‘Breaking Bad’ Retro Recap: ‘Phoenix’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

If there is one thing in this world, that immediately deserves to be celebrated, it would have to be the moment we achieve our dreams. Because that’s the top of the mountain right there, and our loved ones and those that believed in us along the way, should there be to enjoy drinks and joy over such a momentous occasion. Because we finally made it, and there's nothing wrong with howling at the moon over accomplishing an incredible goal. However, that is something that sadly does not apply… when your dream involves illegal activity. Because flashing to the world what you’ve illegally done, will likely get you tossed in jail and to make matters worse, it might engender jealousy and unwelcome demands from others in your illegal field and really, that sour side of achieving one’s dream, just so happens to be the focus of the next episode of Breaking Bad.

Because ‘Phoenix’ sees Walter White complete the task laid out to him in the closing moments of the last episode, and getting Blue Sky to Fring’s men, on time… nets Walter and Jesse a whopping half-a-million dollars each, after Saul Goodman gets his cut of course, and that should be cause for celebration. But alas, the fact that he missed his daughter’s birth to make the drop and would need to explain how a million dollars made it inside the house, forced Walter to say nothing and celebrate his grand achievement in his own way. By showing tiny Holly what that kind of cash looks like, and by bragging to Saul, who figured out an ingenious way to launder the cash. Because Walt ‘Flynn’ Jr., set up a website to help raise funds for his father’s forthcoming surgery, and Saul had a guy drop multiple donations to the site, the kind that will eventually and magically come to a half-a-million bones.

But while that was a solid way to express how hard it is to celebrate an illegal win, there was mention of the fact, that success in the illegal world can bring about jealously and ugly demands as well, and that was explored in this story, by way of Jesse and Jane. Because they were both locked into the power of heroin, to the point where Jane’s normally plucky personality transformed into an obsessive and dark one. The kind that motivated her to step in and negotiate the terms of how and when Jesse’s money gets delivered to him. Not out of kindness mind you, but out of the sheer hunger that comes from using and abusing drugs. All so she and Jesse could finally get all the heroin they wanted and that led to some heartbreaking moments for certain. The kind that saw Walt and Jane’s dad, Donald, nearly fall to pieces over watching someone they care about be consumed by drugs and well… this led to some fascinating and devastating scenes at the end of this particular tale.

The kind that saw Walter and Donald inadvertently meet and lament over what Jesse and Jane had become, without ever knowing they were worrying about the same people, and well… Donald’s fine and upstanding advice in this sequence, revolving around doing what must be done to save the ones we love, motivated Walt to do something quite stunning. For he returned to Jesse’s place in the hopes of getting him to wise and sober up, only to find that he was out cold with Jane once again, thanks to the drugs. And in his efforts to wake dear Jesse, he knocked Jane on her back and that signaled her body to toss up whatever was in her stomach, forcing quite the decision. In that, Walt could let her choke to death and free Jesse from her drug fueled and toxic grip or save her life and well… when presented with losing his cooking partner to heroin... Walt chose the former path and Jane died right there in the middle of the night.

Which is a stunning way to end this tale. Since it will bring about all kinds of consequences, since Jesse was indeed attached to Jane in an unhealthy manner and of course, more secrets will have to come in to play and that’s another powerful way to hammer home… that there are no celebrations to be found when success arrives in the drug trade. Because this is a lifestyle that also features a lot of heartache and strife and dark moments, since this a world of sorrow and greed and everything in between. But this is the world and the path that Walter has chosen and sadly, this episode is critical to his journey, since these are the kinds of decisions that build a kingpin. But while that alone makes for a  engrossing tale, the acting in this episode is of note as well, since everyone brings their A-game to the table here, and well… now that this ugly story has come to close, the time has come to see what kind of repercussions await Walt’s bold decision to choose who lives and who dies. Until next time.

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