TV Recap: Breaking Bad, Season 5 Episode 13, To’hajiilee

On Season 5 Episode 13 of Breaking Bad, entitled To’hajiilee, Jesse, Hank, and Gomez work to implement Jesse’s plan to get Walt where he “really lives,” while Walt makes a deal with Todd’s uncle for a hit on Jesse! Violet provides the recap for To’hajiilee, and following the recap, both Violet and Josh provide their thoughts on the episode.

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Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 13 Recap: To’hajiilee, the Details

Todd’s Meth Lab

The episode begins at Todd’s meth lab, where he, his Uncle Jack, Kenny (Jack’s second in command), and Lydia are inspecting the quality of the batch of meth Todd just cooked. Todd tries to warn his uncle against removing his mask, but he doesn’t seem to care. It turns out that the meth is 76% and the guys seem happy. However, Lydia is more concerned about that fact that it’s not blue, because that’s what her buyers care about. But the men try to pretend that there’s a bit of a blue tint to it, and suggest they can add some blue food coloring.

Later, when Todd and Lydia are alone, Todd apologizes about the color, and admits that he burned the blue out of it. However, he is optimistic that he will get better. He also offers to have his uncle “smooth things over” with her buyers, but she declines. She tells him that she believes in his abilities and that it’s very important that he makes the cook better. During their little chat, it seems that Todd may be a little interested in Lydia.

As she leaves to catch a flight, he hangs on to her tea mug, and brushes his finger against the lipstick mark left there. Todd then gets a call from Walt, the one we saw him make at the end of last episode saying that he may have a job for Todd’s uncle. Todd asks for details on the target, and Walt tells him that it’s Jesse Pinkman.

Jesse Has an Idea of how to get Evidence on Walt

Gomez meets up with Hank under an underpass, while Jesse waits in Hank’s minivan. Gomez wants to book Jesse, but Hank tells him that Jesse has an idea. Gomez is reluctant at first, considering that Jesse screwed up their sting, but Hank convinces him to hear Jesse out. Jesse says he knows of evidence  “that greedy a–hole” Walt would never destroy: his money. Although he doesn’t know where the money is, Jesse says he knows someone who might know.

Next, we see Hank and Gomez talking  in the kitchen at Hank’s house, while Jesse sits at the counter.  Gomez talks about a guy that they caught, and how one of their guys is babysitting him at a safe house, but knows better than to ask questions. Gomez is worried about “this guy” lawyering up, but Hank is confident he won’t. Then Hank opens up a bloody package of meat that looks like brains, and drops it on the floor, making sure to drip all the blood into a puddle around the meat, then separates the meat into smaller sections within the puddle. Then he says to Jesse, “You’re up.”

It turns out that Huell is the guy they caught, and Hank and Gomez go visit him at the safe house. They ask their associate to step outside while they talk to Huell. Hank tells Huell that Huell is there for his own protection. Hank then tells Huell that they have a wire on Walt’s phone, and that they intercepted a call between Walt and Saul, where Walt said he would “take care of” Jesse, and that Huell was next on the hit list. Hank also adds that Walt said he was going to do the same to Kuby, and that Kuby is already missing. Hank goes on to tell Huell not to call Saul, because he sold him out, due to being threatened by Walt. He warns Huell that Saul has a trace on his phone, and shows Huell a picture of a dead looking Jesse laying next to the blood puddle Hank made in his kitchen earlier. At this, Huell breaks down and starts freaking out, almost in tears, saying, “I didn’t know he was gonna kill him!”

Hank is soon able to get Huell to spill the beans on everything he knows about the money. He tells them that he and Kuby loaded the cash into seven barrels and put the barrels into a van they rented, handed over the keys to Walt and Goodman, and who knows what happened to the money from there. Huell even gets into the specifics of what the barrels look like and their dimensions, and tells them where they rented the van from. He also tells them Walt had him and Kuby wash the van before they took it back because it was dirty like he had gone off-roading with it, and mentions that Walt had a shovel. Hank then tells Huell that he’s free to go, but says if he were Huell, he wouldn’t take one step out the door. Gomez reminds Huell “no phone calls” and Hank gives Huell back his phone, which he tells Huell he has removed the battery from so that Walt can’t track him. As Hank leaves, Huell asks him long he’s going to be, and Hank replies, “As long as it takes to keep you safe.”

