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10/10 - So perfect that I never get tired of seeing
09/10 - Brilliant with some minor flaws but I happily rewatch
08/10 - Very strong and I would happily rewatch
07/10 - Good and I would eventually rewatch
06/10 - Hit and miss, that I found mostly enjoyable but would not seek to rewatch
05/10 - Distinctly average and I would not seek to rewatch
04/10 - Mostly did not enjoy and would avoid rewatching
03/10 - Strongly disliked for a variety of reasons
02/10 - I either switched off, walked out of the cinema or was close to doing either
01/10 - So bad that I would describe it as not professionally made in any way
I appreciate all scoring is highly subjective to the tastes of an individual.
I take into consideration the writing, cinematography, editing, acting, sound, visual effects and general production values along with the era the film or television show was made.
Ratings
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Reviews
Free Willy (1993)
Free room, free food, free swimming pool, free HBO. Ooh. Free Willy.
Free Willy is one that passed me by as a young teenager on its initial release, but I recently saw it with my two young daughters who both took a lot from it.
The visual storytelling is strong throughout as the filmmakers almost seamlessly blend the captive Keiko, animatronics and open water cinematography in a plausible way to tell the story of the titular orca. His scenes of interaction with human characters are very well done and all lead to a famous and cinematic conclusion that was largely spoiled by the movie posters and trailers of the time. Great use is made of the different locations to make it all seem like it's all happening in Oregon.
There is no denying the movie has a simple yet powerful message about captive animals and their exploitation for financial gain. If it went some way to deter children from visiting zoos, circuses and aquariums, that has to be a positive. That being said I find the use of a captive animal in a sentimental story about a captive animal longing for freedom (for commercial gain) quite ironic. Saying that it was a movie that raised awareness about the plight of captive orcas and resulted in people taking action, regardless of its financial motives.
Where it falters slightly is in the clichéd characters, contrived aspects of the plot and exploitative emotional moments. It is however aimed at families with children so there is only so harsh I can be, particularly when my own children enjoyed it.
Breaking Bad: Live Free or Die (2012)
Very strong start to series 5
That famous story pitch about turning Mr Chips into Scarface is starting to feel quite apt. Walt's depiction throughout this episode shows impressive character development by the writers following everything portrayed in the show so far.
What makes it more interesting is the opening scene where he appears to be in a very different circumstance. I remember (years ago) when seeing it for the first time, the prospect of finding out what leads him to this point felt very intriguing.
Others like Skyler, Jesse, Mike, and Saul have memorable moments. You feel the writers are ready to unleash the potential of Walt's true nature on all these supporting characters. Anna Gunn is particularly good in her scenes.
The plot involving the evidence is very inventive from the writers and well realised visually. Certain aspects of it do stretch the limits of plausibility so you need a liberal amount of suspension of disbelief. Not that I'm a physicist or expert on magnetism, but it is such a left field concept it that it made me feel doubtful to a point where I was slightly distracted.
Generally the visuals are outstanding as always. The cinematography is fantastic, especially how Walt is captured in far more menacing way than previously. I also love the two cars in the desert.
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove (2010)
Fairly decent children's movie
If you put aside the misleading marketing of it being a sequel within the Free Willy franchise, I think it is a worthwhile and good natured piece of escapism for younger viewers.
You cannot fault themes associated with animals being better off in the wild than in captivity, plus the nice bond portrayed between a grandfather and granddaughter is a positive message.
I also like how the filmmakers use the location to good effect. You can tell it is made on low budget, but has a solid production, capturing environment and editing various shots nicely to help tell the story. You cannot get away from the distraction of animated killer whales, but it is what it is.
Beau Bridges and Bindi Irvin lead the cast reasonably well. They have a script that is cliched and full of contrivances, but it also has a simple, harmless quality that both my daughters (8 and 4 years old) found engaging.
Some movies and TV shows feel torturous to sit through as a parent, but personally this was not the case for me.
It's a 5.5/10 for me but I round upwards.
Breaking Bad: Face Off (2011)
Hell of a finish to series 4
It is impossible to mention details without spoiling, but safe to say that it is classic Breaking Bad, with brilliant suspense, character moments and general storytelling.
Characters such as Walt, Jesse, Gus and Hector have several defining moments that are memorable. Walt and Jesse in particular are captivating when on screen due to the writing and also the performances of Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.
