# Breaking Bad 5.05 "Dead Freight" 8/12/12 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2012, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256 "2012-08-12T08:54:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/41 "2012-08-13T04:12:33Z")
So much for my pet theory about Todd being an undercover cop. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/42 "2012-08-13T04:13:54Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I keep going back to Walk telling Todd something like “Only you, me, Jesse and Mike can ever know about this. Understand?” Just re-watched it - it was Jessing telling Todd no one else could know. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Imsayin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Imsayin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imsayin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/43 "2012-08-13T04:15:20Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > At first; until the water mixed in with the methylamine during transport. I’m not sure what your point is here. Uhhhhhh… I thought we were all talking about the purity of the stolen contents. Not what was left in the tank. Of course it would mix in transit. And that is why Walt blames it on the Chinese for sending an inferior batch. The physics still back up my original point about dilution, and moving one product from one tank and replacing it with the product in a second tank. ---
**Author:** ![Imsayin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Imsayin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imsayin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/44 "2012-08-13T04:18:58Z")
Upon reflection… There was a small pump involved to draw uphill. But, not powerful enough to blast the water to the bottom of the tank. Sorry, had a small brain fart there. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/45 "2012-08-13T04:37:27Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Also, I’ve heard it takes a mile for a train going 55 mph to stop. That wasn’t a mile. That would depend a lot on the weight of the train, and this one looked pretty short, as far as trains go. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/46 "2012-08-13T04:39:37Z")
> [@Imsayin](#): > > I’m not sure what your point is here. > > Uhhhhhh… I thought we were all talking about the purity of the stolen contents. Not what was left in the tank. Of course it would mix in transit. And that is why Walt blames it on the Chinese for sending an inferior batch. > > The physics still back up my original point about dilution, and moving one product from one tank and replacing it with the product in a second tank. For sure, I’m in agreement with you. I thought there was confusion upthread that the water would _remain_ on top, like oil & vinegar because of the density discrepancy. I blame myself for any misunderstanding. There is the fact that the water would sink to the bottom of the tanker, it being denser. How long that would take, I’m not sure, but even if some water got into Walt’s container, I’m sure it was nominal, or he could distill it back to proper quality if need be. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/47 "2012-08-13T04:43:27Z")
And another child dies. Wow. One thing is for certain, Gilligan is making sure that these drug dealers will never be glamorized. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/48 "2012-08-13T04:45:31Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Just re-watched it - it was Jessing telling Todd no one else could know. > My mistake. Yep. Todd is so much of a foot soldier, he applied Jesse’s directive to anything without thinking. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/49 "2012-08-13T04:47:45Z")
[Recap from Rolling Stone](http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/breaking-bad-recap-trainwreck-20120812) – worth a read. Our guys – Jesse in particular – need to be worried about Todd. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/50 "2012-08-13T04:51:00Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > So much for my pet theory about Todd being an undercover cop. ☹ As I mentioned earlier, I think killing the kid was, at least in part, to show the viewers that Todd is in now way affiliated with law enforcement. It forces the people like us that discent the show from concentrating on the wrong thing. Unless there’s some major fallout from killing the kid (like it leads the the arrest of someone in the gang), I can’t think of any other reason to have done it other then to show that Todd’s ‘cool’ From the previews: Yes, I know that Jesse is yelling at Todd about killing the kid and this may take them further onto the dark side. But still, Mike could have taken care of it. The writers chose to have Todd bring a gun to the scene, Todd chose to kill the kid Did anyone else wonder if when Skyler gave Walt that ultimatum if Walt would take her up on it? It seemed to me that she basically said that if he quit cooking everything would go back to the way it was. For a second, I almost wondered if he would say “Fine, I’m out” or “Fine, I’ve got a few loose ends to tie up to bring in a couple hundred grand and I’ll be done in X months and then I’ll be out”. And it seems like, if I’m reading everything correctly, Walt is, more or less, safe. Everyone is working on percentages. If Walt walked away, I’m not sure anyone would be after him. Even if he keeps cooking. He doesn’t owe anyone money and with the current arrangement, no one should ever be knocking at his door. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/51 "2012-08-13T04:51:01Z")
