this post was submitted on
2,339 points (60% like it)
6,837 up votes 4,498 down votes

breakingbad

unsubscribe73,163 readers

1,182 users here now

Episode Discussion S05E08 "Gliding Over All" Links Only Text Only

The "Breaking Good" fundraiser event.

Breaking Bad AMAs

Do not put spoilers in the title of your posts!

To make a spoiler post simply include the word "spoiler" somewhere in the title.

To make a spoiler comment use:

[spoiler](#s "This is a spoiler.")

Breaking Bad IRC Chat

Server: irc.snoonet.com

Channel: #breakingbad

To easily join IRC use the Snoonet web chat.

Breaking Bad Music

Breaking Bad Podcasts

Regarding Piracy

We want to keep our subreddit legit for the cast and crew that have worked with us past and future. Any post or comment linking to a live stream or illegal download site for Breaking Bad might get removed. We will not censor our IRC channel, because it is a great medium for free speech and we support that.

Other Breaking Bad Subreddits

Comedy TV subreddits  
Community Parks and Rec
Always Sunny The Office
Running Wilde Todd Margaret
The League Modern Family
Archer Eastbound and Down
Bored to Death How I Met Your Mother
IT Crowd Trailer Park Boys
Suburgatory The Big Bang Theory
iCarly Arrested Development
Party Down Malcolm In The Middle [new]
Saturday Night Live That '70s Show

Drama TV subreddits  
Breaking Bad Mad Men
House Of Lies The Killing
Sons of Anarchy Chuck
Dexter Lost
Alcatraz Shameless (US)
Bones

TV Sub-Reddit List

TV Show Countdown

created by coopnlCaliforniuma community for
message the moderators

MODERATORS

reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own! learn more ›

top 200 commentsshow all 464

[–]Salanderfan 95 points96 points ago

Great review of this episode here: http://www.avclub.com/articles/gliding-over-all,84205/

Someone (not sure who) made this about a week ago, amazing foresight: http://i.imgur.com/LLRqS.jpg

Edit: It turns out that this image was created by user meatbongos not a week, but a month ago in this thread here: http://www.reddit.com/r/breakingbad/comments/xnvzv/ww_spoilers/ Incredible.

[–]almondzDeaths, many deaths I'll sing. 33 points34 points ago

My favorite part:

"The most tragic outcome, it turns out, is not that the world comes apart when you’re at the top. It’s that the soft landing you’ve engineered, after everything has been taken care of and made right, refuses to materialize. It’s that you are your own loose end."

Perfect insight that sums up exactly what makes this show so fucking great--the painful dose of reality, the dramatic irony that just as Walt's ready to close up shop, he is bit by that dead bee. And it's all his own damn fault.

[–]DontWorryImaPirate 7 points8 points ago

What is this dead bee reference?

[–]almondzDeaths, many deaths I'll sing. 4 points5 points ago

It's the name of S2E3.

[–]zentenai 16 points17 points ago

Damn, that was good foresight.

[–]emilsmith 3 points4 points ago

Weird, I dismissed that as a really stupid theory.

[–]shnicklefritz 2 points3 points ago

I don't think you can even call that foresight. I need a whole new word for how mindfucked I just got from that

[–]Sn00zy_Pineapple 162 points163 points ago

The Comic Sans was a nice touch.

[–]wolfvisiontrading wooden box for weed 51 points52 points ago

I wish I could write everything in Comic Sands with a pen

[–]furyasd 36 points37 points ago

Going to the beach is a real comedy.

There are some really comic sands right there.

[–]brtdud7This is my private domicile and I will not be harassed. Bitch. 285 points286 points ago

Oh yes of course, how could I be so dense

To My Pal Walter Hartwell White:

I really enjoyed making all that Blue Sky 99.1% pure methamphetamine with you with help from Mike Ehrmentraut underneath the laundromat that Los Pollos Hermanos Restaurant president Gustavo Fring owns and runs his meth distribution ring out of. I hope one day to meet your wife Skylar and son Walt "Flynn" Jr. I still can't believe you recounted me that story of you murdering a drug dealer, as well as having your brother-in-law Hank Schroeder of the DEA get into a shootout with that crazy other drug dealer, and that you were directly responsible for the gun battle that he required months of intense physical therapy for. I also want to thank you for telling me about your lawyer, Saul Goodman, who launders your money for you and the car wash you purchased with Skylar who launders your money as well.

I also loved your story about how you and Jesse Bruce Pinkman hid in your RV you used to make the methamphetamine in a junk yard when your brother in law Hank found you guys but your friend Joe, the owner of said junk yard, became an accessory to your crime by making Hank leave without a warrant. That had me in stitches!

Don't forget to keep up our contract with Madrigal Electromotive GmbH and Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, who has the names of the nine men that Mike Ehrmentraut has under contract in prison to specifically not talk to the DEA and FBI about our illegal drug activities.

All the best.

Gale Boetticher, your friend and associate in the illegal methamphetamine distribution business.

