Gus or Walt poisoning Brock is a bit far-fetched. The theories stated on the show seem pretty damned convoluted and nonsensical.
I hope that it’s all a misunderstanding, that Brock poisoned himself with the ricin. It would be damned good writing if all the principal characters assumed machination when it was just misfortune.
^^^This. It’s Breaking Bad…not Lost.
I don’t see how Brock could have poisoned himself with the ricin. Jesse had it that morning, then didn’t have it that afternoon. In between he had been nowhere near Either Andrea’s home or Brock. So how could brock have poisoned himself with it? Someone else would have to have been involved.
I’m wondering if Brock is sick from something else and Jesse simply lost the ricin somehow.
This could be a way of showing how paranoid everyone has become and how that can lead to coincidental circumstances being misinterpreted and leading to a blowup.
For a mother, it’s enough for her to know that he might have endangered her son.
Yes, she would be angry but simply refusing all contact doesn’t ring true. I admit Andrea has been willing to stick her head in the sand before (holding the big wad of money and saying her only question was if anyone would come looking for it).
I just think it is possible her refusing all contact with Jesse is being used as something of a plot device to keep both the characters and the audience from getting full and accurate information.
Time will tell…
Already mentioned a few posts north, but bears repeating: ricin (according to Walt) takes 2-3 days to affect someone. Now I know Brock is just a munchkin, but wouldn’t the face that Jesse had the ricigarette that morning indicate that just a few hours elapsed between dirty deed and ICU?
It would be extremely out of character for Gus to park and abandon his car in a parking deck, particularly when he had (not one but) two henchmen with him. He would have had a driver drop him off at the front entrance, then circle around until he’s ready to be picked up. Walt was taking a huge risk in ignoring this.
Who, exactly, was insisting that the entire White family was in danger and needed to find safety at Hank’s house? And what did they base it on? Not Hank; he thought the entire thing was a farce. Marie? Why would she think Skyler, Walt Jr., etc. are targets? The DEA? Unless the phoned-in threat specified Walter and Family (which I don’t think was indicated), why insist everyone be with Hank (where, presumably, it will be most dangerous)?
mmm
The caption that needs to go with that image:
“You talking to me? Huh? Are you talking to me?!”
“Well there’s no one else here.”
It seemed like Marie freaked out and believed that her sister and her sister’s family might be in danger. There may have been something in the anonymous message to indicate this, or it may just be Marie being the usual overly dramatic Marie.
Or “The woman Dale shall be my bride. Zarkov will be destroyed. As for Flash Gordon, I have something very special in mind.”
I loved the circular indentation in Walt’s forehead when Jesse took the gun back.
Maybe it was it Walt’s idea for Skyler and the kids to go to Hank’s. Because you’re right, it doesn’t make sense for the DEA to want them there.
Wha…
I can’t think of a single instance when Gus has had a driver. Gus has always driven his plain black Volvo and left it parked wherever he was. At the laundry, at his house, at the chicken restaurant etc. He has to maintain that he’s the owner of a chain restaurant that’s doing very well for itself, not a crime/drug lord that needs protection.
Can someone with access to the episode (Zipper?) go back and see if Huell does anything out of the ordinary while patting down Jesse? Have seen some mentions of him putting something in his pocket after he does the pat down. Maybe he swapped out the packs of cigs after all?
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2011-07-12-breaking-bad-season-4_n.htm
He has also said that his aim is to turn Mr. Chips into Scarface.
Walt says to Skyler when they are packing that the DEA are including them “as a courtesy to Marie, just to keep her happy.”
Nah. Huell is almost sort of tickling Jesse in the groin area and puts his palm on the outside of his breast pocket area a couple times. There is no penetration of clothing whatsoever.
Afterwards Huell does a quick point at Jesse with his hand near his waist either to indicate to Saul “Ok, done” or “Can you believe this cracker?” but it’s nothing devious. Definitely could be mis-interpreted as a pocketing by people looking to see a pocketing but it’s not. It’s just a point.
Thanks!
Now could you also please confirm whether or not a munchkin can be seen committing suicide in the background of the meth lab scene… 
I did go back through Community this morning because I saw what looked like a dude in a camouflage skirt walk by in the background of one of the scenes. Turned out it was a woman with short hair in a camo skirt but I saw her walk through the scene twice in the same direction. Doh!
This episode had the finest acting yet by Aaron Paul - just phenomenal. From the realization the ricin was missing, through the confrontation with Gus - wow.
I agree with Rigoramole about people sometimes overthinking every last detail, but I don’t agree with the notion that Homeland Security wouldn’t be swarming the place if there was even a hint of ricin exposure. I’m guessing that that will be explained in the next episode.
I find Anna Gunn’s bloated lips distracting. That, along with her extra wide-eyed stares at Walter in the beginning of the episode, made her look a little freakish.
I kind of brought this up as a throwaway comment upthread, but can someone remind me of exactly why Gus needs to get rid of Walt? Is there some reason Gus can’t let Walt continue to cook? I ask because upthread I mentioned that all this time we’ve seen Walt as delusional, the way he keeps twisting everything to look like it’s a giant plot against him and now it seems like he might have been right all along.
So now I’m curious, in my head Walt started acting strange first thinking that Gus had it out for him. I guess I really don’t remember what order things happened in.
For example, Walt had Gale killed to ensure his own employment, but why was he worried about his job to begin with. I remember someone had a gun to his head when he made the call (Victor) but was it because Gus felt that Gale could work the lab alone and he only needed one person so let’s just kill the other two or was it because Walt had been acting like an ass and they needed to put a stop to it.
Well, within 2-3 days we’re talking more about death, but according to the CDC:
*Initial symptoms of ricin poisoning by inhalation may occur within 8 hours of exposure. Following ingestion of ricin, initial symptoms typically occur in less than 6 hours.
Inhalation: Within a few hours of inhaling significant amounts of ricin, the likely symptoms would be respiratory distress (difficulty breathing), fever, cough, nausea, and tightness in the chest. Heavy sweating may follow as well as fluid building up in the lungs (pulmonary edema). This would make breathing even more difficult, and the skin might turn blue. Excess fluid in the lungs would be diagnosed by x-ray or by listening to the chest with a stethoscope. Finally, low blood pressure and respiratory failure may occur, leading to death. In cases of known exposure to ricin, people having respiratory symptoms that started within 12 hours of inhaling ricin should seek medical care.
Ingestion: If someone swallows a significant amount of ricin, he or she would develop vomiting and diarrhea that may become bloody. Severe dehydration may be the result, followed by low blood pressure. Other signs or symptoms may include hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine. Within several days, the person’s liver, spleen, and kidneys might stop working, and the person could die.
Skin and eye exposure: Ricin is unlikely to be absorbed through normal skin. Contact with ricin powders or products may cause redness and pain of the skin and the eyes.
Death from ricin poisoning could take place within 36 to 72 hours of exposure, depending on the route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or injection) and the dose received. *