Peekaboo (Breaking Bad)

Plot summary

Jesse gets the address of the couple who ripped off Skinny Pete and goes to their house. He breaks in, finding nobody home in the filthy and dilapidated building, except their young son, who does nothing but watch paid programming on TV. Jesse feeds him, and puts him to bed when he hears the couple coming home. He holds them up, demanding that they return his crystal meth and his money. They give him part of the meth, claiming to have lost the other portion, and show him that they stole an ATM, so he will get his money; they claim it was a "victimless crime", but it is revealed that they killed a man while stealing it. The husband, Spooge (David Ury), works unsuccessfully to open the ATM. While Jesse is busy playing "peekaboo" with the son, the wife knocks him unconscious, stealing his gun and drugs. Jesse wakes up to see Spooge trying to open the ATM from the bottom. His wife, angry that he keeps calling her a "skank", knocks the ATM over, crushing him; she then takes his drugs and gets high on the couch. Jesse hurriedly takes back his pistol, takes the money he can when the ATM pops open, and calls 911. He then brings the son out of the house, tells him not to go back inside, and runs away.

Walt is at his first day back teaching after his chemotherapy has finished. At home, Skyler gets a call from Gretchen Schwartz (Jessica Hecht), whom she still believes is paying Walt's medical bills. Skyler invites her over that afternoon, but she quickly leaves when Walt arrives home. Walt asks her if she told them anything, which she doesn't answer. Walt then drives up to Santa Fe to apologize for lying to her, but Gretchen demands to know why Walt has been using her name and how he has been paying for his treatment. Walt's anger at being cut out of Gray Matter comes forth and he angrily denies her any right to that information, but she insists that he was the one who left by walking out of their past relationship. When Walt gets back home, Skyler tells him that Gretchen called to say that they will not be paying for any more of Walt's treatment. Realizing his cover isn't blown, Walt lies and claims that the Schwartzes have gone broke, but promises that they will be able to find the necessary money.

Production

The episode was written by J. Roberts and Vince Gilligan, and directed by Peter Medak. It aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on April 12, 2009.

Critical reception

The episode was universally acclaimed by critics, with some calling it one of the best in the series. Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A-, praising the episode for reversing the roles of Jesse and Walter.

In 2009, TV Guide ranked "Peekaboo" on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes.

Aaron Paul was nominated the Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for this episode.