Problem Dog

'Breaking Bad' is one of the most popular rated shows on IMDb, is one of those rarities where every season has either been very positively received or near-universally acclaimed critically and where all of my friends have said nothing but great things about.

Very few shows in recent memory had me so hooked from the very start that before the week was over the whole show had been watched, especially when for a lot of shows now airing watching one episode all the way through can be an endeavour. 'Breaking Bad' had that effect on me, and its reputation as one of the best, consistently brilliant and most addictive shows in many years (maybe even ever) is more than deserved in my eyes. Its weakest season is perhaps the first season, understandable as any show's first season is the one where things are still settling.

Actually everything is established remarkably from the very start, but once the writing and characterisation becomes even meatier the show reaches even higher levels.

"Problem Dog" to me was an incredible episode. One of Season 4's better episodes and the best since the season opener "Box Cutter". It boasts some of Jesse's meatiest material up to this point and some of Aaron Paul's best acting in an episode where he achieves a difficult feat in out-shining Bryan Cranston.

Visually, "Problem Dog" is both stylish and beautiful, with photography and editing that are cinematic quality and put a lot of films today to shame, where there are a lot of visually beautiful ones but also some painfully amateurish looking ones. The music always has the appropriate mood, never too intrusive, never too muted.

The writing in "Problem Dog" is a fine example of how to have a lot of style but also to have a lot of substance. The dialogue throughout is thought-provoking and tense, while also have a darkly wicked sense of humour, nail-biting tension and heart-tugging pathos. The story is texturally rich, intimate, tense and layered, with the pace of it consistently deliberate but taut.

Can't say anything bad about the acting. Bryan Cranston is phenomenal as one of the most fascinating anti-heroes, or even of any kind of character, in either film or television. Aaron Paul has never been better, and delivers some of his best acting of the show with Jesse's meatiest material up to this point, and Anna Gunn is affecting. The characters are compelling in their realism, likewise with their chemistry, and the episode is strongly directed.

In conclusion, incredible. Everything works brilliantly, but essentially this is Paul's episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Problem Dog has some of the best character developments of any Breaking Bad episode to date.

We are GETTING somewhere.

Been a good season so far, but I feel like the episode before this really turned the tables. No way the rest of this season isn't going to be awesome.

Aaron Paul is phenomenal in this episode and this season, and I'm glad to see Jesse getting much more screen time and character growth as well. His scene in the NA meeting was powerful and gut-wrenching. His sort-of reluctance to kill Gus speaks volumes too, seeing as even after killing Gale, he doesn't want to be a "bad guy" as he's kind of accepted last season. He's not a killer!

What Walter did with the dodge challenger was a highlight for me as well, and Gus's meeting with the cartel was truly great. Will Gus get out of this in one piece? With all of these different people after him? Will he somehow outsmart everyone (DEA, Jesse, Walt, the drug cartel). The stakes continue to raise here and in the following episode.

A great episode, with wonderful performances and good character moments/development.

Amazing episode, with a ton of tension and plot points building up. The performance by Aaron Paul at his NA meeting was absolutely incredible; and hats off to the writers of that scene. I'm rewatching the show, and that was probably my favorite scene up to this point. Incredible show that is certainly worth the rewatch.

Another good episode... they're all good, except Fly... but the premise of Hank being suspicious of Gus because Gale had a chicken restaurant cup and is a vegetarian is downright ludicrous.

There should have at least have been initials on it or something, anything to make that stretch thin out. Maybe even one initial or some kind of indication that it could be Gus other than a bag; as one fan pointed out, it's like finding a McDonald's cup and blaming Ronald McDonald...

This is a show about taking long shots, but this one's too long. For that I give one star, but, again... another good episode of a great show.