By Joe R | Season 5 | Episode 14 | Aired on 09.15.2013
After the break, we reconvene in one of this season's most popular locations: a public restroom. Walt's cleaning up his knife wound and changing Holly's diaper. Seems incredibly sanitary. Particularly the duct tape on his hand. He coos to the baby about how they're going to get her a car seat soon and everything will be all right. "Mama," Holly says, and she continues on about five more times. Moments before this scene aired, I made a joke on Twitter about how Baby Holly wasn't really bringing it on the level of her illustrious co-stars this season. Smart-ass quip retracted! The sad little look on her face as she begs for her Mama is honestly the most heart-wrenching thing, and I think if it was delivered any less perfectly, we might not get why Walt ultimately changes his mind. I don't know how long it took to get this take, but it was worth it. Again, Rian Johnson, please gay marry me in every state it's currently legal. Walt hugs her close. It's honestly the most attention he's paid that baby ever. I kind of don't know why he even took her, which makes me think she was as much a trophy as she was the last vestiges of Walt's family. But in this moment, I think he's finally seeing her as a person, so: baby steps. As it were.
Back home, the house is crawling with cops, who are busy sending out an Amber Alert for one Holly White. Skyler has her head in her hands, praying to whatever God will still take her calls. Across the room, Flynn sits to Marie, who is in denial about Hank. "He had him in handcuffs," she keeps repeating. The phone rings, and everybody goes rigid. The anachronistic (even for 2010) answering machine picks up, and Walt starts to speak. He demands Skyler pick up, which she does after a billion years of hesitation, waiting for the cops to patch in. She picks up the phone -- still on that kitchen island with the knives -- and wants to know where Holly is. He asks if she's alone and after a few beats, she lies that she is. It's insane to think Walt would believe that, which is your first clue.
So okay, apparently this needs to be addressed. This issue of Walt's intent versus Walt's true feelings. The rest of this call is one giant monologue delivered impeccably by both Bryan Cranston and Walter White. In it, he unleashes an ocean of invective on his wife, telling her that she brought this abduction on herself, because she crossed him like he warned her repeatedly not to do. "You never believed in me!" he hollers. "You were never grateful for what I did for this family. 'Oh, Walt! You have to stop this! It's immoral! It's illegal! Someone might get hurt!' You're always whining and complaining about how I make my money, just dragging me down, while I do everything. And now, you tell my son what I do, after I told you and told you to keep your damn mouth shut. You stupid bitch! How dare you?"