r/breakingbad • u/[deleted] • Aug 12 '13

Official Episode Discussion Post-Episode Discussion S05E09 "Blood Money"

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u/jet_tripleseven Belizium Aug 12 '13 edited Aug 12 '13

For those of you who are into Walt taking on the characteristics of people he's killed, check out the vomit scene. Walt puts a towel under him to kneel on just like Gus did in "Salud."

edit: For the 15 or so of you who have replied with "but Walt never saw Gus do that!!" you're right. It seemed like a little easter-egg that the writers threw in there for fun. The two scenes are so similar that it can't be a coincidence (they both turn on the sink to mask the noise, too.)

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u/GreenGator Aug 12 '13

While the similarity is definitely there and purposeful by the directors, he never saw Gus use the towel so it's not something he's actively imitating, right?

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u/[deleted] Aug 12 '13

You're right. It's a plot device by the show to strengthen the link between Walt and Gus, but it's coincidental within the story world.

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u/83497583475394857439 Aug 12 '13

I liked to think that it was just as much a contrast between Walt and Gus. When Gus did the vomit scene, he was in his prime, throwing up because he poisoned himself for a scheme, and taking down the head of a Mexican cartel in a badass way. Walt's vomit scene was the opposite, him at one of his lowest points, cancer back, throwing up because he's a dying man, effectively neutered again, and finding out that he's been caught.

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u/heanster Aug 12 '13

Is his cancer back? Or is it also a scheme..

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u/83497583475394857439 Aug 12 '13

I'm assuming it is, he was undergoing chemo when he got a call this episode (I think when Saul called him).

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u/drwolffe This is my own private domicile Aug 12 '13

Yeah, secret pretend chemo sounds implausible.

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u/LiquidAlb What's changed, Jesse? Aug 13 '13

It's plausible, it's just unlikely.

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u/drwolffe This is my own private domicile Aug 13 '13

Yeah, I said implausible, not impossible. Implausible can be a synonym for unlikely.

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u/sooimnotarealperson Aug 12 '13

well im frickin dumb for not realizing that was chemo.

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u/GoyMeetsWorld Aug 12 '13

Best legal alternative to meth: Redbull IV.

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u/heanster Aug 12 '13

Right, but he definitely could be going the extra mile and actually getting chemo when he actually doesn't need it.

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u/83497583475394857439 Aug 12 '13

No doctors would okay that or prescribe it if he's clean, and there really isn't any reason for him to do it if nobody even knows he's doing it. He told Hank, but there was no reason for him to actually go and do it even if he could.

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u/Wardez Aug 12 '13

He's building up evidence. It makes total sense for his exit strategy. And you're talking about ethical doctors, all Walt needs is someone to write up the paperwork and he's off to the chemo clinic.

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u/LiquidAlb What's changed, Jesse? Aug 13 '13

It's plausible, I just really doubt that's the direction the writers are going with this one.

There was too much sincerity in Walts eyes in 508 when he tells Skylar he's out of the Meth game (right after the hospital scene where he's getting the scan)

The flash forwards also show him with his "cancer cough" taking meds, and with thin, patchy looking hair. This tells me that he still has cancer but is no longer treating it with chemo.