ETA: Stuff

[–]CPearson 108 points109 points ago

[–]stonesfcr 14 points15 points ago

You missed the legalized signature

[–]Kansas6er 9 points10 points ago

The funny thing is, had all that been on the first page Hank probably would of been all, "tl;dr, poopy time"

[–]drbowman 24 points25 points ago

forgot to tie in the superlab underneath the laundry owned by Gus "Los Pollos Hermanos Owner" Fring with parts ordered from madrigal and how he used to cook with a Jesse "Cap'n Cook" Pinkman.

[–]eifersucht12aSmells like cat piss 25 points26 points ago

"...and that you were directly responsible for the gun battle that he required months of intense physical therapy for."

...which you paid with your illicit income from the aforementioned manufacture of methamphetamine

[–]jeffersonbibleHell yeah, I'm stoked for this lasagna! 11 points12 points ago

It's missing something:

I really enjoyed the time we spent together in Gustavo Fring's industrial drug production facility under the laundry that he owns, manufacturing all that Blue Sky 99.1% pure methamphetamine with you with help from Mike Ehrmentraut.

[–]Haacker4599.1% Pure 225 points226 points ago

Gale ruined eveything

[–]wolfvisiontrading wooden box for weed 160 points161 points ago

Walt should've thrown that out like he did the bomb making material and the Lilly plant. I have no idea why he didn't, maybe he wasn't aware of the message in the book.

[–]highTrolla 123 points124 points ago

I'm just a little pissed off that the entire end of the series might hinge on the fact that Walter didn't immediately consider the book evidence and then BURN it like any sensible criminal.

[–]BRsteve 206 points207 points ago

But that fits perfectly with him. He's incredibly vain, cocky, and way too proud of himself to think anyone could take him down. His hubris has always been what will bring him down

[–]TrixieBastardsmells like a Band-Aid 189 points190 points ago

Precisely. Walt would never throw out proof that someone worshiped him, regardless of whether or not it could be incriminating. He is way too vain to even consider it.

[–]Highsight 9 points10 points ago

Exactly. If you were to need any further proof of this, think about the watch that Jessie gave him, he goes around showing that off to everyone, simply because he believes "I bought it myself" is an excuse everyone would believe.

[–]Adios_numero_two 25 points26 points ago

This. Right here. Is an extremely good justification of why Walter might have kept the book. I can think of no other logical explanation.

[–]unbuklethis 21 points22 points ago

Yep. He could have never become a meth cook and still dealt w/ all his problems, but his ego was in the way. It was his scientific research in crystallography w/ Elliott back at Caltech which resulted in the patent Gray Matter becoming a billion dollar Bio tech firm, and when Elliott & Gretchen offered him a job as a scientist at their firm and money for his treatment. But what does he do? he turns it down and becomes a meth cook.

[–]weasel-likeTortoise 6 points7 points ago

He likes to think about Gale whilst pooping.

[–]mrsaturn42 32 points33 points ago

He doesnt think anyone can take him down because throughout the entire series he has been incredibly meticulous about destroying evidence and covering his tracks.

[–]dawsxin the empire business 8 points9 points ago

Exactly, he thinks that he's already covered his tracks and stops worrying.

[–]buddhassynapse 8 points9 points ago

This is what I got from it. Just like when Jesse got him the watch, he got his ego stroked and wanted everyone to see the watch Jesse got him. Same with the book. Here's Gale worshiping him so he puts the book out on display so everyone can see how much Walt is loved by others.

[–]feralcatromance 18 points19 points ago

He doesn't think anyone can take him down because he always takes the proper precautions, he's smart. Keeping that book out in the open, was not. Being vain and cocky have nothing to do with keeping evidence that will knowingly take him down. Hank and Marie come to his house all the time, he knows that.

[–]YaoPau 17 points18 points ago

It doesn't fit at all. He was so careful to hide everything else. The same guy who is putting ricin behind an outlet and dissolving a boy's bike in acid ends up leaving a signed book by a murder victim in plain view for guests. I really didn't like that ending.

[–]KitchenfireMethhead 7 points8 points ago

THE HUBRIS!

[–]edisleado 5 points6 points ago

Then why did he get rid of all that other stuff?

[–]oblimo_2K12 34 points35 points ago

Walt watches for flies - the really little things - to the point of exhaustion and starts making mistakes. That's happened to him a lot over the seasons, I think.

[–]pannedcakes 31 points32 points ago

The other stuff didn't write "omg you are a genius. love, someone who can appreciate your work"

[–]edisleado 2 points3 points ago

Even as an ego-stroking trophy, wouldn't Walt know not to keep it around (at least in the open) especially considering the fact that he knew that Hank has Gale's notebook, which contains essentially the same message (and initials)? He was able to play off W.W. as being Walt Whitman in that case, but he can't do it again this time.

[–]anusdestroyer2 10 points11 points ago

I don't think he realized the inscription was on the inside.

[–]IHaveHerpes 3 points4 points ago

I don't think Walt ever opened the book, he had it as a keepsake

[–]YaoPau 14 points15 points ago

Another user gave several screenshots of him reading the book.

