Kafkaesque 

Skyler hatches a plan as Hank's hospital bills stack up. Meanwhile, Walt and Gus come to a better understanding as Jesse, looking for more independence, pursues a new opportunity.

Director:

Michael Slovis

Writers:

Vince Gilligan (created by), Peter Gould

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.
Bob Odenkirk	...	Saul Goodman
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Gus Fring
Christopher Cousins	...	Ted Beneke
Steven Michael Quezada	...	Steven Gomez
Matt Jones	...	Badger
Jere Burns	...	Group Leader
Mark Harelik	...	Doctor
Charles Baker	...	Skinny Pete
Jeremiah Bitsui	...	Victor

Storyline

Walt and Jesse are now in full production in the new lab and are easily producing the 200 lbs per week of meth, as agreed. In fact, they're producing a few pounds more than required and Jesse can't quite understand why they're just "giving it away". He decides to take advantage of the situation. Walt's brother-in-law Hank is still recovering in the hospital and Marie is at a loss about what to do when she learns that their health plan will not necessarily provide the quantity and the quality of physical therapy required for Hank to fully recover the use of his legs. Skyler proposes that she and Walt pay the bills and has an interesting story to tell about how they can afford it. As for Walt, he realizes that his life was in danger and that it was only Gus' intervention that saved him. Walt seeks assurance from Gus that his family's lives would be safe and options for extending the contract beyond 3 months are discussed.

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Plot Keywords:

character repeats someone else's dialogue | barefoot male | hospital | circular staircase | speeding vehicle | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode counts 4 Seinfeld (1989) alumni: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk and Mark Harelik (aka Milos the lousy tennis player) who plays the doctor in this episode.

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Goofs

When Walter's car is about to crash the truck, the distance between two vehicle is about 5-7 meters, and we know that the cars speed is at least 90 mph, it's obviously impossible to dodge at that point no matter how quick Walter is.

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Quotes

Badger: I can't believe you had to crush the RV. Must've been depressing.
Skinny Pete: For real. That's a stone loss.
Jesse Pinkman: No one misses it more than me. Free to cook anytime, anywhere. No quotas, no one to answer to. What's the point of being an outlaw when you got responsibilities?
Badger: Darth Vader had responsibilities. He was responsible for the Death Star.
Skinny Pete: True that. Two of them bitches.
Badger: Just saying. Devil's advocate.
Jesse Pinkman: I gotta pay taxes? What's up with that? That's messed up. That's Kafkaesque.
Skinny Pete: Church.
Badger: Right.

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Connections

References 48 Hours (1988)

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Soundtracks

New Song
(uncredited)
Written by Howard Jones
Performed by Howard Jones

User Reviews

Plans and independence

'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.

"Kaftaesque" is not a Season 3, or 'Breaking Bad, high-point, but the slower and less-action-heavy approach to the episode is not really a hindrance. It is not a "taut" episode strictly speaking and other episodes of the season and show have more intensity. All that aside, "Kaftaesque" is still a great episode that in no way disgraces the show at all (far from it).

Visually, "Kaftaesque" 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 "Kafkaesque" 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 once again terrific, he and the character of Hank add a good deal. The characters are compelling in their realism and the episode is strongly directed.

Overall, great as expected. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 May 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

High Bridge Productions, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

47 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD