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Box Cutter (Breaking Bad) - Wikipedia"Box Cutter" is the fourth season premiere of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and its 3. Written by series creator Vince Gilligan and directed by Adam Bernstein, "Box Cutter" originally aired on AMC in the United States on July 1. The narrative follows protagonist Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his partner Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) as they face repercussions from drug kingpin Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) for killing Gale during the previous season. Meanwhile, Skyler White (Anna Gunn) breaks into her husband Walter's condominium to investigate his sudden disappearance, and Marie Schrader (Betsy Brandt) struggles to help Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) recover from his injuries. The episode marked the final regular performances of actors David Costabile and Jeremiah Bitsui as Gale and Victor.

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Gilligan considered changing the episode based on audience responses to the third- season finale, "Full Measure", on whether Gale would be killed or not, but ultimately decided against it. During a twist scene in "Box Cutter", Gus slices his loyal henchman Victor's throat with a utility knife right before Walt and Jesse's eyes. Esposito said he was concerned about filming the scene "without really hurting my spirit and my soul", and he concentrated so hard that he remained silent and focused during filming, rarely speaking to others on set. The scene was so bloody it made Cranston's daughter faint during a screening. A major theme of "Box Cutter", and the entire fourth season, involved Walter's gradual change into a darker character who becomes more proactively violent and dangerous.

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2. "Box Cutter" is the fourth season premiere of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and its 34th episode overall. Written by series creator Vince.

The episode also illustrates Jesse's moral decline and feelings of guilt over his killing of Gale, and Skyler's growing involvement in Walter's illegal activities. The episode received positive reviews, and was watched by 2. Nielsen Media Research.

Until the fifth- season premiere, "Box Cutter" was the most watched Breaking Bad episode in the series' history and the third- highest- rated season premiere for any AMC show, after the first two seasons' premieres of The Walking Dead. In 2. 01. 2, Gilligan received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Episodic Drama for his work on this episode. This marked his second win for individual work on Breaking Bad, along with his award from the pilot episode in 2. During a pre- credits flashback sequence, methamphetamine manufacturer Gale Boetticher (David Costabile) excitedly sets up equipment in an underground meth superlab for drug kingpin Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito).

Gale asks Gus about the blue meth being produced by chemist Walter White (Bryan Cranston), who at this point is not yet working for Gus. Gus explains he has reservations about hiring Walter, but Gale insists Gus hire him because of his superior product. In the present day, Walt's partner Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) has just shot Gale to death on orders from Walt to foil Gus' plot to kill and replace them. Gus' henchman Victor (Jeremiah Bitsui) arrives at Gale's apartment and finds him dead, surrounded by neighbors who have just called the police. Victor finds a stunned Jesse sitting in his car outside and forces him at gunpoint to return to the meth lab, where Gus' employee Mike (Jonathan Banks) is holding Walt hostage.

Mike, who is concerned that Victor was seen by bystanders at the murder scene, calls to inform Gus of the events. Victor, who has often watched Walt work, starts cooking meth himself to prove they do not need him or Jesse. Walt grows concerned when Victor proves better at the process than he expected. Watch The Invaders Online Fandango.

Meanwhile, Walt's wife Skyler (Anna Gunn) observes his car in her driveway and, not wishing her son Walter Jr. RJ Mitte) to see it, drives it a few blocks away to conceal it. Concerned about Walt's apparent disappearance, she calls their lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), but he has become paranoid from Walt's falling out with Gus and is too busy checking his office for listening devices. Skyler hires a locksmith to break into Walt's condo for her, claiming it belongs to her. When he hesitates to do so without identification, Skyler claims her purse was stolen and fakes a panic attack until he finally agrees. She finds little of interest inside the condo. Elsewhere, Skyler's sister Marie (Betsy Brandt) struggles to maintain her composure while caring for her belligerent husband Hank (Dean Norris), who is still bedridden after the attempt on his life.

Gus arrives at the superlab but says nothing. Walt launches into a nervous, rambling monologue of excuses and justifications, trying to convince Gus he needs him and Jesse alive. He claims it is Gus who is ultimately responsible for Gale's death, not they, and insists Victor cannot produce the meth Gus needs. Gus maintains his silence, even while changing into hazmat gear and selecting a box cutter, while Victor grins in anticipation. Never changing his demeanor, Gus suddenly slices Victor's throat, startling the others.

Through the killing, Gus simultaneously punishes Victor while delivering a stern message to Walt and Jesse. Gus drops the body to the floor and coldly eyes the duo to ensure his message was received. Gus quietly returns to his street clothes, then walks out of the lab, pausing only to say, "Well, get back to work."Later, Walt and Jesse dispose of Victor's body, the gun that killed Gale, and the box cutter in a barrel of hydrofluoric acid. During breakfast later, Walt insists to Jesse that Gale's death was necessary, but expresses concern that Gus will kill them at his next opportunity. Jesse doubts this, believing it will be too much trouble for Gus to find another drug manufacturer, and that both they and Gus understand the situation: neither can kill the other, so Gus might as well make them wish they were dead. The episode ends with police investigating Gale's apartment with the camera focusing on his lab notes which have yet to be discovered.

Production[edit]"Box Cutter", the fourth season premiere of Breaking Bad, was directed by Adam Bernstein and written by series creator Vince Gilligan.[1] Filmed in January 2. Skip Mac. Donald, one of a handful of editors who have regularly worked on the series.[3] It was broadcast on July 1. Breaking Bad episode in 1. Full Measure" aired in June 2.

AMC officials delayed the fourth- season premiere until July because they felt the Nielsen ratings would be better during the summer.[5][6] While Breaking Bad scripts are generally 5. Box Cutter" was 4.