Breaking Bad – Gustavo plays a little game with Walt and Jesse

We know Gustavo is very much interested in the quality blue meth that Walter is able to cook up. He’s happy with the business he’s been able to do and, most likely, admires Walter’s attention to detail and professionalism — something Walter already mentioned he admires in Gustavo. But is Gustavo’s interest in Walter something more than simply generating quality drugs for his business?

What has me wondering about Gustavo’s intentions is how quickly he didn’t want anything to do with Jesse. Sure, he doesn’t “do business with junkies,” but there’s a lot more he could do with Jesse if he was only interested in the blue meth. For instance, Jesse has just poven he can make the stuff himself, without Walter. Wouldn’t Gustavo have a pretty easy time of, say, giving Jesse a million dollars in exchange for the recipe and process? Then Gustavo could hire someone he trusts to do the rest of the work — no need to deal with Walter’s baggage or the young junkie Jesse.

Gustavo clearly wants Walter back on track with the drug game, and he seems to know how Walter ticks. He knows that Walter is a meticulous perfectionist who would gag at the thought of someone else trying to pass off his work as their own. So, he lights a little fire under Walter and makes it known to him that Jesse’s making his move. That’s sure to bring Walter back in a big way, one way or the other.

Gustavo not only wants Walter back in the drug game, he wants to make sure he’s healthy and safe. If Gustavo’s plan for Walter isn’t simply using him to make the blue meth, I’ve got a thought as to what might be up. What if Gustavo wants out of the business or needs help with it, and he sees Walter as a sort of protege? Gustavo is careful, professional and meticulous, and he has met someone who, in this business, is a rarity: also careful, professional and meticulous. I could see that Gustavo might be serving as the flint that ignites the fire in Walter, that eventually erupts into the high-end drug lord rumored to be what Walter is set to become.

The fact that Jesse can make the blue meth alone, though, is setting for a very interesting change to the show. If either can do this job without the other, why will there be a need for them to work together again? Will they wind up becoming hostile competitors in the drug game, or maybe one or the other will move their business to another state?

It’s going to be an interesting continuation of the season coming up. Hank is closing in on the meth RV, while Walter’s clearly losing his marbles more than ever. I actually can see Hank not surviving for much longer, as once he finds either Jesse or Walter connected to the blue meth, the show won’t have much of a future unless Hank gives up or is dead. And we know he’s not ever going to give up this pursuit.

Clacked by Keith McDuffee
on Apr 11, 2010 @ 23:35 EST5EDT