The filmmakers give us tense drama, action and black comedy at various points. A certain character carrying a specific item into the children's ward of a hospital is outrageously funny and the physical humour associated with it is priceless.
How the episode unfolds is a lesson in how to build towards a spectacular conclusion that leaves you speechless.
Visually it is excellent and everything is enhanced by the music and sound effects.
The Acolyte: Choice (2024)
Okay episode, but held back by the dialogue and pace of the overarching narrative.
There is little plot detail I can reveal without spoiling. It is safe to say that for me it gives another perspective on a previous episode that works well, but I think for the full effect you do have to be interested in the character arcs of certain individuals.
Without mentioning specifics it reminds me of Star Trek and in particular the prime directive focussed episodes and the potential impact of interference or cultural contamination. Whether or not this is a good theme for the Star Wars universe is debatable. I do like the idea of conflict between diverse groups of force users who interpret the same power in a different way. However, witches and possession tropes in Star Wars feel slightly out of place and I have a hard time getting round it.
Maybe if the dialogue was better "Get Mad" etc, and the characters were more engaging I would invest more into the story. I do not think the slowness has helped the story. Some plots can unfold slowly, like Andor, and be compelling, but The Acolyte is a struggle at times.
Some of the acting is pretty good, though it is a mixed bag. Plus the visuals are great as always in Star Wars content.
This is one of the better episodes overall, but does not change my perspective on the show being simply okay.
Alien (1979)
As good today as it was is it was in 1979
I saw Alien numerous times in my youth, but this is my first viewing for several years. I think it has lost none of its sci-fi spectacle and capacity to horrify.
For me it showcases some of the best movie visuals and atmosphere of all time. I love the set design of the Nostromo that is so wonderfully captured by the cinematography and enhanced to its potential creepiness by the lighting, editing and sound.
The creature effects are iconic and still make me uneasy to this day. The sequence with the eggs is still something I still partially look away from. Every scene involving the facehugger is still spine-tingling. Of course the famous dinner table scene is deservedly considered a classic movie moment.
I love the gritty, naturalistic tone of the character scenes. They seem like normal people in a futuristic setting as opposed to the artificial sci-fi staples I was brought up on like Star Trek and and Star Wars. As a wee lad it was the closest I connected to a possible future reality outside 2001: A Space Odyssey.
When I see the final few sci-fi action, horror, thriller sequences from about 1 hour and 34 mins onwards to the very end it is still absolutely riveting.
All actors are on great form especially Sigourney Weaver, who leads it brilliantly and Ian Holm.
Bluey: Dance Mode (2020)
Another entertaining lesson in parenting
Dance Mode is a tribute to what you must be prepared to do to make up of parental transgressions and how careful you need to be when dealing with children's feelings.
As ever it features brilliantly observed family interactions that many people might identify with. Bingo is used very well by the writers to make their point about being attentive to how children respond to you. Just to be pedantic I would say that a portrayed supermum like Chilli would never have let it get to the point it did without intervening earlier, but of course that would kill the story and most of the fun.
Importantly it is very funny and entertaining in during those dance mode moments where certain individuals have to shame themselves in the name of love.
Breaking Bad: End Times (2011)
Excellent follow on from Crawl Space
With the events depicted previously the writers (as always) painted themselves into a corner and here we see how they follow it up with style.
I cannot mention specifics without spoiling, but it's safe to say the writing for the most part is very good. There is a premise of manipulation cleverly implied by the filmmakers who sensibly do not reveal an important piece of information outside of one visual hint. I think it is a slight stretch to accept a certain event portrayed as happening off screen but it does not significantly detract from the intense drama.
All actors are tremendous as always, particularly Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.
The cinematography and editing is excellent. I especially love one great transition when the camera pans down from a location shot to a studio scene set in the meth lab.
9.5/10 for me but I round upwards.
Breaking Bad: Crawl Space (2011)
Absorbing
There is little detail I can mention without spoiling, but it is safe to predict that when you saw it for the first time you were likely compelled to immediately find out what happens next. That final sequence (as many reviewers have already stated) is classic Breaking Bad and contains everything the actors, writers and filmmakers do best. All scenes in the episode build towards it, along with everything that has been slow burning during the fourth season and makes a perfect set up to the season finale.
When I saw Crawl Space on it's first release many years ago, I felt foolish for initially thinking of the Ted Beneke scenes as a sub-plot to fill space, particularly in this episode when it all comes to a head and hits you like a sledgehammer.