[–]sharkstun97I'M A BLOWFISH! BLOWFISH! YEEEAAAH! 39 points40 points ago

He could have been keeping it as a "trophy"

[–]SteveMcBean 38 points39 points ago

Just like Todd's spider collection!

[–]Braude 19 points20 points ago

Kinda like Dexter and his blood slides, just something to remind himself of the past.

[–]the_mattador"Is today the day, Hector?" 40 points41 points ago

Spoiler alert! I had no idea Dexter was a killer.

Thanks a lot, asshole.

[–]berkelium247 7 points8 points ago

He may not have realized it was written in there, the pages were kind of stuck together when Hank was paging through it, that's what I want to believe.

[–]beta_ray_charlesyo 11 points12 points ago

Ricky Hitler kept the jar, he kept the book. It was probably a trophy, he did have some good memories associated with that book. He probably took it to the bathroom when he had to let the dogs out and forgot about it.

[–]TracyMorganFreeman 11 points12 points ago

I expected neither Ricky Hitler nor letting the dogs out to be in this thread.

[–]PhysicsIsMyMistressΔxΔp ≥ ℏ/2 12 points13 points ago

Gale, ruining things even after he's dead.

[–]almondzDeaths, many deaths I'll sing. 10 points11 points ago

Bit by a dead bee.

[–]lumpyspaceprince 37 points38 points ago

"Nigga is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?"

[–]daitheflu916 35 points36 points ago

I think Walt will explain the book as being from Gretchen but Hank won't buy it and slowly put it together.

[–]nobadcomments 11 points12 points ago

What's Gretchen's last name?

[–]daitheflu916 5 points6 points ago

I am not sure it was ever said, but if it isn't a B name he can pass it off as a present before she was married and still using her maiden name, which the writers can make a B name.

[–]VinylCyril 6 points7 points ago

Same handwriting? Nah.

[–]trivial 4 points5 points ago

Remember that this also ruins Hank in a certain way too. His last boss got fired for having not known about Gus. So Hank could potentially lose everything for doing the right thing, and this tends to be his character arc. He tends to do the right thing even when he could find an easier way out, like the time he beat up Jesse.

[–]AmishSlayer 2 points3 points ago

I can't foresee Hank confronting Walt with only this book dedication to go on, but I can see him slowly putting things together. Here's what I'd like to see happen (or something like it):

Hank takes a cell pic of the dedication for later (knowing it can't be used as evidence but it can still serve a purpose). He asks Walt Jr. more probing questions about his dad, maybe even follows Walt. Maybe Hank goes back to previous contacts to ask more questions and dig a little more now that he knows who he's looking for. He quietly builds up a decent enough platform for a case against Walt (maybe not hard evidence, mind you, but enough to convince somebody else that Walt is worth looking at). Then he takes all this information he has compiled and presents it to Gomez with the cell pic of the dedication as the kicker for convincing. Finally using legitimate DEA assets when his suspicion for Walt gets real traction, he sparks a DEA manhunt knowing he will be forced out of the DEA by the end of it. Having Walt under his nose will destroy him as an officer of the law. He's already shown that he's tired of chasing monsters - this will be the final straw. But Walt will disappear, leaving his family behind, only to return on his next birthday with an M60...

[–]headburglar 345 points346 points ago

this is fucking gold. i love every one of these edits.

[–]fosburyflop 473 points474 points ago

Then you'll love this one! (From 4chan): http://i.imgur.com/Pko1b.jpg

[–]ParticularJoker 262 points263 points ago

50 Shades of White

[–]PumpAckshion 149 points150 points ago

Alternately: 50 Shades of Gray Matter

[–]arudeandvulgarname 6 points7 points ago

No... 50 shades of blue.

EDIT: I'm in the sleazy empire novel business.

[–]Tuco_bell 58 points59 points ago

Heisenberg loves me! But I would have never guessed in that kind of way.....my username feels dirty now :/

[–]pikminDeath Professor 21 points22 points ago

2 months and 25 days

thank goodness.

[–]swedishfish007 193 points194 points ago

Tuco bent Heisenberg over the breakfast table. He knew that this would be his only opportunity to fuck Heisenberg on this table, the only hour of the day where Junior was away from it. He ran his fingers down Heisenberg's plump and ready arsehole. he pulled out his dark, sultry penis, and started trying to force the head into Heisenberg, but it simply would not fit. "TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT", he yelled in anger, alerting Walt to the issues that the beautiful young Mexican was having. He took his pork pie hat and put it on, before flipping Tuco over in one swift, beautiful yet forceful movement. He looked Tuco in the eyes and bellowed "I am the one who knocks, on your back door, you little slut". He started carefully kissing Tuco up and down his body and chest with passian, incredible passion. He then let out another dirty bit of sex talk, as he moaned "You know, I love Los Pollos Hermanos, but I prefer Tuco Bell". As soon as he finished his sentence, he puckered his lips and wrapped them around Tuco's mineral hard yet accepting penis, like Marie wrapping a stolen Tiara in gift paper. He began slurping on the young Mexicans penis, but before he was even fully erect, Tuco's penis exploded inside of him. Tuco then looked Heisenberg in the eyes and asked why he had meth dripping down his face. "This is not Meth", came the reply from a disappointed Walt. Before leaving, Tuco turned to the hefty frame of Huell, who was pleasuring himself in the corner. "Huell, you satisfied?", he queried. "Reasonably", came the answer.

