‘Breaking Bad’ Retro Recap: ‘Problem Dog’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Over the course of the past few days, we’ve talked at length about the dangers that can come forth when someone that needs recognition is deprived of it and well, what’ve learned on the matter is quite unsettling to say the least. For Breaking Bad has made it clear that continued marginalization of an individual, especially one that has committed to a darker lifestyle, can lead to some serious trouble. The kind that will see them begin to act out in ways they never have before to obtain the recognition they so desperately crave. As evidenced by Walter White’s off the wall and desperate actions over the past couple of episodes. Ones that have escalated as the stories have progressed, leaving one to wonder if the next chapter in this tragedy was going to see him take his frustrations to a whole new level.

As it turns out, that particular concern is well-warranted, since ‘Problem Dog’ is a story that sees Walter indeed begin to further escalate his desire to be recognized. Simply because, when we catch up with him here, he’s so hungry to be noticed and respected, that he’s starting to lose hope that it will ever come and that motivates him to really lash out in unsettling ways. For instance, since his wonderful gift to his son was rebuffed, he destroyed it rather than deal with the hassle of returning it. Because to return it would be a powerful slap in the face, one that would once again remind him that he was still insignificant to the world and what’s scary, is that it only got worse from there. Because that hopelessness also led Walt to believe that he was a marked man and that it was only a matter of time before Gus decided to slaughter him as he has so many, and that paranoia, motivated him to create more Ricin and motivate Jesse to plant said Ricin in Gus’ food or drink, giving us a grand idea of how far Walter is willing to go at this point, to be seen as a mastermind.

However, rather than simply focus on this painful downward spiral for Mister White, the writers’ room also saw a grand opportunity to dive into another aspect of recognition and its importance to us. Specifically, how sometimes we need someone to recognize where our life is currently at so we can confirm what we already know and act accordingly, and that was handled by Jesse in this tale. Because gaining more trust from Gus and being asked to kill him at the same time, left him wondering if he was too far gone and could no longer be redeemed. But in order to confirm that and potentially make peace with it, he needed objective eyes, and that led him back to the twelve step program. Where he laid it all on the line in a unique manner… and got the negative recognition he needed and this was simply heartbreaking and powerful to watch since it made it clear that unlike Walt, Jesse is still hoping for a way out and a better life.

Yet while those two examinations on recognition could have carried this episode from beginning to end, there was another important plot thread present within its framework. For Hank started to work his magic in this tale and took a little time to swing by Los Pollos Hermanos in a relaxed manner to pull off quite the feat. In that, he managed to get his hands on Gustavo Fring's fingerprints in the smoothest manner imaginable and in doing so, he was able to get a meeting with Gomey and Merkert and present some compelling information to them. The kind that made it clear that Gus Fring is involved in some bad, bad things and that the DEA would be smart to look into his affairs and his potential involvement with the meth trade in the ABQ. Since his ties to Gale ran deep, to the point where his fingerprints were in Gale’s apartment, and well… that’s where this episode leaves us, with Gus finally in the sights of the DEA.

But while we wait to see if Hank’s fine work will go anywhere, considering how Gustavo has operated without impunity or suspicion for a supremely long time, we can bask in the wonder of one powerful tale. One that really did demonstrate that Gus is wearing both Hank and Jesse down in a terrible manner, the kind that is outright breaking their spirits and manipulating them in ways they never thought possible and more and more, one has to wonder if this little game that Gus is playing is going to boil over and soon. Because both men are being deprived of what they need and that never goes well and they are quickly becoming ticking time bombs and well… the ending of this one is so damn good, that this reviewer needs to log off of here and watch the next one post haste… to see where this powerful setup, takes us next.

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