# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/161 "2012-08-13T23:38:34Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > If they kill Todd, how will they explain it to the rest of the Vamanos Pest crew? They are their employees - they don’t owe them any explanation. It would go like this: “Todd is no longer with the organization.” Them: “OK.” _carry on with their business_ This is not a business where people ask questions. They know better than that. That said, I don’t think they have any reason to kill Todd. Also, it’s spelled “vamonos”, _muchacho_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/162 "2012-08-13T23:44:12Z")
In case anyone is interested, [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjqjjOfxgFo) is what Laura Fraser (Lydia) sounds like in real life. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/163 "2012-08-14T00:21:20Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Walt and Mike? Yes. Of course. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/164 "2012-08-14T01:09:15Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > In case anyone is interested, [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjqjjOfxgFo) is what Laura Fraser (Lydia) sounds like in real life. _Whoa!_ I had no idea she was foreign. Now I think she’s even more of a hottie. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/165 "2012-08-14T01:11:30Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Will the bugs in Hank’s office be the downfall of Walt? I kept thinking: Fingerprints, Fingerprints!! If Hank’s PC ever has any problems and an IT guy comes in to look… ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/166 "2012-08-14T01:29:48Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > _Whoa!_ I had no idea she was foreign. Now I think she’s even more of a hottie. Yep. I just rewatched. There wasn’t a serial number on those metal tabs. They said, “SECURED” on them. ---
**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 14, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/167 "2012-08-14T01:38:06Z")
I’d think that a DEA office is regularly swept for bugs. There may even be some sort of automated constant monitoring. Although, that thing Walt planted is probably very weak and very short range. It only needs to reach the receiver he plugged into the LAN. This is probably nit-picky, but I’m trying to understand how it could work. Does it communicate with a static IP address? That would be dangerous as hell. Maybe it sends encrypted packets through a TOR server? ---
**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 14, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/168 "2012-08-14T01:42:38Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Hank made a very big deal about the watch. There is so many pieces of evidence that Hank has now. My guess is that when eventually Hank gets some irrefutable proof of something pointing to Walt then Hank will let slip that he’s known for some time. Really if Hank is surprised I will bitch slap the writers. If Hank has known for some time, _I_ will bitch slap the writers, because it would make no sense. > [@Washoe](#): > > If not related, there’s a good possibility that they knew each other. There was an aerial shot of the train that showed cattle fences on either side of the tracks, so the kid was out tarantula hunting on his own property. Good Samaritan was traveling on a road that crossed the kid’s property, so there’s a fair chance that he is an employee of the kid’s family. I haven’t been to New Mexico, but I have been on a desert tour in Arizona, and the guide mentioned that ranchers would let their (tagged) cattle loose to commingle with other ranchers’ (tagged) cattle on public lands. So, the fences were probably not a divider of private lands, but just a way to minimize cattle and other animals from getting on the train tracks. > [@cmyk](#): > > Granted. Still, despite her drug addiction, she was convincing Jesse to take the money and run off with her and get out of that way of life. > > Walt didn’t like that. No, not at all. The fuzzy way I remember it, at that point Walt didn’t even need Jesse at all - in fact Jesse was a huge liability to his relationship with Gus. So, if Walt didn’t care what happened to Jesse, he could have easily let him just run off with Jane to face an almost certain death by OD. You make it sound like Jesse’s future with Jane would have been happily ever after, if only Walt hadn’t selfishly intervened and ruined his chances for a happy ending. Obviously, I see it the other way - at that point, Walt was still looking after Jesse’s best interests, and actually went out of his way, and endangered his own interests, by not just writing Jesse off. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/169 "2012-08-14T01:55:42Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Also, on the issue of Todd I think if I was a “Meth Kingpin” I’d probably kill him on the spot. Yes, he’s getting rid of a potential loose end. Yes, he was being decisive. But here’s the thing, he’s not out by himself. He’s with Walt and Jesse who he’s supposed to defer to, he was basically doing what Victor did when he started cooking meth, he’s taking liberties above his station. > > At that point in time it was Walt and Jesse’s decision on what to do with that kid, not Todd’s. The fact that Todd just did it shows he’s too impulsive and too willing to make major decisions for himself. There is a fine line between a henchman that makes good independent decisions and one who starts making decisions that they aren’t supposed to make. > > If I was Walt I’d take my gun out and shoot Todd in the back before the kid was even cold, and Mike/Walt/Jesse would dispose