Anddd, scene. Church.

[–]soasdude 81 points82 points ago

"damn i wish i can read"

[–]bitcheslovedroids 11 points12 points ago

10/10 would read again

[–]PaclacThe Crystal Ship 12 points13 points ago

I guess I.F.T has two meanings now...

[–]wolfvisiontrading wooden box for weed 18 points19 points ago

What a lovely, well though up love affair. I guess even we didn't quite know who Heisenberg was

[–]slawre89 5 points6 points ago

Oh god what did I just read

[–]Ethanol_Gut 46 points47 points ago

This one and "ur a faget" had me rolling.

[–]Brightened 15 points16 points ago

Do you have that picture saved? I forgot to save it and can't find it again :(

edit: i found it http://i.imgur.com/IyvRG.jpg

[–]headburglar 15 points16 points ago

seriously, i laughed so hard at both of these. thanks everybody, keep 'em coming.

[–]mehdbcCapo Gringo 6 points7 points ago

Speaking of edits, does anyone have the one where Gale writes Mrs. Gale White or some shit like that on his notepad?

[–]yudkev 29 points30 points ago

[–]Jeremy252 139 points140 points ago

HEY-O! Arrest party!

[–]oblimo_2K12 99 points100 points ago

But that's just it - Hank knows but he has no evidence.

[–]noobitSomething scientific 49 points50 points ago

Walt

  • had keys to the school's lab equipment

  • Is brilliant enough to cook blue sky

  • has demonstrated suspicious behavior in the past 2 years

  • Knows Jesse Pinkman and is now linked to "G.B." (EDIT: Pinkman link would explain how Pinkman was able to get away through knowledge of Marie/Hank, as noted by diata)

  • Has recently found sudden financial success from "illegal gambling" (EDIT: leading to cars, Rolex etc. as noted by diata)

I'd say that's plenty to go on, for starters. Not enough to arrest, maybe, but definitely enough to justify investigation.


EDIT: I knew I was missing some key stuff but figured the above was enough to justify an investigation (and a response to oblimo). For posterity (and my own archiving purposes), however, I'll add the reasons others have pointed out and reminded me of (thanks fyeeah and diata):

Walt

  • had a second cellphone (which notably went off at a critical moment during the fugue state arc - may also reopen suspicion on the fugue state)

  • has conveniently interfered at critical points during investigations:

    • the accident during the trip to the laundromat
    • the "stop and chat" during the Badger-Heisenburg bust
    • He also acted strangely during the bugging of Gus' car.
  • has subtly tried to guide Hank away from important details of the drug operation; e.g. on the way to the laundromat, when Walt seemed to have a strong opinion against the laundromat being suspicious. Walt also has seemed to have strong opinions on things he normally shouldn't know anything about; for instance, regarding Gale's "genius."

[–]fyeeah 31 points32 points ago

Not to forget his second cellphone

[–]diata 33 points34 points ago

and walt wrecking on the way to the laundromat, walt acting odd about bugging Gus' car, the new cars+rolex, Walt telling Hank over dinner that he thinks Gale was just a student/not a genius etc., Pinkman having the information to stage Marie's accident to lure Hank away from the RV, Walt being at Badger's bust

[–]fyeeah 12 points13 points ago

Those didn't even cross my mind. All the pieces are now so obvious for Hank, I wonder what he'll do now, since Walts shut down his operation.

[–]fooby420 7 points8 points ago

Also, Walt perfectly fits the profile for Heisenberg. Remember when Hank busted the apparent 'Heisenberg' (The guy who likes to be in jail more than be out of jail)? Well, the profile was something like: Bald, older, etc.

[–]persona_dos 2 points3 points ago

The police also have a sketch of how Heisenberg looks like.

[–]actuallythatwasmeI thought you were the danger? 47 points48 points ago

But he's already demonstrated the ability to pull shit out of nowhere on even the slightest hunch. He'll push.

EDIT: Then again, everybody that could ever have possibly ratted on him is either dead or stands to get caught in the crossfire of any investigation resulting from an admittance of Walt's guilt in a very bad way, so who knows. And Walt is still free in Live Free or Die, so it could be that Hank just shrugs it off in episode 9 in the most anti-climactic way.

[–]mpk219 38 points39 points ago

Everyone except Jesse

[–]actuallythatwasmeI thought you were the danger? 15 points16 points ago

I assume that's why Walt gave him the money. He implicates himself just as much as he does Walt by going to the DEA. He didn't do anything when Walt refused to give him the money, so I assume that's not about to change now that he did.

That's what I meant with this bit:

dead or stands to get caught in the crossfire of any investigation resulting from an admittance of Walt's guilt in a very bad way, so who knows.

