# Breaking Bad 5.09 "Blood Money" 8/11/2013 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 11, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973 "2013-08-11T22:21:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/261 "2013-08-16T16:04:28Z")
I agree. I don’t know if it’s occurred to him that this will probably cost him his career, but when it comes to that I don’t think he’ll find the choice all that difficult. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/262 "2013-08-16T16:13:13Z")
I have a sneaking suspicion that Walt will have “dealt with” the threat from Hank in some manner within 2-3 episodes, and be confronted by a bigger obstacle/threat that ultimately determines his fate… ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/263 "2013-08-16T16:15:34Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > He lost a golden job opportunity in Texas because he wouldn’t let the blue meth go. He got chewed out by his boss because he wouldn’t let the blue meth go. I think he can reasonably make a case he wasn’t involved. > > What bothers me about his silence, though, is how readily he was to face the consequences of his assault on Jesse. He was facing criminal charges and the loss of his job, and he confessed to it all. I would expect to see that same resolve to do the right thing here, rather than have yet another TV show/movie degenerate into the trope of, “this information is so vitally important. I better not tell anyone.” Hank has not said anything only because he wanted to make sure he’s right before he accuses his brother-in-law of being a drug lord. He’s protecting his family. His investigation is more about making sure he’s not crazy, rather than gathering evidence to ensure a conviction. Now that he’s sure, I think he’ll go to the DEA soon. His risk is that if he goes too early and without evidence, the DEA will think he’s crazy and take him off the case. The only thing certain is that he will not let this go. My guess is that he’ll find Jesse, and Jesse will help him. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/264 "2013-08-16T16:46:39Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > I have a sneaking suspicion that Walt will have “dealt with” the threat from Hank in some manner within 2-3 episodes, and be confronted by a bigger obstacle/threat that ultimately determines his fate… I agree, especially since they got to the showdown in the garage so quickly. So, if Hank doesn’t take him down, who does? There are basically three final boss fights left in the game: Walt vs. Hank, Walt vs. cancer, and Walt vs. Jesse. I think the only questions remaining are in which order they will happen, and the specifics of how they will go down. (Lydia, Declan’s crew and all that jazz isn’t a big enough part of the grand narrative, so Walt’s end won’t come from that direction. Although I hope someone shoots Lydia in the face before it’s all over.) My money is on a cow falling on his head. OK, not really. My money is actually on Jesse taking him out. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/265 "2013-08-16T18:15:40Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > He lost a golden job opportunity in Texas because he wouldn’t let the blue meth go. He got chewed out by his boss because he wouldn’t let the blue meth go. I think he can reasonably make a case he wasn’t involved. Quite the opposite. He stayed here so he could remain on top of the DEA’s investigation and steer it away, so that the gravy train continued. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/266 "2013-08-16T18:22:02Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Re: Walt absorbing the habits of his victims, did anybody notice the similarities between his puking and Gus’s in the neat folding of the towel and ramrod straight facing the bowl? > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > But he wasn’t there to watch Gus puke up the poison. So how could he have copied Gus’s actions (in the way the towel was laid on the floor and so forth)? I would point out Walt’s aloofness (or his best attempt at being aloof) towards Lydia at the carwash was the actual habit that he picked up directly from Gus when Walt approached him several times at Pollos Hermanos. But Skyler would have no part in that aloofness. ---
**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 16, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/267 "2013-08-16T18:29:02Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > I would point out Walt’s aloofness (or his best attempt at being aloof) towards Lydia at the carwash was the actual habit that he picked up directly from Gus when Walt approached him several times at Pollos Hermanos. > > But Skyler would have no part in that aloofness. That was classic Lydia too. She thinks that she’s being slick but not taking her own car but is found out by taking a fresh rental to a car wash. Just like when she had Mike meet her at some out of the way diner so that she wouldn’t be noticed and was a total pain in the ass to the waitress about not having herbal tea. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/268 "2013-08-16T18:50:38Z")
Breaking Bad’s Gooey Badness! [Breaking Bad : Reflections On Heisenberg - The Uncertainty Of Walter White](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRRUMoZnN1o) - I liked some of the analysis done here from seasons 1-3. Slightly dated, but still relevant. [BREAKING BAD Walter White Speaks - My Way](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53j4vQ8Un0k#at=67) [BettingBad.com - Can you Predict the Final Season?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2aC_UMXMo) - What I was trying to do back in a thread at the end of last season, but dropped the ball…anyone else got into this? [Jesse Pinkman’s Complete Bitch Compilation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4iiscdXd2E) [Breaking Bad Theme - played with meth lab equipment.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h06Iu0qauTc) [Breaking Bad - The Ecstasy of Gold (tribute video) [seasons 1-5A]](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyIbLKKcKgQ) - Still one of the best BB tribute videos out there. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/269 "2013-08-16T19:17:33Z")
