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

Walt and Jesse's relationship hits a new low

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 31 December 2012]

Having planted a bug on Gus's car in the previous episode Hank is keen to see where he has been driving; it turns out that he has only driven between his home and one of his restaurants; something so innocent that Hank feels Gus must be his man! Soon afterwards Hank asks for Walt's help again; this time he wants to be driven to Gus's distribution centre; Walt feigns illness to delay Hank long enough for Mike to ensure that the site is clean. While Mike and Jesse are cleaning the site they come under attack and one of Mike's men is killed; however Gus is unscathed even though he stands still knowing a sniper has him in his sights... he knows the Cartel need him and this is a final warning. While all this is going on Skyler has a financial problem; her former employee Ted Beneke is being audited by the tax man and Skyler's name is all over his company's cooked books; if she is to keep them from investigating her too she will have to think quickly. By the end of the episode Walt's paranoia leads him to confront Jesse about why he hasn't killed Gus; this leads to a fight that could end their already tenuous friendship permanently.

This episode was a great mix of drama, action and humour. The opening where Dean Norris gave a fairly terrible rendition of 'Eye of the Tiger' was hilarious as was the scene where Skyler put on a performance as a ditzy blonde hired more for her cleavage than her bookkeeping skills in front of the taxman; Anna Gunn did a great job there! The ill feeling between Walt and Jesse has been increasing for some time but now it finally looks as if the friendship is over; the fight scene at the end of the episode was almost painful to watch as it looked as if they were really trying to kill each other. 'Breaking Bad' doesn't go in for jump-scares to often but when the cartel sniper killed the man at the distribution centre I jumped and it was believable that Jesse would react the way he did; unable to quite comprehend what had just happened or the imminent danger he was in! With tensions continuing to rise I look forward to seeing what will happen next.

Somehow this show continues to put out winners

[Ananas238 · 10/10 · 11 September 2011]

This latest episode of Breaking Bad somehow took a little bit of every good element in the show and capitalized on it unmercifully.

Hank continues his eavesdropping and 'extralegal' activities with his wheel-man Walt. It's somewhat comical. He thinks Gus is so clean that he must be dirty.

Hank is off the scent for a minute, until he Google Maps a satellite image of a certain distribution center for Pollos Hermanos and its partner restaurants. We recognize this distribution center as a staging ground for countless important scenes in the past. After this, the Hank aspect is to be continued for this episode.

Walt is in a sort of floating mood we haven't usually seen him in. He shares a cigarette with Jesse outside work and has an important, but subtle discussion. I love Walt's line as he walks off, he says "Doesn't matter, we're both dead men anyway." Not only in reference to their special circumstance, but seemingly in reference to man and existence in general.

Next, we see some new scenes of inside the warehouse where some packaging and other initial stages of the meth moving assembly line happen. I applaud Slovis as usual for including some of the clutter and machinery in the warehouse as valid set background.

A midst the otherwise random odd-jobs Mike and Jesse have been up to lately, Jesse begins justifying with Mike to not harm Hank, if in fact that is Mike's intention. Hank beat Jesse into a pulp not very long ago, and now Jesse has not only forgiven Hank, but is speaking partially in his defense. There's more tied into it, and it's complicated as Jesse points out, but I don't want to give away much. In the end of the monologue, though, Jesse says, "Who cares what I think anyway." Another bit of giving the finger to existence, in my opinion, like Walt's ambiguous line earlier.

Out of the blue, the cartel makes a bold gesture. Bold like I haven't seen since the grittier parts of good 'Wire' episodes. Bold that makes you stare in that awkward position in your seat.

After this conflict Gus decides to finally give in to the cartel, and calls them up. He tells them in Spanish that his answer is now "Yes" to the previous question they asked him, which we the audience do not know.

Jesse has arranged to speak with Gus at Gus' home. This scene was terrific. We don't see very much of Gus speaking with Jesse. At the end of their conversation, we learn there may be a new job for Jesse. One that maybe he isn't ready for.

Skyler is claiming to be almost turning a profit at the car wash, though she is sort of fibbing. Cut to her old boss Beneke, whom I have been waiting to re-enter the plot. My theory was that Skyler would somehow employ Beneke and his 'cooked books' to clean some of Walt's cash. Ted comes to the car wash bearing bad news, and says the IRS could soon be sniffing around him and possibly her. I don't think the IRS has anything on Walt or Skyler in terms of busting them with drug money, but the IRS does represent a black cloud that really no one wants over their heads, especially the White family. Skyler has a temporary solution.

After taking simple lessons from Hank's 'extralegalities', Walt decides to do some eavesdropping of his own, on Jesse. In what seems to be a too coincidental moment, Jesse calls Walt somewhat out of character and asks that Walt drop what he's doing and come over.

