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Post by shakespeherian on Aug 29, 2011 20:48:32 GMT -5
This was pretty terrific. Initial thoughts: Inasmuch as the general arc of each season could be said to be (in part) Walt & Jesse moving up a level in the drug world, it looks like S04 finally got to the place where Gus becomes just another guy with power structures around him, same as happened to Crazy Eight and Tuco and etc. Suddenly not only is the Mexican cartel outmaneuvering him, but Hank (who isn't even DEA) has cracked through and fingered him. I think Gus is a fascinating character, so I would (will) be sorry to see him go, but I think this episode is the first to really indicate that whatever happens in S05 it probably won't involve him.
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Post by jeather on Aug 30, 2011 9:39:29 GMT -5
I cannot believe that Walt's convincing Hank that Gale couldn't be Heisenberg is going to end with Hank getting Gus. That's so entirely undeserved luck. Hurray for the ricin returning, and triple hurray for Jesse not falling for Walt's spiel. Jesse is smarter than anyone gives him credit for. His appearance at the NA meeting was heartbreaking. About Gus: I heard that Giancarlo Esposito has a role on some regular tv series next year, so I was fairly sure this season has to be the end of Gus Frings, though plotwise I think he has to leave anyhow. I think this is by far the best episode this season, which I -- until now -- hadn't been loving quite as much as the absolutely perfect season 3.
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Post by felliniblank on Aug 30, 2011 15:06:33 GMT -5
I agree this was a stellar episode, and Bogdan's "Are you ready to be the boss?" to Walt does look to be the imminent $64,000 question. I wasn't that fond of Hank in the first couple of seasons, but I really enjoyed seeing him rejoin the living this week and, more important, show his asshole DEA ex-boss where the beef is.
Also loved the Pollos Hermanos beverage-machine-cam and Walt's hilarious passive-aggressive interlude with the Challenger: "Oh, I think he'll see me." It's really too bad he left academia because his petty, puerile tantrums would fit right in.
I will also miss Gus. I still miss Tuco, but at least I can see Raymond Cruz on The Closer.
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Post by mannequito on Aug 30, 2011 23:57:40 GMT -5
I think this is by far the best episode this season, which I -- until now -- hadn't been loving quite as much as the absolutely perfect season 3. I'm with you all the way on that. And I'm really really curious to see who smokes the lucky cigarette. Hopefully it's not Badger.
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Post by shakespeherian on Aug 31, 2011 11:50:34 GMT -5
I cannot believe that Walt's convincing Hank that Gale couldn't be Heisenberg is going to end with Hank getting Gus. That's so entirely undeserved luck. Nah, I don't think Hank will get Gus, because otherwise it's just a rehash of Tuco. I think Jesse or Walt have to be directly instrumental in Gus's takedown, but I think Hank + DEA coming at Gus while the cartel is also coming at him will both A) facilitate the ease with which Walt/Jesse get him and B) mean that as soon as Gus is out of the picture, Walt/Jesse will be in even deeper shit than they already have been to this point, because neither the DEA nor the cartel is going to just go away satisfied when Gus is gone.
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Post by mannequito on Sept 2, 2011 0:06:52 GMT -5
I could see Jessie and Walt having the chance to take out Gus and instead giving him to the Cartel, thereby gaining their support and allowing Walt to move in to Gus' kingpin north of the border role.
The DEA angle will carry over in to next season. I think some kind of Walt vs. Hank stand-off will be one of the ultimate climaxes of the entire story arc (keep in mind this all started when Walt went on the ride along at the start of the show).
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Post by freehugs on Sept 3, 2011 1:34:11 GMT -5
Walt doing donuts in the Challenger was a fantastic example of applied physics. And the explosion was perfect. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see whether it would really blow up, or if the wind would blow out the paper or something. I'm impressed with the stunt driver who was able to make those perfectly even donuts on the pavement. I wonder if they painted them on the pavement.
Walter: "How close were you?" Jesse: "Close. Closer than you and me right now." Nice.
Jesse's evolution as a killer is becoming one of the most interesting parts of the season. I love how Gale keeps coming back to haunt everyone.
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