"Why Does Walt Let Jane Die?" | Fireside Chat | Breaking Bad

In this excerpt, Vince Gilligan talks about Walter White's decision to let Jane die.
Breaking Bad Creator Vince Gilligan sits for Signature KZbin Fireside Chat At KZbin Space LA with Comedian, Host, and Nerdist founder/CEO Chris Hardwick to discuss Breaking Bad’s 10th anniversary. Vince revisits pivotal moments in the history of Breaking Bad, both in front of and behind the camera, adding new insight and detail to the experience of making the show while also sharing his perspectives on storytelling gleaned throughout his career.
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[@manuman84]

This is the kind of serie where I feel sorry for basically every character...

[@afonsodeportugal]

You felt sorry for Gus? For Tuco? For Crazy 8? Wow....

[@manuman84]

@@afonsodeportugal okay I got you, but you what I mean as well

[@afonsodeportugal]

@@manuman84 LOL! Indeed...

[@TheFlowerofSpades]

Todd? Lol

[@afonsodeportugal]

@@TheFlowerofSpades Hey, that guy could sing! People always feel sorry for good singers! :P

[@avyntide]

The saddest part of Jane’s death, to me, is how Walter might not have even gone to her/Jesse’s house if he hadn’t had that little chat with her father in the bar earlier that night. Tragic how Donald Margolis expressing to Walter the importance of not giving up on your family, is, in a way, exactly what tore his only family from him.

[@kingclampz6081]

Damnnn

[@liamsguitaring2296]

and the only reason jane died is cause she rolled on to her back when walt was shaking jesse

[@ccrikmoon]

I think it was because Walt knew that if Jane lived Jesse would leave with her leaving Walt without a partner

[@mdrasedulhoque992]

At that point Walt was supposedly out of the game,so was Jesse. Walt would've even give the money to Jessie in the first place if he wasn’t an addict.

[@meesteranonymous8177]

@@mdrasedulhoque992 nah jane knows too much, and she's behaving too much as a liability, they're better off with her gone for good

[@rainbow9832]

I think the reason he GETS there is because of Jesse, after talking to Jane's father, but at that critical moment she starts choking, her death becomes just too convenient for him, one that will solve big problems, so he doesn't save her for self-preservation in the moment.

[@RaferJeffersonIII]

I think Walter is over tyrant-ised by fans. Right till the end, he was never a full psychopath. He tried to trade all for Hanks life. He made that call to save Skyler. He accepted his only son hating him, for his family to be safe. He certainly drank at the cup of power and lost sight of why he was doing it. His “I did it for me” speech I felt was half-truth and partly to help skyler not feel the responsibility. Walter is complex and not all good or all bad. There is a lot about hank I don’t like and he’s supposed to be the good guy.

[@NightDweller]

I think Walters speech about how he did it for himself was acceptance. In my opinion he truly did it for himself and that is him opening up

[@Cyrus_II]

It seems to me that breaking bad isn't the archetypal good vs evil story. Not that there is anything wrong with those type of stories. Life is really complicated, we're not omniscient and we're not all very smart. In order to survive we need to simplify the world and one of the ways to do that is to put reductionist low resolution labels on them. You can't stop by and analyze every object in depth and understand it in it's totality. This, I think, is also why we have a hard time conceptualizing people and things in high resolution in their totality. What I'm trying to say is, it's easier to smash every spider you come across just to be safe rather than stopping and examining whether it's actually a dangerous one or not. It's a better general strategy for survival. So we like to think Walter White as an entity that represents everything that is evil and degenerate which is rarely the case for anyone in reality. But I bet some people can get real close to that.

[@bencheveryday]

this guy gets it 100%. The characters are written to not be all good but definitely not all bad either. He did go full psychopath at times but that wasn't a natural state for him.

[@Zillasucks]

rafer Jefferson iii Walt 100% did it for himself. If he needed the money he would’ve taken Gretchen’s deal. He was too insecure to take it. Stop defending Walt

[@RaferJeffersonIII]

BenAffleckFan21 Gretchen and Elliot’s money was for the treatment, NOT the money to take care of his family and give college educations.

