Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 11: "Confessions"

The tension that these last three episodes have carried is an amazing feat.  Every moment is nerve wrecking, as the show finds a way to make every scene feel as if everything is on the line.  This recent episode somehow found a way to build on the tension and then gives us an ending that makes us disbelieve what we are seeing.

This episode was all about Walt, the master manipulator.  The first thing he does this episode is use his cancer as a mechanic to get Walt Jr. to stay in his house.  Next, he sends Hank and Marie a confession video that accuses Hank of being the mastermind behind his criminal life.  Finally, he meets up with Jesse and tries to convince him that starting a new identity will be the best thing for him.  The difference in the Jesse situation is that Jesse knows how manipulative Walt can be.  He calls him out on it.  Walt turns it up a dial and hugs him, the ultimate bluff.  When Jesse puts everything together about what happened to Brock, every moment where Walt could have been genuine with him turns sour.

This is definitely the end of Breaking Bad.  Jesse will never trust Walt again and there's nothing that can be done at this point to fix their relationship.  At the beginning of this series, I thought that Walt and Jesse were somehow going to benefit from each other and help each other through their struggles. This has not been the case.  Walt has manipulated Jesse to the point of mental breakdown.  All of the lies Walt has fed him has led to the last scene of this episode.  I hope Jesse lives, but its hard to see how now...

Observations:
- The intro never came into play during this episode. Todd's uncle is gonna play a big role soon, he seems like a nasty dude.
- It's funny and also somewhat creepy to see how polite and earnest Todd can be.
- Seriously, who picked that restaurant?  "How about that guacamole? We make it right here at the table!"
- Walt's money sponsoring Hank's rehabilitation came back into play to bite Hank in the ass.
- Will that guy who makes people disappear ever be used?  I'm guessing no.
- Jesse is fond of Alaska.
- "But seriously, Hello Kitty?"
- Speaking of Jesse, a part of me wanted to see him go and find a better life somewhere.
- Is Walt Jr. in the house at the end?