Problem Dog

Problem Dog is another tense character episode with good focus on Walt and those impacted by him like Jesse, Skyler and Hank.

The writers do a great job of showing Jesse's state of mind, particularly how haunted he is by his actions and torn between loyalties. Aaron Paul is amazing (as always) portraying a character in such a troubled state.

I love the scenes involving Hank as they show his resourcefulness as a detective in a subtle bit of visual storytelling and also a very well written monologue. I have always been one to bemoan exposition dialogue, but this is an example of how to do it well. It perfectly starts to set up what is coming in later episodes in a compelling way. Dean Norris is on great form too.

It's great to see Saul after an absence of a few episodes and Bob Odenkirk entertains to a high standard as always.

The previous few episodes focussed intensely on character development and this one gets you intrigued about where the plot will go next.

Aaron paul is one of the most talented actors i have ever witnessed acting in my entire life, like every time i see him on screen i just am in shock for how talented he is.

This episode was the bezt one since the premiere! Things are really starting to build up with Walt vs Gus, Hank vs Gus and Gus vs cartell!

Aaron Pauls monologue was arguably the best part of the episode! So much pain in just a single speech! Incredible performance as well! The best of Aaron Paul since "One minute" how much can you accept? Should you just accept yourself? Is it possible not to judge? Is okay to judge?

Walt also realizes that he is done for as soon as his contract expires, creating some great dialogue between him and Jesse as he tries to convince him Gus is the REAL enemy!

Hank also begins to put two and two together which leads to a brilliant ending!

The episode also introduces important elements such as The cigarette qnd Madrigal!

Great scene at the beginning where Walt goes Walt on his expensive car!

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

'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