I really don't understand why the cartel would even need Jesse after he showed them how to make the meth. Whatever the real chemist didn't know, he knows after Jesse's demonstration. They even recorded it. I guess they could've had their own chemist try it out afterwards and see if he could duplicate it - and if he could, then they knock Jesse off with peace of mind.

Anyways, great episode.

You don't want to kill someone who basically is your slave now. Not till you know for a fact your men can replicate it. Remember what walt said to victor. You may know the steps, but it's not just a matter of going through that.

Jesse has been cooking with Walt for the better part of the year. Hell, Gale couldn't replicate it with certainty after the few cooks he had.

nobody noticed this?

???

Mike pointing the gun at Jesse before he got shot...

I think you're taking the screen grabs out of context redrum. It might look a little like Mike's pointing the gun at Jesse, but I think he's just having it at the ready while he gets in the car, should something happen. Also, I think the gun isn't pointed at Jesse, but past him, since it looks like Jesse is standing a little off to the side.

All of that's just speculation and conjecture based on the photos provided and what happened during the shootout and final moments of the episode.

The fact is, there's no way Gus or Mike were planning to kill Jesse while in Mexico; otherwise, why didn't Gus just let him drink the poison with the rest of them?

true, could be Mike acting out on his own though

I think you're reaching. Just look at where Jesse is standing in the picture. There's clearly a gap between him and the car, and that's where Mike's gun is pointed. Not to mention Mike isn't even looking at Jesse, but surveying the area. After Mike's moment of being proud of Jesse, Mike telling Jesse that all of them go home or none of them do, Gus preventing Jesse from ingesting the poison, and Mike telling Jesse to get a gun as they made their escape...there's no way either Gus or Mike were going to kill Jesse.

ya the more I watch it Mike looks like he's about to give backup to Jesse while he gets in the car

Yeah he's probably pointing it in a totally different plane from where Jesse is, but looks like he's pointing "at him" from our perspective. This better not turn into the new "Jesse didn't shoot Gale"!

Also someone on another forum pointed out: Jesse has a perfect opportunity to kill Gus (and Mike) at this very moment. That's probably the last thing on his mind though, especially Mike.

I haven't read this thread yet, but I just watched the episode and, for my money, that is the single best episode of Breaking Bad yet produced.

Okay, the scenes with Walt and Jr. were amazing. They knocked it out of the park. And of course the whole Mexico thing was absolutely riveting. Even the Skylar stuff was good. They should teach this in film schools, that's how good it is.

I don't remember if the show has mentioned more than once the purity of Heisenburg's meth -- a few episodes ago in a flashback scene, Gale was telling Gus that Gale was in awe of Heisenburg's achieved purity. And I think Gale specified it was 96%

So when the analyzer in tonight's episode displayed 96.2%, that's an enormous achievement for Jesse.

But in addition, I thought Gale might have specified precisely that the purity was 96 point something .. maybe 96.1 % ? So Jesse might have either equaled or bested Walt's purity.

Did the Don's chemist drink the poised drink ?

While people were beginning to succumb to the poison, the camera showed the chemist looking around in bewilderment. But then a few minutes later when Gus left the bathroom and came back to the patio, in the background someone was slumped in a poolside chair -- I wondered if that was the chemist. I was just curious how much of the Don's crew is left that we saw earlier tonight in the lab with Gus, Mike, and Jesse.

Also, the guy shooting at Mike and Jesse -- was that the Don's main henchman that Mike was strangling by the side of the pool ?

I think Gale got it to 96%, Walter has his at 99%. I think that scene is from the first episode of the season. Someone will have to re-watch it to check.

If I'm remembering the scene correctly, Gale said that his meth was at 96% pure, but the Heisenberg sample was 99%, if not a few decimal points higher.

So, Jesse managed to match Gale's, but not beat Walt's.

I saw the chemist dead behind Pinkman in a chair. I think the shooter was just a guy around who didn't drink the poison. Pretty sure Mike killed the other guy.

That is what it looked like to me.

But why would he at this point? I think Gus and Mike are starting to come around to Jesse and he can see that. What else is he going to do with his life at this point? He's a damaged murderer/addict. At least Gus and Mike give him a purpose and lots of money, and if he gets them out of this situation alive, he will have their respect too. I think by this point Jesse has to know that Gus won't kill him or Walt.

At least I hope he doesn't try. I'd like to see Gus and hopefully Mike stick around into the next season. Right now it seems like it could go either way. Very possible neither of them make it out of Mexico alive.

And even if Gus does try and kill Walt, I'm not sure Jesse would care right now. I think Jesse probably still likes Walt deep down, but he already killed for him once and look how much graditude Walt displayed - attacking Jesse in his own home. At this point in time, Jesse seems to be squarely on Mike and Gus' side - as he should be.

This was an almost perfect episode. I love how this show develops and, every once and a while we get an explosive episode like this. Lesser shows try and have big 'wow' moments every episode to keep their viewers, usually with little success. Breaking Bad makes these moments really pay off.

I agree, which is why I said that it was probably the last thing on his mind.

Was anyone else thinking that all of Jesse's playing of Rage finally payed off?

Correct. Gale was achieving 96% but Walt's analyzed at 99% and possibly higher but Gale lacked equipment to determine exactly what beyond that.

It was a different guy. The guy they shot outside at the end had blue jeans on. The guy Mike strangled was wearing black pants. They knew there were other guards elsewhere on the property and/or in the house. That was why Gus shouted that the head guy and his capos were dead. No reason to fight.

Awesome episode. Best show on TV, hands down. By a country mile.

I still think Gus is going to do something to Jesse thats going to lead to Jesse offing him... Not sure what it could be at this point, just a feeling. Pretty sure Mike isnt making it out of Mexico.

Yea, one of the main characters will die before the end of the season.

I hope that's your feeling, and not a spoiler you've read somewhere... ^