This applies to Lydia, Todd, Todd's uncle, Skyler, and whoever else.

[–]TheIceCreamPirate 52 points53 points ago

I think what Walt did when he went over to Jesse's house was genuine. I've always felt that Walt still loves Jesse, despite everything that has happened.

[–]Slashmonkey 29 points30 points ago

Hank won't even try to arrest Walter. If he did, he would either be the laughing stock of the police department for chasing someone who was operating right under his nose for so long without him realizing it or looked upon with suspicion of involvement because of his close relationship with Walter. There is no way he would risk these outcomes, he will just forget about the case and sweep it under the rug, maybe he will use this information as leverage for a pay-off from Walt. Walter on the other hand, will break out the ricin when he finds out that Hank knows and poison him after his bribery attempt.

[–]CrayolaS7 50 points51 points ago

Or he could just say "lol we can retire and buy fucking speedboats, bro."

[–]nemomnemosyne 27 points28 points ago

I wish this is how the series would end.

[–]actuallythatwasmeI thought you were the danger? 2 points3 points ago

Interesting theory, can't wait to see how it plays out next year!

[–]uuuuut 2 points3 points ago

Hank is a clean cop though. It wouldn't surprise me of Walter offered him a payout, but I don't think he'd take it.

[–]sohighrightmeow 14 points15 points ago

I'm very excited for Hank to start the process of knowing, hiding that he knows while he looks for evidence, and secretly working to bring down Walt.

[–]GPadraic 3 points4 points ago

He's got not evidence, but the thing about Hank is this -- he doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit." He's persistent, and has demonstrated that quality time and again with pretty astounding payoff. For example, everyone thought he was crazy to suspect Fring of illegal activities, but he kept plugging along and when Fring got toasted everyone thought Hank was the greatest.

Another good example is the lawyer. Hank's boss just told him you can't follow Ehrmantrout. But Hank kept on it in his stubborn, persistent way, instead putting a tail on the lawyer which gave him an in.

So yeah, Hank has go no evidence, but the key thing is that, as you say, Hank knows. Couple that with his persistence, and he's going to come up with the dirt.

[–]jmclean281 150 points151 points ago

Gretchen Black.

[–]anagrammer_nazi 28 points29 points ago

White plus Black = Gray (matter)

[–]JackAceHole 12 points13 points ago

But the handwriting in Leaves of Grass matches the handwriting in Gale's lab notebook. Plus the whole Walt Whitman reference thing...

[–]aggressive_serve 49 points50 points ago

No. Wait. Holy SHIT. Episode 306, Walt meets Gale for the first time. Gale recites a Whitman poem after their first cook. A couple of scenes later, Walt is reading out of THAT VERY SAME BOOK. Holy shit, that's not Gale's note, it's Gretchen's!

[–]MAC777 34 points35 points ago

This would be a delightful gut punch of a twist.

[–]actuallythatwasmeI thought you were the danger? 20 points21 points ago

Mother of god. ▃_▃

[–]elgambino 30 points31 points ago

He better. He has to. I will be greatly upset if he doesn't use this as his alibi.

[–]Trollatio_CaineCoke Classic 12 points13 points ago

I doubt Hank would buy that after seeing word for word the same thing in Gale's journal. Best alibi Walt could come up with is getting it at the library during a book sale or something, and Hank doesn't believe in coincidence.

[–]elgambino 5 points6 points ago

It all depends on Hank's state of mind and emotional stability after this revelation. I think he'll be so distraught that he'll be looking for any excuse to convince him that he's wrong. The Gretchen excuse would buy Walt time to get the hell out of dodge while Hank pieces things together.

[–]anusdestroyer2 9 points10 points ago

I don't get the reference? Sorry, I'm slow

[–]Needstoshutupmobile 41 points42 points ago

The lady who caused Walt to leave grey matter. Now married to his ex partner.

The problem is hank saw Gales notes and handwriting as well as the not so sarcastic confession.

[–]EdmundRice 10 points11 points ago

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

At a guess I'd say he's hinting at Black being her maiden name.

[–]volx1337 9 points10 points ago

I'm not sure if you know, but "Schwarz" (without the t) is german for black.

[–]roerd 13 points14 points ago

No, we don't know anything about her maiden name. The association here is that Schwartz (actually schwarz, but the name if most likely older than the standardization of German orthography) is German for black, as was mentioned when the name Gray Matter was explained back in season 1.

[–]Obsidian_Order 11 points12 points ago

Damn you Vince Gilligan.

[–]anonymau5 3 points4 points ago

He'll check the handwriting before even confronting Walt. C'mon, this is Hank we're talking about.

[–]Gale_Boetticher 70 points71 points ago

I'm sorry, W.W.

[–]HeisenburgMaybe he flew too close to the sun, got his throat cut. 121 points122 points ago

"You is my nigga, we be ridin' til we die. Hooteee Whoooooo." - G.B.

