Season four doesn't exactly take a U-turn after its slow start with "Bullet Points", but the fourth episode nevertheless brings the series in a new direction. With lots of conversations and exposition and every main cast member present, Breaking Bad's writing room also has a chance to show off its skills, and does so with bravery.
As Walt and Skyler come clear to the rest of their family about the underground criminal activities of the suspended chemistry teacher mistakenly regarded as an ordinary Joe, brace yourselves for long talks and many a gem to be found in these. Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn developed a great chemistry once again and the two make the most out of facial expressions, above all Mr. Cranston in the one scene of this episode you'll never forget. I'm excluding spoilers in this review, but I'll say this much: it's possibly the most perfect mixture of comedy and tragedy I've ever seen on screen. Through that scene, the actual plot of Walt and Skyler telling Walt Jr., Marie, and Hank a slightly abridged version of the truth was eclipsed, even though it was still a nice part of the episode.
Jesse, however, came into spotlight, due to his endless parties and him not caring about anything after what had happened with him and Gale at the end of the third season. Gus and Mike aren't particularly enthused by that, which leads to a very interesting finish that serves for an even more interesting next episode. Aaron Paul does a very good acting job yet again and so does Bob Odenkirk as his (and Walt's) lawyer Saul, this time providing what is one of the funniest moments of all the series (cue: "That may have been a little insensitive.")
Not as impressive as in the past was the cinematography, which isn't that it was bad, just that the really rememberable shots were absent in "Bullet Points". Altogether though, the fourth episode is season four's best up to that point and was a very welcome turning point for me.
As Walt and Skyler come clear to the rest of their family about the underground criminal activities of the suspended chemistry teacher mistakenly regarded as an ordinary Joe, brace yourselves for long talks and many a gem to be found in these. Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn developed a great chemistry once again and the two make the most out of facial expressions, above all Mr. Cranston in the one scene of this episode you'll never forget. I'm excluding spoilers in this review, but I'll say this much: it's possibly the most perfect mixture of comedy and tragedy I've ever seen on screen. Through that scene, the actual plot of Walt and Skyler telling Walt Jr., Marie, and Hank a slightly abridged version of the truth was eclipsed, even though it was still a nice part of the episode.
Jesse, however, came into spotlight, due to his endless parties and him not caring about anything after what had happened with him and Gale at the end of the third season. Gus and Mike aren't particularly enthused by that, which leads to a very interesting finish that serves for an even more interesting next episode. Aaron Paul does a very good acting job yet again and so does Bob Odenkirk as his (and Walt's) lawyer Saul, this time providing what is one of the funniest moments of all the series (cue: "That may have been a little insensitive.")
Not as impressive as in the past was the cinematography, which isn't that it was bad, just that the really rememberable shots were absent in "Bullet Points". Altogether though, the fourth episode is season four's best up to that point and was a very welcome turning point for me.