The episode ends with a scene of biblical proportions at Jesse's house. This was such a great scene I stood up the whole time I watched it. Again, McDonough and Slovis make a masterful decision on how to capture this scene. First, the camera stays at a master shot with Jesse in one corner of the ring, and Walt in the other. The shot never changes. It seems to go on forever. Walt is sitting on the couch staring at the coffee table like a statue. Jesse is pacing, projecting, and gyrating around just spitting out dialog that is equally stunning to the audience as it is to Walt. For a minute, we are Walt. We feel what he is feeling. They don't cut to a long-lens close-up shot, though, to try and drive the effect home. They let us, the intelligent audience, choose what and who to look at. Scorsese is a fan of shots like this, claiming the audience gets to be the editor for a minute. It reminded me more than anything of watching a play. During a play you don't get more than one camera shot. A scene THIS important, depicting a show-down with the best actors in the show really requires no magic from the camera, only that it be turned on.

The lighting in Jesse's house was almost all studio lighting. They obviously chose the camera position, plus the studio lighting to give this scene the effect of a mythical performance. The exchange between Walt and Jesse at that moment reminded me of some of their earlier escapades where they got themselves into heaps of trouble and would bark at one another, both not knowing exactly what to do. After a long spat of tension building dialog, the rubber band pops with the magnitude of something from a Tarantino film. If you miss this episode, you're missing the show.

a story for all seasons

[mauricioc-158-529631 · 10/10 · 12 September 2011]

From the moment the chapter began, its just so involving that one cant take their eyes off it. every episode not only takes the ride consistently but increasingly higher in terms of adrenaline levels. just when someone thought the past was past, this chapter takes a step back to remind Skyler that she hasn't been good either. and the fact the her former lover takes her back to it, by letting her know that the IRS is into him or might be, she knows already that something has to be done, regardless of her initial interpretation of the situation.

again, there are no short cuts to the story lines and every character is fully solid developed. particularly Skyler, which whom the fact of transforming herself into a Mr White's behavior that edges with moral and ethics grounds leaves her as well in a very vulnerable position

this episode just confirm that this series has so many to give that I should suggest the producers to make their best effort to keep it going (I easily foreseen several seasons to come, its just the right thing to do, the next natural step to take). lets not forget the upset the Sopranos caused by ending up the series too early. looking forward to see next episode

Amazing scenes!

[and_mikkelsen · 10/10 · 21 April 2023]

Yet another great episode in season 4! While not crazy from beginning to end, this episode still holds a couple of my favorite moments from the season! Most memorable are Gus "Terminator moment" and the fight at the end of the episode!

The scene by the end was equally great and sad! Great acting! Serves as a very important moment in Walt's and Jesse's relationship, as much as the cigarette affects their relationship! It leaves you with a sad bittersweet feeling by the end!

The shooting scene was amazingly shot and filmen! Great and iconic cinematography!

The scenes with Skyler and Ted are equally important to the plot!

Bug (#4.9)

[ComedyFan2010 · 9/10 · 9 January 2014]

I only had one issue with the episode. The way Skylar handled Ted's audit was ridiculous. I was just watching it and thinking "really? are you kidding me?". Well at least she only saved him from jail with this.

But the episode as great otherwise. There were so many great moments. One is for sure Mike saving Jesse's life. Another great scene was Jesse at Gus's house. Both did great acting. And it as great to see that Jesse was still defending Walt.

And their confrontation at the end was greatly written as well. I could really understand Walt. Jesse is lying to him about seeing Gus and then asks him to explain how to cook the formula, a reason to be suspicious. I hope they still make it work though.

One of the best

[pughl-40833 · 10/10 · 21 February 2022]

Gustavo fring this episode was really good. All the Walter and Hank stuff was really interesting and left us on the edge of our seat wondering if Hank would find out about Heisenberg.

The Question of Loyalty!

[g-bodyl · 9/10 · 18 January 2015]

This is the ninth episode of the fourth season of Breaking Bad. I thought it was a very good episode, even if it moved slow in some parts. But this was an episode that questioned the loyalty between Walt and Jesse, and this episode has Jesse rising in the ranks. The acting is great all around, especially with Aaron Paul and Giancarlo Esposito as Gus.

In this episode, "Bug," Hank continues to meddle in the affairs of Gus and he learns of a possible drug lab. In the midst of removing drugs, Gus, Jesse, and Mike become involved in a shootdown with the Mexican cartel. Skylar discovers that her former boss, Ted was audited by the IRS, and she fears that she could be as well.

Overall, this is a solid episode. It has an explosive ending as the relationship between Walt and Jesse becomes even more tested. It was nice to see Ted back, but this time as someone paying for his actions. This is a solid episode. I rate this episode 9/10.

Beautiful episode

[dannytartar · 28 March 2021]

I love Skyler White and i dont get the people who hate her. She is literally right in so many situations and she is clever as hell. And they did a great job on her character development. Hands up👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Really nice

[Leofwine_draca · 10/10 · 24 March 2021]

A really nice episode again, and one of the strongest in a while. Skyler's scene with the taxman is excellent and the confrontation between Walt and Jesse as exhilarating as they come. However, the best scene in the movie is the one involving Gus and the hitman, a masterfully directed set-piece that really hits the mark. Great stuff overall and I feel that this season is now building to what's going to be a fine climax.

