1681

I’m really not feeling this theory, on the other hand. I’m not saying that Hank and Gomez are done for, but I can buy far more that they are just doing typical television drama in not having the shooting be effective than I can that they are trying to run two DEA agents out of ammo to capture them but at the same time are pumping round after round into the vehicle that these guys are covering under.

If I were trying to capture someone, I wouldn’t pump 100 bullets into the object they are trying to hide behind.

In fact that was one of my big problems with the scene. They are spraying automatic weapons fire all over the truck that literally has the guy they apparently do want alive (Walt) sitting in it. It’s not like they’re only hitting the front of the truck - Walt is literally diving to the floor because the side-back windows are exploding and bullets are punching through. The only two justifications I can make for that are: (i) these guys aren’t the brightest bulbs, or are willing to accept a chance that their would-be meth cook takes a bullet to the head; and (ii) they actually really are not that concerned whether Walt lives or not (or who knows, maybe they actually want to kill him).

The only thing (and I think this is a stretch) that I can come up with that really favors the blog theory is that Meth Damon was so incredibly smooth and accurate with his pistol when shooting the boy on the dirt bike (he drew incredibly quickly and got him with a well-aimed quick shot) but looks so incredibly clumsy with the pistol in the scene from the last episode. I could argue (though again, it seems a stretch) that he was supposed to be looking that way intentionally as evidence that he’s not really trying to hit anyone this time (because he obviously has shown signs of being more comfortable with aiming a pistol in the past).

1682

My problem with the theory that they are trying to run them out of ammo is… how did they plan that?

The shootout they are now engaged in isn’t the situation they were expecting to arrive at and they had multiple cars full of people who would all need to be in on the idea of not killing either of the two DEA agents they didn’t even know about until after they arrived on-scene… they had no time to formulate or communicate this devious “run them out of bullets” plan.

Given this, the idea that it is all part of some plan seems way more far fetched to me than it just being a bit of a serial-drama cliffhanger ending with lots of action and nothing happening.

1683

My problem with the theory that they are trying to run them out of ammo is… how did they plan that?

The shootout they are now engaged in isn’t the situation they were expecting to arrive at and they had multiple cars full of people who would all need to be in on the idea of not killing either of the two DEA agents they didn’t even know about until after they arrived on-scene… they had no time to formulate or communicate this devious “run them out of bullets” plan.

Given this, the idea that it is all part of some plan seems way more far fetched to me than it just being a bit of a serial-drama cliffhanger ending with lots of action (perhaps being extended by showing the same handful of seconds from many viewpoints) and nothing happening.

1684

It is interesting that Hank fired first here.

edit: actually, re-watched the scene to verify this – Jack gives the other guy in the crew “the look” and then they started firing first. So Hank did NOT fire first.

Han totally did though.

1685

What was with all the requests to “Show us your identification” about?

A little plausible deniability? For who’s benefit?

1686

I assumed they were trying to get Hank or Gomez to lose focus for a second. I think the capture-them argument is compelling, except that none of the crew members try to hide or force wasted shots. If the next episode starts with a bunch of bursting melons, why not end this one a few seconds earlier?

Did anyone else feel a sense of relief listening to Walt admit his crimes to Jesse on the phone?

1687

No, I think they just wanted to distract Hank and Gomey so that they could take the shot when Hank and his partner weren’t entirely focused on aiming at Todd’s uncle’s crew.

Felt the opposite - I felt nauseous. I’m firmly in camp Walt, and I want all of his previous actions to have not been for absolutely nothing. Felt angry at Jessie for betraying him.

1688

This. Remember the first episode when Skylar was demanding Walt take the chemo, even though he didn’t want to. Remember how they all sat on the couch and held the little “talk” pillow.

1689

Eh? Fuck Walt. He stopped being a character I could sympathize with a long time ago.

1690

I know what the ricin is for!

…
…
.

Walt’s going to try and poison Lydia again.

1691

I would say that I still sympathize with Walt, but I still see that he needs to pay for his crimes somehow.

1692

You don’t have the pillow in hand CCZ. Please hold onto that thought until you get the pillow.

1693

You’re not the boss of me, bitch!

1694

Finally got to watch last night. It is safe to say the show is definitely moving towards the end game.

I don’t know how forgiving the viewing audience would have been, but when Meth Damon’s family shouted out “We want to see some badges”, I was dying for Hank or Gomie to yell back “We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!”

1695

Meth Damon is the greatest TV character nickname of the past decade.

1696

Bah! I maintain that FrankenNorse (and my own Blondie McHottiepants–both from Hell on Wheels) give it a run for its money.

1697

Not even close. Was it someone on these forums that coined that nickname? If so, bravo.

1698

Doubtful, it is a pretty common nickname used on reddit and all over the Internet. I suppose it could have originated here (can’t be arsed to figure out when it first appeared here vs other places), but it seems pretty unlikely.

1699

Yeah, I made up the nickname, man. What can I say, I’m just a very creative guy. I give it to you, the peoples of the Internets.

Because I’m also a very generous guy.

And a serious bulls hitter and promising troll (but you already knew all that).

1700

Man, those bulls didn’t do nothin’ to you. Leave 'em alone.