Full Measure

"Half Measures" ended on an outstanding cliffhanger and what does the succeeding episode do? It starts with a whole different setting, sixteen years before the current plot. Of course, this doesn't last for the whole 47 minutes but only for the pre-credits, however, it's still a really great way to start your season finale.

What happens in this scene is that Walt and Skyler see their future property for the very first time, even though the first shots led me to believe that this may be a season-two-revoking flash-forward to a time when the White family has moved out, or not entirely unlikely, has died. Additionally, the dialog between the couple perfectly displays how Walt hasn't achieved anything he wanted in his life until he started cooking meth – which is part of the reason why he now is unable to stop doing it. But as the plot soon goes back to the present, we are back in the perilous situation "Half Measures" established as Walt meets up with Mike, Gus, and omnipresent Victor. These five minutes include the return of Heisenberg and a goosebumps-evoking atmosphere; last but not least, Bryan Cranston and Giancarlo Esposito excel themselves yet again in a momentous debate.

I can't mention everything about this episode that I liked, but some other things I just have to remark on are, for starters, David Costabile's return as Gale Boetticher, one of the series' best characters, hands down. As we get a glimpse of his abode for the first time, the ability of the set designers comes to shine and so do Costabile's acting qualities once he has to sing along to Spanish nursery rhymes (or whatever that was). Then, of course, there's Jesse's episode debut about 20 minutes in. As the situation gets fiercer and fiercer, Breaking Bad's two protagonists come to discuss what has to be done and what later makes for the most dramatic final seconds imaginable. Aaron Paul absolutely outshines his senior counterpart and gives an unbelievably good performance that is probably the reason for the winning of his first Emmy award.

Over and above, there'd be many other things to go into depth about, but if you've just watched "Full Measure" yourself, you'll have already experienced the greatness of this season finale. Even if the whole season doesn't get remarkably better just through a fantastic ending note, it sure does a perfect job at making you excited about season four.

I am writing this after watching this episode for the 3rd time over the span of 4 years. Having been in a video production college class, this definitely helped my understanding of the phenomenal performance hat this episode produced. An episode/movie is so much more than just the plot, or what you want to happen as a viewer. It's everything else that goes into the production that makes the difference between the good shows and the great. This episode was one of Breaking Bad's finest examples of pure video production perfection. Each tume I watch this episode I am more impressed due to how every shot/angle/line is analyzed and only approved until the crew knows that it is PERFECT. Phenomenal season finale, and solely the epitome of a perfect entertainment series episode. This episode is just one example of the perfection that this show puts on over it's 5 seasons.

What an epic conclusion to the season! Even from the beginning of the episode, with Walt meeting Gus in the middle of nowhere, with that long walk, I could tell that this was going to be something special. Some people prefer "Full Measure"'s predecessor "Half Measures", but I think as a whole, "Full Measure" was the better show. "Half Measures" had some silly material, including the weird cold open (which had a point) and scene with Hank and Marie in the hospital. Lives were on the line in "Full Measure", which made it that much more interesting and exciting. Boy, does Vince Gilligan know how to make a finale! The last two have been incredible, with this one topping "ABQ". Bryan Cranston was very deserving with his Emmy win for this episode submission (his last Emmy win), but there were so many other episodes they could have chosen for him. None would've been as good as this one, though, so a smart move by the creators. Cranston was pleading for his life at the end, making his performance that much more great. And the ending was definitely special, with about 5 or 6 twists and turns in the final 15 minutes that blow your mind! Still think One Minute is my favorite from Season 3, but Full Measure is not far behind!

Season 3 hasn't been my favourite one, buy this conclusion is just epic.

The second season of this show ended with a massive series of coincidences that produced a big event that rather cheapened the "flash-forwards" we had been given throughout the season, some loved the audacity of it but for me I prefer my audacious writing to also work within the context of the show. The third season sort of uses this event but not really and soon we are past it aside from the odd mention, but this doesn't mean the show doesn't confront the viewer with more of this style of delivery. I say this because we open with such a odd sight of people crawling through a Mexican town – a sight that we never totally understand except that some great authority exists here to make these people do it, and that that authority has it is for Walter White. So begins a season that sees Walt getting deeper into this world and understanding it better while also being held back by both Jessie and also the bits of his being where he still considers him a normal person.

This danger from Mexico is only part of the season because there is a lot going on here; Walt's relationship with Gus changing, Jessie's rash manner and small thinking putting them both at risk, Skyler coming to terms with reality and Hank making progress in his own personal case. I shan't talk about the details but suffice to say the season is engaging across the board, whether we have small dramas between the characters or a dramatic shoot-out. The balance is really good between events-driven story and smaller character-based things, so although it does have plenty of head-line action, it doesn't survive on these moment because the rest is just as good.

The writing isn't afraid to throw the viewer and although I think it was a little jarring, I did enjoy the way the show was not afraid to have an entire episode down in the basement doing something seemingly trivial – particularly in the shadow of much bigger events. Unfortunately there is still a certain amount of contrivance in the writing just as there was in the second season; one example being a woman that Jessie gets to know having a very specific connection to an event in the first season. Fortunately the season is more than strong enough to carry it through these sort of things because the majority of it works because it works within its own world. In the final few episodes in particular there are some dramatic changes to the characters and to their situations but although they feel sudden, they work because the characters have been changing and the viewer has been taken along with them. Walt in particular works very well. My girlfriend dropped out of this season because she said she no longer liked the main characters and I can see why she feels that way (although not why it stops her enjoying the show) because Walt is changing more and more as the plot goes on; it is odd to think back and remember him as the teacher just cooking in a RV without a thought for the bigger business.

This change is delivered well by Cranston, who shows here why he has been an awards regular since getting this role. He is able to keep the character we first knew but yet change him as events around him corrupt and alter him; it is a great performance that shows a real understanding of the character and the events. Paul is not quite as good because his character is not quite as good, although the bar is high and he does still do excellent work. Gunn has more to work with this season and is better for it while Esposito pitches his character well so that he is likable while also showing hints of the violent ruthlessness with which he must have got where he is. Banks and Odenkirk remain good finds but the biggest step up here is Norris' Hank. He is given a lot to do and he delivers whether it is a general inability to process his own fear into anything but anger or his drive to crack his case – I hope events do not limit his involvement in the fourth season as he has been excellent here.

This third season of Breaking Bad makes progress on top of a strong second season. The niggles are still there in the writing regards the contrivances but the approach is creative, engaging and seems to have confidence to try things out and grow. Breaking Bad remains a good story well told but it also delivers in regards moral complexity, tension, drama and characters – it is excellent television and I am looking forward very much to the fourth season.