# Breaking Bad 5.8 "Gliding Over All" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506 "2012-09-03T01:55:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/21 "2012-09-03T03:19:44Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Please refresh my memory: wasn’t that book part of the evidence, taken by the ABQPD, from Gale’s apartment after his death? > > That same evidence Hank’s ABQPD Detective buddy waved under his nose while he was recuperating to motivate Hank into getting well and getting back into being a cop? > > So how did Walt wind up with it? Or is it a different copy of the same book? You’re thinking of Gale’s lab notebook. Not the book of Whitman poetry. ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/22 "2012-09-03T03:20:43Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > Still seems too random for him to connect–maybe I just don’t have the mind of a detective.. > > Seems that things may be setting up for Jesse to confess everything at some point, thereby relieving his conscience. Not really, Hank has been obsessed with every tiny detail of the case. He was poring over Gale’s notebook for days. The dedication in his notebook quoted the same poem that he quoted in the note to Walt. Looks like the cancer is back, too. Hmm. ETA: Gale gave Walt the book when they were working together, back when he thought they had the makings of a long friendship. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/23 "2012-09-03T03:24:48Z")
> [@goldmund](#): > > Not really, Hank has been obsessed with every tiny detail of the case. He was poring over Gale’s notebook for days. The dedication in his notebook quoted the same poem that he quoted in the note to Walt. > > Looks like the cancer is back, too. Hmm. Very true–I had forgotten about that (the quote in the notebook). Does everyone think that Walt is really out, or that he is just trying to keep Skylar at bay? ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/24 "2012-09-03T03:26:20Z")
I think Hank might literally be shitting bricks right now. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/25 "2012-09-03T03:26:28Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > Didn’t like the ending at all. Hank doesn’t suspect Walt at all the first time he hear of “W.W.”, but seeing it in the book makes it all clear somehow? Not as clever as I’ve come to expect from this show. As pointed out, it was the “GB” that was the clincher - the Walt Whitman explanation for the first “WW” was very plausible on its own. The thing that I didn’t like was how Jesse didn’t even question Walt when he simply said, “Mike is gone.” And also how he allowed Walt to tell him “there is no we” without even bringing up the money he’s still owed to buy out his partnership. I know he was scared and intimidated on their subsequent encounter, but I don’t think he was for the initial encounter. I think Jesse would/should have been more assertive initially, then grown afraid once he starts to suspect and then learn the truth. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/26 "2012-09-03T03:27:21Z")
The cancer is back? Why does someone think that? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/27 "2012-09-03T03:27:54Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > Still seems too random for him to connect–maybe I just don’t have the mind of a detective.. > > Seems that things may be setting up for Jesse to confess everything at some point, thereby relieving his conscience. It’d be random if Hank saw it at a used books store and connected the dots. But it’s in Walt’s home, so it should be obvious to anyone that the written dedication to “W.W.” means Walter White. And it doesn’t take the mind of a detective to connect the “G.B.” who’s a huge fan of Walt Whitman might very well be the same Gale Boetticher. It’s not like Hank is immediately going to arrest Walt because of it, but it’s just a plausible lead he’ll start following up. ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/28 "2012-09-03T03:29:09Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > Does everyone think that Walt is really out, or that he is just trying to keep Skylar at bay? I think he really was out, or at least believed he was sincere in it. He (apparently) got a scan and was told his cancer is back. Then he started making amends. And it would be very like this show to have him finally get found out after he was done with it. ETA: > [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > The cancer is back? Why does someone think that? They showed him getting a PET or CT scan or something, and then he was shown in the bathroom just after punching the crap out of a paper towel dispenser. It would be pretty much a total non-sequitur if it wasn’t meant to tell us the cancer’s back. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/29 "2012-09-03T03:30:14Z")
I was saying, however they end this half-season, at least show Hank put 2 + 2 together. As soon as he got up for the bathroom, I saw it coming, but didn’t know how. I was again thinking he might come across his hat, but didn’t think it’d be something so obvious. A fine, fine way to end this half, and leave us salivating for the last eight. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/30 "2012-09-03T03:32:47Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > It’d be random if Hank saw it at a used books store and connected the dots. But it’s in Walt’s home, so it should be obvious to anyone that the written dedication to “W.W.” means Walter White. And it doesn’t take the mind of a detective to connect the “G.B.” who’s a huge fan of Walt Whitman might very well be the same Gale Boetticher. It’s not like Hank is immediately going to arrest Walt because of it, but it’s just a plausible lead he’ll start following up. Of course W.W. means walter white–but that gives nothing away. Certainly the G.B. does along with the Whitman connection. However, the flashback scene focused on Hank talking to Walter about the W.W. in the notebook, as if that was the clincher. G.B and Whitman clinch it–certainly not W.W., but it’s a small detail. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/31 "2012-09-03T03:33:41Z")
> [@goldmund](#): > > They showed him getting a PET or CT scan or something, and then he was shown in the bathroom just after punching the crap out of a paper towel dispenser. It would be pretty much a total non-sequitur if it wasn’t meant to tell us the cancer’s back. Wasn’t the paper towel dispenser damaged when he punched it out in an earlier episode, not tonight’s? ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/32 "2012-09-03T03:34:07Z")
