8

On Season 3 Episode 9 of Breaking Bad, Walt, after analysing the whole situation with Hank getting shot by the Cousins and Gus' intervention in the whole matter, goes to speak with Gus and says somewhere in his speech that:

I believe I was their prime target and that they were steered away from me to my brother in law

How does Walt deduce this? I mean how can he be so sure that the cousins came for him first and not Hank? Because he also knows that Hank was the one who killed Tuco and it was reasonable for the cousins to go for Hank first, but they didn't. Hector Salamanca, gave them Walter White's name. That's what we know, but Walt doesn't know that. How can he be so sure about this?

2
  • A sign of his developing megalomania? Perhaps after realizing that Fring was somehow involved, he figured that Fring would not have gone to the trouble he went to (e.g. having the surviving brother conveniently die when he is sitting comfortable in hospital, the phone call warning Hank), purely for Hank's sake. Jun 27, 2015 at 21:52
  • 1
    In the previous episode, one of the cousins takes one look at Walter and crawls towards him in a vicious manner. Walt obviously figured it out during that time.
    – user28242
    Nov 29, 2015 at 14:44

1 Answer 1

5

For the answer, remember the fact that Walter's brain works much in analytical fashion. He deduces, assumes or implies even the tiniest possibilities for any given situation.

It was obvious that Lionel and Marco Salamanca were cousins of Tuco, this part must have been told (or at the best heard while stories were being passed around between colleagues and friends of Hank from DEA) by DEA friends of Hank waiting in hospital. So Walter figured out that whole thing was revolving around Tuco's death.

Also, before Tuco himself had mentioned existence of his 'cousins'.

(General Implications: Hank likes to brag about the case he works on especially to the White Family. Also, when Skyler tells him in hospital that Hank was in shootout, Walter immediately shows concern towards the events. So we can easily imply that Hank must have told Walter about the shootout, Hector and the fact that DEA must have figured out some way to communicate with him, Ouija or Alphabet board. Also, how Salamancas were part of cartel and so on.)

So basically he deduced that Hector must have somehow narrated the whole incident to the cousins. He doesn't know that only name was provided.

Walter doesn't know who the cousins were, he realizes who there are once he visits the hospital and meets Hanks friends and colleagues.

So it was just his analytical brain that works out that at least for the slightest moment, the cousins must have known his existence and involvement in Tuco's death. Though not exactly, but yes for the fact that Walter was present there and also attempted poisoning.

So basically Walter realizes/assumes that cousins were after everybody who were involved in Tuco's death, including Jesse. After that Walter must have assumed that cousins must have targeted the nearest victim first, that is Hank. Or more dangerous victim first. (Hank being DEA with field experience). They must have been planning to kill him or Jesse after Hank. Also, killing Walter or Jesse first would have put Hank in more active state and thus leading to them being tracked down.

(General Implications: While working with Gus for brief period, he must have easily realized that Gus and Cartels were enemies. There are many ways to know it, especially Gale Botechar. Gale has been working with Gus for long time, so it can be implied that since Gale becomes close to Walter, he must have discussed the relations of Gus and Cartel at least once.)

But later, I think Gomez tells Walter how Hank received call about the attack a minute before. Thus, Walter deduces that it must have been Gus one way or other who made the call. But he still doesn't conclude this possibility. The point where Gus comes in to inquire about Hank, makes Walter conclude that it was Gus.

Also, when he sees the injured cousin looking in his eyes and crawling towards the door, he realizes that he too was their target.

Till this point Walter realizes that cousins intended to kill everyone involved, including Jesse. Had they got chance, they would have killed Walter first.

But after Gus leaves and the injured cousin dies as Gus had hinted, Walter realizes that the whole thing was planned from the start.

It wouldn't have taken much time for Walter to deduce the whole scenario. Also, the time frame between Gus leaving hospital and and Walter having meeting with him was never suggested. So it could have been days. This much time was enough for Walter to figure out the scenario.

Also, as a viewer we are never shown other possibilities of event that Walter thought about. When Walter discusses the event with Gus, Gus never shows interest in the matter and just lets Walter think that events happened as he is thinking, thus giving us viewers the only outlook from Walter's view.

1
  • 2
    I don't remember the timeline but the cousin crawling towards Walt really gives it away. +1
    – Zikato
    Aug 14, 2015 at 13:39

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .