# Breaking bad season 4 anticipation thread \[spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659 "2011-07-02T20:18:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/81 "2011-07-17T05:46:00Z")
Anyone up for [Breaking Bad Bingo](http://roflrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/6776ca6d-4730-46c0-ad56-d41e2e1e851b.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/82 "2011-07-17T05:52:25Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I had thought about it. It seemed unrealistic to me. How could such a sophisticated but illegal setup (complete with a secret entrance) exist? How many people would have to be involved, in one way or another, in constructing it; and what do you do about all of those loose ends? I have no doubt that such labs exist. I don’t know about meth labs, but some of the larger [grow houses](http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/botany/grow-house.htm) contain thousands of individual marijuana plants. And sure, grow houses don’t require the same technology as Gus’ underground meth lab, but the operators still need to account for temperature, humidity, light, and a dozen other atmospheric metrics – and of course, maintaining the nutrients in the soil is important too, and it requires a whole slew of tools and exhaustible materials. The equipment required to keep such operations running can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and literally weigh tons. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/83 "2011-07-17T08:21:53Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Anyone up for [Breaking Bad Bingo](http://roflrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/6776ca6d-4730-46c0-ad56-d41e2e1e851b.jpg)? Love it a lot. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2011, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/84 "2011-07-17T11:32:49Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > I have no doubt that such labs exist. > > I don’t know about meth labs, but some of the larger [grow houses](http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/botany/grow-house.htm) contain thousands of individual marijuana plants. And sure, grow houses don’t require the same technology as Gus’ underground meth lab, but the operators still need to account for temperature, humidity, light, and a dozen other atmospheric metrics – and of course, maintaining the nutrients in the soil is important too, and it requires a whole slew of tools and exhaustible materials. The equipment required to keep such operations running can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and literally weigh tons. Maybe such industrial scale meth labs exist in places like mexico but I’m skeptical of the setup on the show existing in or near Albuquerque. What sort of large equipment goes into a grow house? Heaters? Grow lights? Probably nothing that would raise eyebrows in the same way large chemical processing equipment would. I don’t know much about industrial scale laundering so I’ll grant the possibility that some of the equipment may be things that could double as laundry equipment. But the place appears to be in a basement, so the larger pieces of equipment were either brought in when the basement was dug or through some sort of entrance other than the little door we’ve seen. Also, large amounts of chemicals are coming in and large amounts of drugs are coming out. So there must be some sort of second, much larger entrance into that area, and that entrance is also presumably secret, else why bother with the secrecy surrounding the smaller entrance? So we’ve got a secret basement with a large secret entrance. I think we’re getting into the “batcave problem”. How the hell did Batman create his secret lair known only to himself and Alfred? As far as exhaustible materials, that’s really a separate issue. The discussion was about the initial construction of the lab. But since you’re raised the issue, I doubt that the exhaustible materials that go into a grow house, such as fertilizer and water, would raise as many eyebrows as the kinds of chemicals that go into a meth lab. Fertilizer might be a little tricky because of it’s potential use in explosives but it’s still a legitimate purchase, especially in agricultural areas. In any case I think the exhaustible materials can and have been explained. Late in season 3 Mike visited what was apparently a chemical warehouse or production plant. Such ongoing operations, where people are being paid and have some incentive, are easier to keep a lid. How do you handle some construction company that comes, does some work, and then leaves? Gus seems way to circumspect to leave loose ends like that. It’ll be interesting to see how they explain the lab. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2011, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/85 "2011-07-17T11:33:53Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Anyone up for [Breaking Bad Bingo](http://roflrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/6776ca6d-4730-46c0-ad56-d41e2e1e851b.jpg)? I like that. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/86 "2011-07-17T12:21:14Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I like that. Me too… except it should say “Jesse says Yo”. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/87 "2011-07-17T17:24:41Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > How do you handle some construction company that comes, does some work, and then leaves? > > Gus seems way to circumspect to leave loose ends like that. > > It’ll be interesting to see how they explain the lab. It could have been more than one construction company, and several different suppliers. You get one to do the duct work, another for plumbing, one for electrical, etc. Different companies for the other materials, and Gale to direct Gus’s minions (or Gale) to hook it all up. Gus is probably more worried about someone copying the setup. The world is full of people who will do anything for money and keep quiet about it. Like Skyler said, “Crime does pay.” ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/88 "2011-07-17T17:48:21Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Yep, and easy to see: he AMC logo is backwards. And Jesse went from being right-handed to left-handed! Gale is dead, no doubt about that. It’s the only way to keep Walt alive and the series to continue. Well, I guess it’s possible that Gale lives but is mentally impaired forever. The easier way to advance the plot is to just kill him off. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/89 "2011-07-17T17:51:14Z")
