Let’s get right to it. Bullet points on the newest “Breaking Bad” titled Confessions…

SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT

• We don’t know how Todd and the gang of neo-Nazis are going to factor in to the big game other than they have, for the moment, taken over the meth business. These little looks we’ve gotten at them the last two episodes have me mighty worried about how they factor in with relation to our main characters. It can’t be good. These are some intimidating fellows and now they’re back in New Mexico.

• The Hank and Jesse interrogation – I was anticipating this scene all week. Hank put the offer out there I thought he would. Jesse talks, he walks. I did wonder if Hank and Jesse’s history was too much to overcome and it turned out it was. Jesse may be majorly unhappy with Walt early in this episode (and how should I put this…much more unhappy at the end of it?), but he still wants no business helping Hank. You could see the look of defeat on Hank when Saul entered the room to break it up. I thought they would drag out the interrogation room stuff deeper into the episode. It was plenty tense, but also a bit anticlimactic when all was said and done.

• My oh my when Hank and Marie show up at the restaurant to meet Walt and Sklyer. Yet another uncomfortable exchange, this one the first between the four characters since they all became aware that Walt is Heisenberg. It appears the original intention of the meet was to talk about Walt Jr.’s and Holly’s well being, but there’s just too much going on to stay on that alone. There’s still a lot of feeling out going on in the scene. Accusations, no hard proof, and no confession from Walt. This actually ended better than I would have expected if someone had told me these four characters would all be in the same room together. Still, just brutal what has become of these relationships.

• The confession video – HOLY SH*T!!!! I never saw that coming. Even when Walt sat on the bed and started the speech I didn’t see that coming. What a power play by Walt. I mean, wow. There was no turning back, but now there’s really no turning back. This put more than an exclamation point on it. And really it’s a genius incredibly bold move by Walt. First thing I thought after the video ended. What do you do now if you’re Hank and Marie? Massive credit to the writers on this one. What a move. My right hand was literally over my jaw dropped mouth during that video.

• Walt goes for the full manipulation on Jesse in the desert meeting. Everything he does is to get rid of the increasing problem that is Jesse. So much cringe worthy stuff from Walt in this scene. The “concerned dad thing” gets called out by Jesse. I loved it. Another breathtaking scene in this episode and after a full episode of Jesse not saying a word it was a relief to see him go off on Walt’s manipulation. Then…Walt goes in for the hug on the trapped Jesse.

• There was no way Jesse was going to make it to Alaska (or elsewhere) with five episodes remaining so something had to give. Here one of the biggest secrets hanging over the characters falls. Yes, Walt poisoned Brock. Jesse figured it out. Here comes the reckoning. I have a very very minor quibble here. I’m not sure if Huell lifting the marijuana from Jesse was an absolute necessity. What if Saul and Huell really pushed Jesse to hand it over? At the same time I’m not sure if Saul and Huell could have imagined that Jesse would have figured out they had a role in lifting the ricin cigarette. Risk vs. reward for Saul, I suppose. Not that big of a deal.

• I think Jesse’s out of that catatonic state. Now in rampage mode.

• Walt only lied and manipulated people constantly in this episode. To his son not giving him the full truth (of course he wouldn’t). The confession video. Jesse. Hank recently and now Jesse have him figured out though.

• Callbacks – Hank’s medical bills being paid with money Walt made in the meth business, Saul’s contact that can change identities, Walt poisoning Brock, .38 snub (or did that get burned when the “superlab” went down?), the confession video starting with the same lines of dialogue as the pilot, but instead it is a confession (of sorts), really the entire confession video

• I laughed – Pretty much anything the waiter did when the Schraders and Whites were at the restaurant. Also, some great shots of Saul’s license plate…LWYRUP.

• Hank is doing everything he can within the law to bring down Walt. Jesse is about to attempt to burn down his house. Who knows what, if any, plans Todd (and Lydia) have/will have for him? Hey, at least Saul still has his back for now.

• Intensity – Interrogation, restaurant, meeting in the desert, missing marijuana

• The quotes (there were so many)…
  • Hank: “Oh yeah, that’s the look.”
  • Jesse: “Eat me.”
  • Hank: “He really did a number on you didn’t he?”
  • Saul: “Then you get my complete lack of chill.”
  • Walt: “There’s nothing to confess.”
  • Marie: “Why don’t you kill yourself Walt?”
  • Jesse: “Would you just, for once, stop working me?”
  • Jesse: “Just tell me you need this!”
  • Saul: “Some people are immune to good advice.”

• Overall – This was one of the most tense hours of television I’ve ever seen. I’m a sucker for watching tense situations. Just incredible stuff. I have to let it sink in more, but my initial reaction is that this will be one of my favorite episodes of this show.

• What’s to come? – Well, I don’t think Walt’s house is going to burn to the ground, but we may get an insane confrontation between Jesse and Walt in the next episode. I’m really interested to see what Todd’s and Lydia’s roles will be in the endgame. Will Hank figure anything out in his walk out of the office or did he simply need to get some air? We already knew this, but it isn’t going to end well for most, if not all, of these characters.