It’s evidence of Walt’s stubborn pride and thwarted ego. He didn’t feel he was getting the recognition he deserved, nor the money he felt he merited. So he quit, presumably in an offended huff, without saying a word to his employers. Basically throwing away his promising career in an angry snit. It’s one of the earliest glimpses we get into just how childishly self-righteous he can be under that veneer of decent, easy-going guy.
After reading the article linked above, I have to revise my thoughts about where this story arc is going. Gilligan is taking great glee in showing us the self-demolition of a man’s character, as Walt realizes that he has to be more and more ruthless to achieve what he wants. And he apparently has few moral scruples about following through on his decisions. He’s a creature of almost pure logic. So the logical end to this, as he creates an implacable enemy in Gus, is to eliminate the problem and take over the business. How else to insure the safety of his family? The only thing standing in the way of this is, possibly, Jesse, who seems to draw lines of morality and who may turn state’s witness to escape what he sees as a plummet into hell itself.
Walt has mentioned his mother a couple of times. They apparently have a strained relationship. I’ve wondered if she’ll ever come into play, perhaps as a hostage to Gus or another enemy.
Last night had the repeat of Jesse going to confront the “don’t call me a skank!” and her ATM-doomed boyfriend who jacked one of his dealers. Jesse’s concern for the couple’s little boy was probably his most likeable moment.
I’m now wondering - and this may be far-fetched: what if Hank is not able to return to work for the DEA because of disability? Could he be recruited by Walt as an enforcer in a bid to take over the turf from Gus? He is, after all, the guy
who took out the cousins and Tuco, three major badasses, so he’s got tons of street cred.
If he’s too injured to work for the DEA, it’s questionable how much badass cred he’d have.
SPOOGE! And Spooge’s Woman! Loves me some Spooge’s Woman. That’s her actual identity in the credits.
I get attached to things that other people don’t seem to pay too much attention to. For instance, I think the teaser on Half Measure might be the all-time best. (No doubt because I’m 53 years old and that song has very different Associations for me…yuk yuk. Cracks me up.)
Dale Dickey- she’s great in every role, dramatic or comedic.
Heh heh- there’s actually an interview with (the actors who played) Spooge and Wife on amc. Both talk about how meth addicts and violent deaths are a specialty in their careers.
But his mental state, with the panic attacks, could keep him from being allowed back in the game. If Walt then approached him and applied leverage in the form of “hey, you owe me for paying your hospital bills”. . .it’s a plausible story line.
I’m hoping the old man in a wheelchair, who can communicate only by scowling and ringing his little bell, will make another appearance. He presumably knows by now that his sons (?) were killed, that Hank killed them, and for that matter that Walt is still walking around, alive.
By the way, does anyone know how much time has passed, approximately, between the first episode and the end of Season 3?
About 15 months, maybe?
Skyler was pregnant in S1, delivered toward the end of S2. When S3 starts, the baby looks to be about three months old. She’s holding her head up but not doing much else. S3 starts about two weeks after the end of S3.
I read or heard Vince Gilligan say we are still at under a year. Which makes sense: Skylar was visibly pregnant at the start, say five months, minimum. The baby is maybe 3 months, IF that. That’s 7 months, 8 at most. And in order for it to be that far along we have to assume most of the time passed during Season 2.
Here’s a two-minute sneak peek of the first episode. It takes place the morning following the climax of the last season. It’s mostly Saul acting paranoid, so there’s no real spoilers.
You can also find it on the AMCTV site.
He’s played by a very busy actor and it’s not in his credits, but he was great. It’s hard to convey that much menace with a bell.
The way I see it going in my head is that Hank, no longer with the DEA due to injury/PTSD, get’s suspicious about where all the money is coming from and does some snooping around. At around the same time as he finds out the truth, one of Walt’s rivals threatens/kidnaps Walt Jr., who is just about the only person Hank seems to truly care about. Walt can’t go to the police so he admits everything to Hank and asks for his help. Once on the inside, Hank gets a thrill out of being able to handle matters with degenerate drug dealers in a way he couldn’t in law enforcement (already saw this in the bar room brawl). Hank realizes if he can’t be a DEA anymore, at the very least he can work with Walt to protect his family and take out the bottom feeders of the underworld.
Aside:
My personal favorite is Patty the Daytime Hooker from My Name Is Earl. “I tried everything Earl, and nothing worked. I even showed him my good boob.”
In reference to speculation/possible spoilers posted up thread, I’ll hide this bit I just read on Alan Sepinwall’s blog.
[spoiler]
I don’t think it’s Mike that dies in episode one. Sepinwall has seen the first three episodes (which he loved) and had this to say about the “later” episodes, meaning episode 2 or 3 I’d assume. No spoilers here, just some info that negates the theory that Mike is the major character that bites the dust in the premiere:
Based on that info, I don’t think it’s Mike that gets dead, since he must be in episode 2 or 3 for Sepinwall to reference him the way he does. It does sound like the reaction of Mike’s that Sepinwall is describing has to do with the death referenced upthread. [/spoiler]
For anyone still here, there’s an interview with Bryan Cranston on the AV Club website.
That’s a little disconcerting, because now I have to speculate:
[SPOILER]Victor dies. I mean, who else could it be at this point? It’s not going to be anybody in Walt’s immediate family, including Hank and Marie; it’s not going to be Saul; it’s certainly not going to be Jesse. The only other characters I’d consider remotely significant (beside Victor) are Badger, Skinny Pete, and Wendy, and I don’t think any of them are still in the picture.
It could be Gomie, I guess, but didn’t he go to El Paso?
That’ll be too bad, if that’s the case. I’ve always liked the low-key, all-business vibe Victor’s brought to Gus’ organization.[/SPOILER]
Or maybe your “can’t touch 'em” assumption is wrong? :eek:
I just finished watching that episode on disc. As the end is filmed, it shows Jesse moving the gun to his right before he shoots. I watched this 3 times. In the shot previous he has the gun pointed right at Gale’s face. The camera angle cuts to facing Jesse and Jesse very deliberately moves the gun to his right, far enough that he would miss Gale. I’m not saying Gale doesn’t die but they sure left themselves the option.