Crazy Handful of Nothin'

'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.

Season 1's episodes are all great to exceptional, such a high standard for so early on that got even better as the show as an overall progressed. "Crazy Handful of Nothin" is one of the best episodes of the season for me, and many others it seems, and the best episode since "Pilot" (achieving the seemingly impossible in being on that episode's level from personal opinion)

Visually, "Crazy Handful of Nothin" 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 for "Crazy Handful of Nothin" 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 and heart-tugging pathos. The story 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. The characters are compelling in their realism.

Overall, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Wow! This episode was a crazy handful of everythin'! After a couple of build-up episodes that explored our characters and their reasons, we get an episode where things are picking up! I was left very satisfied when the episode came to an end! I feel very confident in calling this the best of season 1!

Walt confronting Tuco is the best part of the episode! It was just EPIC! In a series filled with iconic scenes, it still remains one of the more memorable, as Walt really shines! You could say he is not the same, but became someone else!

Directing and effects are amazing and it still hold up to this day! Raymond Cruz NAILED his performance and turned Tuco into one of the best villains in the show!

THIS KICKS LIKE A MULE WITH HIS BALLS RAPPED IN DUCTAPE!

From the beginning to the end of this episode I was sitting there not knowing what to expect. But it was amazing. It had its sad moments and its bad *** moments. The great thing about this show is it always has you guessing. The best part is you will always guess wrong. Not to mention the subtle foreshadowing I always seem to miss until the episode is done. The show excels in keeping you involved from beginning to end; making every moment and every episode relevant. It is shown clearly in this episode what a man will do when he has got nothing to lose. This time, it's Walter's turn to show them who's boss. A great semi-finale to the great Walter White who continues to Break Bad.

10/10 for me!

Breaking Bad is the kind of show that started out good. And with every episode it seemed to get more and more interesting. But it's not until this episode that you realize you've come across Genius. How could you ever imagine this 50-year old guy, battling cancer, and a middle-grade teacher would find himself in such a predicament, yet ends up being the Badass. Yes, I rarely say this about anyone, ever. But, it's never been more accurate.

Whilst Tuco is the one you initially fear, Heisenberg shows off his true colours with nothing more than "a little tweak of chemistry". Hats off to everybody who had anything to do with this. An awesome kickstart to the greatest show ever made.