Briefly recapping that ugly scene at the end of season one, this debut episode of the second season proceeds in a logical enough way. Since Walter and Jesse have witnessed new associate Tuco (a genuinely scary Raymond Cruz) accidentally beat his own henchman to death (over nothing at all), they both realize that Tuco may leave nothing to chance, and get rid of them both. So they have to plan a possible preemptive means of dispatching him. Meanwhile, Hank makes a mistake in trying to get Skylar and Marie talking with each other again; Skylar is still upset over learning that Marie is a kleptomaniac who takes no responsibility for her actions.
The scenes with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are simply electric. These are two fine actors who have already established a real chemistry (a particularly apt turn of phrase). Walter in particular tries to get Jesse to explain how he might kill Tuco, and finds the flaws in the plan. (He's pained that Jesse can't even figure out how to open the gun.) And it really adds to the ever-increasing tension with Hank always on the trail of our anti-heroes; he surveys the footage from that nighttime robbery, and comes upon the remains of No-Doze (Cesar Garcia) near the end. It seems as if Walter *might* come clean to Skylar, but the anguished Walter is at a loss as to how to begin.
The finale - just several minutes of pure finger-biting suspense - is paid off in an appropriate cliffhanger / lack of resolution that sets the stage extremely well for the next episode.
Eight out of 10.
The scenes with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are simply electric. These are two fine actors who have already established a real chemistry (a particularly apt turn of phrase). Walter in particular tries to get Jesse to explain how he might kill Tuco, and finds the flaws in the plan. (He's pained that Jesse can't even figure out how to open the gun.) And it really adds to the ever-increasing tension with Hank always on the trail of our anti-heroes; he surveys the footage from that nighttime robbery, and comes upon the remains of No-Doze (Cesar Garcia) near the end. It seems as if Walter *might* come clean to Skylar, but the anguished Walter is at a loss as to how to begin.
The finale - just several minutes of pure finger-biting suspense - is paid off in an appropriate cliffhanger / lack of resolution that sets the stage extremely well for the next episode.
Eight out of 10.