Walt Makes a Deal with Uncle Jack

Walt meets up with Todd, his Uncle Jack, and Kenny about the details of the hit on Jesse. Walt takes offense to Jack’s implication that Jesse is a “rat.” Jack questions whether this is something Walt would do himself, and Walt replies, “Jesse is like family to me.” He goes on to tell Jack that he wants it to be quick and painless, without fear. Jack brings up a bullet to the back of the head, and Walt quickly changes the subject to money. But Jack tells Walt they’re not interested in his money: they want Walt to cook for them, so that he can teach Todd how to do it right. At first Walt resists, insisting that he is out of the business, but he finally agrees to one cook, after the job is done. Walt tells him that “time is of the essence.” Jack says they can do it tonight, but Walt admits he doesn’t know where Jesse is. However, he says he knows how to flush him out.

The next day, we see Walt show up at Andrea’s doorstep to talk about Jesse. She invites him inside to talk while she gets Brock ready for school. Walt tries to talk to Brock, but Brock just stares at him suspiciously. Walt tells Andrea that he hasn’t been able to get in touch with Jesse, and that he has a bad feeling about this because Jesse’s using again. Andrea suggests calling Saul, but Walt says he already tried that. He then confides that he and Jesse had an argument and that he’s hoping that’s the reason Jesse hasn’t called him back. Andrea then calls and leaves Jesse a voicemail, saying that Walt is at her house and to call her back when he gets the message. Walt says he’ll call Andrea later to see if Jesse ever called back.

When Walt gets back in his car, he calls Jack’s guy Kenny, who is waiting in a car down the street. Walt confirms that they’re on, and reminds them that it should be fast and painless. He also tells Kenny to take Jesse away from there, because he doesn’t want the boy or his mother to know about it.

Then we see Hank get the voicemail that Andrea just left on Jesse’s Hello Kitty phone. After he listens to it he says, “Nice try, a–hole.” (The same exact words Jesse used at the end of last episode!) He walks into his house and reports to Gomez and Jesse that the van at the rental place did not have a GPS. Hank figures that Walt must have buried the money somewhere, and even though they know the van didn’t have GPS, Walt doesn’t know that.

Walt Jr. is “workin’ at the car wash, yeah”

Over at the car wash, Skyler is training Walt Jr. to be a cashier. Walt Jr. is in a hurry to leave since it’s Saturday, when Saul walks in to pay, and Walt Jr. is starstruck. However, Skyler isn’t so happy to see him. Outside, Walt and Saul have a chat while Saul’s “car wash professional” cleans out all the drug residue left behind in his car from Jesse. Saul reports to Walt that Huell is AWOL. Saul asks about Jesse, but he hasn’t shown up yet. Walt figures he’s just high and hasn’t gotten Andrea’s message yet. However, Saul thinks that maybe Jesse got the message and knows that it’s a set up. Meanwhile, Skyler looks out the window and watches while the two of them talk. Walt then notices that Saul is wearing a bulletproof vest, which Saul explains is because his bodyguard (Huell) is gone. Saul seems to think that Jesse offed Huell, but Walt insists that Jesse’s not on a killing spree, because it’s just him that Jesse wants.

When Walt re-enters the building, he reports to Skyler that there is no news yet, but soon. Skyler then resumes Jr’s training, teaching him how to do inventory on the air fresheners, while Walt looks on from down the hall. He then gets a picture texted to him of a barrel with money in it. Just then Jesse calls, and Walt answers. Jesse asks, “You got my photo, b*tch?” and says that he just found six more barrels exactly like it. Walt then takes off running, while Skyler and Jr. look at him with confused faces as he leaves.

Jesse Threatens to Burn Walt’s Money

Cut to Walt driving crazily down the freeway, as Jesse explains that he “pistol-whipped” Huell until he gave up what he knew, which led him to the rental van, which had GPS. Jesse says that what he has planned for the money involves gasoline and a lighter. Jesse tells Walt to get out there as fast as he can. He goes on to tell Walt that if Walt tries to call anyone for help, hangs up on him, puts him on hold, or loses the call for any reason, he will burn all of the money. He then says he will burn $10,000 a minute until Walt gets there, and claims to have just burned some. Walt then pleads with Jesse, telling him he’s dying, his cancer is back, and that the money is not for him, it’s for his children. Jesse takes offense at Walt mentioning children, and Walt says that he’s sorry about Brock, but Jesse doesn’t believe him. He tries to reason with Jesse, saying that Brock is alive and fine, just as he planned it, that he knew what amount to give Brock, and had it all measured out. But Jesse doesn’t want to hear it, and says Walt is a “lying evil scumbag…manipulating people, messing with their heads.” Walt tells Jesse that he needed him on his side to kill Gus, and continues, “I ran over those gang bangers! I killed Emilio, and Crazy 8! Why? I did all of those things to try to save your life as much as mine! Only you’re too stupid to know it!”

