Breaking Bad Season 1 Disc 2

Episode 4: Cancer Man
They know. They all know. Well, not Jesse, but everyone else in Walt's life, not counting his mother whom we've yet to meet, knows that he had lung cancer and that it's bad. I guess Skyler didn't trump Walt's confession at the end of the last episode. But that is because this is turning out to be more of a drama than the light led me to expect. I'm pretty okay with that so far, though wouldn't mind seeing some of the humor added back.
We got to see another side of Jesse this time out and experience one of his hallucinations. I thought it was hilarious that Jesse hallucinated to mild mannered missionaries who ride up to his on bicycle's as big, tough, dirty bikers sporting a machete and hand grenade, respectively. The scene at Jesse's folks was a nice way to add more depth, even if the joint turning out to be his brother's was a little predictable.

Episode 5: Gray Matter
What an interesting episode. We learn more of Walt's past and find out that had things been a little different he would have been rich and famous. We also find out that Jesse suddenly cares about doing something the right way instead of just doing it.
What was really key about this episode is the long discussion that was had about whether or not Walter would have radiation and chemo-therapy. This is a topic that is never dealt with in non-news or non-news magazine television shows. Then instead of just talking about why he should have the treatment, Walt explains in depth with great clarity why he doesn't want to have it. You don't even get that in a news show. At best you can hope for the person with cancer fighting bravely on as they undergo treatment. The option of not being treated is never discussed, unless it is an economic issue and then the treatment is still seen as the only good way to deal with the problem.
I had already been told that Bryan Cranston was going to prove that he could do more than comedy, that he was in fact a very talented actor. It's one ting to hear this and believe it, but then when you see a defining moment like this episode, it's really the next level of your understanding to what she actually meant.

Episode 6: Crazy Handful of Nothin'
In this episode, we get to see Walter White fully transform into Lex Luthor, if Lex were a bad-ass. We learned two things, mercury fulminate is goddamned volatile, and don't fuck with chemists. And if they're from Texas, you should probably turn and run the other way. Not that Walt or anything about this episode had anything to do with TX, it's just the saying. Oh never mind. It's ruined in the explaining.
It's interesting to compare the two types of collateral damage that come with the crystal meth trade. On one hand you've got the unintended human collateral damage shown by Hugo getting pinched for Walt's crime and by Jesse getting horribly beaten trying to do right by Walt. On the other hand you have the intended consequences of Walt using the mercury fulminate to impress upon Tuco the importance of doing tings Walt's way.

Breaking Bad at IMDb