[@KutWrite]

Interesting... "It's communal property now." Such respect for the fans! Actually, this channel also shows that respect. Thanks twice, Vince!

[@tommyx3090]

It’s interesting how the writer himself doesn’t even know exactly why

[@animefood0818]

Ikr

[@cycy8699]

when your own character evolves so much that you're not even sure

[@ericp1139]

Some of the best works are a collaborative effort. That’s why some of the best Star Wars had a team effort and didn’t hinge solely on George Lucas.

[@mothermalcolm]

@@ericp1139I think it’s more of him deeply understanding how art works. Real artists create using their intuition and don’t fully understand why certain brushstrokes are better than others. If it feels right, they include it. The story wrote itself in a way, and it’s clear that Vince Gilligan understands that.

[@user-df8lp9zq8s]

Because its Vince gilligans way

[@greenbeagle13]

Dang..., now I gotta' binge on this AWESOME series - AGAIN...!!!

[@tjhall9377]

When a writer can see a character they create or write in several different angles, and even they don’t know which “side” they’re on on - this is why Vince can create such amazing stories. Everyone is gray, reality is gray - a fictional story must respect the dynamic of life.

[@stevenschmidt3464]

I would agree that he was saving Jesse because he is looking at what has happened to Jesse right in front of his eyes and he believes its because of her

[@eliteknight2137]

She blackmailed him. Nobody who blackmails Heisenberg live long.

[@lordtachanka6727]

if i get a penny for everytime vince said “i think” id be a billionaire

[@MrCaboose]

It's fair considered how much thinking he must've done to give us something as great as Breaking Bad.

[@breadmixer]

Ignoring the hyperbole, he said it 12 times, which IS a lot

[@ozricaurora]

With a "B"

[@RoboticSnowman]

id say he did it too keep jesse on his side & eliminate any chance of him getting exposed, after his first reaction to save her of course

[@user-df8lp9zq8s]

Jesse would die with Jane, it was to save him too

[@UmrSamuels]

All of this... Under our noses! ❤️

[@onem4040]

Walt protecting Jesse SO CUTE

[@felynecomrade]

That moment when Walt is out of his mind from weakness/sleep depriavtion/sickness and he calls his real son "Jesse".

[@threedeemelodies]

nope nope nope walt kills jesse inside and out nope

[@jaygroomes1357]

awwwwwwwwwwwww

[@MrCaboose]

Watching and neglecting to do anything as someone chokes to death to protect their lover is SO CUTE

[@Vesuvio_NA]

Yeah letting a woman die of asphyxiation Is SO CUTE KAJAHEMMWHSHSGSGSH

[@shengcheng7562]

Walter killed everyone lol Mike, Gus, Hank

[@aigeneratedwauigi2696]

He tried to save Hank. Gus was threatening to kill his family. Mike has no excuse.

[@TayshawnTryston1605]

Walt didn’t kill Hank.

[@fakebobbyhill296]

I thought it was pretty obvious. She's the kind of junkie that everyone in the show warns you about. "you can never trust a junkie". She'd of gotten Jesse killed in a hurry (OD), or just stole his cash one night, and led him away from cooking drugs and toward consuming them. She was going to take Jesse and ruin his life.... In a different way. They'd, best case scenario, take all of Jesse's money and shoot it into their arms leaving Jesse broke and addicted to Smack. Probably in like Venezuela. I think in the end he was better off without her, despite all of the shit he ended up going through because of "Mister White".

[@threedeemelodies]

false. jesse would’ve gotten JANE killed. he was the one doing crack in front of her. total had influence

[@Fbitypeshit]

binglio yeah well now both of us take drugs so they would die both of them, amd jesse didn’t ask jame to take drugs he respected her choice she CHOOSE on her own to go back on it

[@margnl]

@@Fbitypeshit wants to know your location.

[@kefkapalazzo1]

three dee melodie crack? Did you watch the show?

[@ashsherman]

I know right. They did math and smack. How are we gonna keep the next generation off dope when people like this idiot has no clue what they even saw.

