Breakage (Breaking Bad)

Last updated
"Breakage"
Breaking Bad episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 5
Directed by Johan Renck
Written by Moira Walley-Beckett
Featured music"The Peanut Vendor" by Alvin Tyler
Cinematography by Michael Slovis
Editing byKelley Dixon
Original air dateApril 5, 2009 (2009-04-05)
Running time47 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Down"		Next →
"Peekaboo"
Breaking Bad season 2
List of episodes

"Breakage" is the fifth episode of the second season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 12th episode overall. It was written by Moira Walley-Beckett and directed by Johan Renck. This episode marks the introduction of Jane Margolis, portrayed by Krysten Ritter. The episode was dedicated to Kim Manners. The episode aired on AMC on April 5, 2009.

Contents

Plot

Walter White finishes his first round of chemotherapy and is told he will learn the results in two months' time. However, Walt begins to feel overwhelmed by the growing medical bills, and the money he made from Tuco Salamanca is running out. While he is vomiting into the toilet, he finds something clogging it – the packet of cigarettes Skyler White was smoking.

Jesse Pinkman returns to Clovis to make good on his word: he pays for the towing and repair of his gate. He also works out a deal to store his RV in Clovis' lot and buys a used car from him. Next, he rents an unfurnished apartment from Jane Margolis, who manages the property and lives next door. Although he likes the space, he has no credit history and can only pay in cash. She initially refuses to rent to him but eventually agrees after raising the price for cash only.

Hank Schrader is promoted to a high-ranking Albuquerque liaison for the DEA, and will have to split his time between the city and El Paso, Texas. He goes out to celebrate with his friends but has a panic attack on the elevator ride down. He takes off work to bottle some of the beer he has brewed at home. Marie Schrader is confused at this behavior, but he assures her everything is all right. After she leaves, a bottle breaks during capping, cutting his hand.

Meanwhile, Walt and Jesse meet again to discuss how to distribute their meth. Jesse does not want to work on his own now that the DEA has found him, and suggests building a network of dealers so that they can be both distributors and producers. Walt is initially reluctant, but Jesse threatens to walk if they don't follow his plan. Later, Jesse invites his friends Combo, Skinny Pete, and Badger to his apartment, and discusses employing them as dealers.

At a cookout celebrating Hank's promotion, Skyler demands that Marie apologize for giving Skyler the stolen tiara, or it will irreversibly drive a wedge between them; Marie tearfully does so.

Jesse's dealers are doing well selling their meth until Skinny Pete is robbed by one of his customers. When Jesse gives Walt his share, minus the stolen money, he explains that it is breakage—revenue loss from damaged, lost, or stolen goods—that must be expected as the cost of doing business. Walt, however, worries about what will happen when word gets out that they can be robbed with impunity. He later shows up at Jesse's apartment and gives him a gun, telling him to take care of the problem.

Walt also confronts Skyler over her smoking, but she refuses to apologize for keeping secrets when he has been doing the same. That night, Hank is woken by what he thinks are gunshots and goes through the house with his pistol drawn. It turns out to be caps popping off beer bottles due to pressure. The next day, he drives down to the Rio Grande and throws his trophy of Tuco's grill into the river.

Critical reception

Noel Murray, writing for The A.V. Club , gave the episode an A, praising the visual comparisons between different situations in the episode. [1]

In 2019 The Ringer ranked "Breakage" 44th out of the 62 total Breaking Bad episodes. [2]

Related Research Articles

"Cancer Man" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad. Written by Vince Gilligan and directed by Jim McKay, it aired on AMC in the United States on February 17, 2008.

"Crazy Handful of Nothin'" is the sixth episode of the first season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad. Written by George Mastras and directed by Bronwen Hughes, it aired on AMC in the United States on March 2, 2008. The episode introduces Tuco Salamanca and No Doze, played by Raymond Cruz and Cesar Garcia respectively.

"A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal" is the seventh and final episode of the first season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad. Written by Peter Gould and directed by Tim Hunter, it aired on AMC in the United States on March 9, 2008.