[–]FrankReynolds6353 Juan Tabo, Apartment 6 79 points80 points ago

[–]ChimpBottle 14 points15 points ago

You missed an "o" in "Whoooooo" but other than that, it's beautiful

[–]freelanceastronaut 102 points103 points ago

This is why you keep decent reading material next to your toilet. Not a book of poetry given to you and signed by your former meth cooking partner

[–]roguewaveTHEY'RE MINERALS, MARIE! 60 points61 points ago

Leaves of Grass is really awesome.

[–]M1ke52Better Call Saul 21 points22 points ago

This justifies everything.

[–]roguewaveTHEY'RE MINERALS, MARIE! 7 points8 points ago

I was merely responding to the "decent reading material" claim. I never meant to justify keeping the book around. He clearly kept it out of pride and arrogance.

[–]zen_monkeythe one who knocks, about pizza on the roof 4 points5 points ago

I liked you better when you were claiming he only kept it because it's Leaves of Grass.

[–]The_Dude_Lebowski 18 points19 points ago

Leaves of Grass isn't decent reading material?

[–]therapyneeded 15 points16 points ago

How can you say Leaves of Grass isn't "decent reading material." Even if you aren't a big fan of Whitman (I think he's a bit overrated myself), it's still much better than "decent."

[–]Faronel 35 points36 points ago

Does a man chose the meth life, or does the meth life chose him?

[–]tyrghast 72 points73 points ago

"They don't think it be like it is, but it do" - W.W.

[–]wolfvisiontrading wooden box for weed 12 points13 points ago

Yes

[–]PlatypusTickler 36 points37 points ago

I guess it's true, you always come up with answers while taking a poop.

[–]energizedmaceDanger Zone 25 points26 points ago

Hank probably shit himself when he made the connection. It's all too perfect.

[–]blueasclepius 38 points39 points ago

[–]BlameReligion 7 points8 points ago

I think I just cried I laughed so hard XD

[–]Velirno 7 points8 points ago

Man, all that scene needed was a big sploosh as it cut to black.

[–]astarkey12 33 points34 points ago

Do you think they had this entire connection planned out since Gale's time on the show? It really blows me away that Vince Gilligan was able to make such a mind-blowing, yet believable connection between a now-distant character and the current happenings of the show. If it wasn't planned all along, he deserves so much recognition for being able to draw such dramatic conclusions. If it was always planned to be this way, he still deserves just as much commendation for creating one of the most impressive plotlines I've ever had the pleasure of watching. I cannot freaking wait for the moral dilemma Hank faces for the next half-season (assuming the end of this part of the season accurately portrays the connection he made between Gale and "WW").

[–]Salanderfan 12 points13 points ago

That may be the case, as someone (I'm not sure who) created this last week: http://i.imgur.com/LLRqS.jpg

Breaking Bad isn't like Lost, with 13 episodes per season while on a basic cable network they can afford to plan far ahead.

Edit: Credit for the image goes to user meatbongos

[–]don_nerdleone 7 points8 points ago

meatbongos was the one who produced that image. Here's the thread.

[–]roguewaveTHEY'RE MINERALS, MARIE! 15 points16 points ago

People getting hung up on whether something was planned from day one or not is one of the things that made a lot of people turn on Lost. I agree with you that it shouldn't matter one way or the other. If they did, they're brilliant. If they didn't they still made excellent stories along the way.

[–]sleeperagent 6 points7 points ago

What made people turn on lost was the writers/creators saying they had everything planned out and not delivering in the end.

[–]astarkey12 5 points6 points ago

Yea, I never assumed it was created from the beginning, I would just be curious to know honestly. I am infinitely impressed with this freaking show, more than any other TV show since I watched The Wire.

[–]blueasclepius 8 points9 points ago

I just wished they didn't do the flashback.

[–]roguewaveTHEY'RE MINERALS, MARIE! 5 points6 points ago

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiit. I might just have to agree with you.

[–]blue_dice 9 points10 points ago

[–]RocketRedRocket 24 points25 points ago

Right when Hank read it, I was totally expecting to hear the sound of a turd hitting the water as he took a giant shit.

[–]luvvyduvduv 7 points8 points ago

Now that you've said that, I'm actually quite disappointed that didn't happen.

[–]desynch 5 points6 points ago

[–]DiscoAutopsy 3 points4 points ago

[–]milkbath 0 points1 point ago

Me too pal, me too.

[–]jabb0 2 points3 points ago

ploop!

[–]I_MAKE_USERNAMES 64 points65 points ago

ur dumb ass DEA brother will never catch our black asses

[–]Huge_Jackmen 7 points8 points ago

we're just a couple of pimps, no hos

[–]ForrestFireDW 18 points19 points ago

So... Gale kind of fucked Walt from beyond the grave.

[–]shooterlesson 11 points12 points ago

Walt fucked Walt. Mr. Fly in the room shoulda burned that shit.

[–]factory81 8 points9 points ago

what did the book ACTUALLY say in it? I didn't read it while it was on T.V.

[–]nirate 15 points16 points ago

To my other favorite W.W. It's an honour working with you. Fondly G.B.

