Television has never been this tight. It's like the writers have painstakingly mapped out each character's emotions and meticulously chosen how they'll progress and in what situation they'll be. So much so, that Chuck has been fleshed out as an extremely egregious and selfish individual, who's sole goal in life, neglecting his career entirely, is to destroy Jimmy's. Regardless of what his brother has done in the past, Kim was right, it's Chuck himself who's pushed Jimmy to the edge of the law and beyond.
Distracting us completely from the scenario, the writers decide to place Chuck in a vulnerable position in the hospital and slowly break down his character, having Jimmy be by his side the whole way - always the honorable brother. And it all comes down to Chuck's final manipulation. He saps Jimmy's sympathy so much that his brother confesses to the entire felony. Recording this confession, just shows that Chuck is willing to go to great lengths, even jeapordising his own illness to catch his brother - and this makes the cliffhanger all the more shocking.
On the other hand, however, we find Jimmy's business quickly growing, with numerous customers answering his new advertisement, which Jimmy is relieved to hear Kim appreciates. It's satisfying to see his plan working, but at the same time, you can help wondering how Chuck's megalomaniac movements are going to affect his career - after all, this could be catastrophic.
Moving away from the main story finally, comes Mike's solitary story. His intentions this season have been to both protect his granddaughter and attempt to keep his actions pacifistic as best he can, but you can tell he's reached his final tether. Banks is superb at displaying the distress of his character, and the frustration at not being able to get a clear shot of his target. To the point where he's diverted away from the whole scene as someone warns him not to fulfill his mission. The reason I docked a star is mainly because Mike's story has diverged so far from McGill's story, that it's almost two separate shows, which is sometimes pleasing, but others off-putting.
Ultimately, a stellar episode with masterful direction once again. You can really feel the pain and remorse of the hospital scene and how Chuck's perspective is so frightening. Plus, the cliffhanger gives us great hopes for Season 3 where I imagine the writers will step up a gear and start formulating the next steps towards the story of Breaking Bad, and to where Walter White comes in.
Distracting us completely from the scenario, the writers decide to place Chuck in a vulnerable position in the hospital and slowly break down his character, having Jimmy be by his side the whole way - always the honorable brother. And it all comes down to Chuck's final manipulation. He saps Jimmy's sympathy so much that his brother confesses to the entire felony. Recording this confession, just shows that Chuck is willing to go to great lengths, even jeapordising his own illness to catch his brother - and this makes the cliffhanger all the more shocking.
On the other hand, however, we find Jimmy's business quickly growing, with numerous customers answering his new advertisement, which Jimmy is relieved to hear Kim appreciates. It's satisfying to see his plan working, but at the same time, you can help wondering how Chuck's megalomaniac movements are going to affect his career - after all, this could be catastrophic.
Moving away from the main story finally, comes Mike's solitary story. His intentions this season have been to both protect his granddaughter and attempt to keep his actions pacifistic as best he can, but you can tell he's reached his final tether. Banks is superb at displaying the distress of his character, and the frustration at not being able to get a clear shot of his target. To the point where he's diverted away from the whole scene as someone warns him not to fulfill his mission. The reason I docked a star is mainly because Mike's story has diverged so far from McGill's story, that it's almost two separate shows, which is sometimes pleasing, but others off-putting.
Ultimately, a stellar episode with masterful direction once again. You can really feel the pain and remorse of the hospital scene and how Chuck's perspective is so frightening. Plus, the cliffhanger gives us great hopes for Season 3 where I imagine the writers will step up a gear and start formulating the next steps towards the story of Breaking Bad, and to where Walter White comes in.