Walter White (<i>Breaking Bad</i>) Breaking Bad character

Walter Hartwell White Sr., also known by his alias Heisenberg, is the fictional antihero turned villain protagonist of the American crime drama television series Breaking Bad, portrayed by Bryan Cranston.

<i>Breaking Bad</i> season 2 Second season of the AMC crime drama television series

The second season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad premiered on March 8, 2009, and concluded on May 31, 2009. It consisted of 13 episodes, each running approximately 47 minutes in length. AMC broadcast the second season on Sundays at 10:00 pm in the United States. The complete second season was released on Region 1 DVD and Region A Blu-ray on March 16, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hank Schrader</span> Fictional character in the television crime drama series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul

Henry R. "Hank" Schrader ASAC is a fictional character in the AMC drama series Breaking Bad and a supporting character in its spin-off series Better Call Saul. He is portrayed by Dean Norris and was created by series creator Vince Gilligan. Hank's character development over the course of the series and Norris's performance have been critically acclaimed.

"Seven Thirty-Seven" is the second season premiere episode of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 8th episode overall. It was written by J. Roberts and directed by series star Bryan Cranston. The episode aired on AMC on March 8, 2009.

"Grilled" is the second episode of the second season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad and the 9th episode overall. It was written by George Mastras and directed by Charles Haid. The episode aired on AMC on March 15, 2009.

"Bit by a Dead Bee" is the third episode of the second season of the American television crime drama series Breaking Bad and the 10th episode overall. It was written by Peter Gould and directed by Terry McDonough. The episode aired on AMC on March 22, 2009.

"Negro y Azul" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad. It was written by John Shiban and directed by Felix Alcala. It aired on AMC in the United States on April 19, 2009.

"Over" is the tenth episode of the second season of the American television action drama series Breaking Bad. It was written by Moira Walley-Beckett and directed by Phil Abraham. The episode aired on AMC on May 10, 2009.

"No Más" is the first episode of the third season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad. Written by Vince Gilligan and directed by Bryan Cranston, it aired on AMC in the United States on March 21, 2010.

"Green Light" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 24th overall episode of the series. Written by Sam Catlin and directed by Scott Winant, it aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on April 11, 2010.

"Sunset" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 26th overall episode of the series. Written and directed by John Shiban, it aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on April 25, 2010. The episode introduces Gale Boetticher, played by David Costabile.

"Kafkaesque" is the ninth episode of the third season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 29th overall episode of the series. Written by Peter Gould and George Mastras and directed by Michael Slovis, it aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on May 16, 2010.

"Abiquiu" is the eleventh episode of the third season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 31st overall episode of the series. It was written by John Shiban and Thomas Schnauz and directed by Michelle MacLaren. The title refers to Abiquiú, New Mexico, where Georgia O'Keeffe had a home and studio.

"Buyout" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 52nd overall episode of the series. Written by Gennifer Hutchison and directed by Colin Bucksey, it originally aired on AMC in the United States on August 19, 2012.

"Más" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 25th overall episode of the series. Written by Moira Walley-Beckett and directed by Johan Renck, it aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on April 18, 2010.

Faking Bad: The Unauthorized 'Breaking Bad' Parody Methsical is a 2018 parody musical with music, lyrics and book by Rob Gathercole based on AMC's Breaking Bad created by Vince Gilligan. The story shows down-on-his-luck father and chemistry teacher, Walter White's descent into the world of drug dealing as he becomes the feared druglord "Heisenberg". The musical condenses the entire plot of Breaking Bad down to approximately 90 minutes with a heightened sense of camp and satire. Production began in 2018 when Gathercole created a Kickstarter to help fund the project and raised £1,877 of the £1,500 goal.

References

  1. ↑ Murray, Noel (April 5, 2009). "Breaking Bad: "Breakage"". A.V. Club. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ Jack McCluskey (September 30, 2019). "The Ringer's Definitive 'Breaking Bad' Episodes Ranking". The Ringer.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.