[@alexandrelima3697]

I see it the same way the creator. A big part of the intention was protecting jesse

[@Coolguy-es7mq]

I thought at the time when it first aired that Walt let her die because he wanted to teach Jesse. Jesse was, in a way, a son figure to Walt, and Walt realized that the only way to teach him the consequences of using drugs was for him to wake up next to a deceased person who he cared about.

[@NateReyFilms]

Makes sense

[@Monk-ow3ok]

I thought it was pretty obvious. Jane was a liability to Walt and Jesse

[@PsicólogoNoProfesional]

I have a counter theory and its that walter literally didnt had to let her die why?because he has a future,a new daughter ,all money he need,and no offense but if he was to no caring to let her die ,it would be more inteligent to dont care about jesse.

[@hashylarry8524]

Definitely self preservation and acting out of what he viewed would be good for Jesse. However, Walt’s view of reality is so warped as to think he is somehow a central key to Jesse’s life. Obviously when it comes to cooking, Jane is no good for Jesse, but I think its pretty obvious Walter is an infinitely worse influence.

[@123videos456]

I disagree. Jane would have gotten Jesse killed. Jane was using Jesse and she would have eventually over dosed or she would have made Jesse over dose. Jane called Walt for the money. Jane answered these door to take the money. Walt made sure Jesse took the bag and as soon as Jane closed the door on Walt, she took the bag from Jesse. Jane was using Jesse as a vehicle to escape her father’s control so she could run away and do drugs. Jane had a choice. After Combo got killed, Jesse wanted to smoke some meth. Jane could have walked away of stopped Jesse but instead she introduced him to heroin.

[@heretowatchstuff5335]

123videos456 seems like you’re just projecting. jane was 18 months sober before she met jesse. he was smoking crack and she didn’t want to be alone so she went along and relapsed. it’s quite normal for addicts to relapse, considering jesse goes back to drugs multiple times as a coping mechanism even right after her death. she would’ve killed him...?she made sure jesse was always laying on his side with a pillow in case he od. she was laying on her side when walt shook jesse and pushed her on her back. she wanted to use jesse? jesse told her he was angry about walt not giving him his money and didn’t know what to do, so she helped him. they got the money, she told him they should get clean for themselves and not for anybody else, she said they had to start that very same night, then the shot ends with jesse saying « uhm yeah we could do that » while he stares at the drugs, after he says that goes from looking at jesse to the drugs. i understand people saying that from walt’s perspective, as he doesn’t know jane, TO HIM it’s like protecting jesse and himself in a way. he took the blackmail as a serious threat and also assumed jane is to blame which is understandable because of the perspective he has. but saying jane was an evil character is just odd and feels like a way to totally « excuse » walt’s action by going the extra mile. we don’t wanna feel bad about ourselves, but to say that she was a « problem » and needed to die just devalues her life when clearly she was good to jesse and they genuinely loved each other, she’s even in el camino showing how tragically her death has impacted jesse and how much he missed her. but yeah... she just wanted the money and is the blame for all jesse’s fuckups. accountability & blame shifts way too easily from the male characters to the female characters.

[@craftymasterproductions4218]

@@heretowatchstuff5335 This reply is 2 years old, but I completely agree. Shame the lengths fans go through to justify Walt’s terrible actions.

[@animefood0818]

@@craftymasterproductions4218 fr

[@Tyblake02]

I always saw it as him saving Jesse

[@hmk5123]

But if Walter saved Jane, he could have taught them both a lesson that one or both of them could have died if he had not been there. And by saving Jane, she would have owed it to him to keep quiet and be grateful.

[@Eldex0]

Then again, would they (or more like Jane) realized that Walter saved her?

[@marcknicolas564]

Incredibly optimistic my guy XD.

[@ShubhanshuM23]

" you can never trust an addict"

[@geckoniner5625]

That’s assuming Jane could be saved. Look at all of the work won’t put into Jesse, and despite that he still relapses over and over and over again.

[@amortality999]

My theory is neither self-preservation nor saving Jesse. He wanted Jane to die so that Jesse would have no one else to turn to but Walt. So that Jesse could carry on cooking with him.