Visually it is fantastic, with so many memorable images. I love the cloud shadow scene in the desert and the final frame within a frame is brilliant. Everything is enhanced by wonderful sound.
All actors are on top form with Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Giancarlo Esposito, Anna Gunn and Bob Odenkirk all having very memorable moments.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
As a child of the 80s I find it impossible to not enjoy
This is a decent tribute to a classic action comedy.
The writers know their audience, play safe with the formula, and essentially repackage it with ageing characters and a touch of young sex appeal amongst the supporting cast. I am Generation X and it works for me, but I suspect it might be less appealing to audiences who are not big fans of the original. No doubt there will also be reactions from those who hate nostalgia driven sequels.
I like the opening dialogue at the hockey, which evolves into decent action sequence with reassuringly familiar feel. When the main plot kicks in it just about grabs me. The filmmakers sensibly use established characters to get you to care about the mystery, along with the family connection of the character Jane. I cannot say the crime element of the story is hugely compelling, but I find this to be the case in the original. It drives the plot so that we get Axel in various action-comedy situations that mostly hit the mark for me.
What I find special about the original movie is the chemistry and banter between Eddie Murphy and the likes of Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Ronny Cox and Gil Hill. That is what makes it a classic for me. Does Murphy and the supporting cast of Axel F have the same edge and entertainment value? No, but it would be harsh to slate a film for not being able to turn back the clock a recreate the same magic. That being said, comedy is in the eye of the beholder, so if it depends on whether you find their performances and material funny or not as to how much you take from it. His chemistry with Taylour Paige is okay if you can get past the estranged father movie clichè.
It is great to see characters like Taggart, Rosewood and Jeffrey back on screen with Axel. Ashton, Reinhold and Paul Reiser make a great contribution, particularly Ashton. All of this brought a smile to my face, particularly the final scene.
It helps to have Kevin Bacon in a solid role that he could play in his sleep. He is charismatic as ever and another example of the filmmakers knowing their audience.
Visually it is very reminiscent of the original and does feel like an 80s, buddy-cop movie set in contemporary LA. The action sequences are solid, with old fashioned shoot-to-kill violence from everyone including cops.
The soundtrack is the icing on the nostalgic cake that is Axel F.
6.5/10 for me but I round upwards.
Breaking Bad: Bug (2011)
Another very strong character episode
This is an important episode in the development of Walt and Jesse's relationship. The writers have done a great job of portraying the complexities and general messiness of how people interact, with the resulting impact on trust between individuals. So many problems could be solved (and in some cases caused) by honesty between each other. I think situations and attitudes that breed cynicism and mistrust are portrayed particularly well.
A lot of what works is thanks to the performances of Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul who are both fantastic as ever.
Anna Gunn has another great episode, doing the humour exceptionally well as in previous times when Skyler has needed to be somewhat deceptive to achieve a goal.
Visually it's another cracker with some outstanding cinematography that is edited well.
Breaking Bad: Salud (2011)
Salud has a bit of everything
Breaking Bad is a great show for showcasing characters and everyone contributes in this one. Walt has some powerful character moments in the fallout of the previous episode. This includes some great character backstory that is perfectly consistent with his portrayal so far. Bryan Cranston is always excellent, but here he is exceptional. He is supported very well by. RJ Mitte who has some of his character's best material.
Jesse, Gus and Mike are involved in plot thread that contains very strong character moments, particularly for Jesse and Gus. These scenes also make Salud an excellent action thriller, with moment that are incredibly tense. Aaron Paul, Giancarlo Esposito, Jonathan Banks, Steven Bauer, Carlo Rota all do great work here.
I even enjoyed the scenes involving Ted Beneke, which are not as compelling, but they are very entertaining on their own merit thanks partly to the presence of Bob Odenkirk and also the portrayal of Skyler. It is interesting that the writers appear to be showing a similar level of pride that we see from Walt driving some of Skyler's actions.
Visually it is excellent as always.
For me it is a 9.5/10, but I round upwards.
The Acolyte: Teach/Corrupt (2024)
Decent concept but frustrating storytelling
The writers detailing more backstory and character history of the Jedi order and emergence of the Sith is an undeniably great idea. It should provoke nerdgasms in Gen X fans like myself. For me the narrative of Teach/Corrupt has some interesting moments for characters like Qimir and Osha, but it also underwhelms. The visual storytelling on the "unknown planet" is good and the dialogue between the two is okay.