I went ahead and created an [episode thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=616669) for tonight’s episode. Also, I don’t see why having gale crippled is “easier”. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/90 "2011-07-17T18:55:39Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Also, I don’t see why having gale crippled is “easier”. Maybe the right word is not “easier”. Maybe it’s “more consistent”. This show does not wimp out on killing off characters. Was there a single character who was simply impaired when his death advanced the plot? What purpose would a vegetable Gale add to the overarching theme of the show which is Walt’s descent into total depravity and eventual doom and the effects on all those around him? Also the title of that last episode was “Full Measure” as in all the way. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/91 "2011-07-17T19:04:16Z")
Woops, I misread your statement in some way, I somehow took away that you meant it’d be easier to cripple him. Yeah, I agree that killing him is consistent with the plot and there’s no reason to not kill him except some weird sentimentality on the part of the audience - but that’s exactly why killing him is so powerful. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/92 "2011-07-17T21:16:47Z")
I agree that Gale is probably dead, but I can imagine reasons to have him mentally or at least physically challenged. For example, imagine Walt’s life depending on whether or not Gale recovers well enough to cook again, or imagine Gale being in rehab with Hank. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/93 "2011-07-18T01:07:39Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > And Jesse went from being right-handed to left-handed! Gale is dead, no doubt about that. It’s the only way to keep Walt alive and the series to continue. Well, I guess it’s possible that Gale lives but is mentally impaired forever. The easier way to advance the plot is to just kill him off. Plus, Jesse has to do it to even things up with Walt. Walt killed for Jesse, now it’s Jesse’s turn. What a complicated relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Yoda3542](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dc4da7/32.png) [@Yoda3542](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yoda3542)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/94 "2011-07-18T10:04:23Z")
spoiler…Gale’s dead! Skyler’s sob story to the locksmith stole the show ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/95 "2011-07-18T14:16:17Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Me too… except it should say “Jesse says Yo”. Such a square would end up marked in nearly every episode. ---
**Author:** ![palacheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e57/32.png) [@palacheck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palacheck)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/96 "2011-07-20T04:10:00Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > To change the topic again: > > I’ve been seeing Giancarlo Eposito everywhere since S3 of Breaking Bad ended. I knew that he was one of the assassins in Spike Lee’s _Malcolm X_ – a role which has me excited for the upcoming season, because he’s absolutely, spectacularly sinister in appearance in the scenes leading up to Malcolm X’s death – but I only recently realized that he played Buggin’ Out in _Do The Right Thing_, a character that’s basically the polar opposite of Gus. > > He’s also in _Monkeybone_ and a shitty comedy called _Nothing to Lose_. His range is really impressive. I’m looking forward to the ‘jousting’ between him and Walt. When he finally loses his cool, I’m sure it’ll be spectacular. He’s in a movie called _ **Fresh** _ that’s available on Netflix streaming. A drug baron in that movie as well, but it’s much more gritty and authentic imo. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/97 "2011-07-20T04:18:47Z")
In one of the interviews with Vince Gilligan he said he never would have developed _Breaking Bad_ if he’d been familiar with the show _Weeds_; he apparently didn’t learn about the show’s existence until he was already pitching BB to execs and one of them said “Oh, kind of like _Weeds_.” I’m really glad he didn’t have Showtime. _Weeds_ has its moments but it’s basically a dark comedy (it’s even 30 minutes), and while it is about a suburbanite who turns to selling drugs to make money due to a desperate situation there the similarity ends. It has about as much in common as _Lost_ and _Gilligan’s Island_. (Actually I can’t back that up since I’ve never seen _Lost_, but I know they aren’t that similar.) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659/98 "2011-07-20T15:47:22Z")
:smack: It was only after reading **Sampiro’s** post that I realized Weeds was wordplay. Weed = marijuana and weeds = widow’s weeds. Double :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-season-4-anticipation-thread-spoilers/587659.md?page=4)