Breaking Bad Episode 40: Problem Dog

Walter White angrily destroys the Dodge Challenger he bought for his son after Skyler negotiates its return to the dealership. He drives the car to an empty parking lot, burns donuts until it strands on a concrete divider, stuffs the ownership papers into the gas tank, ignites them, and watches the car explode as he calmly calls a taxi; Saul Goodman later covers up the incident, costing Walter $52,000.

The next day, Walter delivers approximately $274,000 in bi-weekly meth profits—mostly $50 bills hidden in soda flats—to Skyler at the car wash. Skyler is stunned by the sheer volume of cash and worries about laundering over $7 million annually through the business. Meanwhile, Marie visits Skyler and reports that Hank Schrader’s therapy is improving and his spirits have lifted.

Hank Schrader takes Walter Jr. to Los Pollos Hermanos, where he subtly manages to obtain Gus Fring’s fingerprints from a cup. Later, Hank meets with DEA colleagues Steven Gomez and ASAC George Merkert, presenting his theory that Gus leads a massive meth operation and that Gale Boetticher was tied to both Gus and the infamous Heisenberg; he defies their skepticism by showing the fingerprints he collected.

Walter, convinced his life is at risk as long as Gus lives, convinces Jesse Pinkman to use his new position as Gus’s henchman to kill him. In the lab, Walter concocts ricin poison and gives it to Jesse, who hides the lethal powder in a “lucky cigarette”. Mike Ehrmantraut then brings Jesse to a sit-down between Gus and a representative from the rival cartel. Jesse is instructed to make coffee and contemplates poisoning it, but is interrupted before he can act.

The cartel sends only one man to the meeting, who delivers an ultimatum to Gus. Gus, prepared for negotiation, rejects it outright. As the cartel representative leaves, Jesse is given a gun by Mike and contemplates shooting Gus in the back, but ultimately decides not to and lies to Walt about the entire attempt.

Jesse returns to his Narcotics Anonymous group. During his turn, he discreetly shares his guilt over killing Gale, describing it as putting down a “problem dog” that did nothing wrong. The group leader expresses disapproval of Jesse’s attitude. The episode ends with Jesse still caught between Walt and Gus, having chosen neither side definitively despite lying to Walt.