# Breaking Bad 4.13 "Face Off" 10/9 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 10, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130 "2011-10-10T00:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/81 "2011-10-10T14:10:17Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I was wondering if Gus was really dead until I got a good look at that picture. He’s gone, all right. I didn’t (and don’t) really have any doubts as to his death, but OMG, can you imagine if he did survive and had to wear a creepy mask like the guy in Boardwalk Empire? It would up his intimidation cred by 1000!! Oh, the wrath he would rain down on Walt - even in full-Heisenberg mode, he wouldn’t stand a chance! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/82 "2011-10-10T14:12:54Z")
> [@pilot141](#): > > And I’d like to just admire the great directing and editing of the show for a moment. When Gus showed up at Casa Tranquila (later authentically mispronounced by the radio host when Walt was listening to the news in the car), the close up shot of him waiting for the all-clear as he pondered how screwed he was - how much did Tio tell the DEA? Then the walk into the place felt like a man going to his execution. Just great, tense stuff. And I think the scream from Gus as he figured out that he had been outmaneuvered for the first time since his original meeting with the Mexican cartel was the first real, spontaneous emotion we’ve seen from him. I actually thought the mispronunciation rang a little false, as most newscasters in New Mexico (get it, “Mexico”) would have enough exposure the Spanish to know how to pronounce it correctly. But the thing I keep thinking is (and not sure if anyone mentioned this yet), aren’t there going to be security cameras in the Rest Home? Isn’t Walt going to show up on at least one of them? Aren’t they going to be intensely analyzed after this gruesome killing? Don’t get me wrong, I think this was a great episode. Just a little curious if they address the whole security camera thing. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/83 "2011-10-10T14:26:27Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I came to give my mea culpa for assuming that Walt was not duplicitous in the poisoning of Brock…I totally did not think the writers would hide that from us…but apparently Walt is bad, bad man! He’s bad, but he’s not bad, bad. He is willing to go as far as necessary, but no further. He could have poisoned Brock with ricin, but that wasn’t necessary to achieve his aims, so he went only as far as he needed to in order to get Jesse back on his side and against Gus. I was convinced that Walt did have a hand in the poisoning, and I remember countering your assertions to the contrary. You were wrong about the writers concealing Walt’s hand in the poisoning, but you were somewhat right in that Walt wouldn’t use the _ricin_ on the kid. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/84 "2011-10-10T14:30:56Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I actually thought the mispronunciation rang a little false, as most newscasters in New Mexico (get it, “Mexico”) would have enough exposure the Spanish to know how to pronounce it correctly. No, it’s not. People are stupid all over. Here in Texas the situation is much the same as you would think that folks would be exposed to enough Spanish to know how to pronounce the name ‘Portillo’ but, sadly, that is not the case. The local high school sports color commenter can pronounce most Spanish surnames correctly be screws that one up every time. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/85 "2011-10-10T14:33:37Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > No, it’s not. People are stupid all over. Here in Texas the situation is much the same as you would think that folks would be exposed to enough Spanish to know how to pronounce the name ‘Portillo’ but, sadly, that is not the case. The local high school sports color commenter can pronounce most Spanish surnames correctly be screws that one up every time. Maybe they’ve spent too much time in Chicago enjoying [Portillo’s](http://www.portillos.com/)Italian beefs… ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/86 "2011-10-10T14:35:33Z")
A lot of great info on the finale from Vince Gilligan in[this post-mortem interview with Alan Sepinwall.](http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/interview-breaking-bad-creator-vince-gilligan-post-mortems-season-4) Regarding the ricin cigarette: > [@](#): > > I want to get into the mechanics of the plan that Walt hatched. A big deal is made in the previous episode about the chain of custody of the ricin cigarette. What happened to it? > > I think Jesse had the right idea. I think it was lifted off him by Huell. When he comes to Walt in the previous episode, and Walt asks how on earth would he could have done it, and Jesse says, “The big man mountain security guard of Saul’s just had to see me, and he pats me down. You got him to get it off of me.” So having done that, he could’ve just flushed it in the toilet, because as we find out, the child wasn’t poisoned with ricin, he was poisoned with something else. