Abiquiu

'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.

"Abiquiu" is not a Season 3, or 'Breaking Bad, high-point, it is not a "taut" episode strictly speaking and other episodes of the season and show have more intensity. All that aside, "Abiquiu" is still a great episode that in no way disgraces the show at all (far from it).

Visually, "Abiquiu" 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 "Abiquiu" 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. Bob Odenkirk is once again terrific, he and the character of Saul 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

Skyler continues getting into Walter's business. She already has him by the short hairs when it comes to Hank. She never considers for a moment that she would be in bankruptcy without the money going to Walter's cancer treatment. At the least they would be wards of the state. She continues to prosper on his dime. Now she wants to front him in a carwash business to engender money laundering. Meanwhile, Hank is getting no better and wants to be left out of anything but a significant cure. I just don't know. There is some stretching of reality here that blurs things.

When the episode begins we see Jesse Pinkman and his former girlfriend's museum visit when they discussed about a painting of a door, then we cut to the present. Hank Schrader is starting rehabilitation while Walter White checks on the meth doses produced by Jesse, and Jesse and his friends try to sell meth among the members of the support group without success: during this time Jesse starts going out with a woman of the support group named Andrea but when he discovers that she has a child and is already married he leaves her. Gus Fring will give Walter some advice on how to spend the gained money and Hank has a possibility of leaving the hospital but doesn't want to leave it unless he does it on his own legs.

This was an ordinary episode in the sense that continues the events of the previous episodes, and the writing and acting are good. Not surprises but still good.

It's just a bit ironic how Hank's recovery treatments are paid with drug industry money. The same industry he swore to defeat by all means being in the DEA. This just reminds us that we should all be humble because you never know who/what is going to help you when you need!

This episode was a nice chamge of pace as we qre starting to move forward from everything involving the cousins and Hank!

This episode have two major things going on that sets up how everything will develop from here!

Skyler finally commits to Walt being a criminsl and descides to play an active role in msking sure he doesn't get caught! This means laundring the money!

The scene with Saul, Walt and Skyler is something I always enjoy, and great how it goes back to Bogdan amd the car wash, showing how everything matters!

The stuff with Jessie qlso sets up the finale act perfectly as he learns the truth about Combo!