"Live Free or Die"

Aired 7/15/2012

It's been nearly a year since the last season of Breaking Bad concluded, so I expected the new season to have a slow start, with lots of talking to get viewers caught up. Instead the episode started with a tease of what's to come in the life of Walter, as he has a full head of hair, new identity, and also what could be the return of his cancer.

When the episode starts properly, it picks up right where Season 4 left us in the lives of Walter, Jesse, and Hank. Even though Gus the Chicken Man may be out of their lives, his presence is still felt. The sole scenes with Hank show him examing the aftermath of the fire at Gus' laundromat/lab, while Jesse and Hank contact Mike because there is still more evidence that could link them all to Gus. And just like how I said this series "shows, not tells", it immediately cuts to Hank "bagging" the laptop as evidence.

The episode returns to its earlier style of humor that has really been lacking since Season 2, as Walter and Jesse hatch a ridiculous plot to retrieve the computer. But that's not what they even have in mind, much to Mike's dismay, instead they want to destroy the evidence. It feels more like Breaking Bad meets Mythbusters! The ridiculous scheme involving magnets recalls a similar one from the end of Season One, where the guys stole a barrel of chemicals so they could continue cooking. There's even another return from a previous season as they visit the junkyard to get the necessary supplies and test it out. Only 3 words can sum up what happens next, "Yeah, Bitch! Magnets!"

This episode's lighter tone was a welcome change from the death and dour nature of the previous batch of episodes, though I know that it's only temporary.