[–]simplecosine 3 points4 points ago

[–]WAK37Wipe down this! 2 points3 points ago

Wow, my brain was going so crazy as soon as I saw the book uncovered beneath the magazines that I didn't even notice the "other" in the note. The whole situation was just too much to comprehend haha.

[–]wallofillusion 9 points10 points ago

So what exactly were you doing during this pivotal scene? Just checking your nails?

[–]therapyneeded 22 points23 points ago

See, I was convinced Hank was going to come out and accuse Walt during the scene when they were having a drink. GG Gilligan, gg.

EDIT: Also, I thought this episode was a little slow, but it's pretty much the perfect build-up for next season. Walt thinks he's out, winds everything down, and of course, that's exactly when Hank finally figures out that 2 + 2 = 4.

[–]Gemini4t 16 points17 points ago

I loved how slow the episode was. Having everything going that well, that smoothly for Walt, absolutely nothing he does failing... when was the last time Walt had that much uninterrupted success? It was tense. You were waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole time.

[–]RRizzoRobbing a Train 8 points9 points ago

Womb to Tomb? Birth to Earth.

[–]DustBiter 62 points63 points ago

This kind of made me angry. I think it's out of character for W.W. to keep this in his house. I guess there was no other way to give Hank the answer.

[–]acantud 75 points76 points ago

He liked the book and the author- months had passed, he wasnt thinking about it.. But it was reading material for the can, he must have picked it up once, flipped through it and thought, man, i should tear that page out.

But coincidence, he didnt, and a plane crashed because of him but not really and the kingpin of meth that ran a chicken joint happened to live in the same city as walt when he started his business and the skinheads predicted the death of bin ladin in 2009 and its really blue rock candy czech for DEA GPS BBQ you're gonna burn those burgers, Walt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DCjMrGNXQA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[–]roguewaveTHEY'RE MINERALS, MARIE! 23 points24 points ago

You even see him pick up the book out of a box when he was moving back in (out?) and think fondly of it.

[–]mrbrick 17 points18 points ago

Yep. I remembered that scene. The first thing I thought was "what the fuck, Walt throw that shit out or you will get caught".

[–]3th0s 3 points4 points ago

When was that scene?

[–]mrbrick 6 points7 points ago

I think its when he moves back into the house from his condo. Cant remember when.

[–]YaoPau 2 points3 points ago

How could you not think about it? Especially when Hank covered the Gale case and knew Gale's handwriting?

Walt did a million things to keep his name clean. He read through that book multiple times (screenshots of him reading it in bed) and knew that if Hank found it everything would come apart.

[–]Adios_numero_two 5 points6 points ago

In the beginning of the episode they show Walt showering arbitrarily, or so I thought. But in that scene I remember a cut to that exact book and thought that has to be something significant later on in the series. It turns out it was, but at the end of the episode instead.

[–]charlesviper 9 points10 points ago

I would have much preferred if it was just the book, without the uncharacteristically obvious message. Hank's an intelligent guy, Walt being a meth cook is something that's crossed his mind numerous times. I would have preferred Hank 'figuring out' Walt as opposed to just reading, "Walter White HEISENBERG, remember when we cooked meth together? Your best friend, G.B. (Gale Boetticher, your partner while cooking meth)."

A Walt Whitman poetry book is the sort of "prize" W.W. would keep.

A book signed by G.B. is like keeping Tuco's grill or Gus's Los Pollos shirt, or a photo of himself with Mike.

Ugh.

[–]anusdestroyer2 22 points23 points ago

I don't think it's crossed his mind at all. People keep saying that Hank suspected Walt this whole season, but there's nothing to suggest that he did before this revelation.

[–]ihateyouguys 19 points20 points ago

Walt being a meth cook is something Hanks thought about numerous times...

Huh?

[–]Gold_blooded 2 points3 points ago

hindsight is 20/20

you seeing him get caught because of this makes it seem like an obvious mistake

[–]americasux 5 points6 points ago

he got made - he didn't get caught.

[–]BlackbeltJones 5 points6 points ago

Agreed, particularly since he liked and respected Gale. Gale's murder was just a necessary means for his survival. The book should be a haunting reminder of that tragedy, not a whimsical keepsake.

It is out of character for Walt to keep the book at all, let alone in his home.

[–]wisenheimer 10 points11 points ago

Gale salutes Walt from the grave yet forwarns of a prideful downfall as Walt loses "control" and the "countdown" to his fall begins:

Standing there alone

The ship is waiting

All systems are go

Are you sure?

Control is not convinced

But the computer

Has the evidence

"No need to abort"

The countdown starts...............

I thought the inclusion of Gale's karaoke video was just incidental to illustrate gale's dorkiness. Just realized some tight symbolism in this and the rest of the song.

[–]zen_monkeythe one who knocks, about pizza on the roof 7 points8 points ago

But Gale respected him. Walt treasures any memory of someone actually giving him respect.

[–]dratthecookies 5 points6 points ago

Why the hell would he keep that, much less in the most likely place for it to be found.

