‘Breaking Bad’ Retro Recap: ‘Breakage’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Starting over is a phrase that everyone dreads to a certain extent. Simply because when we mutter those words in regard to ourselves, we acknowledge the fact that we've just been through hell and that our next steps involve us rebuilding everything we once gained and that can be quite the arduous and painful task. Or it can be our finest hour. Because sometimes, starting over is just what we need to be successful in life, since we are now free of the constraints of the past, and we are armed with newfound knowledge and believe it or not, the brighter side of the do-over… just so happens to be the focus of the next episode of Breaking Bad. Because when we catch up with Walter and Jesse in ‘Breakage’, they’re preparing to hit the restart button on their meth business and understandably so.

For Walter’s medical bills continued to pile up, depleting his funds quickly and now that he found himself on his own, Jesse realized he needs money to survive. But while they were both good with doing what they must to handle their finances, the only problem that accompanied their desire to resume making the finest meth in New Mexico… is that they didn't have someone to move it. For the Salamanca family was the go-to for pushing product in this town and well, the lack of a distributor is what brings about the positive exploration in question. For it outright inspires Jesse to take on a bigger role in this business, by figuring out his own distribution network. One comprised of people he trusts and that in turn, allows for Jesse to reclaim his mojo in life. 

Because his boys end up doing a phenomenal job of pushing product around the city. To the point where Jesse can afford storing the RV in a safe place when he and Walt aren’t actively cooking, and he can even pay the rent on a small house and most important of all, he feels some sense of worth and purpose in life, and that was perhaps the most rewarding aspect of this story. For up until now, Jesse has been about as lost as they come. But taking charge and moving product in a manner that the cops cannot figure out, is oddly healthy for him and his future. But while it is wonderful to see Jesse find purpose and direction and fulfillment at last, it doesn’t take long for Jesse to come to understand that trouble will still find them in this business. Since one of his boys was robbed by a pair of feisty meth heads, prompting Walt to ask him to handle this mess in an appropriate manner à la Tuco.

But alas, how exactly Jesse handles that, will have to wait for later, since the episode ends before we get the opportunity to see Jesse follow through on Walt’s wishes. Yet while that is quite the ominous way to bring this particular chapter to a close, it was still quite refreshing to see Jesse use the reset button to allow for wonders to take place in this tale, and it really was quite nice to see Jesse take the lead for a change. Because it helps us to understand that the series will take the time to grow everyone in this series when the moment is right, and that includes the side characters as well. Because this is an episode that also gave Hank something important and personal to deal with. By pointing out the fact that his experience with Tuco wasn’t quite as open and shut as we were led to believe. For shortly after he receives a promotion in this tale, he quickly finds himself dealing with panic attacks.

Indicating that he is dealing with a touch of PTSD from that event and is worried about his future as a DEA Agent and that’s just incredible. Because it genuinely humanizes Hank for the first time ever in this series and really in the end, all of these elements make this a brilliant episode when all is said and done. For this one was all about character development and growth, which would become true staples of this franchise and it really was magnificent to see Jesse grow right before our eyes and find confidence and direction. But alas, while all of that is wholesome, we would be remiss to not be worried about what comes next. Because Walt’s request for Jesse to ‘handle it’ is another indication that part of the growth that the characters must go through in this series, involves making dark choices and ugly commitments and it should be interesting to see how Mister Pinkman handles such a difficult task and what the lasting impact on his psyche will be, for taking part in something quite twisted. Until next time.

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