Under what circumstances would it be possible for Hank to leave the DEA and still keep his pension? ---
**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 16, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/270 "2013-08-16T19:20:38Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Under what circumstances would it be possible for Hank to leave the DEA and still keep his pension? Getting transferred to another government job might do the trick or maybe his pain will suddenly become so bad he’ll have to go on permanent disability and take an early retirement. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/271 "2013-08-16T19:38:02Z")
Or maybe he’ll retire to Taos and open up a gem shop. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/272 "2013-08-16T20:13:39Z")
With all the free time he’ll have when he leaves the DEA, he will perfect his Schraderbrau recipe and make the purest home brew in the Southwest. With no other income, and huge therapy bills, he’ll have to start pushing it to provide for his family. Then he goes to on become a beer baron, under the name “Bohr”. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/273 "2013-08-16T21:08:49Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Under what circumstances would it be possible for Hank to leave the DEA and still keep his pension? There are real-life criminals who have been allowed to keep their pensions. There was a This American Life on a school administrator who waged a campaign of harassment and I believe he’s being paid a pension of $80K+ per year, while in prison. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/274 "2013-08-17T13:14:01Z")
Cite for the above, it’s a good listen: [http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/419/petty-tyrant](http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/419/petty-tyrant) So yeah, just because he may be linked to a meth ring doesn’t mean that he’ll necessarily lose his pension, even if he goes to prison. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/275 "2013-08-17T15:30:14Z")
> [@Strainger](#): > > If anyone’s curious about the current condition of the White house (the exterior is an actual house in Albuquerque), my cousin drove by it Tuesday and snapped this pic: [LinkWWPhoto on Instagram: "Everything seems normal here. #breakingbad #heisenberg #walterwhite"](http://instagram.com/p/c-T8AEtZYH/) I wonder how long til it’s a tourist shrine, like the Christmas Story house in Cleveland. ---
**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 17, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/276 "2013-08-17T18:47:39Z")
I’m wondering if the Star Trek story could have been sort of a symbolic foreshadowing of something. Obviously not something involving a pie eating contest or a transporter, but some underhanded scheme that backfires and kills one of the schemers. Or maybe it was just a morality play about karma, sort of like the entire series. Maybe Walt will be puking up blood before it’s all over. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/277 "2013-08-17T20:11:27Z")
The entire series is a morality play about karma? I wouldn’t agree with that. I’d say it’s about a very angry man who lived the life if a good man until the prospect of certain death freed him to become who he really was. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/278 "2013-08-17T20:43:39Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I’m wondering if the Star Trek story could have been sort of a symbolic foreshadowing of something. Obviously not something involving a pie eating contest or a transporter, but some underhanded scheme that backfires and kills one of the schemers. > > Or maybe it was just a morality play about karma, sort of like the entire series. Maybe Walt will be puking up blood before it’s all over. Well… Hank was wearing a red shirt, so… ---
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/279 "2013-08-17T21:54:03Z")
> [@Crawlspace](#): > > Interesting, I kind of feel the exact opposite. I’m not saying that I’d view the the show as a failure if it doesn’t answer this, but I’d be disappointed. The fact that they’ve danced around the reasons why Walt left Grey Matter so deftly gives me the impression that it was something monumental enough to be a part of his origins story. I mean, he could have been a Nobel Prize winning chemist, instead he’s a meth czar. Why? > > To put it another way, I think that if it was something mundane they would have explicitly told us already. But instead we get veiled references to an incident on Fourth of July weekend between Walter and Gretchen’s father and brothers that causes Walt to pack his bags and leave her and his research then and there. Even when he’s talking to Jesse about it he stumbles over how to say that something happened and there was a falling out. He could have been a Nobel chemist…? Why? He knows chemistry. He cooks the best meth. So what? Who’re his competitors? It’s people like Jesse and his friends, right? Kids who flunked HS school chemistry. I don’t think that means he could have been a Nobel chemist. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973/280 "2013-08-17T22:00:10Z")
[There’s a plaque in the White home that says Walt was involved in a project that won a Nobel Prize in Physics.](http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2011/07/you-can-totally-still-catch-breaking-bad-premiere/39931/) I don’t think we’ve seen it since early in season one, but it’s one of those things that tells us he’s the most overqualified high school chemistry teacher in the world. I think someone asked earlier about the resolution to Gray Matter. I don’t know if anything more dramatic was ever planned, but to me, the climax of that subplot was when Walt suggested that his meth empire was had become his Gray Matter- the legacy he was leaving behind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-09-blood-money-8-11-2013/665973.md?page=15)