# Breaking Bad 5.11 "Confessions" 8/25/13 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959 "2013-08-23T13:02:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/221 "2013-08-27T00:07:20Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Why do we assume that Todd made less than stellar meth because he’s an idiot? Has he done anything to suggest he is? > > Maybe he made crappy meth because his bosses weren’t interested in providing an environment in which it was possible to make really good meth. Since the Todd and the Nazis knew where the lab was, I take it that Todd was also cooking in that horribly dirty buried bus. In the last episode, Lydia’s plan a was to convince Declan to let Todd cook, iirc. Plan B was for Todd and the Neo-nazis to shoot Declan’s crew up. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/222 "2013-08-27T00:18:39Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > Not only was it creepy, but for me Uncle Jack was in stark contrast to the precise Gus Fring, who completely covered himself before killing, no hair out of place, always straightening his tie. Uncle Jack’s killings are not only cavalier, they’re messy. I think there’s going to be a blood bath soon. I think this is a great point. These guys are so reckless and sloppy that they are towing $10 million in methylamine like a Sea-Doo down the highway. So sloppy that they are covered in blood and don’t even notice. Once they start cranking out the crank in Albuquerque, they are going to draw a lot of unwanted attention. ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/223 "2013-08-27T00:40:24Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Do you think Walt is going to use the services of the vacuum cleaner parts salesman (the same one he came close to using when he learned the money was not in the crawlspace)? > > It’s certainly possible that’s how he gets to New Hampshire, but ever since Saul mentioned the guy I’ve wondered if in fact that’s the way Saul sends people to Belize. (“I’m telling you, you’ll never be heard from again.”) If that’s the case, why would Saul have cared enough about Jesse’s bag of weed to get Huell to pickpocket it? ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/224 "2013-08-27T01:29:03Z")
The foreshadowing thing. So prominent in this show. At the Mexican Restaurant Marie says to Walt, “Why don’t you just kill yourself?” I’m wondering if there will be a final showdown with Hank, Hank finally gets the upper hand, he’s got nothing to lose now, his career is ruined regardless of how it goes with the DEA, I think he’s capable of killing Walt or at least witnessing it, and maybe he somehow convinces Walt it’s in his best interest to take the Ricin. ---
**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 27, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/225 "2013-08-27T01:35:50Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > I’m wondering if there will be a final showdown with Hank, Hank finally gets the upper hand, he’s got nothing to lose now, his career is ruined regardless of how it goes with the DEA, I think he’s capable of killing Walt or at least witnessing it, and maybe he somehow convinces Walt it’s in his best interest to take the Ricin. If it ends up being a Lady or the Tiger situation where he contemplates taking it and then the screen fades to black to end the series, I am holding you personally responsible. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/226 "2013-08-27T02:03:03Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > If it ends up being a Lady or the Tiger situation where he contemplates taking it and then the screen fades to black to end the series, I am holding you personally responsible. Oh shit no! No Russian vanishing in Pine Barrens or no fade to black at Holstens. Gilligan did say there would be no loose ends. I’m holding him to it. Up to now my all time favorite ending was the fast forward in Six Feet Under. everything awesome to Sia music, everything tied up with a nice bow. That’s what I want for this show. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/227 "2013-08-27T02:15:02Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > To suggest that he’s an idiot and not nearly as capable as Jesse? Have you been watching the same show? Oops. I missed where I suggested any such thing. Suggesting that Todd maybe isn’t an idiot isn’t quite the same thing as saying he’d be as good at cooking at Walt/Jesse. But he was significantly better at cooking in that buried lab than the people they replaced him with. And as far as being an idiot, almost as fast as Walt he has maneuvered himself into being a top cook in the States and without putting himself in a constant-threat-of-death situation, so he may be a little bit better at that part than Walt and Jesse… And if Lydia still doesn’t like the quality they produce, who is she going to hire to kill the Nazis, especially when they know she’s perfectly willing to do that? > [@](#): > > He would have had them make it a cleaner environment. Just like Jesse did in Mexico. And how would he have done that when the actual money person couldn’t do that? > [@LawMonkey](#): > > In the last episode, Lydia’s plan a was to convince Declan to let Todd cook, iirc. Plan B was for Todd and the Neo-nazis to shoot Declan’s crew up. Yes it was. Obviously she think he has a decent chance of making meth that will please the Czech Republic. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/228 "2013-08-27T03:12:16Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > I’m wondering if there will be a final showdown with Hank, Hank finally gets the upper hand, he’s got nothing to lose now, his career is ruined regardless of how it goes with the DEA, I think he’s capable of killing Walt or at least witnessing it, and maybe he somehow convinces Walt it’s in his best interest to take the Ricin. That would make me sad. Marie already overstepped with “Why don’t you kill yourself?” (although it was an understandable reaction). I want to see Hank able to hold his head up when this is over. But where was he going when he left the office? He acted like he had an idea. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/229 "2013-08-27T03:24:14Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > In the last episode, Lydia’s plan a was to convince Declan to let Todd cook, iirc. Plan B was for Todd and the Neo-nazis to shoot Declan’s crew up. > [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Yes it was. Obviously she think he has a decent chance of making meth that will please the Czech Republic. I think it’s more like Madrigal/the Czech buyer is getting angry that they’re getting an inferior product and less money (because of the lower purity) than they signed up for. If Declan’s guy wasn’t good enough, maybe Todd will be just barely adequate- or a minor improvement will buy Lydia some breathing room. If they don’t like 68% then 74% may not be a permanent solution either. ---
**Author:** ![Yaxche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@Yaxche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yaxche)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/230 "2013-08-27T04:16:41Z")
The bad assumption everyone is making here is that Walt’s cancer is back. Yes, we’ve seen him at chemo, that would leave a plausible trail and make him sick enough to appear like it actually is. The whole towel thing from Gus he imitated when he vomited? Gus was misleading the cartel… ---
**Author:** ![Yaxche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@Yaxche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yaxche)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/231 "2013-08-27T04:18:03Z")
…and I should add, I haven’t worked out what advantage he gains by faking it. Cementing his family to him? A viable exit strategy? Playing Hank? Not sure which one holds up. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/232 "2013-08-27T04:35:08Z")
> [@Yaxche](#): > > …and I should add, I haven’t worked out what advantage he gains by faking it. Cementing his family to him? A viable exit strategy? Playing Hank? Not sure which one holds up. He can plausibly fake his own death. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/233 "2013-08-27T04:43:13Z")
And you can just walk in and say “I’d like some chemo as I’m playing a joke on my friends?” ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/234 "2013-08-27T04:44:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > If they don’t like 68% then 74% may not be a permanent solution either. Again, I’m questioning whether 74% was the best he was capable of if he was being forced to produce in substandard conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/235 "2013-08-27T04:48:16Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Again, I’m questioning whether 74% was the best he was capable of if he was being forced to produce in substandard conditions. Agreed. Besides, didn’t they once say in the show that 70% or something was what the average meth cooker was making? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/236 "2013-08-27T04:48:49Z")
> [@Yaxche](#): > > The bad assumption everyone is making here is that Walt’s cancer is back. Yes, we’ve seen him at chemo, that would leave a plausible trail and make him sick enough to appear like it actually is. That would be a very bad plot twist. And there was also some evidence his cancer was back in “Gliding Over All” even though I wasn’t sure how to take it. Walt went for scans and we didn’t see or hear the result, but there’s a scene where he is in the bathroom and has just punched the hand dryer and put a big dent in it. > [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Again, I’m questioning whether 74% was the best he was capable of if he was being forced to produce in substandard conditions. We’ll see, I guess. ---
**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 27, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/237 "2013-08-27T04:59:31Z")
Any reason why Todd and his crew can’t go back to cooking in the tented houses? Presumably the pest control company is still around, and they should still have the lab gear. Unless they just think it’s too risky. On an unrelated not, I love the way Todd is Heisenberg’s biggest fan. In a world where everyone hates, fears or at least distrusts Walt to some extent, it’s fun to have one character like that, who thinks he’s the best thing since seedless watermelons. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/238 "2013-08-27T05:02:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > We’ll see, I guess. Yep, I don’t even bother trying to predict where the show will go since I’ve never succeeded at it (which, more than anything else is what makes the show great to me). I wouldn’t be surprised if we never see Todd cook at all any more. Nor would I be surprised if at the end of the last episode everybody is dead but Todd who now has the meth production in the western United States cornered and not a person in the world who knows he exists. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/239 "2013-08-27T05:07:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That would be a very bad plot twist. And there was also some evidence his cancer was back in “Gliding Over All” even though I wasn’t sure how to take it. Walt went for scans and we didn’t see or hear the result, but there’s a scene where he is in the bathroom and has just punched the hand dryer and put a big dent in it. I think you’re mixing up your episodes. In “Gliding All Over” he was in the bathroom and noticed that the paper towel dispenser still was dented from when he punched it in season 1 (or was it 2?). Regardless, it was a wistful look he gave it, like, “Look how far I’ve come since that day.” Walt definitely didn’t punch the towel dispenser that day. Anyway, as others have pointed out, you can’t just sign up for chemo for fun and we see Walt getting the chemo BEFORE any of this shit hit the fan with Hank. It would be an awfully strange strategy to get unnecessary chemo when no one even suspects you of anything. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959/240 "2013-08-27T05:10:48Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > And you can just walk in and say “I’d like some chemo as I’m playing a joke on my friends?” Shit yeah! Easy as robbing a train. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-11-confessions-8-25-13/666959.md?page=13)