libraryseraph | Breaking Bad Season 2 Episode 13: ABQ

AT the beginning of this episode, we see the bear being removed again, and the body bags. The difference is that this time, the scene goes on longer, we see how far the evidence and the investigators extend, and as the camera scans up to reveal the pillars of smoke, the image ebcomes full colour. The events shown in these grayscale flash-forwards are becoming the present.

We open with Jesse desperately trying to perform CPR on Jane/wake her up, and breaking down crying when he fails. He then calls Walt, with no idea that Walt knows, because Jane's death was his fault.

Mike's Here! He also immidiately establishes himself as calm and professional, even in the face of something as horrifying as Jane's death. He tells Jesse how to avoid arrest and prosecution, but he doesn't offer him any sympathy.

I'm reasonably certain in this scene the cereal is meant to contrast the previous homemade breakfasts as a sign of the Whites growing apart.

Don is returning to see Jane because of what Walt said to him. His refusal to give up on her leads to him walking in on the coroners packing up her body, which was in turn caused by Walt's refusal to give up on Jesse.

Hank has discovered that Heisenberg is still working, and that he might still be based in Albequerque

Walt finds Jesse in a heroin den, and calls him "son" while trying to wake him up. I think this is genuine, I do think Walt has paternal feelings towards Jesse, it's just that, well, we've seen how Walt treats family "for their own good".

This scene is legitimately hard to watch, because Jesse seeks comfort from Walt about Jane's death, and blames her for it, and all the while we're completely aware that Walt Let that happen, and is on some level letting Jesse blame himself because it'll let him (walt) have more control

Meanwhile, the fake charity is getting big.

Hank is intruduced to a group of local businessmen... including Gus. Gus has perfected his "facade of respectability" to such a degree he gets to interact with the DEA. Gus also sees Hank's donation jar for walt, meaning he now knows Walt's real identity

Walt can't handle Flynn's television interview, because he's aware on some level he doesn't deserve the praise Flynn gives him. The things Walt has done for his family are eroding his ability to actually be a part of his family.

Skyler finds out Walt does have another cell phone while hes going under anaesthetic.

Walt's stupid pink sweater here is probably tied to the teddy bear as an initial symbol of peace and innocence that becomes subverted. It starts when Skyler kicks him out of the house. She's found out that Walt was lying to her, and that he's still lying rather than coming clean, and she's unwilling to put up with it anymore. This made people REALLY ANGRY when this first aired, because Walt can be a murdering drug lord and be sympathetic, but god forbid a Woman be Angry at him. I try not to get involved with that sort of nonsense, but it's especially bizarre given how aggressive the show is about misaimed masculinity being the source of problems.

It's weird that Walt's mother never actually shows up. Obviously Walt lied about visiting her, but her son has CANCER. that's the sort of thing a parent doesn't ignore.

And now we see the full payout of the thing with Don. He gets distracted at work due to grief, and, since he's an air traffic controller, two planes collide. Right over Walt's house. Not only do Walt's actions have consequences he can't predict, but they have consequences he can't avoid, that will follow him home to his family life, no matter how hard he tries to avoid them. And the season ends with Walt making eye contact with the teddy bear. Although he doesn't know it, in his drive to provide for Holly, he's lead to the death of at least one other child.