AMC’s Breaking Bad
Season 2, Episode 7: “Negro y Azul”
Directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Written by John Shiban

* For a review of the previous episode, “Peekaboo” – click here
* For a review of the next episode, “Better Call Saul” – click here

We start with a nice narco-corrido about Heisenberg, a.k.a Walter White (Bryan Cranston). These types of ballads are a part of a Mexican subculture that rocks out over songs about the cartel, murders, and so on. Fitting to include this in an opener to an episode for this second season, as we move further into the Mexican cartel territory. What the song makes clear is the blue stuff has gone south and they are loving it. So naturally the cartel is going to seek out this Heisenberg. Because not only are people loving the drugs, the cartel’s not happy about this mysterious man cornering the market.

Walt’s busy trying to get through to a student. More and more, the life he lives as a high school chemistry teacher gets to him. Also, we can see the conniving ways of Mr. White work just as well sometimes in school as they do in the drug business. Furthermore, we see he’s got a cellphone stashed up in the ceiling. Y’know, for important calls. He rings up partner Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), from whom he’s yet to hear after the whole Spooge situation. Of course Walt takes back what he told Jesse to do, but too little too late, as we know already.
He heads over to Jesse’s place, lying to Jane (Krysten Ritter) about being his father to try getting inside. Hilarious in its own right – Mr. Jackson, father of Jesse. Soon, the door opens and they have a chat. Walt has no idea what’s gone on over at the Splooge family home. Jesse lets his older partner know all about it. But Walt, as always, spins this whole yarn into making Jesse more confident, saying it’ll play as good street cred for people to think he’s crushed Spooge’s head in savagely.
In lieu of Jesse laying low, Heisenberg himself heads out to meet Badger (Matt Jones), Skinny Pete (Charles Baker), and Combo (Rodney Rush) at the National Atomic Museum – ironically enough, a recording talking about Werner Heisenberg plays; the man that inspired Walt’s name choice.

Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) is trying hard to fit in with the task force. He isn’t exactly slipping in without notice. He just doesn’t get this world, not yet anyway. He’s saddled alongside Agent Vanco (J.D. Garfield). But very much out of his league not knowing how to speak Spanish, which is a big time downside when you’re trying to fight Juarez cartels.
At the Atomic Museum, the boys meet Heisenberg, and seem rightly in awe. They’ve also heard about what Jesse did, or what people think he did at Spooge’s place. The streets are abuzz with the fear of Pinkman and his apparent violence. And Walter lets the lie ride, opting to make Jesse’s reputation on the streets grow. For the time being, at least.
Meanwhile, Skyler (Anna Gunn) is out to see an old boss and almost flame of hers, Ted Beneke (Christopher Cousins). She used to work for his company in the payroll department, accounting an such. Now she’s looking for work, unknowing of her husband paying medical bills with his plethora of meth money. It’s unbelievably clear Ted has a thing for her, always has, as he all but planks her down in an office right there and then.
Laid out like a oil tycoon plotting land, Walt shows Jesse a map of different territories. He’s ready to up their distributing game. He also doesn’t understand it isn’t simply “initiative“, but that they can’t just stroll into other peoples territory and take things over. Walt’s convinced Jesse has a new reputation that will keep other crews at bay. Yeah, right. Things aren’t that easy. But what’s more, the bullshit of Walt, how he spins things worse than the media, is on display here while he tries to tell Jesse how he has a unique opportunity to use this as intimidation: “You are a blowfish.” Is it illusion, really? Or is it delusion on Walt’s part? Inclined to believe the latter.

Jesse: “Yeah, blowfishin‘ this up.”

Federal informant Tortuga (Danny Trejo) is holed up in a hotel room, being waited on hand and foot by the task force. And Hank does not like that mess. They all but kiss this guy’s ass to get cartel information. All the while he’s ordering stuff out of SkyMall magazines. Overall, Hank hasn’t figured out how to navigate the murky waters of Cartel Land. He presses Tortuga to get talking instead of placating his “Let‘s Make A Deal” game. Love seeing Dean Norris up against Danny Trejo here, both of whom are awesome. Even more than that Hank is soon about to find out just how dangerous the world of Juarez and the cartels can get.
At home, Marie (Betsy Brandt) is convinced the whole thing is a desk job. She doesn’t realize he’ll be out in the field dealing with actual gangsters. Walt then finds out Skyler’s headed back over to Beneke with the accounting department. More than the money, it seems she wants control, something of her own, particularly since Walt has been less than honest with her about certain things. Even though they’re mended this is going to provide her with something she’s missing.
Very slowly, Jane gets to know Jesse, after he finds her drawing on the porch outside their attached houses. He reveals his once artistic side that slipped away from him along the way. He changes the subject quickly, though, not wanting to talk about himself. We also discover Jane isn’t huge on commitment, mentioning not wanting a tattoo because of it. Also, a guy on a bike drives by and calls Jesse by his real last name, which reveals more about him to Jane. She’s more intrigued than angry.

Out amongst the desert, Hank and the other agents on the task force wait for the big meet Tortuga let them in on. Simultaneously, the others make fun of Hank in Spanish, lying to him and saying they’re glad to have him around. From nowhere, he’s the one to spy something moving in the distance. His binoculars pick up a gruesome image. When they head down it appears Tortuga’s head is mounted to the back of a tortoise. Worse? On the shell is painted: HOLA DEA. This is a huge shock to Hank, who runs off sick, further being made fun of for his apparent weakness. Still, moving away from the tortoise also puts him away from the blast – when an agent tries picking up the head, the tortoise explodes and sends this into utter chaos.It is one nasty fucking scene. Finally, Agent Schrader bloodily understands the lessons of Juarez and its danger.

Jesse is riling up his troops to take over the city: “We‘re gonna be kings,” he tells them laying out the plan. He also tells them the structure will be “layered like nachos“, so that he reaches them in their language. Back to Walter goes Jesse with news that things are going ahead. But never ever is Walt satisfied. He starts applying “simple economics” to a business that is far from simple.
In the end of this episode, Jesse and Jane come together. Is this the start of something beautiful, or tragic? For those of us that have watched through, several times, already – we know.

Again, loved this episode. Each one is incredible.
Next up is “Better Call Saul”, an introduction to one of the more fun characters in Breaking Bad‘s little world.