THE EPISODES An Opinionated Compendium Episode 1.1: “Pilot” (January 20, 2008) We meet Walter White, an Albuquerque chemistry teacher who re- ceives a death sentence in the first twenty minutes of the show. This episode spans three weeks—from Walt’s diagnosis of terminal lung can- cer to his failed suicide attempt—and reveals White’s rapid transforma- tion from a bland and beaten-down never-was to a drug manufacturer who, in the words of his partner and former student Jesse Pinkman, understands the art of cooking meth. Even in the pilot, we can detect hints of Heisenberg in Walt’s brilliance and bravado. This episode intro- duces the characters of Walt’s family, as well as the complexity of the drug world that Jesse, Walt’s former student turned drug partner, is in- volved in. Jesse and Walt establish their drug-making base in a run-down RV in the middle of the desert. The quality of the drugs, and suspicions about the bust of Jesse’s former partner, Emilio, trigger the unwelcome interest of drug dealer Krazy-8. The episode concludes with Walt igniting a chemical explosion to kill both Emilio and Krazy-8, in order to save himself and Jesse. Episode 1.2: “Cat’s in the Bag .. .” (January 27, 2008) The Conclusion of this episode is where many viewers gave up on the Series, becoming too squeamish with the blood and gore. Understandably: 1s3154 THE EPIsopgs the sight of the pinkish-red muck formerly known as Emi through the ceiling is horrifying. However, this second episoy glimmer of the depth of what is to come later in the series, T starts Walt and Jesse down a path much more sinister than selling drugs. Jesse and Walt both struggle with the magnit has happened, and what still has to be done, with Walt Spending the entire episode keeping Krazy-8 alive rather than killing him. Walt takes a major stand against Skyler’s nagging (also known as a wife Wanting to know why her husband is disappearing and keeping secrets), telling her to “climb down out of my ass.” The construction of Skyler’s character ig cemented as the ultimate prude when she visits Jesse to warn him away from selling marijuana to Walt. lio falling de offers a his episode making ang ude of what Episode 1.3: “... And the Bag’s in the River” (February 10, 2008) Walt and Jesse start the episode by getting into a comical fight, when Walt walks in on Jesse using some of their inventory. Walt attempts to flush the drugs, and Jesse saves the bag of meth by throwing it out the window onto the lawn below. The two men rush out of the house after it, slapping and kicking at each other, as they roll down the stairs. This is a particularly delightful scene to watch in hindsight, as the level of accept- able violence against one another escalates throughout the series and becomes far less humorous. There is a discussion of chemistry and the soul, when Walt talks with former girlfriend Gretchen in a flashback. This conversation occurs as Walt tries to build up to killing Krazy-8. Is Walt losing his soul? Is it Krazy-8’s soul that keeps Walt from being able to kill him? Walt makes a pros/cons list about whether to kill, with the only pro the desire to save his family. Krazy-8 smartly tries to convince Walt that he just wants to live and will not attempt to retaliate against him. He is unsuccessful when Walt realizes he has kept a shard of broken plate and now has a weapon. Prior to his demise Krazy-8 pointed out to Walt that if he wanted to kill him, he could have just poisoned the food. Tellingly, Walt’s chosen method of execution is death by strangulation; it’s personal and emotional, repeatedly saying “sorry” as he pulls the bike lock as tight as he can and snuffs out Krazy-8’s life. Each violent act moves him closer to becoming Heisenberg. Walt gets out of trouble withaH erisoDEs 155 finally telling her he has cancer, implying that his diagnosis is by 5 ‘ shylet PY f his strange behavior (a partial truth). the cause 0 episode 1.4: “Cancer Man” (February 17, 2008) Jesse and Walt cut ties with one another, as the cleanup of both bodies is complete. Both men go home in this episode. Walt is forced into reveal- ing his cancer diagnosis to his extended family when Skyler begins cry- ing at the dinner table. Walt’s animosity toward Hank’s machismo is emphasized in this episode when he refuses Skyler’s suggestion that they