Más (Breaking Bad)

"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.

"Más"
Breaking Bad episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 5
Directed byJohan Renck
Written byMoira Walley-Beckett
Cinematography byMichael Slovis
Editing bySkip Macdonald
Original air dateApril 18, 2010 (2010-04-18)
Running time47 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

Plot

In a flashback, it is revealed that when Walt gave Jesse his savings to buy an RV (in "Pilot"), he instead spent nearly all of it partying the night away at a strip club with Combo and Skinny Pete. The following morning, Jesse panics when he realizes that he only has $1,400 left to buy an RV with, but Combo bails him out by selling him his mother's RV for the remainder of the money.

Back in the present, Jesse is furious that Walt received the other half of his payment for the meth, and calls him to demand it. Walt denies making any sort of deal for half of the profits, but nevertheless tells Jesse that he does not have his permission to cook his formula. Meanwhile, Hank is still searching tirelessly for the "rolling meth lab" RV. He learns that his friend and partner, Steve Gomez, is being sent to El Paso in his stead. Hank is left dismayed by this news, but nevertheless remains committed to his work. He returns home and has an argument with Marie after she shows concern for his well-being, feeling that he is being accused by those around him for simply doing his job.

Walt goes to see Gus Fring at Los Pollos Hermanos, admonishing him for giving him Jesse's half of the money in an attempt to lure Walt into Gus' employ. Gus apologizes for the transparency of the ploy, then asks Walt to take a drive with him. In a final attempt to get Walt to accept the offer, Gus drives him to his meth lab which is discreetly housed within an industrial laundry facility. Walt is impressed by the lab and the equipment within, but nevertheless declines the offer again, saying that his time in the meth business has cost him his family and he cannot afford to make another bad decision. Gus firmly tells him that a man provides for his family, regardless of whether or not his family appreciates him for it.

Skyler keeps enjoying her affair with Ted Beneke and is later told by Marie of Hank's change in behaviour. Her sister claims that "death changes people", prompting Skyler to reconsider her affair and her opinion about Walt. After finding his money in the house, Skyler speaks with her divorce attorney and confides in her about the fact that she is currently sleeping with her boss, Ted Beneke, as well as her doubts on whether Walt did "what he did" for the family. Her attorney encourages Skyler to leave him immediately, for the longer she stays with Walt, the more culpable she becomes towards his crimes. Skyler remains hesitant. However, when she gets home, she is surprised to find that Walt has packed his things and left, and that he has also signed the divorce contract, having finally accepted Gus' offer to continue his work in the meth business.

Walt meets with Jesse in Saul's office and hands over Jesse's other half of the payment. However, he coldly tells Jesse that it will be the last money he will ever make in the meth business, as Gus was only using Jesse to get Walt working for him. Jesse is further enraged when Saul goes over to Walt's side, re-negotiating a money-laundering deal to secure himself a cut of Walt's profits. Jesse tells them that this won't stop him from cooking, then leaves the office in a fury. He picks up a broken piece of a curb and tosses it into Walt's newly-replaced front windshield.

Hank's search for the RV leads him to the doorstep of Combo's mother, who never reported her RV stolen after Combo sold it to Jesse. Hank searches Combo's room and finds a picture of Combo and Jesse during their night at the strip club, thereby leading Hank to now set his sights on Jesse.

Production

The episode was written by Moira Walley-Beckett, and directed by Johan Renck;[1] it aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on April 18, 2010.[2]

Reception

Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club gave, "Más" an "A" rating, commending its "clever, touching, and often jaw-dropping turning point for Season 3.[3] Seth Amitin similarly gave it a 9.9/10 score, writing "Everything about "Mas" was great, from start to finish."[4]

Stephen Glass writes in the essay "Better Than Human," that Jesse's act of shattering the windshield on Walt's Pontiac Aztek symbolized the shattering of Walt's pride in the fact that people admire him.[5]

Susan Johnston refers to the episode in her essay "Family Man: Walter White and the Failure of Fatherhood."[6]

In 2019 The Ringer ranked "Más" 57th out of the 62 total Breaking Bad episodes.[7]

Viewership

The episode's original broadcast was viewed by 1.61 million people,[8] which was a increase from the 1.46 million of the previous episode, "Green Light".

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References
  1. Sepinwall, Alan (2017-10-10). Breaking Bad 101: The Complete Critical Companion. Abrams. p. 137. ISBN 9781683350774.
  2. Stache, Lara C. (2017-10-06). Breaking Bad: A Cultural History. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 165. ISBN 9781442278271.
  3. Bowman, Donna (April 18, 2010). "Breaking Bad: "Mas"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  4. Amitin, Seth (May 8, 2012). "Breaking Bad: "Mas" Review". IGN. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  5. David R. Koepsell; Robert Arp (eds.). Breaking Bad and Philosophy: Badder Living through Chemistry. Open Court Publishing Company. pp. 91–100.
  6. Bridget Roussell Cowlishaw (ed.). Masculinity in Breaking Bad: Critical Perspectives. p. 14.
  7. Shaker Samman (September 30, 2019). "The Ringer's Definitive 'Breaking Bad' Episodes Ranking". The Ringer.
  8. Julia (April 7, 2010). "Breaking Bad Season 3 Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
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