# Breaking Bad 5.12 "Rabid Dog" 9/1/13 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725 "2013-09-01T13:17:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/41 "2013-09-02T04:20:43Z")
Another thing I noticed: Saul’s face sure was obscured by some dark shadows in that car. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/42 "2013-09-02T04:24:22Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Another thing I noticed: Saul’s face sure was obscured by some dark shadows in that car. I noticed that too. When Walt asked if Jesse did that to his face, I was wondering how he could even see anything on Saul’s face it was so dark. If they were going to make a comment like that, they could have at least had the dome light on. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/43 "2013-09-02T04:53:06Z")
I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I like the commercial breaks. I need the time to breathe and think about what just happened. Just a little break, but I need the break. Same with the week between episodes, it’ll give me six days to think about what I just saw. Loved the scene with Marie and the shrink “Can we just talk about my feelings?” “Last week, you were upset about parking.” > [@Marley23](#): > > That was yet another one of Breaking Bad’s Macbeth-y scenes. (“I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.”) I was thinking more “When you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man. Nor time nor place did then adhere, and yet you would make both. They have made themselves, and that their fitness now does unmake you.” But that was a lovely scene. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/44 "2013-09-02T05:05:05Z")
I liked how Walt was the only one who still cared about keeping Jesse alive. Saul suggests putting down a rabid dog, Skyler asks “What’s one more” and Hank was fine with Jesse getting killed as long as they got it on tape. Only after Jesse threatens Walt where he lives does Walt finally, seemingly give up on him. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/45 "2013-09-02T05:07:49Z")
I like how Walt uses the phrase “colorful metaphors” he must like Star Trek IV ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/46 "2013-09-02T05:09:27Z")
Also on Talking Bad Vince Gilligan teased the next episode. He said that Lydia gets familiar with farm raised salmon. So…she gets to sleep with the fishes? ---
**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:** [September 2, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/47 "2013-09-02T05:16:00Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I like the commercial breaks. I need the time to breathe and think about what just happened. Just a little break, but I need the break. Same with the week between episodes, it’ll give me six days to think about what I just saw. When Netflix first showed up ‘someone’ and I don’t remember who did a study and found that a lot of people liked watching TV shows with commercial breaks and week in between (or maybe it was when TiVo first showed up). But it was for exactly that reason. When you take a 30 minute show and make it 22 minutes it goes by so fast you don’t have time to enjoy it, they said, you don’t have time to process what’s happening, you’re just watching it to watch it. > [@PSXer](#): > > I like how Walt uses the phrase “colorful metaphors” I figured that was a joke because he was using figurative ‘colorful metaphors’ (Belize, Old Yeller) when the show uses metaphors composed of actual colors (Jesse Pinkman, Walter White, Purple, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue etc) pretty extensively. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/48 "2013-09-02T05:17:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > trying to get a secret informant to record a conversation with a suspect without a warrant. Why would you need a warrant to record a conversation? It wasn’t over the phone, it was face to face. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/49 "2013-09-02T05:30:15Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Why would you need a warrant to record a conversation? It wasn’t over the phone, it was face to face. And Agent Gomez is involved. I don’t think this is just Hank’s investigation anymore. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/50 "2013-09-02T05:36:44Z")
I think Gomie just joined in on Hank’s private investigation because they’re friends ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/51 "2013-09-02T05:43:39Z")
Regarding the question of recording someone without their knowledge or consent, after a cursory googling: I always assumed all the “wiretapping” laws applied to phone calls or some form of electronic communication, as opposed to face-to-face conversation. From what I could google that appears to be how the laws got started but they have since been expanded to include face to face conversations in most states. Federal law only requires one party to be aware (and consent to) the recording. As long as any party to the conversation gives consent, you can record away without the other party’s (or parties’) knowledge or consent. Individual states can override this law, and 12 do. Those 12 states require ALL parties to be aware of and consent to the recording, otherwise the recording itself is a crime. New Mexico is not one of those states. (But my state, Connecticut, is. Woot!) A further aspect in cases where people sued under the wiretapping law involve expectation of privacy. In terms of this episode, no court would rule that Walt had any expectation of privacy on a bench in the middle of a public park. (Or whatever that was. A plaza?) ---
