Thirty-Eight Snub

Walt buys a gun to kill Gus; Jesse drowns his guilt in noise.

Thirty-Eight Snub serves as the second episode of Breaking Bad's fourth season and marks the 35th overall entry in the series. Airing on AMC on July 24, 2011, this installment captures a pivotal moment where Walter White actively plots to assassinate Gus Fring out of fear for his own life. While Walt prepares for violence, Jesse Pinkman descends into despair following Gale Boetticher's murder, hosting wild parties with Badger and Skinny Pete to numb his guilt. Simultaneously, Skyler pursues the car wash purchase as a money-laundering front, and Marie struggles to support Hank through deepening depression. Written by George Mastras and directed by Michelle MacLaren, the episode is renowned for its unconventional camera work, including a shot from a Roomba's perspective and a crane shot from 180 feet in the air.

Quick Facts

Series: Breaking Bad
Director: Michelle MacLaren
Writer: George Mastras
Photographer: Michael Slovis
Editor: Kelley Dixon
Air date: 24 July 2011
Length: 46 minutes

Lore & Background

The narrative centers on Walter's attempt to secure a .38-caliber snubnosed revolver for a planned hit on Gus, driven by the belief that Gus will kill him first. This tension escalates when Mike tells Walt he will never see Gus in person again and warns him off after catching Walt tailing Mike at a bar. In the lab, Walt waits for Gus to arrive so he can act, but only Tyrus Kitt, Gus's new henchman played by Ray Campbell, appears alongside Mike. Meanwhile, Jesse's psychological state deteriorates; despite buying expensive electronics like a sophisticated sound system, he remains miserable and arranges a multi-day party with dozens of people to cope with the trauma of killing Gale. The episode concludes with Jesse alone after three days of partying, breaking down in front of his speakers at high volume.

Reader's Guide

Emily Rios returns as Andrea, while Jim Beaver appears as Lawson, a black market gun vendor who ironically advises Walter to buy a gun legally. The episode features the first appearance of Ray Campbell as Tyrus Kitt, replacing Victor. Filming took place in Albuquerque during February 2011, where snow storms and record-low temperatures forced a state of emergency declaration. The party scenes were shot on a sound stage set because the mess was too extensive for an actual house location. Music supervisor Thomas Golubic selected tracks by Flavor Flav and Honey Claws to reflect Jesse's fragile mental state. Nielsen Media Research estimates 1.97 million household viewers watched this episode, making it the third most-watched of Season 4 but a significant drop from the premiere.

Did You Know?

The original script referred to the character Tyrus Kitt simply as "New Victor" until George Mastras named him.
Jim Beaver had only a half-day to film his scene as Lawson because of filming commitments with the series Supernatural.
A shot from 180 feet in the air was achieved by renting a specific crane, as the show's normal crane is only 30 feet tall.
Marius Stan, who plays Bogdan, is not a professional actor but a physicist teaching at the University of Chicago.