The science of Breaking Bad: Gliding Over All

Breaking Bad | Season 5 | Episode 8 | “Gliding Over All”

Walt and Skylar come to the end of their journey (for now).

Just as Walt finally gets his stable meth empire established, he realises that it isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be. He gets out and goes back to his family, presumably sweeping the legacy of the trail of bodies and addicts aside in the highly selective amnesia he’s become so good at. Then, into this suburban idyll crashes something he overlooked when he first started playing the game at the highest level and Hank knows.

This episode is reviewed at Emilia Jordan and the A.V. Club, and you can read more about it at AMC and IMDb.

The science of Breaking Bad: Say My Name

Breaking Bad | Season 5 | Episode 7 | “Say My Name”

Walt and Mike part ways, forever.

I’m going to stop watching Breaking Bad when it’s broadcast, as I can rarely get to sleep easily afterwards. This week’s showdown between Walt and Mike was only going to end one way when we saw the gun in Mike’s go-bag, and it’s doubtful that Skyler, Jesse and Hank are going to let things sit the way they are.

This episode is reviewed at Emilia Jordan and the A.V. Club, and you can read more about it at AMC and IMDb.

The science of Breaking Bad: Buyout

Breaking Bad | Season 5 | Episode 6 | “Buyout”

Walt and Jesse discuss the empire business.

Just as Walt finally gets the raw materials necessary to build his meth empire, his partners decide that the business isn’t worth what it costs them anymore. Oh, for this level of clarity in season two.

This episode is reviewed at Emilia Jordan and the A.V. Club, and you can read more about it at AMC and IMDb.

The science of Breaking Bad: Dead Freight

Breaking Bad | Season 5 | Episode 5 | “Dead Freight”

Everyone is set for a train heist. What could go wrong?

“The methylamine keeps flowing,” intones Walt. “Nothing stops this train. Nothing.” But what if the train is full of methylamine? Then if you don’t stop it, the methylamine keeps flowing right on out of your territory. Time for a heist, with predictably unpredictable consequences.

This episode is reviewed at Emilia Jordan and the A.V. Club, and you can read more about it at AMC and IMDb.

The science of Breaking Bad: Fifty-One

Breaking Bad | Season 5 | Episode 4 | “Fifty-One”

The methylamine…must flow. Baron Heiskonnen sent me, yo.

Hank begins to unravel the various Gus – Madrigal Electromotive connections, while the leaner meth operation manages to dance around him for another week. Walt’s overconfidence is also beginning to look even more misplaced; commentators are just waiting to see how and when the wheels are going to come off.

This episode is reviewed at Emilia Jordan and the A.V. Club, and you can read more about it at AMC and IMDb.

The science of Breaking Bad: Hazard Pay

Breaking Bad | Season 5 | Episode 3 | “Hazard Pay”

New lab, new uniforms.

Our newly-formed co-op pulls out all the stops to ensure that the flow of blue meth can continue uninterrupted, and an entire generation of television viewers loses trust in house-fog exterminators. Is Walt going to be content with only earning $137,000 per cook? Past actions would suggest not.

This episode is reviewed at Emilia Jordan and the A.V. Club, and you can read more about it at AMC and IMDb.

The science of Breaking Bad: Madrigal

Breaking Bad | Season 5 | Episode 2 | “Madrigal”

It’s time to get back in business.

Through a series of lies and with blinkered overconfidence, Walt succeeds in getting the core of the Fring meth operation back together. Will we be back to industrial-scale cooking next week, or will it all fall apart sooner than expected?

You can read more about this episode at Emilia Jordan, AMC, IMDb and the A.V. Club.

The science of Breaking Bad: Live Free or Die

Breaking Bad | Season 5 | Episode 1 | “Live Free or Die”

Walt embarks upon another sure-to-work-with-no-consequences scheme.

The most hotly-anticipated show since season four of Breaking Bad returned to our screens this week, with a classic flash-forward cold open. Things pick up right where they left off, with Walt scrambling to deal with the aftermath of his victory over Gus and Hank unwilling to drop the bone he’s been chewing on. What scientific escapades await? In this post, I’ll be talking about magnetism.

You can read more about this episode at AMC, IMDb and the A.V. Club.