Episode no. Season 4
Episode 10 Running time 47 minutes | Directed by Michelle MacLaren | |
Written by Peter Gould
Gennifer Hutchison Original air date September 18, 2011 (2011-09-18) | ||
"Salud" is the tenth episode of the fourth season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad and the 43rd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on September 18, 2011.
Contents
Plot
Jesse (Aaron Paul), Mike (Jonathan Banks), and Gus (Giancarlo Esposito) take a chartered plane to Mexico so Jesse can teach the cartel how to cook Walt's (Bryan Cranston) blue meth. Although the cartel's chief chemist (Carlo Rota) is initially skeptical because Jesse can't synthesize phenylacetic acid, the cartel is impressed when Jesse cooks a successful batch. Jesse is then horrified to hear the cartel state that they now own him and that he will cook for them from now on. Later, Mike reassures him that either the three of them will leave together, or none of them will.
It is Walter Jr.'s (RJ Mitte) birthday and Walt never arrives to help Skyler (Anna Gunn) present his birthday gift, a Chrysler PT Cruiser which he is less than excited about. Concerned about his father, Walter Jr. pays him a visit, only to find him bloodied and on painkillers and alcohol. Walt blames it on gambling; he tearfully apologizes but later accidentally calls Walter Jr. "Jesse" before drifting off to sleep. The next morning, Walt finds Walter Jr. on his couch and apologizes for his drugged state, saying he doesn't want to be remembered that way after he's gone. However, Walter Jr. seems to be more satisfied with Walt's apparent truthfulness than his double life for the past year.
Ted (Christopher Cousins) is unable to pay back taxes to the IRS, which in turn raises Skyler's concerns of being investigated herself. She convinces a highly skeptical Saul (Bob Odenkirk) to tell Ted of an inheritance from a fictitious aunt, a cover story for the money she plans to give Ted. Unfortunately, Ted uses the money to lease a new Mercedes-Benz and restart his business instead of paying off the IRS, forcing Skyler to tell him that the money actually came from her.
Jesse, Mike, and Gus are brought to the hacienda of Don Eladio (Steven Bauer), where Gus and Eladio make peace, capped off with a rare bottle of tequila from Gus. As Eladio and his capos party, Gus goes to the bathroom and induces himself to vomit – the tequila was poisoned, and everyone who drank it collapses. Gus, who is affected despite taking activated charcoal and vomiting, yells out to the surviving henchmen that Eladio and his men are dead and they therefore no longer have a reason to fight, suggesting they leave with whatever riches they can carry. Most remaining cartel soldiers then flee. As the trio escapes, Mike is shot by one of the enforcers, Joaquin Salamanca, Hector's grandson. Jesse kills Joaquin and drives the weakened Gus and the wounded Mike away from the hacienda.
Reception
Seth Amitin of IGN gave the episode an 10/10 ("Masterpiece") rating. Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club gave it an A- grade.