't there to negotiate; he is there to let Gus know he can never stop working for them. A third danger to Gus is Hank's investigation into Gale's death; a single clue has put Gus firmly into Hank's sights. Elsewhere Skyler is shocked to learn just how much money she will have to launder for Walt; far, far more than could possibly be accounted for by the car wash.

This was another top rate episode full of great individual moments; highlights including when Walt 'took Junior's car back', Jesse's visit to the rehab group, Gus's meeting with the lone cartel representative and Hank setting out his theories to his DEA boss. The acting was solid throughout but Aaron Paul's stood out during his emotional scenes at the start of the episode and where he almost confesses to the rehab group. As is frequently the case there is humour in some of the situations; Saul's efforts to dissuade Walt from trying to hire somebody to kill Gus were amusing without seeming forced.

Aaron Paul's Show!

[g-bodyl · 9/10 · 16 January 2015]

This is the seventh episode of the fourth season of Breaking Bad. It's another utterly fantastic episode, and what slowness we had in the beginning of the episode is now gone. This was an intense episode and everything that occurred seemed to do so in a heartbeat. This episode features some stellar acting, but this was Aaron Paul's show and he delivered big time.

In this episode, "Problem Dog," Skylar forces Walt to return the car he bought for his son, which angers him and causes him to do a pricey and reckless activity. Skylar is also shocked on how much money Walt makes in a week and she worries that it's too much for the car wash. Walt persuades Jesse to kill Gus at each opportunity he gets. Finally, Hank decides to tell his co-workers his theory about Gus.

Overall, another solid episode and another excellent cliffhanger. Hank seems to be connecting the dots faster than I anticipated. Because of excellent acting, we got ourselves another memorable episode. I rate this episode 9/10.

I killed a dog..

[and_mikkelsen · 9/10 · 20 April 2023]

This episode was the bezt one since the premiere! Things are really starting to build up with Walt vs Gus, Hank vs Gus and Gus vs cartell!

Aaron Pauls monologue was arguably the best part of the episode! So much pain in just a single speech! Incredible performance as well! The best of Aaron Paul since "One minute" how much can you accept? Should you just accept yourself? Is it possible not to judge? Is okay to judge?

Walt also realizes that he is done for as soon as his contract expires, creating some great dialogue between him and Jesse as he tries to convince him Gus is the REAL enemy!

Hank also begins to put two and two together which leads to a brilliant ending!

The episode also introduces important elements such as The cigarette qnd Madrigal!

Great scene at the beginning where Walt goes Walt on his expensive car!

aaron paul

[shwhwhtbbfxjis · 10/10 · 10 August 2022]

Aaron paul is one of the most talented actors i have ever witnessed acting in my entire life, like every time i see him on screen i just am in shock for how talented he is.

Coming together

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 22 March 2021]

A better episode, this one, and top-tier for the show. Aaron Paul gets another showcase scene for his acting, the best since the last season where he was laid up in the hospital bed. Walt is humanised again and Hank is on fire. Great to see more involvement in the drug trade and plenty of foreboding on the horizon as the equilibrium is affected.

Incredible

[dylanmillssy · 10/10 · 28 June 2018]

Absolutely incredible acting from Aaron Paul playing Jesse

Double life in full gear!

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 16 June 2012]

Breaking Bad's strongest plot device is the character Walter White's double life. No one knows that the mild manner science teacher is plotting with Jesse to kill his employer Gus. Walter lives a life of lies and deception! The kicker for the series, and this episode is Walter's deception of Hank, the brother in law D E A agent. Hank is fooled and wants Walter's advice and help with investigating Walter's own drug operations. Walter loves the game of cat and mouse. Walter's deception of Hank is of great entertainment value for the viewer. One realizes Walter enjoys the game more than the money. I give the episode Problem Dog a seven out of ten. The viewer wonders how evil will Walter eventually get?

Writers create their own fantasy world here

[silverton-37959 · 4/10 · 14 October 2020]

The NA meeting scene is jarringly inaccurate. NA meetings are not like the shrink circle session depicted. The writers do a tremendous disservice to NA and people in recovery in general with this kind of fantasy. There's no excuse since there are open meetings that anyone can attend to see how the meetings are conducted.

The Best episode of this Season so far

[Lambers-3 · 30 August 2011]

There were many complaints claiming the show jumped the shark (like the review for the previous episode) and I have to admit that it slowed down the pace and felt a bit static sometimes. Nevertheless, it was still above average from all the other shows on TV right now and I wouldn't agree that it jumped the shark. One proof is this episode full of great, intense moments:

Firstly, this episode opens a new storyline involving Jesse trying to kill Gus. Some might say that his rapid decision to agree to Walt's plan is unbelievable but it promises a lot of suspenseful scenes in future episodes (and in this as well of course!).

The episode goes on with the intense scene at the self-help group: Aaron Paul shows us again why he deserved an Emmy when he cries his heart out. For me, this even was his best performance so far.

The biggest bang comes up in the end when Hank has new information for the DEA. I ended up with an open mouth after this cliffhanger and it sure as hell will speed up the pace of the show.

All in all, the first highlight of this season and hopefully not the last one.

More like, Problem Dodge

[Trey_Trebuchet · 9/10 · 29 April 2023]

We are GETTING somewhere.

Been a good season so far, but I feel like the episode before this really turned the tables. No way the rest of this season isn't going to be awesome.

Aaron Paul is phenomenal in this episode and this season, and I'm glad to see Jesse getting much more screen time and character growth as well. His scene in the NA meeting was powerful and gut-wrenching. His sort-of reluctance to kill Gus speaks volumes too, seeing as even after killing Gale, he doesn't want to be a "bad guy" as he's kind of accepted last season. He's not a killer!

What Walter did with the dodge challenger was a highlight for me as well, and Gus's meeting with the cartel was truly great. Will Gus get out of this in one piece? With all of these different people after him? Will he somehow outsmart everyone (DEA, Jesse, Walt, the drug cartel). The stakes continue to raise here and in the following episode.

A great episode, with wonderful performances and good character moments/development.

Far from a dog and far from problematic

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 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.

"Problem Dog" to me was an incredible episode. One of Season 4's better episodes and the best since the season opener "Box Cutter". It boasts some of Jesse's meatiest material up to this point and some of Aaron Paul's best acting in an episode where he achieves a difficult feat in out-shining Bryan Cranston.

Visually, "Problem Dog" 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 "Problem Dog" 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 tense, while also have a darkly wicked sense of humour, nail-biting tension and heart-tugging pathos. The story is texturally rich, intimate, tense and layered, with the pace of it consistently deliberate but taut.

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 delivers some of his best acting of the show with Jesse's meatiest material up to this point, and Anna Gunn is affecting. The characters are compelling in their realism, likewise with their chemistry, and the episode is strongly directed.

In conclusion, incredible. Everything works brilliantly, but essentially this is Paul's episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Stretch Arm Weak

[TheFearmakers · 7/10 · 11 September 2022]

Another good episode... they're all good, except Fly... but the premise of Hank being suspicious of Gus because Gale had a chicken restaurant cup and is a vegetarian is downright ludicrous.

There should have at least have been initials on it or something, anything to make that stretch thin out. Maybe even one initial or some kind of indication that it could be Gus other than a bag; as one fan pointed out, it's like finding a McDonald's cup and blaming Ronald McDonald...

This is a show about taking long shots, but this one's too long. For that I give one star, but, again... another good episode of a great show.