why doesn't a freakin wall of china glass just break when all this bad shit is about to happen? be alot more effiecent than repeatedly breaking shit.

they did a good job w/ the tension and the 'race against time' to save Kankuro. Chiyo was pretty smokin for an old hen. Probably felt good to strut and cluck like that again. However, i just don't care about whether Kankuro lives or dies...

AKATSUKI !!!

They added that friggin huge "suck the life outta Gaara / communication structure" to the OP

Dude, forget cell phones: these fuckers have fucking holograms that let you do jutsu through them! Freakin haxorz!!11

And even though we don't yet know all their names, we certainly have a wall of identifying all the members of Akatsuki now

I'm using the translated names that came up over their respective orbs when they started freaking messing with Gaara:

ZERO
This guy comes outta nowhere this episode and is pimp boss daddy of Akatsuki. I don't think anyone can doubt that this is the main motherfucker. Since Sasori and Deidara had to let him Darth Vader Summon Jutsu (through the freakin hologram!) to get that freaky Jinchuuriki Soul-Sucker for them, it clearly shows to me that he is A#1 Duke of Akatsuki. Plus his name is Zero!

Blue - Deidara
Clay Eater. Self proclaimed artist, hn. Blonde bomber bishounen who beat Gaara. Terracosmo's new obsession. His palm tongues mean he could give 3 chicks 'gasms at the same time.

White - ???

Crimson - Uchiha Itachi
Sasuke's aniki. Source of much tween angst and emo gayness. There's been like 40 flashback episodes dedicated to this guy and his backstory, you should know who he is.

Boar (why do i question the accuracy of this translation?) Zetsu
Guy who watched Sasuke and Naruto fight. Venus fly trap lookin' motherfucker. Seems to be Akatsuki's stealth and spying, as well as counter-surveillance man. I suppose his specialty is being sneaky, logically following from the fact that he was raised by that thing from Little Shop of Horrors and can chameleon himself for hiding.

South - Kisame
Shark man. Seven Shinobi Swordsman formerly of the Mist village. His blade wants to eat you. He's got fucking gills.

North - ???

Three - ???

Orb - Sasori
Formerly of the Sand. Puppet master. Popularly rumored to be a 18th century wooden attempt at a cyborg. Good with poisons. Grandparents are in this episode.

BLANK - Orocimaru's spot still appears, but is left vacant.

And now you know, and knowing is half the battle!

Got our first look of Team Gai. I'd seen pics from the manga, but still cool to see their new threads. Doesn't seem like they've changed much at all.
What a crappy cliffhanger to end it on. I mean, you know nothing's going to come from it, even though it is interesting that those two know each other.