9 episodes into the season and miraculously a flashback doesn’t slow down the show at all. Seeing the some of the Chicken Man’s origin story added a reservoir’s worth of depth to the show – especially the point where at now. Being put into a situation where he doesn’t know what’s coming is certainly something Gus isn’t used to. He’s quick on his feet and great at improving, but he was visibly shook in the elevator. And while Gus may not be a person of interest to the DEA, but that doesn’t stop Hank from going maverick on his ass. On top of that, the Cartel isn’t budging and Jesse is still a wild card.

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And finally, the answer to the twice asked “Do you know how much money I make a year?” is put out there for Skyler to gasp at. Walter, after expenses, makes $7.5 million a year. A much greater amount than Skyler was expecting and one certainly not able to be laundered in a car wash. She has no choice but to continue on with the front – once the car wash opened its doors Skyler became an accomplice. No backing out now.

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Although this terrific episode ended on a grim note with Walt’s egoism forcing him to suggest to Hank that Heisenberg isn’t dead, this is the first episode in a long time where everyone seemed to get what they want. Skyler got her car wash, slept with Walt, then invites Walt to move back in. That satisfies Skyler, Walt, and Junior. Gus gets Jesse back on track through a sly promotion. And Hank’s interest in Gale’s homicide has given him back his sense of purpose and has brought about some peace in the Schrader household.

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Breaking Bad continues its run of having amazing prologues with the chicken truck getting raked with bullets while Mike chills inside. Amazing and a cold, badass performance there from Jonathan Banks. The episode then puts on the brakes for a solid 20 minutes. In this time Skyler researches gambling addicts and runs through Walt’s dramatic confessional for Marie and Hank – to Walt’s dismay. “Terribly?” And just when the episode began to tread water a bit for me (which I’ve never complained about in this series) Gale appears on screen performing karaoke to “Major Tom.” It was like a punch in the gut – something it looks like Walt felt as well.

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“Open House” is a perfect example of why Breaking Bad is so strong and why the writers should remain so damn confident. Bryan Cranston is barely in this one – we open with his furious reaction to the CCTV cameras in the lab, he bickers a bit with Skyler and Saul, and then finally celebrates the purchase of the car wash with a $370 bottle of champagne. All in all I think it makes up five minutes of the episode. The rest is given to Skyler, Hank, and kleptomaniac Marie.

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