(SPOILERS AHEAD, so “tread lightly,” ye Breaking Bad fanatics!)
Season Five, Episode 12: “Rabid Dog”
Written and Directed by Sam Catlin
Following the trio of volatile, plot-packed episodes that kick-started this season’s final sprint, “Rabid Dog” — despite its menacing title — eased on the dramatic brakes a bit. Longtime writer Sam Catlin made a breathtaking debut as director, drawing out tension and creeping dread, but he also penned the smartest, most subtly intricate script of the season thus far. Some critics are singling out “Rabid Dog” as a “moving-chess-pieces-into-position” episode — one based more on spinning wheels than actual forward motion — but I couldn’t disagree more with that take. While the episode wasn’t as cathartic or surprising or darkly funny (Guacamole, anyone?) as what we’ve season so far in Season Five, it was just as rich thematically and emotionally, setting up the series endgame in bold, painful brushstrokes.
Quick Breakdown
Picking up where “Confessions” left off, we open with Walt parked at a distance from his house. Noticing Saul’s car (driven by Jesse) in his driveway, he traverses the bushes (like a freaking ninja) and sneaks in, demanding that Jesse “show (him)self right now!” This scene is especially tense, building masterfully through Catlin’s extended zoom-outs and a rippling electronic score. It’s a miniature horror vignette of sorts, as we wait for Jesse to pop out of every closet door.
Jesse’s nowhere in sight, but by dousing the house in gasoline, he’s left Walt with quite a literal mess on his hands. The Mighty Heisenberg concocts a bogus story to Skyler and Walt Jr. about a malfunctioning gas pump, but they’re immediately unconvinced, demanding the truth. Walt chalks up his gas mishap to a dizzy spell (Ya know, from the cancer), which Skyler pretends to accept only for Jr.’s sake. With the impending Jesse danger, Walt suggests the trio head to a fancy hotel (Free Showtime! Room service!) and lay low for a bit.
There, Walt meets up with Saul and Kuby to talk shop. Saul suggests they should give the loyal puppy (Jesse) the ol’ Old Yeller treatment, but Walt is rattled deeply by even the thought of putting Jesse down. “Do not float that idea again,” he warns, in what could be his most menacing tone since “You’re goddamn right.” Skyler, of course, has overlooked her fair share of murder-mysteries at this point — it’s the entire reason she’s able to sleep at night. But she knows Walt is hiding something major: Why else move the family out of their home? She, too, feels this rabid dog deserves some form of euthanasia, for the sake of the family’s safety. Of course, the beauty of this scene is what’s unspoken: Even hearing Skyler imply that idea is painful, and he can’t bear repeat the words back to her: (“You want me to…?”)
One of the reasons many fans (like myself) refuse to leave Walt’s corner is that he ultimately still values his family. Sure, he’s made some despicable choices in his run as Meth Kingpin Supreme, but when it comes to the safety and prosperity of his family, he’s brazenly loyal. That makes the pool-side scene between Walt and Jr. all the more painful: It’s difficult to watch as Walt lies to Jr. about the severity of his cancer, but it’s even sadder to think of what other secrets he’s hiding. (In many ways, this scene beautifully mirrors Jesse’s desert breakdown from “Confessions”: Two lost, weeping children begging their father — or, in Jesse’s case, surrogate father — for the truth, as he hugs them and feeds them half-lies through his teeth.) As Jr. heads back to his pay-per-view and room service, Walt now appears strangely empowered. He has to protect his family — his blood family — at all costs, so he picks up his cell and makes the dreaded call to Todd.
Meanwhile, as Walt plots his next move, we’re left wondering exactly what happened to Jesse. The answer? Hank. Hank happened to crash the White residence just as Jesse started to set a magazine ablaze, and he snatches up the highly vulnerable (and coke-snorting) Jesse, asking him to team up with the DEA in order to bring down Heinsenberg’s charade. (I’m starting to sound like a broken record here, but Aaron Paul’s delirious delivery remains a thing of acting bliss — his anguished delivery of “He can’t keep getting away with it” alone is Emmy-worthy.)
Jesse moves into Casa de Schrader and videotapes a confession for the DEA (with help from Gomey). After Walt leaves a voicemail for Jesse, asking to meet in public to clear the air, Hank pounces on the opportunity, outfitting Jesse with a wire and sending him out to trap Walt into a confession. But Jesse — deeply disturbed and paranoid that Walt is setting him up to be sniped — flees the scene, threatens Walt from a nearby payphone, and promises to Hank that he’s formulated an even better plan to catch Walt with his pants down. (We may often see Heisenberg in his tightie whities, but his metaphorical pants have always remained tightly secured. Perhaps Jesse’s finally unlocked the code.)
Rating: A
Things are going to get bloody from here on out. “Rabid Dog” was a moment of reflection before the avalanche.
Now for some random thoughts and my favorite moments of the night…
#TIGHTIEWHITIES (Also, maybe this has been said before, but AMC should totally sell their own underwear brand called “Mr. White’s Tightie White-ies.”)
“His buddies–Beaver and what’s his name?” — Walt
“A nuanced discussion on the nuances of child poisoning…” — Saul
I didn’t mention Marie’s therapy scene in the recap, but it’s worth touching on since this show never wastes any piece of dialogue. The fact that Marie’s been fantasizing about poisoning Walt doesn’t seem like a random placement; will Marie try her own ricin cigarette?
As Schrader family photos can attest, Walt makes a surprisingly solid Santa.
During Jesse’s confession video, there’s a wonderful moment when Jesse switches gears from “Mr. White” to “Walter White.” This kind of attention-to-detail is what makes the writing staff so special.
“Mr. White, he’s the devil. He’s smarter than you; he’s luckier than you.” — Jesse
“Todd, I think I might have another job for your uncle.” — Walt, sending a copious amount of chills up my spine
