No Más

"No Más", Spanish for "not anymore", is the start of Breaking Bad's third season and surprises with one of the weirdest pre-credits sequences to ever be on television. The two tortoise-mimicking Hispanic fellows we get introduced to there also don't get much clearer in the two other scenes they have in this episode, however, it's still very interesting to watch them.

With the characters we know already, there's of course the troubled situation between Skyler and Walt after she commanded he move out at the end of season two as the last resort. That decision issued in a lot of confusion with the whole White family, but sadly didn't make for any good scenes. RJ Mitte overacted his part a bit and Dean Norris and Betsy Brandt had a sub-par script to work with. As Skyler and Walt then sat down and had a talk, it managed to awake my interest, if only in terms of plot and acting.

Fortunately, "No Mas" also included appearances of Jesse and Gus, which were both remarkably good. Aaron Paul just gets better and better in his role and seeing him in rehab was one of the show's deepest moments yet. Giancarlo Esposito on the other hand, may have even been more impressing as he succeeded in outshining Bryan Cranston in the scene they shared together. Never has calmness felt as intense as in his mostly wordless and unblinking acting.

That's about it for this episode – one that works perfectly well as an introduction for a new season, but easily could've been more thrilling. As he wrote a screenplay himself again after quite a while, Vince Gilligan seems to not have had the best of days, but that's excusable as long as the story is as great as it currently is.

This was a great way too start season 3! It serves as the aftermath of the season 2 finale, while also setting up future storylines, with the introduction of The twins/cousins! These two are some of the coldest bad guys i have seen! The fact that they don't speak is iconic! Makes them unpredictable and intimidating!

The episode shows where Walt is right now and what his character is going through! We know what is going on with him.. not because he says how he feels, but we can tell how he feels from his actions! Him making toast goes back to season 1 and his speech about the planes shows how far he is from the man he once was! This is great storytelling!

Bryan Cranston did great as a director! Some iconic scenes and shots! Shows how invested he is in the show!

'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.

"No Mas" (the review being in reference to the English meaning) is more 'Breaking Bad' excellence, even if it may lack the red-hot intensity of the best of Seasons 1 and especially 2.

Visually, "No Mas" 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 "No Mas" 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. The characters are compelling in their realism.

All in all, excellent start to Season 3. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Having nearly loved the first two seasons of BREAKING BAD they made me want to watch more of it, so I started the third season and again, it was a nice beginning.

When the show begins we see two twins dressed nicely that go in a temple dedicated to the cult of the goddess of Death and put near her a drawing of Heisenberg. Walter White is forced to take his things and going to live alone while his wife Skylar met a lawyer for discussing about the divorce. Jesse Pinkman is continuing re-hab in the building where he was taken in the previous episode, where he learns to accept himself and encouraged to never change but accept himself the way it is. Skyler has further reason of divorcing Walt after he reveals to be a producer of crystal meth. When Jesse is released from re-hab he is still in depression for what happened to Jane and for the plane accident, and Walt goes to Gus Fring for discussing the fact that he doesn't want to be a criminal but Gus asks him to continue his production for other three months.

I loved more the Jesse Pinkman storyline because it was nice seeing him return to a normal state and also accept himself the way it is. The Walter White story tho is kinda depressing for folks who witnessed their parents separate and divorce just like me. Still, despite this, another promising beginning of another successful season.

This is the first episode of the third season of Breaking Bad and as season openers go, this episode is flawless and perfectly executed. There is ripe cinematography and excellent acting by Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, and practically everyone else. I liked how the new villains are introduced and if this episode is any indication, Walter White had better watch out!

In this episode, "No Mas," Walt is trying to deal with, along with the rest of Alberqurque, of the aftermath of the fatal plane crash which resulted from Jane's death the previous season. Skylar wants a divorce from Walt as he finally admits where he is getting the money from. Jesse is in rehab finally accepting who he really is. Meanwhile, there are these two cousins who are out for vengeance as they search for Heisenberg.

Overall, an incredible episode and this sets up what is sure to be an entertaining season. This is the way on how to open a season, because I am craving for more. I rate this episode 10/10.