I think other scenes are less so, particularly the exchanges with Sol and Mae. Lee Jung-jae deserves credit for doing his best to inject life and emotion into a scene. One moment where he has to express anger and frustration with pure body language and facial expression is brilliant, but additionally he has some weak material to work with. Several exchanges where the dialogue simply either explains what has happened, comments on something, says how something feels or speculates what might happen feels awkward. There is little he can do to improve clunky exposition in a script.
The sub-plot involving the character Vernestra feels like it's leading somewhere interesting, but scenes of her visiting previous fight scenes feel quite repetitive.
The characters have not made me fully invest in The Acolyte, particularly Osha and Mae. It is not the fault of Amandla Stenberg, who does her best with the material. It feels like the mysterious past and fate of the two are being drawn out by the slow pace of the overarching narrative to the point that frustrates.
Generally the visuals and art design are as great as you would expect from Star Wars, so I have no complaints there.
Breaking Bad: Hermanos (2011)
Very strong backstory episode
There is not much I can reveal about this one without spoiling, but it's safe to say it provides much needed history about one character and does so in a compelling way. These flashback scenes work well with what we have seen so far regarding a certain characters. Certain individuals are portrayed a bit one-note in terms of their villainy, but it is not to the detriment of the story.
I like the comparison between something that happens in the flashback and what we saw happen in a first season episode. Generally the parallel between these characters is good.
The scenes involving Hank are quite intriguing and on the first viewing are pretty suspenseful. However, this is a rewatch for me, so although still good have lost somewhat of an edge.
As always all actors are on top form and the visual storytelling is strong. For me Giancarlo Esposito stands out.
Breaking Bad: Problem Dog (2011)
Lays strong foundations for what is to come
Problem Dog is another tense character episode with good focus on Walt and those impacted by him like Jesse, Skyler and Hank.
The writers do a great job of showing Jesse's state of mind, particularly how haunted he is by his actions and torn between loyalties. Aaron Paul is amazing (as always) portraying a character in such a troubled state.
I love the scenes involving Hank as they show his resourcefulness as a detective in a subtle bit of visual storytelling and also a very well written monologue. I have always been one to bemoan exposition dialogue, but this is an example of how to do it well. It perfectly starts to set up what is coming in later episodes in a compelling way. Dean Norris is on great form too.
It's great to see Saul after an absence of a few episodes and Bob Odenkirk entertains to a high standard as always.
The previous few episodes focussed intensely on character development and this one gets you intrigued about where the plot will go next.
Breaking Bad: Cornered (2011)
Developing characters and dynamics well
This is a strong episode that further develops characters. What works particularly well is how the relationships Walt has with both Skyler and Jesse are portrayed to be affected by his pride, arrogance and also the influence of Gus.
Walt is a fair way down that road from "Mr Chips to Scarface" and at this point it feels like the pace has been as plausible as it could be for such an outrageous character arc. The writers deliver insights into his development sensibly by his reactionary dialogue with Skyler in one memorable early scene. His scene dialogue with Jesse is also great.
The filmmakers portray his continued transformation well through the use of colour and Bryan Cranston's consistently great performances. Anna Gunn is also excellent in her scenes and makes her character feel real.
Generally the cinematography is excellent as always. I particularly liked the camera on the shovel.
The Acolyte: Night (2024)
Decent action thriller episode
I think Night is easily the strongest episode of The Acolyte so far.
The action, tension, pacing and dark tone all work in unison to make it a pretty entertaining experience. For the first time in the series I found myself feeling a bit of suspense about what might happen from one scene to the next and visually it is all very well done. If lightsaber duels are what does it for you in Star Wars there is nothing not to like about this one. Yes, there are obvious contrivances that ensure the story can going on for longer, but I have seen worse.
From the perspective of the characters, it feels more enjoyable than previous episodes because there is not so much static dialogue and heavy exposition. Several Jedi character have pretty cool moments of heroism that work well. However, there is one fairly cliched moment of what The Incredibles would describe as "villain monologuing" that feels a bit frustrating. Speaking of villains, the reveal is predictable and most viewers will likely guess it.
The actors look and sound so much better in this type of tense episode with urgency and dramatic tension.
