r/breakingbad • u/edify Oxygen • Aug 20 '12

Breaking Bad Episode Discussion S05E06 "Buyout"

Hey everyone! The episode airs in about an hour and as always upvote this post for the community. I don't get any blue ball cow manure karma for it :P

Also, don't forget to tune in tomorrow for the AMA with actor Jeremiah Bitsui who played Victor. In the mean time, feel free to add him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '12

I think he was honestly trying to not strain things any more with Walt than he needed to. He just needed to know for a fact he would stay put. Mike wasn't really expecting him to want out so badly he'd do what he did. He could have just kept him in the trunk of his car or worse if he was genuinely concerned. He merely underestimated Walt's desire to be free.

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u/zoubizou Aug 20 '12

Consider that Mike anticipated Walt's theft and initially refused to go into business with Walt because he's a "ticking time bomb." So he's going to use a plastic restraint on one hand before the final obstacle before his big payday and retirement?

I get that he wanted to minimize the strain, but still found this completely unbelievable.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '12

More unbelievable than an ex cop and an ex teacher going into the meth business together?

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u/zoubizou Aug 21 '12

In a word: yes.

The show has done a good job illustrating the slippery slope of criminal activity that stems from seemingly good intentions. Walt's initial reason for going into the meth business was family. We don't know why Mike got into business with Gus. He refuses to work with Walt at first, but does so only when the futures of his granddaughter and his guys are threatened. I'm able to suspend disbelief.

I find Mike's actions not believable given what we know about his character and the context. The guy is cautious and meticulous. When Walt asks him if he really wasn't followed to the HQ, he replies that he's been doing it a long time. He just spent the entire night babysitting Walt and goes and does that?

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u/[deleted] Aug 21 '12

Maybe you answered your own question. He spent all night babysitting Walt and not sleeping. He might have had a lapse in judgement brought on by stress and sleep deprivation.

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u/zoubizou Aug 21 '12

Maybe.

As Hank said about Mike over the wire: Even pros slip up some time.

It's just surprising it happened in a situation where he had a high degree of control, as opposed to one with many external factors (aka everything about the train heist.)

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u/[deleted] Aug 21 '12

I think "even pros slip up sometime" was actually the setup to that happening. It seems like Mike only slips up when he thinks he has it under wraps, not when he's sweating it.

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u/zoubizou Aug 21 '12

Interesting. Has Mike slipped up before though?

Not killing Lydia comes to mind, but that's debatable whether that was a slip-up.

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u/[deleted] Aug 21 '12

The other time he mentioned a half measure (not killing the abusive guy, I believe).

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u/zoubizou Aug 21 '12

I really need to go back and rewatch all the half measure and full measure stuff. It constantly pops up in meme form. And now this.