But Jesse does not respond. By this time, Walt has reached the desert and is driving towards his hiding spot for the money. He reaches the spot and is still trying to talk to Jesse, tells him he’s there, and asks where Jesse is. But Jesse still does not respond. Walt parks the car and gets out, with his gun drawn. He looks around, but doesn’t see anyone. He then realizes that he’s been tricked, takes the battery out of the phone, throws it to the ground, and kicks the dirt. He runs up a rocky hill and begins coughing. But then he sees dirt being disturbed off in the distance, and realizes Jesse is coming. He then runs and hides behind a big rock, but first stops to pick up his phone and battery. While hiding behind the rock, he puts the battery back in the phone and calls Jack to tell him that he has Jesse in sight, that Jesse’s coming for him and knows Walt’s alone. Walt tells Jack he assumes Jesse has backup. Walt gives Jack the coordinates, which he had listed on a lottery ticket to remember. Walt tells Jack that if he wants him around to cook, they better get there ASAP. Walt sees the suburban pull up and tells Jack that it looks like 3 men total. Jesse, Hank, and Gomez get out of the vehicle, Hank and Gomez with guns drawn. When Walt realizes that it is Hank who has shown up with Jesse, he tells Jack not to come, that it’s off, and hangs up.

Showdown in the Desert

Hank, Gomez, and Jesse don’t see Walt around anywhere, so Hank begins calling for Walt to come out. Walt decides to come out from hiding behind the rock. He just stands there, and at Hank’s command, he drops his guns, puts his hands in the air, and walks slowly toward Hank, until Hank tells him to stop, turn around, lace his fingers behind his head, and walk backwards toward him. Then he tells Walt to stop and get on his knees, at which point Hank handcuffs Walt. Hank reveals to Walt that he took the barrel picture in his backyard.  Gomez was concerned that the dirt might not match, but Hank was certain Walt would be too worried about losing his cash to notice.  Meanwhile, Gomez has searched Walt and determined that he’s clean. Jesse comments that this is the very first place they cooked. Hank asks Walt to show them the exact spot where he buried the money, but he doesn’t comply. Gomez lets Hank have the honor of reciting Walt’s Miranda rights. However, it seems like Walt and Jesse are glaring at each other this whole time, and Walt calls Jesse a coward. At this, Jesse steps forward and spits in Walt’s face. Walt tries to attack Jesse, and they begin to fight, but Hank and Gomez pull them off of each other. Hank puts Walt in the back seat of the suburban, while Gomez tells Jesse to get in Walt’s car.

Hank says he’ll take Walt for booking, and that Gomez should stay there with Jesse. Hank then makes a phone call to Marie to tell her that he got Walt. We then see a truck and a car start to pull up to them. Walt tries to get Hank’s attention, but to no avail. Then Jack and his men, including Todd, step out of the vehicles and draw their guns. Walt tries to yell at Jack not to do it, but he doesn’t listen. Hank and Gomez quickly draw their own guns and tell them to drop their weapons, while Jack and his men demand to see their badges. Meanwhile, Walt is frantically trying to tell Jack not to do it, and Jesse is slowly trying to slip out of the car unnoticed. There’s a standoff, because Jack and his guys won’t drop their weapons, and Hank and Gomez aren’t going to show their badges. Kenny begins shooting, and massive gunfire is exchanged, as Hank and Gomez try to hide behind the suburban for protection. Walt ducks down and lays down in the back seat to try to avoid being hit, and the episode abruptly cuts off there.

Thoughts on Season 5 Episode 13 To’hajiilee

Scenes from next week’s episode of Breaking Bad: Ozymandias

Here are scenes from Breaking Bad, Season 5 Episode 14, titled Ozymandias:

Scenes from Breaking Bad, Season 5 Episode 14, Ozymandias