This may be some of the best writing I’ve ever seen on a TV show. There they are jumping around, whooping and celebrating, and us laughing and celebrating along with them and then… :eek: The whole bit with the train pulling out earlier than they expected and Todd and Jesse just barely finishing up and escaping is a total cliche (knowingly, I’m convinced) and was done to get us hyped up and then relieved and then Gilligan turned around and sucker punched us. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/52 "2012-08-13T04:51:49Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Yep. Todd is so much of a foot soldier, he applied Jesse’s directive to anything without thinking. That’s the way I took it at least. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/53 "2012-08-13T04:57:07Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > As I mentioned earlier, I think killing the kid was, at least in part, to show the viewers that Todd is in now way affiliated with law enforcement. It forces the people like us that discent the show from concentrating on the wrong thing. Unless there’s some major fallout from killing the kid (like it leads the the arrest of someone in the gang), I can’t think of any other reason to have done it other then to show that Todd’s ‘cool’ I disagree. The cold blooded murder of a child is not something that’s just going to be glossed over in the remaining episodes. It definitely was not only to show the viewers that he’s not a cop, it was a set-up to something to happen later on. He’ll be missed, people are going to be looking for him. Not like the pair of drug dealers that Walter killed, whom everyone assumed was just some rival low level thugs. Traces of methylmine will be found at the site when someone is looking for him or something, I don’t know. It was definitely the set-up for something big though. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/54 "2012-08-13T04:58:00Z")
I think Mike may kill Tod. Just a feeling. I think that Mike will not like him killing a kid plus he may decide he’s a hothead who’s going to bring trouble down on them. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/55 "2012-08-13T05:01:30Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > I disagree. > > The cold blooded murder of a child is not something that’s just going to be glossed over in the remaining episodes. It definitely was not only to show the viewers that he’s not a cop, it was a set-up to something to happen later on. He’ll be missed, people are going to be looking for him. Not like the pair of drug dealers that Walter killed, whom everyone assumed was just some rival low level thugs. > > Traces of methylmine will be found at the site when someone is looking for him or something, I don’t know. It was definitely the set-up for something big though. I can see that. But I think we can still at least say it was, in part, to prove he wasn’t a cop. There was certainly a questions about that in previous episodes when he mentioned the nanny cams in the house. Especially after he was very, very specifically asked not to speak to them. But it seems all they have to do is drag is body and the bike a mile or so away (near a road would be nice) so the search and rescue teams don’t get near the tracks. OTOH, they did seem to make a point of spilling the chemicals in the dirt. They also made a point of getting the dirt in the bottles. Two things which could have been avoided if they were more careful. So they’ll probably come back into play in the future. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/56 "2012-08-13T05:02:01Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > I disagree. > > The cold blooded murder of a child is not something that’s just going to be glossed over in the remaining episodes. It definitely was not only to show the viewers that he’s not a cop, it was a set-up to something to happen later on. He’ll be missed, people are going to be looking for him. Not like the pair of drug dealers that Walter killed, whom everyone assumed was just some rival low level thugs. > > Traces of methylmine will be found at the site when someone is looking for him or something, I don’t know. It was definitely the set-up for something big though. I’m not so sure that that’s why it was done. I think it’s another step in Walt’s descent into hell and total psychopathy. It’s also one more thing that Jesse will have difficulty handling. We’ve seen repeatedly how much he cares about kids, and now he’s directly involved in the murder of a young boy. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/57 "2012-08-13T05:10:07Z")
Well, they’re going to have to do something with the kid or they’re not going to be able to drain the tank any time soon. Simply disappear him (and bring a manhunt to the area) or move him and try to direct the police elsewhere? ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/58 "2012-08-13T05:19:44Z")
Agreed with **Covered\_In\_Bees!** post #53. It’s also to serve as a huge sucker punch to the characters: 1. Jesse abhors the murder of children, let alone those he feels undeserving. This is gonna bring his anxiety all back to the surface with a vengeance. 2. Will Walt try to rationalize this now; the irrational? Or can this serve as a wake-up call for him? Doubtful. 3. Despite Jesse’s plan working, satisfying both Walt and Mike’s concerns, the whole heist was centered around getting Walt’s cake (the methylamine), and eating it too (no one dies), it ultimately creates an unholy mess because of the words Jesse gave Todd, a mindless, unthinking drone, after all. Proving he wasn’t a cop is only a tangential, indirect resolution for those that had themselves wondering or convinced he was a cop. There was absolutely no indication or hint from the show itself to think he ever was. Also, Skyler was not trying to give Walt an ultimatum so that he’d make the hard decision by quitting he meth biz and live happily ever after. She explicitly stated she’s a hostage in this situation, with absolutely no possibility of coming back around to him. She _hates_ him, but in exchange for doing Walt’s bidding, the kids must stay away, period. She wasn’t necessarily trying to get him to stop, but to keep their kids safe until he does or dies. Then, a kid gets slaughtered at the end of the episode. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/59 "2012-08-13T05:20:47Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Well, they’re going to have to do something with the kid or they’re not going to be able to drain the tank any time soon. > > Simply disappear him (and bring a manhunt to the area) or move him and try to direct the police elsewhere? Pull the tanks, bury kid and his bike in hole left behind. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/60 "2012-08-13T05:43:19Z")
Damn, Breaking Bad knows how to do it. I was on the edge of my seat for the duration of the train job. Also, Todd, apparently, does not fuck about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256.md?page=4)