This is one of the best episodes, from the point of suspense. While not much happens back at the White home, except for Marie temporarily being excused for her kleptomaniac problems, the kidnapping out in the New Mexico boonies story is suspense-ridden and sometimes very humorous. The suspense derives from all the points at which Walter and Jesse just could have got away... if not for one small mistake. This started with Walt leaving his gun at home in the previous episode, on to Jesse calling the ricin "killer" in the sense that it's an awesome batch of meth, to Jesse ruining it all by inflicting his signature "Chilli P" (a reference to the pilot episode, well done by the writers, Jesse hasn't forgotten about his past) to the ominous bell ringing by a warning Tio Salamanca, maybe the best part of all. To have a seemingly senile, wheelchair-and-oxygen-supply-bound quadriplegic speechless old uncle in his underpants turn out to be a dangerous key player is absolutely brilliant writing. His menacing bell ringing really does send a shiver down your spine. The initial scene where half-delirious Walt sees his forgiving wife turn into Tuco, then scramble on the ground looking for his glasses is hilarious. Nice ending shot combining the slowly dying rhythm of Jesse's car's hydraulics with the heartbeat of the dying Tuco, with Hank towering above. Onnly eight points, though, because Tuco, having been shot in the abdomen, seems unrealistically strong enough to handle a submachine rifle and engage in a firefight.
Review of Grilled
