TV.com

Breaking Bad Season 2 Episode 12

Phoenix

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 4

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

9.2

User Rating

329 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

AIRED: 5/24/09

Walter Jr. launches a new website to raise money for the family.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

Greatest TV show ever?

10

By davidanthony5, Jan 17, 2013

(small spoilers ahead, vague references to season 5)

A fantastic episode.

For me, Walt's actions stopped being justifiable ever since he didn't accept they Grey Matter money. He decided to put his family's life in danger, and ruin the lives of others by cooking meth, instead of losing face and accepting the money. Did he do this for his family? Absolutely not. He did it for himself. You can't fully hate Walt even though you really should that early on, because I still empathise with him, even though I rationally know I shouldn't.

In this episode, we think we see how Walt is still fundamentally a good person, despite the horrible things he has done. He clearly deeply cares about Jesse; this is where their dynamic gets really interesting. But there's a real sense of cognitive dissonance; I still liked Walt at this point, but at the same time he's being a terrible father for his son (the alcohol, the website), and he is clearly putting his pride before his family. When I watched this for the first time, I was trying to figure out what exactly to make of Walt.

Then BOOM. He does that. Absolutely shocking. A fantastic plot development. At this point, we have every reason to hate Walt. He has pretty much murdered Jane after all. And yet, SOMEHOW, I still didn't hate Walt at this point. His actions were understandable in their own fucked up way. That is the genius of Breaking Bad and Vince Gilligan. We, as an audience, are so used to rooting for the protagonist that we don't know what to think when he's clearly becoming the antagonist. In retrospect, I was performing mental gymnastics to still like Walt at all now. And Vince Gilligan is a genius for making me do so.

But now that we're at season 5, I have no idea how anyone can still be managing to abandon all forms of rationality and perform the mental escapology required to still root for Walt, and in turn hate the clear victims of the show, namely Skyler. Breaking Bad fantastically transformed 'Mr Chipps into Scarface', and managed to keep us supporting Walt for longer than we know we should. This episode is a fantastic example of that. But, as of the end of season 5, the transformation is complete. I have no idea how anyone can still root for him.

Anyway, sorry for going off track a little. I just love this show and think that this is such an important point in the development of Walt's character.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Walter White sinks even lower. (spoilers)

9.5

By sramv9, Oct 25, 2011

So he cries afterward, does that make it any less evil? In a way it makes it worse. He knows better. He knows how bad the thing is that he does. But he does not let that hold him back. Because ultimately, Walter White is the kind of guy that can inadvertently trigger a young woman's death by asphyxiation - then see it as an opportunity and just stand by and watch her die. It's his fault she choked because she was on her side but he flipped her on her back. He clearly knows all about the dangers of this as shown in the earlier baby scene where he and his sister in law discussed propping the Whites' baby on her side to make sure she wouldn't choke if she spit up in her sleep. This latest deed of Walter was chilling. So cold. And at the end of the day, I doubt it will make Walter any less proud of his 'success'. As the scene in Saul's office revealed, Walt feels he 'earned' that money and he resents that he can't crow to the world about it. Later, he shows the hidden cash to his newborn baby and cooed "see what your daddy did for you"? He might as well now show her Jane's lifeless vomit plastered face. That's what your Daddy did for you. Actually - no. That's what he did for Walter. That's who it's all for now. And the evil Walter gets stronger and the good Walt fades further into oblivion.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
13 16

Flag
Share Hide
Penultimate episode.

7.5

By thefanof, Jan 17, 2011

People will criticize what Walter did, but would you save somebody who is going to cost you $480,000 and will probably just die anyway, and kill Jesse as well do to their heroin addiction?

Walter has learned a lot about himself over the past few episodes and we know that he is in this drug business for the long haul and that means he may get his hands a little bit dirty.

I just hope this does not ruin the Jesse and Walt relationship as that is one of my favorite parts of the show. Their chemistry is among the best on cable.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
3 15

Flag
Share Hide
Wow, this ep was average, until the wicked ending, CONTAINS SPOILERS.

10

By vishus1990, Jan 16, 2011

I cant believe he just let Jane die, I mean I am sure he could have saved her, he even let out a tear if you saw, he wasnt happy with what had happened.

This leaves a very exciting future to the show. Now Jesse is either going to be really really (really) angry at Walt if he finds out that Walt was there.

The other thing is Walt can leave and make sure Jesse doesnt find out.

Now, Jesse is going to be all depressed when he finds out Jane dies once he "wakes up". Hes either going to understand how bad drugs are, unlikely for him in my opinion, or turn into druggie (well more so than he is now). But after Janes Fathers speech in the other ep, Walt should be able to help Jesse through.

I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next ep.

CANNOT WAIT! This is why Breaking Bad is such a good show.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
10 1

Flag
Share Hide
phoenix

10

By Canogaparkcindy, Jan 01, 2011

Wow, a perfect episode of Breaking Bad, I'm guessing the season finale will be just as good, hell, I'm surprised this wasn't the finale, considering this cliffhanger could hold me over for a few months before it returned.

