Couldn’t disagree more. Every time I have expected the show to spend time on exposition and buildup, instead, it delivers more action than you can shake a stick at. Buildup and storytelling are also accomplished, but never at the expense of moving the plot along. Never was this more true than the first episode of this half-season. I expected a slow dance between Hank and Walt, and they shot that wad right out the gate, and never looked back.
I don’t think he’d go back after the money. He was prepared to take his 11 million and disappear with his family. He had already written off the rest of the money.
As for him having a change of heart about Jesse: he took out the hit on Jesse because he was afraid of Jesse. Once he stops being afraid and feels like he has power over Jesse again, he won’t want Jesse dead. That’s why he didn’t want Hank killed–because he didn’t view Hank as a threat to him (despite all evidence to the contrary).
I’m still mulling over the possibility that Walt anticipated that the Aryans wouldn’t kill Jesse, and that he intentionally turned Jesse over to them for some other reason, such as keeping Jesse out of Walt’s way while Walt escapes or something.
I agree that the M60 can’t possibly be for Walt to rage in guns blazing. But the show doesn’t have a track record of red herrings either. The gun has a purpose; its purpose is just not the obvious one.
Yes, yes, yes, this exactly. As soon as he got into the conversation, I thought, “Wow. He has really lost it.” And then I realized he was saying things to Skyler that never happened, and then I realized he was covering for her. My girlfriend later pointed out that he was going to buy Holly a car seat, which indicated that he was going to keep her, and then she said “mama mama mama” and that must have changed his mind.
How do you know Walt was content with the Aryans taking 70 million and wasn’t already scheming to get it back? Sure, he told the Aryan they were straight but his choices were to either agree or be shot. I’m not saying Walt isn’t going back after Jesse but due to the popularity of that idea in the comments it seems the most likely scenario. Are we to expect the most likely scenario to play out? Perhaps. I hope he gets Jesse and the money even though I think Jesse brought this on himself.
Walt’s fundamental character flaw is hubris. He believes that he is in control of the situation and reacts desperately when that belief is threatened. He was irrationally and incorrectly certain that his gambit would work.
I read the scene at the house as sincere. I think he was legitimately crushed when Hank died, and was terrified for his life and his family’s safety, and was going to run. I guess he could have had a change of heart later when he wasn’t scared any more, though.
I think this is not necessarily hubris but instead a brilliant calculated risk. Don’t forget that this money is also evidence. If Hank is alive and evidence gone Walt believes he can avoid losing his family. If Skylar and Junior believe Walt is responsible for Hank’s death all is lost.
I’m not sure he was even convinced it would work, it was just the only leverage he could think of that might keep Hank alive. He might have tried the “I won’t cook for you if you do that” gambit he used on Gus, but since they already have a cook it probably wouldn’t work. He had only signed up for a single cook anyway, and doesn’t know how much Lydia is breathing down their necks.
Hank and Gomey already said that Jessee’s confession probably isn’t enough to convict Walt. Plus, when did Walt find out about the taped confession? To my knowledge he has no idea that such a confession exists. The only reason you know is you watch the show. Walt doesn’t watch the show.
Are you talking about the call enroute to the desert? We don’t know if that was recorded or if it was only used to trace coordinates. But the fact that it was used to trace coordinates would mean that a third person would have had to be following the GPS on Walt’s phone, right? Wouldn’t they need the phone company to do that for them since they didn’t sneak a GPS directly on Walt’s phone?
While I was joking about the ammo and gold caches, the “let’s keep it in barrels all in one place for 6 months” m.o. fits even less for a simple criminal gang.
The show may do it because it makes good television, of course.
It wouldn’t be a stretch for them to have the money on their compound. I’ve seen more unlikely things happen. Feel free to disagree. It may take a while to launder 70 mil.
