Box Cutter

Wow.. this was a amazing episode to continue from the shocking ending of season 3 as well as seting up season 4, which is one of the best seasons of a TV show!

The episode has a very intense vibe throughout as you know their will be consequences! You spend most of the episode, waiting for Gustavos response, and when you finally get it... oh man! One of the most memorable and brutal moments of the show! Thats when you know how cold and ruthless Gus can be! You have no idea what he is gonna do!

Aaron Paul really nailed a natural response for what Jesse went through! Great expretions! Fun moment of editing with that transition to a french frie in ketchup!

An episode that begins slowly to culminate with an absoutely amazing scene where you wonder what could happen. Even though it is not possible that Walter dies, you still have that feeling that 45 different things could happen and cause just about the same amount of damage. Astonishing how well written this series is!

'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.

Was really impressed by Season 3 and thought that Season 4 had a daunting task following on from it. Something that was achieved truly impressively and more, if the incredible season opener that was "Box Cutter" is anything to go by.

Visually, "Box Cutter" 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 "Box Cutter" 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. Giancarlo Esposito is also terrific as Gus, a character that adds a lot to the show. The characters are compelling in their realism and the episode is strongly directed.

In conclusion, incredible. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is the first episode of the fourth season of Breaking Bad. It helps that this is yet another fine episode is this ridiculously good television series. There are already blood being spilled and some crazy scenes, and this is only the first episode. The screenplay, once again, serves up some memorable lines. As always, the acting remains very strong as Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul remain as committed as always.

In this episode, "Box Cutter," Walter and Jesse are being held hostage by Mike after Gale was gunned down by Jesse in the last episode of the third season. Meanwhile, Skylar is trying to figure out the reasons of Walt's disappearance and Marie is having trouble keeping up with the rapid depression of Hank, who is still trying to recover from his wounds.

Overall, this is an excellent episode and a table setter for the season, I think. There are some very surprising scenes and one that involves the two words in the episode's title. The tension is once again through the roof, and it seems like I can feel the static in the air. I cannot wait to see what happens next. I rate this episode 9/10.

An episode keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, acting superb to show the sheer fear and dominance from both parties