I’m going to offer a SPOILER warning for this Breaking Bad theory, just to be safe, although this theory on how Breaking Bad may resolve is both iffy and glorious, but it IS backed by evidence, so read on at your own risk.
Let’s start from this place: We know, from Vince Gilligan’s obsession with Checkhov’s Gun, that nothing in Breaking Bad ever just happens without a reason. If Vince Gilligan presents something, then there’s almost certainly a reason for it. That brings me to a cool piece of evidence unearthed by one of our minutia-obsessed readers, Brandon Johnson, who watched the cold open to the season five premiere episode several times. What he spotted was a microphone wire.
I watched the Denny’s scene a couple of times, and it took me a few minutes to isolate it, but sure enough: Here are three screenshots showing what is obviously a wire:
OK. We know what you’re thinking, and it’s exactly what I thought initially, too: 1) It’s a technical glitch. That’s just where an actor’s microphone goes. And you may be right. HOWEVER, those first two shots are close-ups (only the third shot is a long shot). Why would Vince Gilligan — who is so obsessed with the tiny details of the show that he once spent hours trying to find a t-shirt with the right shade of grey for Hank to wear — not only allow a microphone wire to be visible, but provide a CLOSE UP of that wire, and do so in THIS particular scene?
Here’s my crackpot theory: A few episodes ago, Walter White promised Skyler that before it was all said and done, Skyler would like him again, right? We also know that Walt is currently embroiled in a potential turf war with another meth organization. What would drive Walt to come to his senses, join Hank, and turn on the other meth organization? Two things: The death of Jesse or the death of a child. The signs have pointed to the death of Holly for quite a while.
Holly dies. Walt turns state’s evidence, goes against the meth organization (and Lawson, the gun dealer played by Jim Beaver), and maybe he’s shot and killed in the Mexican stand-off.
Another potential clue is the waitress’ mention of Swampscott, Massachusetts in that diner scene. Why? Swampscott is Native American for “red rock.” Red has been associated with death all series long, AND “red rock” is another synonym for meth, maybe the meth that the other organization is selling.
That’s a hell of a leap to make from what might be some errant mic wires, but you never know with Vince Gilligan. The guy is a genius.
