Breaking Bad

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

I totally buy that Walt would do it. But how could he have? They could have had Walt and Brock in the same place at some point without giving it away (or at least shown Walt leaving the house). To have it happen off-camera just seems like bad writing to me, or at least bad writing for a show that's notable for such consistently great writing. Especially if they're doing it just to set up Walt's character arc in Season 5.

It also feels really far-fetched that Walt could predict Jesse's reaction so easily, or at all -- it feels more logical that Jesse would have blamed Walt, just for forcing the ricin on him in the first place.

I'm starting to get Wire Season 5 anxiety. I really hope I'm wrong.

[crumbum]

It is certainly troubling as far as plot mechanics go. It's possible the the next episode will feature some sort of flashback sequence explaining how he pulled it off. But I share the general consensus that any of the three possible scenarios looks dramatically flawed and the writers may have created a no-win situation for themselves.

[Kormod]

I totally buy that Walt would do it. But how could he have? They could have had Walt and Brock in the same place at some point without giving it away (or at least shown Walt leaving the house). To have it happen off-camera just seems like bad writing to me, or at least bad writing for a show that's notable for such consistently great writing. Especially if they're doing it just to set up Walt's character arc in Season 5.

It also feels really far-fetched that Walt could predict Jesse's reaction so easily, or at all -- it feels more logical that Jesse would have blamed Walt, just for forcing the ricin on him in the first place.

I'm starting to get Wire Season 5 anxiety. I really hope I'm wrong.

The "Walt poisoned Brock" theory also requires Walt somehow getting the cigarette out of Jesse's pack, making it even more far-fetched.

As I said before, I think that it'll turn out to be just a weird coincidence, with Brock somehow having come down with a serious illness on the same day Jesse lost the ricin cigarette. Breaking Bad has done weird coincidences before (see plane crash storyline at the end of Season 2), so the writers doing something like this isn't too hard to believe.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Yeah, I'm of the school that coincidence is OK in your story as long as it makes things worse for the characters.

[Paul DeLouisiana]

As I said before, I think that it'll turn out to be just a weird coincidence, with Brock somehow having come down with a serious illness on the same day Jesse lost the ricin cigarette.

He could have switched packs then grabbed the wrong pack. Remember when Jesse was a dumbass? Some things don't totally change, yo.

[Kormod]

I think the whole point of the confusing ricin storyline is to get Jesse in trouble with the police/the feds, which is hinted at by the preview for the next episode. My prediction is that Brock wasn't poisoned, but the doctors and/or Jesse's girlfriend don't know this and turn Jesse in. Then the cops search Jesse's car or house and find the missing ricin cigarette or something else incriminating and a stiff prison sentence now hangs over Jesse's head. This puts Jesse out of commission and forces Gus to "reconcile" with Walt.

[Hugman 3.0]

I think the whole point of the confusing ricin storyline is to get Jesse in trouble with the police/the feds, which is hinted at by the preview for the next episode. My prediction is that Brock wasn't poisoned, but the doctors and/or Jesse's girlfriend don't know this and turn Jesse in. Then the cops search Jesse's car or house and find the missing ricin cigarette or something else incriminating and a stiff prison sentence now hangs over Jesse's head. This puts Jesse out of commission and forces Gus to "reconcile" with Walt.

Ewwww, good guess.
I was talking to a friend about that crazy theory about the plant, and if that's the case, Walt getting the cigarette is a moot point.  If there's nothing to that plant theory then that shot is completely pointless other than possibly being a deliberate red herring.

[wood and iron]

I think the whole point of the confusing ricin storyline is to get Jesse in trouble with the police/the feds, which is hinted at by the preview for the next episode. My prediction is that Brock wasn't poisoned, but the doctors and/or Jesse's girlfriend don't know this and turn Jesse in. Then the cops search Jesse's car or house and find the missing ricin cigarette or something else incriminating and a stiff prison sentence now hangs over Jesse's head. This puts Jesse out of commission and forces Gus to "reconcile" with Walt.

Ewwww, good guess.
I was talking to a friend about that crazy theory about the plant, and if that's the case, Walt getting the cigarette is a moot point.  If there's nothing to that plant theory then that shot is completely pointless other than possibly being a deliberate red herring.

That shot wasn't pointless or a red herring. That crazy plant theory is just making you see it as a red herring. I see that little scene as Walt debating whether or not to kill himself. He's been trying to maintain control for over a year under desperate situations and was finally letting it up to fate (the random spinning of the gun) to decide. But, being the control freak he is, Walt wasn't happy when fate tells him that he needs to die. So he spins again and gets the same result. Walt decides, no way, not going to die. He spins again and this time fate delivers him the answer he wanted, you don't have to die, someone else does.

[wood and iron]

Did I kill this thread with my over-analysis? Sorry, have to exercise the English major in me every once in a while.

[Regular Joe]

I really blew it in regards to keeping up with this thread, but I never stopped watching the show. So, I'll pick up at present as if nothing had ever happened.

At first, I thought Gus Fring avoiding death last week was just about as believable as Skyler White's melted Shatner mask of a new face. Then I read just now about that plant and watched that clip... on the third spin of the gun, I think he really has become irredeemable. And it makes sense, in his personal murder chronology. From choking out a thug in near self defense, to drowning a junkie in her own vomit, to poisoning a child. It has a grim arc to it.

Every time I feel let down by this show, I'm proved wrong. The first episode of this season for instance, left me wondering. Then it worked out so beautifully as an illustration of the rest of the season, there was no question. Even her plastic surgeries are reforming into a cruel, mocking semblance of humanity. So, I'm with it to the end.

OMG, also, did you see that gun dent on Walt's forehead?! That's a hole called acting, brother. Or a condition called pitting edema.

[cutout]

From choking out a thug in near self defense, to drowning a junkie in her own vomit, to poisoning a child. It has a grim arc to it.

Not to mention mowing down two drug dealers with his car then shooting one in the head!

Other than Tony Soprano, it's hard to think of another protagonist who's crossed so far into un-relatable/amoral territory and continued to gain popularity rather than alienating people. It's like a trend in TV dramas these last 10 years, to see how far people will stick with the antihero.

[crumbum]

Despite the horrible things he did in Season 3 (up to and including the murder of Gale), for me it really wasn't until midway through this season that I really started to dislike Walt. And I think that had more to do with his whining and 'it's all about meeeeee' attitude than with any particular moral failing. I don't know if that says something about the way the creators of the show are able to expertly manipulate our sympathies, or about the nature of drama itself.

[Eric Fishlegs]

From choking out a thug in near self defense, to drowning a junkie in her own vomit, to poisoning a child. It has a grim arc to it.

Not to mention mowing down two drug dealers with his car then shooting one in the head!

Other than Tony Soprano, it's hard to think of another protagonist who's crossed so far into un-relatable/amoral territory and continued to gain popularity rather than alienating people. It's like a trend in TV dramas these last 10 years, to see how far people will stick with the antihero.

On this week's WTF? Bryan Cranston said that the goal of the show was to take Walt White from a somewhat sympathetic everyman to an outright villain. From Mr. Chips to Scarface I believe was his exact analogy. If he did poison Brock (and even if he did I think he would be careful to not give him enough to kill him) I think it would cement Walt's staus as a true villain as opposed to an antihero who can almost be justified  with a "He's doing what he has to do."

[dave from knoxville]

It's the classic theme, right? Evil is seductive.

[Omar]

In case you haven't seen it yet, the A.V. Club did a fantastic interview with G. Esposito:

http://www.avclub.com/articles/giancarlo-esposito,62959/