The emotional nuance comes in the form of some great acting from the pair, whose facial expressions tell the true story behind the words spoken. One can almost imagine Walt's inner turmoil as Hank's suspicions hit a little too close to home. Dean Norris really knocks it out of the park here, with his deadly serious demeanor and piercing gaze. It's as if he's taking a peek inside Walt's mind. The viewers are holding their collective breath during this entire exchange.
Another strength this week is the increased pacing from the last episode. While "Open House" felt like a mere filler episode designed to bridge storytelling gaps, "Bullet Points" moves the narrative forward in many key areas. The other family members are now aware of Walt's recent financial windfall (explained by an elaborate gambling addiction story), Hank inches closer to the truth about the case that consumed him, and someone finally removes Jessie from his toxic environment.
Aaron Paul has been fantastic this season, and that does not change this week. There's a scene he shares with Cranston that should be a strong contender come Emmy time next year. His arc is particularly taxing from both a character and actor standpoint, but he pulls it off effortlessly. Jesse continues to crumble mentally, and Aaron brings a pitiable vulnerability to the role. Paul's acting is a compliment to the superb dialogue throughout not only this scene, but the entire episode. Walt's speech to Saul is particularly notable, as it demonstrates that despite mounting evidence to the contrary, the former chemistry teacher is insistent on clinging to the notion that he's the blameless one and everyone else is screwing up.
"Why am I the only one who is still capable of acting like a professional?" he asks. Walt's continual denial is fascinating. He attempts to absolve himself of any moral responsibility for his actions because the alternative scares him to death. The idea that he may indeed be a bad guy is something Walt simply cannot (or will not) consider, for it means that he has been mistaken about his own nature for 50 years.
"Bullet Points" is an excellent episode that highlights all of the reasons 'Breaking Bad' succeeds as the strongest drama on television: Unparalleled performances, rich thematic exploration, and wonderful, character-oriented writing. The team behind the show clearly have a winning formula for season 4, and it's going to be a wild ride.
Cannon's rating: 9.5/10