No doubt though it will prompt polarising reactions as always on IMDB and be either the best or worst episode ever. Never trust the opinion of one-time reviewers (press the menu button (3 dots) to the right of the up/down vote button and select "see all reviews by" and you can find out) and always be suspicious of those who do not qualify statements (positive or negative) with actual reasons or specific aspects of the film/show.
Breaking Bad: Shotgun (2011)
Another defining Walt episode
There have been several moments of Breaking Bad that are immortalised by Walt's self-destructive pride and this is a typical example. Anyone watching it for the first time is likely hard pressed not to think "Why couldn't he just let it go?" in that late dinner scene with Hank. You have to admire the writers keeping strong consistency with his major character flaws.
Speaking of character consistency, the portrayal of Gus as a master manipulator of people is once again well conveyed in this episode. Although I think Jesse's scenes with Mike have a slightly overly mysterious tone for the sake of creating suspense, they unfold very cleverly. The visual storytelling is fantastic as well.
I love the irony in the fact that two chronically depressed characters in this episode are given a new lease of life by motivation from others. One is a clever, strategic use of psychology and the other is an arrogant, alcohol fuelled reaction of uncontrolled pride.
Breaking Bad: Bullet Points (2011)
Another strong episode, especially on the first watch
When I first saw this episode on its initial release I remember being engrossed as I had no idea what is coming. I think on a rewatch it very slightly loses the edge it had to be as compelling. However, there are still some incredibly well written and performed exchanges of dialogue between characters and memorable visual scenes.
The opening is an impressive action sequence with outstanding visual storytelling. I love Mike's facial expression just before the opening credit sequence.
Walt and Skyler's long chat is one of their best scenes together in the show. It feels very natural and is brilliantly performed by Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn. Cranston's mannerisms are excellent and it feels amazing after everything his character has been portrayed as doing, he can still be very amusing in the context of a henpecked husband.
Likewise Walt's scenes with Hank, Jesse and Saul are also very memorable.
Aaron Paul is on great form as always, realistically playing his character in a very dark place.
For me it's an 8.5/10, but I round upwards.
Breaking Bad: Open House (2011)
Strong reflective character episode that lays some foundations
I think how much you take from this one depends how much you either care about or are interested in the portrayed suffering of certain characters.
Personally I find the "open house" related scenes involving Marie and Jesse to be pretty powerful and quite harrowing. Marie's behaviour is depicted as deteriorating, but I think you lack a certain degree of compassion not to sympathise with the character's situation. When you compare what she does wrong to other characters in Breaking Bad it is negligible and an understandable escape from Hank's abuse. The writers and filmmakers do a great job of conveying her suffering through behaviour and not obvious explanation. Betsy Brandt is outstanding.
Jesse's scenes are a spiral from the previous episode and include some very dark moments. However, the most effective moment for me was the scene of dialogue with Walt at the lab. The acting is so convincing I was willing Walt to answer his plea regarding the go-karting or at least do something with him.
The writers lay foundations well for what is to come in certain moments involving Skyler, Hank, and Saul.
Bob Odenkirk is on top humorous form as always and his presence helps to relieve the general bleakness.
For me it's an 8.5/10, but I round upwards.
Breaking Bad: Thirty-Eight Snub (2011)
Very strong reflective episode
The Breaking Bad writers like to focus on the aftermath of major events, particularly the impact it has on characters and this is a good one.
Walts scenes do a great job of laying the foundations for coming episodes, as they effectively show how focussed he is on his next move, including the appropriate paranoia. Arguably the character could be said to be slightly inconsistent given how calculating he is sometimes portrayed compared to how clumsily he handles certain situations here. I guess it shows he is still an amateur violent criminal, which is more believable than him suddenly becoming Scarface. Importantly though it starkly contrasts where Jesse is at emotionally and how different the characters are.
Personally, I think Jesse's scenes are brilliantly made by the filmmakers. They beautifully show what a dark place he is in with a simple observation of his behaviour, rather than explanation. Aaron Paul is amazing at conveying his character's emotion and sometimes just by facial expressions alone. The visuals and editing of the various party scenes are fantastic. It is not without humour, particularly the hilarious performances of Charles Baker and Matt Jones.
I am a massive Deadwood fan and loved the guest appearance of Jim Beaver, who is great in his dialogue exchange with Bryan Cranston.
For me it's an 8.5/10, but I round upwards.