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/87 "2011-10-10T14:39:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I actually thought the mispronunciation rang a little false, as most newscasters in New Mexico (get it, “Mexico”) would have enough exposure the Spanish to know how to pronounce it correctly. Even if they know the correct pronunciation, a lot of English speakers, when speaking to an English-speaking audience, use the typical mispronunciation of foreign words to avoid confusion or for whatever reason. I know Spanish and the correct pronunciations, and even I do that sometimes. > [@](#): > > But the thing I keep thinking is (and not sure if anyone mentioned this yet), aren’t there going to be security cameras in the Rest Home? Isn’t Walt going to show up on at least one of them? Aren’t they going to be intensely analyzed after this gruesome killing? > > Don’t get me wrong, I think this was a great episode. Just a little curious if they address the whole security camera thing. Meh. There may or may not be security cameras, but they may not be recorded. It’s not like a high-crime area, and there would be a lot of footage to be recorded, so it wouldn’t surprise me if this weren’t an issue. Now, as for Gus’s own video, and other materials he may have at his home/office, I would be more concerned about those pointing to Walt. Haven’t we seen Gus replaying video footage of Walt, or was that always live feeds? Which reminds me, in this episode (or was it the last?) Gus is seen closing a laptop that has multiple (6 or 8) video feeds all on one screen. Can anybody go back and make out what each of the feeds were from? It was shown really quick and I didn’t make anything out. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/88 "2011-10-10T14:54:15Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > There’s GOTTA be video surveillance at the hospital. If so, Walt’s on it. If they take Gus’s computer they’ll see a lot more than that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/89 "2011-10-10T14:58:05Z")
I would really be surprised if the car wash becomes the new meth lab. That would be really, really stupid. They need to set it up so that if it’s discovered, it’s not tied to them. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/90 "2011-10-10T15:01:10Z")
[Here’s a low quality video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sroqw8I2ZLw) of the bomb scene on YouTube (probably soon to be removed). ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/91 "2011-10-10T15:19:01Z")
How appropriate that the Chicken Man would continue moving after his head was blown off… (I know, it wasn’t blown off… but the analogy is still fitting, I think) ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/92 "2011-10-10T15:19:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But the thing I keep thinking is (and not sure if anyone mentioned this yet), aren’t there going to be security cameras in the Rest Home? Isn’t Walt going to show up on at least one of them? Aren’t they going to be intensely analyzed after this gruesome killing? New Victor said there were no cameras in the home before Gus walked in. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/93 "2011-10-10T15:21:56Z")
So now what? If Skyler is correct and the car wash is a goldmine, then Walt has successfully provided for his family. He’s also seemingly eliminated anyone who is a potential danger to either him or them, and greatly reduced the chances that the authorities will even look at him or his family with suspicion. Beneke’s taxes have been paid so the IRS has no reason to investigate Skyler’s finances, and his death likely looks like an accident, since that’s what it was. So it seems like, at least from Walt’s perspective, it’s all tied up neatly with a nice little bow and a cherry on top. So what happens now? Does Mike show up and start making trouble? Do Gus’s connections from the Pinochet regime come looking for revenge? Does Jesse badger Walt into helping him continue to make an income? Here’s a thought. Remember when they sent the fake EPA inspector to inform Bogdan that he had a very big environmental violation? Remember how Bogdan kept asking “where’s Gary”? Gary presumably was his regualr EPA inspector. Was he asking for Gary because he did indeed have a violation and he’s been paying off Gary to keep quiet about it? If so, that violation may soon rear it’s ugly head and take all of the profit out of the car wash. Even worse, fines and repair costs may put them into the negative. Will this cause Walt, out of desperation, to go back into the Meth business? If he does do that, will they be able to launder money through an obviously failing car wash? If he does that, does he have the personnel, resources, and knowedge to fight off the Mexican cartel, which will presumably reconstitute in some form? If he does that, will Hank _finally_ put two and two together? ETA: And why wasn’t Marie wearing purple? Is that symbolic of something? Was the color on my TV off? ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/94 "2011-10-10T15:39:02Z")
