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 |
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. Written by garykmcd
What a shame that this episode uses Franz Kafka's name in its title. Comparing one of the best writers this world has ever seen to one of the most boring Breaking Bad episodes is not just audacious; it's quite outrageous, in my opinion. To be clear, this isn't necessarily a bad episode and I had a fine time watching it. However, when compared to the grandeur this series reaches from time to time, "Kafkaesque" is like an Adam Sandler movie.
Contrary to some episodes before it, "Kafkaesque" didn't bother me with flaws or bad writing/acting; it's just that this whole episode feels mostly useless. The story is evolving extremely slowly and we didn't even get to see Walt and Jesse cooking again! In addition, there are even more dull scenes at the hospital and way too much screen time for Skyler, Marie, and these addict meetings Jesse partakes in. On the bright side though, Bob Odenkirk, Giancarlo Esposito, and Aaron Paul did a praiseworthy acting job and helped me not to fall asleep during all the overlong conversations. That especially goes for Skyler's ginormous lie at the end of the episode that was one of the most unnecessary things to have ever happened on Breaking Bad.
Was there anything Kafkaesque about this episode? Well, not really, but I found the fact that this show's quality can differ so extremely from episode to episode to be rather shocking. This time, I surely was unfulfilled with what I got to see and not even singular good scenes such as the opening commercial for Los Pollos Hermanos or the ridiculous conversation Jesse and Saul shared in the nail salon could make me enjoy "Kafkaesque".