Hazard Pay

It's apt that Scarface is sampled in this episode as Walt seems most of the way down the path from where he started as Mr Chips. The writers have brought the central character here plausibly, considering the outrageousness of the concept.

I particularly like how they portrayed him as incompetent in certain situations previously, but also learning whilst overcoming certain obstacles. This makes the scenes where he now appears to be a ruthless, effective manipulator quite believable. It also helps how the cinematography and art direction captures Bryan Cranston in darker and more sinister aesthetics.

This episode lays strong foundations for what is to come later on in the season by developing good tension between Walt other characters like Jesse, Mike, Skyler and Marie. Mike described Walt as time-bomb ticking away, and this is exactly what the storyline feels like currently.

I also appreciate the creativeness the writers show again with meth cooking. They did an RV and a super-lab, so how could they keep it fresh? Well they did and you have to admire it. You do though have to wonder how many ideas they are giving the illicit drug industry and how much they glamourise certain moments. Especially as cook scenes are filmed, edited and presented so slickly they make it look like a cool thing to be doing.

All actors are on top form, especially Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Jonathan Banks and Betsy Brandt.

It hurts to say it but it is what that is, Walter is a monster, he is greedy, over ambitious, manipulator, cold and unchaste.

First time watching the scene between Walt and Jesse after cooking, I thought that Walter told Jesse all that stuff about Andrea to make him feel better and help him to reach happiness with that girl, I still thinking that some part of that conversation is genuinely Walt trying to tell Jesse that he appreciate doing business with him, that's all that matters to Walt at his point, Business.

Meanwhile Skyler is having a identity crisis about her own husband. Walt is shown as this dark shape moving around the house, terrifying.

'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.

"Hazard Pay" may not have the tight pace, being more of a slow burner (nothing wrong with that, 'Breaking Bad' does slow burners well), and red-hot intensity of the best episodes or the Season 5 opener, but everything that makes 'Breaking Bad' as a show so great is present. Let done only really the ending being rushed and needing more edge for my liking.

Visually, "Hazard Pay" 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 "Hazard Pay" 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 supporting cast are both intriguing and entertaining, with a funny Bob Odenkirk and Skinny Pete and Badger not being annoying. The characters are compelling in their realism, likewise with their chemistry, and the episode is superbly directed.

In conclusion, truly impressive. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This is the third episode of the fifth episode of Breaking Bad. Compared to the first two episodes, this episode is a little on the slow side. But the characterization is the key focus of the episode and in that regard, it truly works. There were some funny moments with some involving Saul (of course), and one surprisingly involving Skinny Pete and Badger.

In this episode, "Hazard Pay," Walt, Jesse, and Mike begin to start cooking their first batch of meth. Mike visits Gus's former workers in prison to tell them to remain silent. Jesse makes an important personal decision on the insistence of Walt. Hank goes back to work. Skylar has a breakdown which prompts Marie to ask Walt for the truth.

Overall, this is a very good episode even if it is on the slower side of things. But this episode shows us how each of our characters are changing, and we see Skylar on the way to her breaking point. It will be interesting to see what happens next. I rate this episode 9/10.

Walt and Jesse with the addition of Mike now are back in business. Meanwhile Skyler had a breakdown possibly because of Walt, she now maybe perceived him as a danger to the family. I don't blame her tho Walt is a trouble maker now haha I mean he have the opportunity to leave meth business behind him and start over but he chose to continue to cook. the idea of the new lab is brilliant. I foresee a possible conflict between Walt and Mike in the near future.