**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:** [September 2, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/52 "2013-09-02T05:48:09Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > I think Gomie just joined in on Hank’s private investigation because they’re friends If he did that, it would have been on the condition that Hank had to show Gomez _everything_ he had on Walt, and everything goes official very soon, regardless of how the Jesse thing pans out. My guess is that Gomez is going to want something pretty concrete at this point or he’s not going to be happy with Jesse. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/53 "2013-09-02T06:09:40Z")
This may be reaching, but Jesse sure seemed interested in that Dutch book, Reagan’s memoirs. Could it be foreshadowing? Reagan survived an assassination attempt. Hmmm ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/54 "2013-09-02T06:30:06Z")
[quote=“drastic\_quench, post:39, topic:667725”] [ul][li]Grey Matter? Jesse knows about it, but nah, those are more his rivals than his triumph.[/ul][/li][/QUOTE] I think you nailed it. What could possibly be a more crushing blow to Walt’s Brobdingnagian ego than for Elliot and Gretchen to finally see Walt for the pathetic loser that he really is? I don’t even think that Walt Jr. would care that his dad is a meth kingpin—he’d probably think it’s cool. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/55 "2013-09-02T06:46:57Z")
Did Walt ever mention Gray Matter to Jesse? I don’t remember him doing that. > [@EllisDee](#): > > I always assumed all the “wiretapping” laws applied to phone calls or some form of electronic communication, as opposed to face-to-face conversation. From what I could google that appears to be how the laws got started but they have since been expanded to include face to face conversations in most states. > > Federal law only requires one party to be aware (and consent to) the recording. As long as any party to the conversation gives consent, you can record away without the other party’s (or parties’) knowledge or consent. You’re right about that, I think. And New Mexico is not a two-party consent state. The recording itself would be legal. What is probably not legal - I say this as someone who watched The Wire and plenty of Law and Order, which I don’t _think_ qualifies me to practice law - is the DEA conducting an investigation and saying “Let’s keep this one off the books.” (That goes back to Hank shutting off the video camera in the interview room.) This is just Hank and Gomez. Since Hank found Jesse at the White home Jesse hasn’t been arrested, read his rights, or given access to a lawyer. He’s not on the books as a covert informant. We know why Hank is doing what he’s doing, but my feeling is that any investigation that started this way would be tainted. Even if they’d gotten a good recording and gone straight to the DEA I can imagine Hank’s actions creating a problem. And of course we can be pretty sure Walt never goes on trial. His identity gets out, apparently, but he gets away somehow. There has to be a reason for that. It’s possible he gets arrested and escapes, but my guess is that he flees before being arrested. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/56 "2013-09-02T07:25:53Z")
Yes, at the end of season 4, Walt gave Jesse a whole speech on why he got into the trade. I believe it was the “I’m in the EMPIRE business” one, where he went on to explain to Jesse everything that happened with Grey Matter. So Jesse has plenty to go with if that’s where you think this is going. Which the more I think about it, the more I think you may be onto something here! > [@Marley23](#): > > And of course we can be pretty sure Walt never goes on trial. His identity gets out, apparently, but he gets away somehow. There has to be a reason for that. It’s possible he gets arrested and escapes, but my guess is that he flees before being arrested. My guess is that pretty soon he’ll be making a call about a part for a Hoover vaccum… ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/57 "2013-09-02T07:34:47Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Yes, at the end of season 4, Walt gave Jesse a whole speech on why he got into the trade. I believe it was the “I’m in the EMPIRE business” one, where he went on to explain to Jesse everything that happened with Grey Matter. So Jesse has plenty to go with if that’s where you think this is going. Grey Matter is done. I’d be very surprised if they bring that back. Jesse is going to get at Walt through Jr . Junior is the only member of Walt’s family that still respects him. All Jesse has to do is tell Flynn about the cold blooded murder and disposal of the body of Drew, an innocent kid not much younger than Flynn… and any idea that Junior might think its “cool” that his dad is a meth dealer will be out the window. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/58 "2013-09-02T08:05:26Z")
The guy in the plaza looked just like Declan’s henchman. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/59 "2013-09-02T08:08:41Z")
Pretty meh episode. Only interesting parts were Sklyer and Hank revealing how much they’ve taken the show’s name to heart. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725/60 "2013-09-02T09:55:55Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > My guess is that pretty soon he’ll be making a call about a part for a Hoover vaccum… “When you miss your first chance with my guy, there’s no second.” Walt missed his chance to disappear himself and his family once already, in “Crawl Space”. Does that mean the Hoover guy is no longer an option for him? Well, assuming Saul only knows one guy like that. Although, on the other hand, with 80 million in cash, would Walt even really need outside help to disappear? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-12-rabid-dog-9-1-13/667725.md?page=4)