‘Breaking Bad’ Retro Recap: ‘No Más’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One particular storytelling trope that audiences everywhere enjoy, is the ‘moment of truth.’ Wherein the main character steps away from their chaotic situation, to ponder upon whether or not they should walk a particular path in life. And we eat this up, simply because it is usually inspirational in nature. For watching characters decide to do the right thing and save countless lives or outright choose to walk away from a toxic situation that could cost them everything, is quite powerful to say the least. Because it reminds us, to choose a better way and to always follow what’s right in our hearts and to never putter about with a decision once we know deep down it is the correct one to make.
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But as is often the case in storytelling, this is something that isn’t necessarily presented in a realistic light. Because sometimes the heart tells us to do the dumb thing, and we listen and let’s be honest… we waffle a lot when it comes to big decisions. Because they’re big decisions, the kind that are difficult to commit to sometimes. But while most stories avoid the realism in order to offer up a dynamic and uplifting story, there are some that don’t shy away from the realities of decision making, such as Breaking Bad. For the season three premiere of this dark and powerful franchise, takes the time to feature Walter White waffling back and forth over committing once again to the drug dealer lifestyle and well, it makes sense as to why.

Because ‘No Más’ wastes zero time in informing us that Walter came to realize that his involvement in Jane’s death, is what left her father, Donald, in a fragile mental state. The kind that allowed for him to make a critical mistake, and having that blood on his hands, combined with the fact that Skyler finally tosses him out… motivates Walt to ponder upon walking away once again from the trade. To the point where he actually turns down a three million dollar offer from Gus Fring and he even comes clean with Skyler from the comfort of his new apartment. All in the hopes of getting Skyler to take him back, since he believes that honesty and abandoning the trade will finally change her mind. But it doesn’t, sadly, and that leaves Walt in quite the broken place.

One that is further enhanced by the quite the twist in this tale. Because for a better part of this episode, it appeared as though Jesse Pinkman was having second thoughts about the drug trade as well. Because he spent a lot of time in rehab, struggling with the death of Jane, to the point where he reached out to a counselor in utter pain as only, he can, in the hopes of finding closure. And once he got out, it really seemed as though he was ready to move on. But a quick talk with Walter, helped us and Mister White realize that Jesse had accepted his fate as the bad guy, isolating Walt further since he was desperate to find a way back into the light and now, there is simply no way that will happen. For he’s left nothing but scorched earth in his wake and truly… this is nothing more than a break designed to catch his breath and it is only a matter of time before Walt returns to the path that gives him a freedom and a power that he’s always craved.

But even then, that return won’t be easy, because the B-story in this episode informed us that major trouble is on its way. For the Salamanca twins are heading north from Mexico to handle unfinished business in regard to Tuco and it will be interesting to see how Walter handles his first real brush with the cartel and what kind of roadblocks they will throw up in his quest to become the biggest kingpin in town. But while we wait for that to happen, we can bask in one fascinating tale. One that did a phenomenal job of putting Walt at a realistic crossroads. Since an ugly moment revolving around our dream or our career choice, does indeed give us pause and really all this episode does, is leave us quite curious as to what exactly will make Walt furious enough to return to a life of crime and the only way to discover that… is to continue the journey and see where Walt’s sabbatical takes us. Until next time.  

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