[TV] Breaking Bad - Page 14

Gus IS a business man. He cared not one bit for those employees and he, despite his harping about rationality, is a family man and probably did not condone of the killing of that child.

That said, he made his point very clear to Walt -- It was his place to handle the situation, not Jesse or Walt's, and that they couldn't contact him, the boss in charge of this whole mess, signifies that they are, to him, just as bad as the dead gangsters. They act on their own accord, outside of his interests. Their value is then ONLY in what they provide, as they are obviously not loyal like The Fixer or The Watcher. For the gangsters, it was an admittedly replaceable drug slinging position. Walt, on the other hand, is trickier to replace. But if he could replace him, why not? Why not put in someone in charge of the lab who has less personal bonds and bad streaks?

If he could solidify Gale quickly as the lab head, then he could do away with someone who has already proven a difficulty, while remaining the Meth monopolizer. It may seem, from a viewer perspective, that Walt was completely willing and capable of being a then on pristine and dramaless chemist, but Gus doesn't truly know Walt's motivations or future issues, and all that aside, Gale is much easier to control. Gus likes control.

I guess they HAD to shake things up a bit. It would have quickly dissolved into something very boring to watch if they allowed Walt to settle too easily into his cooking position and make $1 million/month.

As for Gus, I very much agree that he certainly has strayed from his 1st appearance in S2 at Los Pollos. It's almost as if he's becoming more impulsive and less calculating. Anyone notice how Gus reverts to his Central American accent when he's pissed? :p

I also am very interested in Mike as a character. Before he was just some side character for support, but after his whole monologue and action in the finale, it seems he may be a mainstay in the coming season(s).

Here is where I disagree with you. What Walt and the gangsters did were two very different acts. Although Walt and Jesse acted on their own accord, Gus of all people should understand the rule of the street: an eye for an eye. His original plan for dealing with the problem of Jesse and the gangsters a couple of episodes back was logical. Gus never liked or trusted Jesse. Jesse never liked or trusted Gus. Gus would clearly choose his trusted associates over Jesse, but Walt is a different story. Gus has spoken on multiple occasions of his deep respect for Walt, and it seems a little bit risky to try and replace his valuable chemist.

This is what bothered me about the season finale. The transition from respect to desire to kill was too sudden. The most sensible explanation is that, as you said, Gale would be easier to control than Walt who was always somewhat unpredictable. However, to a true businessman, this is unnecessary, and was certainly rushed. Gus had control over the situation entirely, and could have waited things out.

This could be another side of Gus that had not been introduced. It could be that, as you said, Gus has something for power--it would certainly make sense. I'm not saying that this is a plot hole or anything like that, but that it requires some further explanation.

What Walt and the gangsters did were two very different acts, and without a doubt the worse of the 2 is what Walt did. It just doesn't look as bad because the show is in Walt's perspective. If you're a drug kingpin and you produce a product that literally kills people and creates a black market that breeds violence, then you don't really care about one innocent kid. Allowing someone to get away with murdering two of your employees is most certainly not rational. The way Gus handled this entire situation is exactly from the point of a businessman. He did wait it out. He waited until Gale said he was ready to take over. Why would he wait beyond that? He still probably respects Walt. It's just in his interest to rid himself of Walt, which is exactly along the lines of his cold and calculating character.

This sounds too much like simple gangster logic. Yes, they were Gus's employees. Yes, Walt needs to realize that killing his street level dealers is unacceptable. However, it was pretty clear that he already knew that, and with the otherwise clean track record between him and Gus, there was no reason for their business relationship to end. You see, a man like Gus sees the big picture, and realizes that his two street level dealers are ultimately insignificant, while Walt is impossible to completely replace (even Gale expressed his concern over the attempt to). So we have a guy who, to protect a person he obviously cares very deeply about, ended up killing some gangsters. Bad? Yes. Bad enough to justify the end of an extremely profitable relationship? I say no.

There are some other variables though:

(1) Gus knows what happened between Walt and Tuco.
(2) Walt is known to be somewhat of a loose cannon.
(3) Gus does not trust anybody completely.

He is supposed to be a cautious man, but plotting to kill a man as smart as Walt with such haste is not a cautious act.

The variables you are missing:

4) Walt has cancer and needs to be replaced soon anyways.
5) Gus needs to maintain an image that he can't be messed with. Gus has many employees and he needs to maintain an example that his employees can't go against his word without SEVERE consequences. Gus sees the big picture, which means he intends to be in this business long after Walt dies and he doesn't need the word on the street to be that he can be f'd with.

Is it just me or does anyone else notice that Walt is steadily progressing into being evil? The first person he killed it seemed as if he felt regret, and he couldn't handle taking care of the body. The next people he kills are done is completely gruesome ways. He runs them over and then shoots one of them point blank in the face...

Yes I think that is the intention of the show. I'm kind of annoyed because I predicted that Walt would murder Gale after the very first episode of the season and I could have sworn I posted that here but I can't find the post so now I can't brag about it. It's only natural to be capable of worse and worse things because you become increasingly desensitized, just like how people that go into prison can become hardened criminals that shank people in the neck. Right now he is killing an "innocent" person to save his life. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere down the road there is the classic situation where he is pulled over by the police and he has to decide between killing the cop or going to jail because he has incriminating evidence in his car.

I agree with you, but I think he's been going steadily down that road ever since the beginning/middle of S2.

I think it is pretty obvious why Gus wanted Walt out. First of all respect, but more importantly Walt and Jesse are a huge liability. Gus knows that Walt has killed people before and he is not a professional killer or stuff, so the chances of Walt getting busted sooner or later are quite high and in that event his whole business is in danger if Walt decides to talk to the DEA. I'd rather produce a product of MAYBE slightly lesser quality but with a lot less risks involved(Gale)

It's kinda back now, isn't it? He even wore the hat!