Breaking Bad

[UtahDan]

What was the deal with Jesse and the gun? Was it meant for himself or to protect himself from Walt.

I assumed it was to protect himself from Walt. He got very nervous when he went to the window and saw who was knocking. Why wouldn't Jesse assume that Walt might kill him to?

[Jeff Lebowski]

What was the deal with Jesse and the gun? Was it meant for himself or to protect himself from Walt.

The latter. He says in the conversation that since they are both not in jail, the problem with the guys in prison must have been taken care of. Walt says yes and tells Jesse that it had to be done. So Jesse wonders if Walt is just tying up another loose end. Hence the gun.

[MarkGrace]

What was the deal with Jesse and the gun? Was it meant for himself or to protect himself from Walt.

I think protect from walt. He looked out the window, saw walt, then grabbed it before opening the door.

[jay santos]

The latter. He says in the conversation that since they are both not in jail, the problem with the guys in prison must have been taken care of. Walt says yes and tells Jesse that it had to be done. So Jesse wonders if Walt is just tying up another loose end. Hence the gun.

Yep. Another great scene, wondering if Walt is there to kill Jesse or what.

[Jeff Lebowski]

It was conveying what you already said above: that he wasn't faking getting out. He had the money, I'm assuming he had the cancer diagnosis, and he wanted to get out. He went to Jesse and settled up, and they reminisced about what they had been through. Walt was legitimately after his domestic bliss, which, as PAC said, is what made that last scene so unbearably foreboding.

My symbolism question was directed toward the fly scene(s).

[Jeff Lebowski]

That his whole plan was contaminated.

I think you are right. The fly is symbolic of the fact that no matter what you do, no matter how careful you are about decontamination, a little bug can get in and spoil the whole thing. Perhaps a foreboding for Hank finding the book of poetry.

[MarkGrace]

I think you are right. The fly is symbolic of the fact that no matter what you do, no matter how careful you are about decontamination, a little bug can get in and spoil the whole thing. Perhaps a foreboding for Hank finding the book of poetry.

Ah yes, I think you and Jay are right about the fly. The reason they chased that fly around the lab for a full episode (other than to saves costs for the show ) is because Walt didn't want to risk contaminating the lab. Thus, a call back to that likely indicates what you guys said.

[wuapinmon]

Ok, some more thoughts:

1. Since I feel like everything on this show is supposed to mean something, I feel like Walt's cancer is just a manifestation of the moral cancer that's been lurking inside of him due to whatever happened years before with his business partners. Something has been eating away at his soul, and the cancer is a manifestation of that. It'd be rich the meth chemicals caused his lung cancer, but Gilligan isn't that facile.

2. I think that Hank may just decide to end his career and (try to) nab Walt. He'll go back to tagging trees, metaphorically, just like he did last time he did something wrong (beating the shit out of Jesse), when he could've dissembled, but instead told the truth. Hank is moral.

3. Walt can't atone for causing the plane crash, even indirectly. I think he has to die, and violently.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Ah yes, I think you and Jay are right about the fly. The reason they chased that fly around the lab for a full episode (other than to saves costs for the show ) is because Walt didn't want to risk contaminating the lab. Thus, a call back to that likely indicates what you guys said.

It is this kind of carefully crafted detail that makes me love this show. Such outstanding writing.

[ERCougar]

Ok, some more thoughts:

1. Since I feel like everything on this show is supposed to mean something, I feel like Walt's cancer is just a manifestation of the moral cancer that's been lurking inside of him due to whatever happened years before with his business partners. Something has been eating away at his soul, and the cancer is a manifestation of that. It'd be rich the meth chemicals caused his lung cancer, but Gilligan isn't that facile.

2. I think that Hank may just decide to end his career and (try to) nab Walt. He'll go back to tagging trees, metaphorically, just like he did last time he did something wrong (beating the shit out of Jesse), when he could've dissembled, but instead told the truth. Hank is moral.

3. Walt can't atone for causing the plane crash, even indirectly. I think he has to die, and violently.

I'm still a couple of episodes behind (I'm not allowed to watch this when the kids are up and about), so I haven't commented at all, but I'm with Tim--Hank is going to fall (morally).

[ERCougar]

It is this kind of carefully crafted detail that makes me love this show. Such outstanding writing.

Funny--I've gotten my niece into this show and she just watched that episode. She asked me what the deal was with the fly. I figured it was sort of illustration of Walt's controlling side, which I thought was a bit heavy-handed and dumb. If they bring it back in this way, I'll stand corrected.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Funny--I've gotten my niece into this show and she just watched that episode. She asked me what the deal was with the fly. I figured it was sort of illustration of Walt's controlling side, which I thought was a bit heavy-handed and dumb. If they bring it back in this way, I'll stand corrected.

I suppose it could be both. That could have been the main message in the original episode, but in this episode I think it was clearly related to the "bug in the system" contamination concept.

[MarkGrace]

The contamination angle was the most overt reason for trying to capture the fly. Here's a synopsis of the episode.

Jesse has to force his way into the lab; Walt has dramatically increased the air pressure to address the perceived threat. "There's been a contamination," Walt tells an incredulous Jesse as he stalks the bug with a makeshift fly swatter.

"We make poison for people who don't care," argues Jesse, who works furtively to keep their current batch of meth that is halfway through the cook process on track. Walt orders Jesse to cease all cooking activities until the fly is caught, and smacks him with the swatter when Jesse continues anyway.

After a scuffle, the fly lands on Walt's head. "Jesse, get it," Walt whispers. Jesse swats hard. Reeling, Walt crawls on the floor looking for the fly's corpse, but finds only a stray raisin. The fly contamination must be eradicated, an exasperated Walt claims.

http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Fly

[wuapinmon]

I'm still a couple of episodes behind (I'm not allowed to watch this when the kids are up and about), so I haven't commented at all, but I'm with Tim--Hank is going to fall (morally).

I'm not. I watched the episode again the other night wherein Hank admits to beating Jesse. He's going to make the moral choice, in spite of what it costs him. I think the tagging trees comment wasn't innocuous.

[Art Vandelay]

Here is a fantastic article from the LA Times, with some interesting quotes from Gilligan;

"I've got to believe there's a hell because....I just can't stand the idea of these people going unpunished."

"We've got some ideas for the last eight episodes that frankly trouble me and worry me," he said. "I worry the audience won't stay on board with some of them. But this show demands dramatic moments and moments of shock and surprise and showmanship, and I want to carry that through to the bitter end — if indeed it is a bitter end."

Gilligan admires the close of "MASH" most. It delivered the feeling of inevitability that is essential for a satisfying conclusion, he said. The characters on the show wanted to go home, and they ultimately did.

"The worst ending for MASH would have been a surprise ending, which is you're never going to see them go home," he said. "That the war is going to on for eternity. You want to see them go home even though it's the thing you most expect."