Well played, Mr. Gilligan, well played. Never had a chance of thinking things would go this way, yet it all seemed to progress quite naturally. Nice homage to The Godfather as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/33 "2012-09-03T03:36:27Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > Of course W.W. means walter white–but that gives nothing away. Certainly the G.B. does along with the Whitman connection. However, the flashback scene focused on Hank talking to Walter about the W.W. in the notebook, as if that was the clincher. G.B and Whitman clinch it–certainly not W.W., but it’s a small detail. Remember all the other clues that Hank has; Walt crashed the car as he was driving Hank to the laundry, Walter suggested to Hank that Gale was copying someone else’s work, Walt’s sudden wealth, the weirdness in Walt and Skyler’s relationship. It all makes sense to Hank now. ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/34 "2012-09-03T03:37:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Wasn’t the paper towel dispenser damaged when he punched it out in an earlier episode, not tonight’s? Now that I think of it, yeah, you’re right. Still… I’m pretty sure that sequence was meant to say the cancer’s back. I doubt seeing the money would make him decide he’s out. It wasn’t about the money any more by this point. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/35 "2012-09-03T03:39:32Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Remember all the other clues that Hank has; Walt crashed the car as he was driving Hank to the laundry, Walter suggested to Hank that Gale was copying someone else’s work, Walt’s sudden wealth, the weirdness in Walt and Skyler’s relationship. It all makes sense to Hank now. Certainly. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/36 "2012-09-03T03:39:45Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > It’d be random if Hank saw it at a used books store and connected the dots. But it’s in Walt’s home, so it should be obvious to anyone that the written dedication to “W.W.” means Walter White. And it doesn’t take the mind of a detective to connect the “G.B.” who’s a huge fan of Walt Whitman might very well be the same Gale Boetticher. It’s not like Hank is immediately going to arrest Walt because of it, but it’s just a plausible lead he’ll start following up. He just needs to match the handwriting against Gale’s journal, and I’m sure it’d be enough to convince Hank if there were any lingering doubts. The cat’s outta the bag now. From here, it’s all how Hank chooses to dismantle this quandary he now finds himself in. Also, I agree in that Walt had really given up the business. He made amends with Jesse, and things seemed brighter and loose with Skyler and the kids. He may have closed shop, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods. So, it’s been 3 months that passed in this episode, and who knows how long since Walt “hung up his hat.” I’m guessing it’s been at least several more, since Holly looked to be around 8-10 mos. old in the end scene. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/37 "2012-09-03T03:42:58Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > Of course W.W. means walter white–but that gives nothing away. Certainly the G.B. does along with the Whitman connection. However, the flashback scene focused on Hank talking to Walter about the W.W. in the notebook, as if that was the clincher. G.B and Whitman clinch it–certainly not W.W., but it’s a small detail. The clincher wasn’t the initials. It was the hand writing. Hank had studied that other notebook for weeks. He recognized the hand writing. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/38 "2012-09-03T03:43:06Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > Does everyone think that Walt is really out, or that he is just trying to keep Skylar at bay? I think he’s out. When he was by the pool, he seemed to me to reflecting on his life. Maybe he was thinking about whether he still needed to do it. He’d proven that he can be in charge and powerful. His nostalgic conversation with Jesse also sounded like a “I’m getting out of the game” type conversation you see in other movies or TV shows. Also, it would be hard for him to still be working without Skyler knowing, since she was laundering the money. And he’d have to think of some lie for his working hours. > [@voltaire](#): > > The thing that I didn’t like was how Jesse didn’t even question Walt when he simply said, “Mike is gone.” And also how he allowed Walt to tell him “there is no we” without even bringing up the money he’s still owed to buy out his partnership. I know he was scared and intimidated on their subsequent encounter, but I don’t think he was for the initial encounter. > > I think Jesse would/should have been more assertive initially, then grown afraid once he starts to suspect and then learn the truth. I don’t think Jesse was scared or intimidated, I think it was more like he didn’t want to argue and he had given up on trying to get the money. Jesse is just tired of the whole business, and it wasn’t worth it to him to argue. And Jesse knows that Mike is a professional who’s had a plan for running if he needed to. When Walt said “Mike is gone” to the question about if Mike was safe, Jesse probably just assumed that Walt meant Mike is long gone, we’ll never see him again, and probably good but we have no way of knowing one way or the other since we’ll never hear from him again. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/39 "2012-09-03T03:43:06Z")
Yeah, HOLY SHIT! indeed… And I was laughing my ass off at that “Crystal Blue Persuasion” montage. Too perfect. I can’t think of another time in the show when they’ve burned up 2-3 months in a few minutes like that. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506/40 "2012-09-03T03:44:17Z")
> [@goldmund](#): > > Now that I think of it, yeah, you’re right. Still… I’m pretty sure that sequence was meant to say the cancer’s back. I doubt seeing the money would make him decide he’s out. It wasn’t about the money any more by this point. I don’t know about that. I think it was just the opposite. This time he walked out calmly as opposed to last time when he punched the metal plate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-8-gliding-over-all/633506.md?page=3)