Breaking Bad S2E11: Walt Goes Big-Time, Chooses Drugs Over Family
In S2E11 of Breaking Bad Walt and Jesse are on the rocks. Their effort to set up a rag-tag drug gang with three of Jesse's stoner friends as dealers has collapsed. Badger was arrested in S2E8, Better Call Saul; Combo was killed by rival dealers. Skinny Pete quit, and Jesse is blaming himself for Combo's death. Walt is pissed at Jesse for almost ruining their last drug manufacturing project and is also spinning out of control in his own personal life. But there's still a huge amount of drugs to move... and Walt badly needs the money.
Walt talks to Saul, who now not just a criminal defense lawyer for them but an advisor to their ongoing criminal activities. Saul "knows a guy who knows a guy... who knows a guy" who's a big-time drug dealer. This person could potentially buy the huge amount of drugs and sell it through the cartel he's part of; Walt and Jesse wouldn't have to be involved as dealers. Especially because, as Saul tells Walt in his characteristically blunt style, they suck as drug dealers. 😅
The new big-time dealer is the ostensibly mild-mannered Gus Fring, played by Giancarlo Esposito. I knew Esposito was cast in this season but I didn't recognize him at first. My last exposure to his acting was in The Mandalorian as the swaggering villain Moff Gideon, which I really enjoyed. Based on that I expected to see him snarl and twirl his cape like a classic movie villain. Instead he way underplays the character, Gus. But that's fair because (a) Gus is written as being an extremely careful person and (b) you're not supposed to recognize right away that he's the new Big Bad.
Moff Gi- I mean, Gus- initially rejects Walt from a distance after observing him quietly, then rejects him a second time after Walt figures out who he is. Walt may suck as a drug dealer but he is observant and intelligent. And occasionally determined. Determined, he tries a third time with Gus... and nets an offer for $1.2 million. $1.2 million. Welcome, Walt, to the big-time!
Ah, but there's catch. Not only is Walt taking a plunge ever deeper into crime, but the offer from Gus is on an extremely short time limit. Walt must choose between being at the hospital with his wife for the birth of their daughter, Holly or bring drugs to Gus and collecting $1.2 million. Walt chooses the money and a lame apology to his wife.
Walt talks to Saul, who now not just a criminal defense lawyer for them but an advisor to their ongoing criminal activities. Saul "knows a guy who knows a guy... who knows a guy" who's a big-time drug dealer. This person could potentially buy the huge amount of drugs and sell it through the cartel he's part of; Walt and Jesse wouldn't have to be involved as dealers. Especially because, as Saul tells Walt in his characteristically blunt style, they suck as drug dealers. 😅
The new big-time dealer is the ostensibly mild-mannered Gus Fring, played by Giancarlo Esposito. I knew Esposito was cast in this season but I didn't recognize him at first. My last exposure to his acting was in The Mandalorian as the swaggering villain Moff Gideon, which I really enjoyed. Based on that I expected to see him snarl and twirl his cape like a classic movie villain. Instead he way underplays the character, Gus. But that's fair because (a) Gus is written as being an extremely careful person and (b) you're not supposed to recognize right away that he's the new Big Bad.
Moff Gi- I mean, Gus- initially rejects Walt from a distance after observing him quietly, then rejects him a second time after Walt figures out who he is. Walt may suck as a drug dealer but he is observant and intelligent. And occasionally determined. Determined, he tries a third time with Gus... and nets an offer for $1.2 million. $1.2 million. Welcome, Walt, to the big-time!
Ah, but there's catch. Not only is Walt taking a plunge ever deeper into crime, but the offer from Gus is on an extremely short time limit. Walt must choose between being at the hospital with his wife for the birth of their daughter, Holly or bring drugs to Gus and collecting $1.2 million. Walt chooses the money and a lame apology to his wife.