Two barrels

[Trey_Trebuchet · 9/10 · 1 May 2023]

Very, very good episode.

There's actually quite a bit of good character growth and drama here. That final confrontation between Walter and Jesse was written and acted really, really well. Jesse lies to Walter about Gus several times, but still defends to guy to Mike and Gus. Walter, likewise, will defend Jesse, and obviously sees him as a family he never had. But he is also being a harda** about taking Gus out. All of this baggage and secrecy made for an excellent, even sad finale.

This really is kind of Aaron Paul's best season so far. His acting has been nothing short of spectacular. I really liked him in the shooting scene, and dinner with Gustavo was also really well acted and directed.

This is probably the most interesting things have been for the Skyler-Ted relationship. Skyler is pretty much in deep crap now, not just Walter. The stakes have really raised for the Whites this season!

Another great episode in a season that has been quite good overall. So far, this show has lived up to my expectations.

Bugs bunny

[firmanfmn · 9/10 · 11 January 2019]

Finally this duo crashing it,they kick each other on the ass and i have a good laugh enjoying them fight,its about time after serious lying and argument they do this.Probs to Aaron paul and Bryan cranston for such a good acting.

Too much conflict!

[CrimeDrama1 · 5/10 · 11 July 2022]

I've never watched any TV show or movie with so much conflict. Jesse is a big part of it.

It's unbelievable to me that Jesse is as clueless now as he was when he first met Walter. The sniper scene was stupid. I understand Gus was sending one hell of a message but for Jesse to be frozen for so long that Mike had to tackle him to get him to move is ridiculous. Jesse was present when the cartel recently visited Gus but he still has no clue about the big picture - or isn't telling Walter - when Walter needs to know? I don't get why Jesse's character was developed like this. I understand the need for conflict but did the creators of the show actually want viewers to dislike Jesse? Even if time didn't help him mature, all the experiences he's had should have forced him to grow up but he's really the same clueless jerk as the day he met Walter. During dinner at Gus' house, Jesse's answer to Gus' question is his typical overreaction. Jesse had asked Mike why Gus walked towards the sniper while bullets were flying but he never asked Gus about that. Jesse should know that the conflict with the cartel is Gus' main concern right now. Stupid main characters are not a good thing.

Nothing to be bugged by

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 15 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.

"Bug" is to me was an incredible episode. One of Season 4's best and a high-point of the show. The chemistry between Jesse and Walt fascinates and compels and it contains some of the most striking and direction of the show.

Visually, "Bug" 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 "Bug" 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 Anna Gunn is affecting. Dean Norris is terrific, as is Giancarlo Esposito. The characters are compelling in their realism, likewise with their chemistry, and the episode is strongly directed.

Overall, incredible. 10/10 Bethany Cox

A surprisingly sloppy episode

[stillworkingfortheknife · 21 December 2013]

Coming closer to the season finale, "Bug" didn't make me excited about what will happen in the next couple of episodes, but rather disappointed me and made me remember all the problems I've had with this series during season two and three. Or, to express it with a poor pun pertaining to the title: there was a lot that bugged me.

Skyler got back to being main character again as her former boss/love interest Ted suddenly showed up while she was soliloquizing at her car wash and informed her that the tax fraud his company and therefore also Skyler, as their bookkeeper, have committed is going to be audited. Oh shite, that is probably the least advantageous thing to happen to her at that time as criminal investigations would be more than likely to discover the money laundering she was vindicating herself in the soliloquy earlier on. So what does she do? Attending the audit in dumb blonde fashion and showing the special agent buttocks-sized cleavage, which works in the way as prison time for Ted and investigations about the car wash are off the hook – ignorance is not a crime, hooray. The entertainment factor of that was rather low, however, and seeing Christopher Cousins, one of the reasons why season three was that terrible, again made me drown out the dialog by letting off a vehement "Uh".

The rest of "Bug" was only partially better than that and besides the well-written conversation Jesse and Gus share, the episode skimped on noteworthy scenes. At the end of the episode, the bloody foreshadowing of the pre-credits sequence was revealed and, well, it revealed something we've known for half a dozen of episodes already: that Walt and Jesse have now changed roles about who's the irrational and unprofessional part of the meth cooking duo lived apart. The writers decided to portray that in the most drastic way possible and had the two have a fistfight and thus marring Jesse's newly redecorated domicile. I hope not to be the only one who found this to be completely over the top and was impossible take it serious.

As you can see, there's not one story arc I really enjoyed in "Bug" (coincidence that season four's episode nine is named after an insect just as season three's episode nine, "Fly"?) and the episode remarkably reduced my excitement for the last fourth of the season.