Breaking Bad: Box Cutter (2011)
Grim but impressive filmmaking
It is difficult to give specific details about this one without spoiling, but it is safe to say that the visual storytelling (as you come to expect) is brilliant. So much mood and tension is created by cinematography, art design, editing and the physical performance of the actors it feels like a 'how to' guide for horror-suspense. The Braking Bad filmmakers are master-manipulators off audience emotions. That being said, it is arguably predictable what action a certain character will take as it was set up by an earlier change of dialogue that highlighted something in a foreboding way.
The subject matter is pretty disturbing. Is everything shown in such explicit detail necessary or does it cross the line into gratuitous? You could probably argue that exactly the same story could be told by showing less and focussing on character reactions. However, events do have more impact due to the way they are visually portrayed. As the next episode focuses on the fallout, it probably helps to scar the audience as much as the characters.
Thankfully the scene involving Skyler at Walt's place injected some much needed humour to lift the bleakness of it all.
All actors as always are on great form and the visuals are amazing. That transition from a certain scene to the French fry in ketchup was inspired.
For me it's a 9.5/10, but I round upwards.
The Acolyte: Day (2024)
Looks good, but has frustrating dialogue and ends when it gets interesting
The basic concept of the story still works. I have intrigue about the full details of what brought the characters to where they are, who the unknown master is and where it will all lead. However, the dialogue is the biggest struggle for me. The writers still hammer us with exposition and over-explanation about plot and characters.
I cannot say the characters get more interesting in this episode. That is until the very end, when ironically it comes to life and you get slightly excited for what is about to happen - then it ends!
It is hard to judge the performances when the conversations between characters are so functional to the plot. Some actors can make flat dialogue sound good, but unfortunately the material cannot be rescued.
It is visually one of the strongest episodes so far due to the good art design and use of the environment. Plus the physical actions of the characters work for the purpose of action adventure and mystery.
The fun part will be all the exaggerated IMDB comments as they come flowing in. As always with SW it will be stated as either the best or worst episode ever, when it's actually fairly average for a Star Wars TV show (outside the consistently strong Andor). Never trust the opinion of one-time reviewers (press the menu button (3 dots) to the right of the up/down vote button and select "see all reviews by" and you can find out) and always be suspicious of those who do not qualify statements (positive or negative) with actual reasons or specific aspects of the film/show.
I personally rate it as a 5.5/10, but round upwards.
Breaking Bad: Full Measure (2010)
Bleak but classic episode
There is little I can say about plot details without major spoilers, but it's safe to say that the Breaking Bad writers excel at painting themselves into corners and finding solutions that do not feel like contrivances. Full Measure is a fine example of this. It follows up Half Measures by wisely focusing on the situation involving Walt, Jesse and Gus. Plus the character Mike is used effectively and also a previously introduced character.
Filmmakers are adept at manipulating audience emotions, particularly when it comes to keeping you onside when their characters do awful things. This episode not only does this effectively, but in a way that develops the central characters. Certain key moments and decisions made by Walt and Jesse are portrayed very cleverly.
All actors are on great form as always, but for me Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Bob Odenkirk and David Constabile stand out for me.
The visual storytelling is fantastic as always, with the cinematographers making great use of the beautiful landscapes and set design. The editing adds an appropriate level of slickness and urgency to certain scenes.
Breaking Bad: Half Measures (2010)
Enthralling episode with memorable scenes and a hell of a finish
I remember when I saw this one shortly after it's original release it made me immediately want to see what happens next and seeing it again 14 years later it still made me want to see the next one, only these days I do not have the time.
There is little plot details I can mention without spoiling, but it is safe to say that several characters have memorable moments. Season 3 has shown Walt slipping back into a lifestyle that, although a mile away from where he started the show, finds him once again subservient to and heavily influenced by others. In this episode his character reacts and develops again in spectacular fashion. For me the writers do a great job of portraying it in a suspenseful way and with a shock conclusion (even if the detail of it relies on one pretty big contrivance of luck).
The character Mike is used in a pivotal way and his scene of dialogue is one of the strongest moments of the episode with Jonathan Banks having what is for me his best moment of the show so far with great material from the writers.
It is generally a very nasty 47 minutes with moments of anger, betrayal and violence that can feel pretty bleak. However there is a ray of light breaking through the darkness in the shape of Marie and Hank. Their "Groundhog" scene is one of funniest in the show and much needed here.
Visually it is outstanding as always, with great cinematography, art design and editing.
All actors are on great form, particularly Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt and Jonathan Banks.