This finale definitely didn’t leave me counting the days until next season. Really wasn’t much of a cliff hanger at all. No real suspense for season 5. I think this was a bad call by TG. Gotta have something making you want the show to come back NOW. As I said earlier, this finale is the weakest of the 4 seasons so far. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/95 "2011-10-10T15:40:12Z")
God, watching Gus’s death scene again… Don’t fuck with Walter White. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/96 "2011-10-10T15:53:14Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > This finale definitely didn’t leave me counting the days until next season. Really wasn’t much of a cliff hanger at all. No real suspense for season 5. I think this was a bad call by TG. Gotta have something making you want the show to come back NOW. > > As I said earlier, this finale is the weakest of the 4 seasons so far. Y’know, I was surprised they didn’t really leave us hanging like they did after season 3, but in a way I’m glad for once I’m just left with a vague notion that the story isn’t yet quite finished, and not have this nagging question of “WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT?!” that I have to wait a year for. I understand it helps to bring audiences back, but I feel a sense of complete resolve for the last 2 seasons now, and can just happily wait for the final chapter come 2012. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/97 "2011-10-10T16:03:05Z")
> [@Stowed\_Bob](#): > > He was looking for bugs, not bombs. They assumed Tio had narced to the DEA and they were searching for planted listening devices. As far as Gus knew, Walt didn’t know Tio’s where abouts nor their connection. That was the first time that Tyrus visited Hector – he swept the room for bugs and such. But when Gus showed up, he sent Tyrus in again to check things out. That’s when Tyrus didn’t do a very good job of finding anything. The bomb wasn’t exactly a tiny thing like a bug. > [@Rex\_Goliath](#): > > Walt was still hiding just outside the door when Tyrus inspected the room, right? Couldn’t he have run in for a quick second, connected the bomb, and hit the road between Tyrus waiting outside and Gus’s entrance? Well, sure. I have no issue with the sequence of events. It just depended on (1) Tyrus not noticing the bomb when Gus arrived, and (2) Gus was so consumed with hatred for Hector that he let his guard down (Giancarlo Esposito’s explanation of what happened in the scene). Walter took a chance and “won”. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/98 "2011-10-10T16:21:13Z")
It appears he is good at gambling, after all. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/99 "2011-10-10T16:29:25Z")
Well Mike is still out there somewhere. But he was as much a captive of Gus as Walt and Jesse were, and he’s beholding to Jesse now. Mike may show up in the future, or consider himself lucky and get out. There’s probably a bunch of cartel guys who are after his ass now. The guy left the nursing home room after sweeping it for bugs (or whatever he was doing) to call Gus from his car, so Walt could have gone in through the window to attach the bomb to the wheelchair. He didn’t have any other reason to be hanging around outside the window. Jesse’s reaction to Walt carrying a bomb into the hospital shows that underneath he is a good person, trapped by the spell of meth and Walt’s obsession. Also, in the body count, Walt stood by while Jane died. And I think he deserves partial credit for everyone who died in the plane collision. I don’t think the investigation of Gus’ death would lead back to Walt. The cartel will be assumed to be behind it. The DEA (not a word! great gag) will consider Gus to be Heisenberg, that’s where Hank was taking them. Hank has raised his status at the DEA since he got the location of the meth lab and identified Gus as Heisenberg. I can’t wait for the end of this series, I want to see an epic conclusion where Walt gets what’s coming to him. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130/100 "2011-10-10T16:39:08Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > If they take Gus’s computer they’ll see a lot more than that. What do you think they’d find on his computer? They were mostly the live feeds from the chicken joints, as well as from the laundromat which has now been destroyed. I doubt he kept recorded video on it, and I _know_ he wasn’t keeping a personal diary on there: “Dear diary, today Walter White cooked 40 pounds of meth for me. But, he’s becoming a problem so I’m going to have to blow his brains out.” Nah - Gus is way too careful for that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-4-13-face-off-10-9/599130.md?page=6)