I feel like Season 2 of Breaking Bad often doesn’t get appreciated enough. Compared to Season 3 and 4, it’s a lot slower, and in a way, very mundane. Until Mandala, the show is focused mostly on the growth of Walt and Jesse’s meth business, and Walt’s slowly crumbling personal life. Over serves as a pretty good bridge between the goofy events in episodes like Better Call Saul  and the gut-wrenching events of Phoenix and ABQ. If I had to put a bow on the season, thematically, I’d say the big theme of the season is consequences. This affects Walter more so than Jesse, but they both are met with the repercussions of their choices. For example, in Grilled ,Walt and Jesse suffer the consequences of deciding to work with Tuco Salamanca(The most sane Salamanca.)

 

At this point in the show, Walter’s home life is a mess. Walter is rather miserable as it is. Based on the events of 4 Days Out, and later confirmed in Fly, Walt really, really wanted to die. Not out of depression, but rather guilt over his crimes. He wanted to be remembered in a more positive way: a man who turned to crime to provide for his family. As Walter said, “It’s kind of funny. When I got my diagnosis–cancer–I said to myself, “Why me?” And then, the other day, when I got the good news, I said the same thing.” This feeling catalysts a lot of Walter’s behavior in the episode. 

 

So, let’s begin the synopsis! I’ll skip over some stuff, just for brevity. The wiki has a more complete synopsis. The episode starts off with Jesse and Walter eating together and Walter announcing his decision to retire from the meth game after selling their last batch of meth. In case you’re wondering this is partly how the episode was named(His career in meth cooking is over). It also plays into the string of titles that foreshadow the events of ABQ (737 Down Over ABQ). 

 

Then we transition to the party. After an awkward toast, we cut to Walt and Hank drinking by the pool. Hank is impression Junior with his recounting from the events of Negro Y Azul. Walt is clearly angry at Hank for impressing his son more than him. Walt then starts giving Junior some tequila, along with himself and Hank. Walt repeats this two more times, until Hank takes the bottle of Tequila away,since Junior was clearly feeling sick. Walt then angrily shouts “Hey! Bring the bottle back.” Hank tries to refuse in a jokey manner, but Walter is not having any of it. He gets up and angrily asserts that “It’s my son! My bottle! My house!” Hank tries to quietly diffuse the situation once more, but the exchange is cut short from Junior barfing into the pool. Walt then takes a seat and-perhaps callously- resuming drinking while Walt Junior audibly vomits.

I find this scene quite interesting, so let’s delve into it. Walt’s anger in a weird way is justified. I can’t empathize with his feelings, but I can safely assume any father wants the admiration of his son. His angry assertion that “It’s my son! My bottle! My house!” is an extension of this. Walter’s immense pride demands respect and deference to him.  I can’t blame him for acting out, given his situation.

 

Afterwards we get to see Jesse fumble his way through breakfast of huevos rancheros for Jane. Clearly he’s been to Warnock Commons. After that we get to see Walter beginning his episode-long quest of home improvement. It begins with Walter resolving to fix a water heater, which finally stops giving foul, brown water. 

 

Then we cut to Jesse and Jane talking. I’ll clip the Jesse plotline here, because, honestly this episode ends up focusing on their relationship growing. If you must know, this is the episode where we meet her father-if briefly. 

 

Back to Walt. Walt is now drowning himself in home repair. Now there’s rot to be fought, so off he goes, buying all sorts of supplies. In case it isn’t clear, this is Walt distracting himself. Walt desperately wants to ignore his problem by distracting himself. I can relate. I sometimes distract myself to ignore things that bother me. But in this case it’s just another sign of Walt’s crumbling life, oddly enough juxtaposed through home repair. 

The episode concludes with Walt on another shopping trip, and this time he catches some dude buying supplies needed to  make meth. Not one to take this lying down, he follows the dealer outside, and when approached by their partner he, menacingly warns them to “ “Stay out of my territory.” And then the episode concludes there. 

 

So, as we can see, for now, Walt’s foray into the Meth business is not over. Far from it, it seems. Over is an episode that, while having a famous moment, is remembered basically for that: The ending. I’d highly suggest you watch the more mundane events of the episode, because they are far more illuminating on Walt and Jesse as people.