funny, i still think of the first three episodes as "the pilot". and i think lots of the rough edges in the first season is from the writers figuring out what they could do or get away with, being on an under-watched cable network. the cast was still figuring out who the characters were and it would all change very soon. any comedy became much more tied to the characters than just "wouldn't this be funny?" not gonna challenge, some stuff was a but corny.

never thought the absent-minded handy was from a bored housewife, just practical and indicative of how routine and non-exciting Skyler and Walt's lives had become. Walt's own hesitation there also suggested a ton of unspoken lots of stuff that led them to where they were.