I'm just astonished at how good this show is. This has been a superb season, and with this episode, it shows. Walt & Jesse have been partners since season one, when Walter finally gets the 1.2 million after last week's cliffhanger, we get to see Walt actually care for Jesse. Something we also saw in "4 Days Out" but it was heavily portrayed here.

From Walt trying to get Jesse clean to him considering him as family, it was just absolutely fantastic. Lets just hope this bond between them doesn't die out, considering their interactions are one of the best things about this show like someone else said on here.

Walt gets the money but keeps it from Jesse until he gets clean. He can't spend the money without coming up with something, like where he got it. Things get worse when his Walt Jr. creates a website asking for charity. He seeks help from Saul, meanwhile Skyler gives birth successfully.

Jane is completely crazy, and I'm glad she contributed to the story line arc like she did here, it's good she just wasn't any other one of Jesse's hook ups, she actually developed. Jesse & Jane's heroin addiction spirals out of control as Jane threatens Walt for the money. They end up getting it, but at what price?

The final scene was one of the most intense scenes I have seen in a while, and it just makes me wonder how great the finale will be. Walt turning Jane over, she pukes, and chokes, and Walt just lets her die. What a cliffhanger, wow. Amazing perfect episode, that owned up to it's last cliffhanger, and it was just amazing. Can't wait for the finale.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
5 1

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Bryan Cranston	Walter White
RJ Mitte	Walter White Jr.
Aaron Paul	Jesse Pinkman
Betsy Brandt	Marie Schrader
Dean Norris	Hank Schrader
Anna Gunn	Skyler White

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Tomas Potts	Tattooed Biker	Guest Star
Cydne Schulte	Tattooed Woman	Guest Star
Tony Whitecrow	Addict	Guest Star
Krysten Ritter	Jane Margolis	Recurring Role
Bob Odenkirk	Saul Goodman	Recurring Role
Christopher Cousins	Ted Beneke	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (2)
ADD TRIVIA
- Bryan Cranston mentions in an interview that the scene with Jane at the end of the episode was one of several versions. The original version was that Walter is filled with disgust when he sees Jesse and Jane on the bed. In a paternal way – like a 'this is somebody's child' way - Walter pushes Jane on her back. The version shown was in the middle of the original and Bryan's suggested third version. Bryan's suggestion was that he tries to wake up Jesse, Jane flops on her back and in disgust Walter walks out and when he's down the hallway he can hear her choking, but it doesn't really register. When he gets to the front door he realizes what he's actually hearing and runs back to the room and she's dead.
  EDIT SHARE
- In "ABQ", Donald explains that Jane was born in Phoenix, a connection to this episode's title.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (4)
ADD QUOTES
- (Jesse surprises Mr. White at the school)
  Walt: When have you EVER not dropped the ball, Jesse? Blasted out of your mind on whatever the hell that was – what was that? Heroin? Jesus!
  Jesse: I was on my day off, man. What I do on my day off is -
  Walt: Day off? We were on call, you junkie, on call for the biggest deal of our lives. And I just managed to pull it off by the skin of my teeth, no thanks to you. And YOU – made me miss the birth of my daughter. Son of a bitch.
  Jesse: How much?
  Walt: How much what?
  Jesse: How much did you get for the deal?
  Walt: 1.2 million.
  Jesse: 600 thousand each.
  Walt: 480 thousand. Saul's cut is 20 percent.
  Jesse: Alright, so where's my money? (Walt laughs) What?
  Walt: You are joking, right? If I gave you that money, you would be dead inside of a week.
  Jesse: Yo, man, look I'm off the heroin. I didn't even like it anyway, it made me sick. And the meth, you know, I can take it or leave it. I'm clean, Mr. White – for real.
  Walt: (tosses beaker to Jesse) Prove it. Pee in that.
  Jesse: How gay are you, seriously?
  Walt: Pee in it. They're selling testing kits at the drugstores. If you are clean, I will give you every last dime. No, huh? Well, I guess until then, you'll just have to depend on the kindness of strangers to get high. That and your little junkie girlfriend.
  (Jesse throws the beaker at the blackboard, narrowly missing Walt's head)
  EDIT SHARE
- (Walt has brought Jesse to a sobriety treatment center)
  Jesse: I deserve this.
  Walt: (Puzzled) What?
  Jesse: What you said in the desert - I get it. What you meant. I deserve whatever happens.
  EDIT SHARE
- (After Walt talks about his problems with Jesse)
  Donald: Family.
  Walt: Yeah...Family.
  Donald: You can't give up on them, ever. I mean...What else is there?
  (Walt nods)
  EDIT SHARE
- Walt: (Referring to Jesse's relationship with Jane) Nice job wearing the pants.
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (3)
ADD NOTES
- Original International Air Dates:
  Czech Republic: April 9, 2011 on Nova Cinema
  EDIT SHARE
- Featured Music:
  
  "Desperate Time, Desperate Measures" by Susie Boehm
  "Green Grass & High Tides" by The Outlaws
  EDIT SHARE
- During the episode, SaveWalterWhite.com redirected to AMC's "Breaking Bad" webpage. However, the site later became active with the same text we saw in the episode. Clicking on the donation button redirects you to the National Cancer Coalition online donation webpage.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.