Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 13 Recap: ‘To’hajiilee’

Walt needs to find a way to silence Jesse, but his former student is plotting revenge against the meth kingpin, hurting him where it pains him the most…

By Curt Heinrichs — Staff Writer

The Cleveland Browns lost today, but even that couldn’t break my spirits. Yes, I was pumped all day for tonight’s episode of Breaking Bad, but that’s not entirely why I was celebrating. Back in February, the International Olympic Committee decided to drop the sport of wrestling from the Olympic Games starting in the 2020 Games. After much backlash from the international wrestling community (myself and Nerdcore Movement emcee Damon Martin included), the IOC held a vote as to which sport of wrestling, squash, or baseball should be reinstated. It’s been reported that 49 out of 95 votes were cast for wrestling, giving one of the oldest sports in the world another chance in the Olympic Games. I know that it’s a bit of a tangent from my recap of Breaking Bad, but I felt compelled to share the good news.

Tonight’s episode kicks off with Todd and his swastika-tattooed uncle cooking meth with Todd attempting to recreate Heisenberg’s magic. Todd calculated that the meth they made is 76% pure, which is a far cry from Walt’s product. Lydia is overseeing the process and remarks that the product isn’t blue. A plot develops in which Todd and his in-laws will add food coloring. Todd rehashes to process and says that he thinks he knows why the product isn’t blue. He vows to improve next time and Lydia skips town. Todd creepily looks at the lipstick stain she left on the coffee cup while he takes a call from Walt. Walt tells Todd that he won’t need help taking anyone out in a jail this time (so now we know who offed all of Mike’s guys in jail) and there is just one target: Jesse Pinkman.

Jesse comes up with a plan to collect evidence on Walt by leading the DEA to Walt’s money. Hank does some sort of strange science experiment/pagan ritual with what looks to be a brain and some blood on the kitchen floor. Weird. Hank goes to visit Huell in a witness protection house and gives him some story about Walt being after Huell and Kuby and Saul. It turns out that Hank showed Huell a picture of the brain that appeared to be leaking out of a seemingly-dead Jesse. Huell sings like a bird and tells Hank about the barrels of money and a rented van. Hank scares Huell into staying put and off the grid so he can’t be found.

Walt meets with Todd’s uncle and explains that they need to take care of Jesse because Jesse won’t listen to reason. Walt is very persistent that Jesse is not a rat, but still needs to be taken care of. Since he looks at Jesse like family, Walt asks for it to be painless for Jesse. In exchange for the job, the hitmen want Walt to cook for them but Walt refuses initially. He eventually agrees to one cook after the completion of the job. I smell a “yeah, science” moment coming up for old Todd and his family.

In an attempt to flush Jesse out of hiding, Walt pays a visit to Jesse’s girlfriend Andrea and Brock. Andrea leaves a message on Jesse’s phone and says that Walt dropped by and he’s worried about Jesse. Trap: set. Walt has some goons posted outside of Andrea’s house that are going to kill Jesse on sight without letting Andrea or Brock find out. Hank intercepts the call on Jesse’s Hello Kitty phone and sees through the plot.
Walt Jr. is playing the role of apprentice to Skyler at A-1 carwash (while wearing a rad jean jacket, I may add). Saul drops in and Skyler noticeably bristles. Saul meets with Walt and tells him that Jesse is not as dumb as they think.

Jesse texts Walt a picture of a barrel and says he found 6 more just like it. Jesse and Hank are springing a trap for Walt because Walt immediately takes off for the stashed money. When Walt gets to spot, he realizes that Jesse never really knew where the money was hidden. Jesse kept Walt on the phone presumably long enough for Hank and Gomez to triangulate his position with cell towers (I’ve always wanted to type that.). When he sees an SUV coming down the dirt road, Walt calls for back up from Todd’s uncle. When Hank and Gomez arrive on the scene, Walt calls off the hit squad.

Walt comes out of hiding and is taken into custody by Hank. Hank flaunts his plan of the fake barrels to Walt and Jesse recalls the location as their first cook site. Hank reads Walt his Miranda rights, but Walt only has eyes for Jesse, calling him a coward. Jesse spits in Walt’s face. Obviously the dynamic duo is not handling the break-up well. Gomez congratulates Hank on a job well done. Hank calls Marie and starts bragging about taking Walt down. Marie seems a bit off in her conversation with her husband, but Hank ignores it in his gloating.

As the episode comes to a close, several trucks approach and Walt is trying to warn Hank. A heavily armed hit squad led by Todd and Uncle Jack open fire on Hank and Gomez after a short standoff. Hank and Gomez are out-manned, out-gunned, and under attack as the credits roll.

Thanks again for reading my latest recap of Breaking Bad. With only a few episodes left, things are looking intense for Walt, Hank, and Jesse. Be sure to stop back next week for another recap.