[–]ScottyxanderHuell's Number One Fan 3 points4 points ago

I have a feeling that he wanted to be caught by Hank. He left it out plenty of times in open areas, yet he perfectly hid the ricin.

[–]nobadcomments 3 points4 points ago

He brought it out right at the start of the season when he moved back home. It was his trophy from his killing, just like Todd's spider. And then, presumably, he simply forgot about it. Remember the scene where Mike is listening to Hank's call to Gomie and he says, "one of these day's he'll slip up?" We saw Mike's sad nod and interpreted as being about Mike, but as things turn out it was really about Walt. In the end, he didn't plan for everything. He never really has.

[–]aggressive_serve 7 points8 points ago

Well, Mike slipped up too. Hired a shitty lawyer that got tailed by the cops.

[–]oblimo_2K12 33 points34 points ago

I just want Hank's epiphany-face on the toilet to replace Sudden Clarity Clarence.

[–]Iysif 50 points51 points ago

I'd rather the internet didn't ruin something else.

[–]ObviouslyJesus 3 points4 points ago

You forgot the C.R.E.A.M.

[–]aggressive_serve 3 points4 points ago

I just rewatched the first episode of the entire series, after seeing tonight's episode. I recommend it. Felt kinda nostalgic; Walter was so innocent back then. The video he takes of himself after the first cook goes poorly, apologizing to Skylar and Jr, is pretty emotional, considering how deep Walt ends up getting. (Anyone remember what happened to the video camera? Maybe that video surfaces again; I can't remember if it was destroyed). Also, Walter gets his first cancer screening in this episode, and the shot is identical to the shot in tonight's episode. Anyway, kinda spooky watching that episode, knowing now all the shit Walter gets himself into going forward. I have a hard time getting over how good this show is.

[–]preventDefault 4 points5 points ago

I got the feeling when he saw that dented paper towel holder (that he punched in S1) he remembered who he used to be. After that point in the episode, he seemed to turn into Walt again.

And now, this.

[–]psychie 45 points46 points ago

accualy iz hiezanburg

[–]yangx 58 points59 points ago

jesse plz

kil henk

[–]JanCarlo... Bitch! 41 points42 points ago

fak u mr wyt

[–]mrscilluffoyeah science! 3 points4 points ago

Comic Sans + trying to be gangsta- ohhhhh Gale. This actually seems about right. Especially the xoxo at the end.

Truly though, this was a fucking epic ending. 'Holy Shit' moment....hahaha.

[–]foRGe02 6 points7 points ago

I'm confused, how did Gale's book end up in Walt's house anyway? When did he give it to Walt?

[–]roguewaveTHEY'RE MINERALS, MARIE! 15 points16 points ago

I think it was a gift after they had successfully began working together, obviously based off one of their first conversations together.

[–]uranus86 12 points13 points ago

Yes, after Gale recited "When i heard the learned Astronomer" by Walt Whitman. He later gives Walt this book as a token of his appreciation. I tried to find a clip of it to no avail..

[–]Frankeh 6 points7 points ago

Makes you remember how much of a dick move killing Gale was.

[–]CaveRape 26 points27 points ago

"lik dis if u cry evertim"

[–]bobsagetfullhouse 0 points1 point ago

Disco inferno

[–]ScaredToSpeak 0 points1 point ago

I was dumbstruck at first, but then I realized how appropriate it was for Hank to be on the toilet for this, and lost it(much like Hank's bowels)...

[–]dudecof 3 points4 points ago

What episode was the flashback of Hank talking to Walt? And what did the book say? That was the moment my mom decided to make as much noise as she possibly can so I couldnt hear what he was reading and the text was too small to read so can somebody let me know?

[–]iloveusomuchithurts 2 points3 points ago

I've been waiting for this exact moment and the time after now since the second season. This is where it starts getting a lot more fun.

[–]bannedit 2 points3 points ago

This has made me look at that closing shot from "51" (of the watch Jesse gave Walt ticking down to the gun racking) in a different light: a gift given to Walt by his assistant that literally shows time running out, ticking down to the boom. And now it's a gift given to Walt by another one of his assistants that is going to be the beginning of the end for him, at least where Hank is concerned.

[–]genesis-12aYO. Gatorade me, BITCH. 0 points1 point ago

So, that scene where Hank was asking Walter about the W.W (Willy Wonka? Walter White?), was that from a previous episode? If so, which one? Because I weirdly can't remember it at all.

[–]dunnowins 2 points3 points ago

I dont remember which episode it was but it was after Gale was killed. The DEA was cataloging the items from his home and found a notebook with a short note written to WW. I believe Hank even gave the notebook to Walt to look over because it had plans for the lab in it. Walt suggested to Hank that WW was for Walt Whitman (which it likely was because Gale loved Whitman). That is why it is significant that in last nights episode the note said OTHER WW.

[–]bathroomstalin 2 points3 points ago

Leaves of Grass, my ass!

[–]StudleyMumfuzz 2 points3 points ago

Gale isn't at fault here... Walter is for being such a dumbass and leaving the book around for bathroom reading. WTF.