ask Hank and Marie for money to pay for treatment. Additionally, Hank reassures Walt that he will take care of his family if anything happens, which does not sit well with Walt. Jesse goes to his parents’ home after fleeing his own house during a paranoid drug delusion. It is revealed that his addiction has taken a toll on his family, but, in the end, he attempts to keep his little brother off the same path. Perhaps the biggest fulcrum of the episode is Ken, a loudmouth, egotistical, parking-spot-stealing douche bag. Walt stands by silently when he first encounters Ken at the bank but, by the end of the episode, stumbles upon him again and lights his precious sports car on fire, blowing it up. The scenes with Ken em- phasize a theme of siding with the underdog, which is peppered through- out the series. Episode 1.5: “Gray Matter” (February 24, 2008) Walt’s hubris is emphasized throughout this episode, as he gives up an opportunity to make a lot of money for his family and receive medical insurance and treatment for free. Walt turns down Elliott’s offer to hire him on at Gray Matter, the company Walt and Elliott started before he bought Walt out many years before achieving financial success. Walt is initially excited about the opportunity to prove himself as a chemist again, but refuses the help when he realizes Skyler revealed his cancer diagnosis to Elliott, who is framing the offer as charity. Walt tells Skyler he does not want treatment and she organizes a family intervention to try fo convince him otherwise. Hank and Marie surprise Skyler by siding with Walt and saying the choice of treatment should be up to him. Walt es a speech about choice and survival but, the next day, agrees to ‘mpt treatment. Meanwhile, Jesse tries to get a job in sales, only to be156 THE EPISODES told that the job he’s interviewing for is a sign holder, He enlists th of a druggie friend to get him Sudafed so that he can make meth . help own. We see Jesse in comparison to his friend, as someone who 7 his settle for simply good enough with the meth production, He’s leans something from Walt, thus reinforcing the teacher-student relationstes that defines their dynamic throughout the series. At the end of the Ls sode, Gretchen calls Walt to try to convince him to take the money that “belongs” to him, but he can’t or won’t, and asks Jesse, “Wanna cook?” Episode 1.6: “Crazy Handful of Nothin” (March 2, 2008) Jesse realizes why Walt has turned to making meth, and Walt demands that they find a way to make more money and move more product. Jesse gets a contact to Tuco Salamanca, a major drug distributor in the area, but is hesitant to reach out. Walt tells him to “grow some fucking balls!” Jesse sets a meeting and gets brutally beat up by the insane Tuco (played by the fantastic Raymond Cruz), landing him in the hospital. Walt visits Jesse in the hospital, sees the damage, and visits Tuco himself. Initially, Walt’s visit to Tuco appears to be about revenge when he sets off a chemical explosion blasting out the windows of the building. However, Walt ends up making a deal with Tuco for more money and product, thus sealing his (and Jesse’s) fate with insanity. A little side note here: instead of using the Wilhelm stock audio, the scream produced right after the explosion is from the 2004 presidential candidate Howard Dean’s “Dean Scream.” Episode 1.7: “A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal” (March 9, 2008) After Walt wins the respect and business of Tuco, he informs Jesse that he has made a deal to deliver more meth than they can make. Jesse says the problem is procuring enough Sudafed, and Walt finds a bypass that requires them to steal methylamine. Jesse does not want to work with the “insane ass-clown, dead-eyed killer” Tuco, but Walt knows that the only way to make the money he needs for his family is to expand the operation to the level that a partnership with Tuco offers. The scene where Jesse and Walt steal the barrel of methylamine is like watching a hilariously hyped-up version of The Odd Couple. This is much-needed comic relief, but is followed up with a scene that reveals the danger of working with157 Ss HE EPISODE T end of this episode (and Season 1), Tuco quco. At _ his associates who had tried to remind e, one reo was in charge. brutally beats No- Walt and Jesse that