of both of them at the same time. I don’t think this is possible without greater consequences, because Todd isn’t just a lone wolf–he’s part of a larger crew that runs the extermination front. We already know that they were doing jobs together, so there’s probably some implicit loyalty involved. It would be very difficult to explain how he got killed without opening a potential can of worms. Walt & co. need that tent and that organization. While Todd’s actions weren’t admirable, they were understandable and not so far outside his station that they merited instant death. The exterminators may understand that Walt is in charge, but I don’t think they revere him so much that they would take the death of one of their own lying down. They might not have the power to exert some overt leverage, but they are in a perfect position to make trouble–plus, the legit business would have to hire another person anyway who may not be so comfortable with this side revenue stream. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/170 "2012-08-14T02:13:05Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > That ethernet tap and bug in the Hanks office is going to come back and bite Walt, that was a really incredibly risky and bizarre thing to do just to find out if Lydia was lying or not. First time Hank needs anything from the DEA IT help desk they’ll find the ethernet tap. How is Walter going to remove them? Didn’t Walt put the tap right over the computer’s fan? Which means Hank’s brand new computer will soon overheat and fail? ---
**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 14, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/171 "2012-08-14T02:17:46Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Didn’t Walt put the tap right over the computer’s fan? Which means Hank’s brand new computer will soon overheat and fail? I saw where he put it. If that causes it to overheat, I’d call it a goof. That’s not nearly enough of an obstruction to cause a failure. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/172 "2012-08-14T02:21:57Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > I don’t think this is possible without greater consequences, because Todd isn’t just a lone wolf–he’s part of a larger crew that runs the extermination front. We already know that they were doing jobs together, so there’s probably some implicit loyalty involved. It would be very difficult to explain how he got killed without opening a potential can of worms. > > Walt & co. need that tent and that organization. While Todd’s actions weren’t admirable, they were understandable and not so far outside his station that they merited instant death. The exterminators may understand that Walt is in charge, but I don’t think they revere him so much that they would take the death of one of their own lying down. They might not have the power to exert some overt leverage, but they are in a perfect position to make trouble–plus, the legit business would have to hire another person anyway who may not be so comfortable with this side revenue stream. For the record I suspect Walt will insist Todd stays alive because I think Walt will see Todd as an asset. However I think Todd _isn’t_ an asset, and not only will he cause an irreparable rift between Walt and Jesse I think Todd represents a physical danger to Walt. So I do not believe Todd will be killed anytime soon. However, I also don’t think Vamanos Pest is going to be going to war with Mike and Walt over Todd being offed. I think that would be the smart move, because the risks of leaving Todd alive far outweigh any benefit of keeping him alive. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/173 "2012-08-14T02:39:47Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > _Whoa!_ I had no idea she was foreign. Now I think she’s even more of a hottie. I just posted this earlier today in last week’s thread, but I’ll repeat it here: I was looking at her IMDB page and learned that she was the blacksmith in the movie _ **A Knight’s Tale** _. I always thought she was much hotter than the Lady and her maid in that movie. I didn’t recognize her in BB this season but now that I know, I’m like :smack:. ---
**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 14, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/174 "2012-08-14T02:40:42Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > The fuzzy way I remember it, at that point Walt didn’t even need Jesse at all - in fact Jesse was a huge liability to his relationship with Gus. So, if Walt didn’t care what happened to Jesse, he could have easily let him just run off with Jane to face an almost certain death by OD. > > You make it sound like Jesse’s future with Jane would have been happily ever after, if only Walt hadn’t selfishly intervened and ruined his chances for a happy ending. Obviously, I see it the other way - at that point, Walt was still looking after Jesse’s best interests, and actually went out of his way, and endangered his own interests, by not just writing Jesse off. They were acting stupid, Jane, being greedy, blackmailed Walt into handing over Jesse’s 480k, by threatening to tip off the DEA with knowledge about Walt, etc. Walt knew that Jesse was using again, which is why he was reluctant to give Jesse his share (cuz he’d blow it all on drugs and OD). Then after his coincidential chat with Jane’s dad at the bar, he went back to keep Jesse from taking the money and running off to New Zealand with Jane (“Where they made Lord of the Rings!”). Of course that’s when he found them both passed out from speedballing, nudging Jesse caused Jane to roll on her back, and asphyxiated on her vomit. Problem solved for Walt. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/175 "2012-08-14T02:46:17Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > If Hank has known for some time, _I_ will bitch slap the writers, because it would make no sense. The evidence hank has: •The gas mask from Walt’s school being found at the meth cook site. •The gambling story. •The WW initials on Gales notebook. •Walts crashing of the aztec to stop Hank checking out a Laundromat that later turned out to have a meth lab in the bottom. •Walts suspicious behaviour when Hank asked him to plant the bug on Gus car. •Hank is aware of a connection between Walt and Jessie (see season 3), and Jessie was rescued from the boot of a meth dealers car. •The sudden unexplained purchases of new cars (even leased it’s suspicious). •His reaction to the new watch and Walt’s lame excuse “it’s a present, oh for myself”. •Skylers bizarre behaviour, seems over the top for the Ted story. Several times during the show including the last episode Hank has paused, given Walt a meaningful look and said “you know if there’s anything else”. He’s repeatedly given Walt a chance to come clean. Presumably if Walt was just a cook he’d be given a chance for immunity in return for evidence, especially with the whole dying of cancer angle. I’m not assuming Hank suspects Walt being involved in any murders. ---
**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 14, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/176 "2012-08-14T02:56:19Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > The evidence hank has: > > •The gas mask from Walt’s school being found at the meth cook site. > •The gambling story. > •The WW initials on Gales notebook. > •Walts crashing of the aztec to stop Hank checking out a Laundromat that later turned out to have a meth lab in the bottom. > •Walts suspicious behaviour when Hank asked him to plant the bug on Gus car. > •Hank is aware of a connection between Walt and Jessie (see season 3), and Jessie was rescued from the boot of a meth dealers car. > •The sudden unexplained purchases of new cars (even leased it’s suspicious). > •His reaction to the new watch and Walt’s lame excuse “it’s a present, oh for myself”. > •Skylers bizarre behaviour, seems over the top for the Ted story. > > Several times during the show including the last episode Hank has paused, given Walt a meaningful look and said “you know if there’s anything else”. He’s repeatedly given Walt a chance to come clean. Presumably if Walt was just a cook he’d be given a chance for immunity in return for evidence, especially with the whole dying of cancer angle. I’m not assuming Hank suspects Walt being involved in any murders. But Hank has no reason to suspect him. That would be like suspecting a friend of being an alcoholic because you once saw him drinking a beer and a few weeks later he asked if he could borrow a few dollars until payday. Also, IIRC, some of Walt’s glassware went missing from the classroom, but I could be wrong on that. I’m half expecting a Usual Suspects montage of all that evidence when it clicks for Hank. I 100% don’t believe he has any idea right now, but I think at some point when he figures it out, he’ll start piecing that all together. Maybe not everything, but the stuff missing from the lab, his connection with Jesse, crashing the car…some of the bigger things. ---
**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 14, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/177 "2012-08-14T02:57:55Z")
While the writers are certainly toying with the audience in the things that hank notices or says about Walt, I think it’s more to keep reminding us how truly blind Hank is to the possibility it’s his own brother-in-law. Even if/when he truly does begin to consider the possibility, there’ll be some super-strong denial happening, and he’d have to gather _real_ evidence, as everything, besides the gas mask, is circumstantial (you forgot him wondering how in the hell Jesse knew Marie’s name when Hank had them cornered in the RV, and they made that fake-out call about her being in an accident; which ultimately lead to Hank beating the shit out of Jesse.) ---
**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 14, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/178 "2012-08-14T02:59:53Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > But Hank has no reason to suspect him. That would be like suspecting a friend of being an alcoholic because you once saw him drinking a beer and a few weeks later he asked if he could borrow a few dollars until payday. > > Also, IIRC, some of Walt’s glassware went missing from the classroom, but I could be wrong on that. > > I’m half expecting a Usual Suspects montage of all that evidence when it clicks for Hank. I 100% don’t believe he has any idea right now, but I think at some point when he figures it out, he’ll start piecing that all together. Maybe not everything, but the stuff missing from the lab, his connection with Jesse, crashing the car…some of the bigger things. It’s funny you mention Unusual Suspects, because I’m starting to think Hank won’t piece it all together until Walt gets away with it, or dies. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/179 "2012-08-14T03:02:23Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > But Hank has no reason to suspect him. No reason, apart from his suspicious wealth, known connection to a meth cook, background in chemistry and everything else I said. Being suspicious is Hank’s job, he’s a DEA agent. Yes glassware was missing as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256/180 "2012-08-14T03:08:52Z")
What’s suspicious about Walt’s wealth? He owns a thriving car wash. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-05-dead-freight-8-12-12/631256.md?page=10)