[@bautruchfarine5560]

At this point he didn't plan to cook anymore

[@othervids3726]

Walt also seemed to view Jane as enabling Jesse's irresponsible tendencies, like getting high during a deal. I think in his mind, he thought Jane dying would have been better for Jesse (and give Jesse no one else to turn to)

[@user-df8lp9zq8s]

Walt literly didnt want to cook at this point , he wasnt obsessed psochopath , he cared for Jesse

[@dimisegers3095]

It's obvious why he let Jane die... So jesse would get off his addiction, and come to his senses again. There was no other way to open Jesse's eyes. Not with a addiction like that.

[@hudanofendi3028]

the most satisfying death in the series for me

[@animefood0818]

no, it’s because Walt is selfish and only cares about he’s reputation and doesn’t want Jane to take Jesse away from him

[@lostname9850]

Love Vince

[@MadameTamma]

Hours earlier she blackmailed him for Jesse's money. Yeah it was Jesse's money technically and they both "Wanted" to use it to start a new life together but how long until they blow through that buying drugs and she goes to blackmail Walt again this time for HIS money?

[@levy9595]

It'd take a lot of junk to blow through half a million dollars. More likelihood is they both die far before they run out of money

[@Tonycillian5]

Walt did it thinking he was saving Jesse but in reality he was dooming Jesse. I think if you ask Jesse whether he would have rather OD right then and there or go through the slavery and watch all the ones he love die he would take the overdose, which could have actually not happened had Jane’s father found them the next day and call the cops

[@user-df8lp9zq8s]

He could leave this buisness many times , even in season 5 he was ready to leave on the van , it would be the best choise for him . Its not like this choise lead him to slavery

[@volbound1700]

This went over my head until the Season 5 comment he made to Jesse. It happened so fast that I thought he could NOT save her. I didn't realize that he could.

[@manhuynh6526]

He could save her, COULD, not can, so in the end, we never know if he can save her or not, we just know that there is a possibility that he could do it if he can until he's change his mind

[@XykonNoir]

This was Breaking Evil

[@MrCmon113]

I think it's pretty clear. He needs Jesse for cooking, so Jane choking was a very convenient accident.

[@mdrasedulhoque992]

At that point both were out of the game. Walt would've even gave the money to Jessie in the first place if he wasn’t an addict and made Walt miss his Daughter's birth. It's actually Jessie's provocation, Skylar sleeping with her boss and Gus's manipulation that took Walt get back to cooking again

[@memeland5425]

If you look at the scene. They were both in the recovery position so wouldn’t have choked if vomiting but when Walt shakes Jessie he accidentally knocked her to lie flat which is why she chocked. So u could say that she would still be alive if he hadn’t been there

[@AxeCheeks]

Why does this guy host everything?

[@jeremiahmorris1852]

I had a Jane in my life. I mean she's still alive, but her love of money was stronger than anything. She didn't care if I went broke as long as she got to fund her lifestyle

[@gustavramirez2891]

New question - why did Walter save Jess at the end?

[@felynecomrade]

Because he loves him.

[@KutWrite]

Yes, and also to give him the chance Walt would never have, to have a real life. He probably felt he owed Jesse that, given the manipulation.

[@baaaldur]

people here blatantly ignoring that walter was going to kill jesse before he changed his mind. the real reason is that when walter saw jesse's state he felt bad for what he did to him. probably got him thinking about how badly he's treated him and reignited his "fatherly love" for him.

[@colinjenkins0]

why u gotta do me like that

[@user-df8lp9zq8s]

​@@baaaldurHe was goibg to kill him, because he thought he cooking for Hank killers by his will

[@javi5072]

walt should have better called saul & gotten huell & kuby to kidnap them to send them to rehab before they got their share.

[@slimshady3277]

I think maybe Jane could steal all the money and run away from Jesse.But if it happened that way it wouldnt that much sad and impressive.And if they give me a chance to change anything on serie i wouldnt change anything even jane's die.Maybe i would change Mike's die it was unnecessary.It's all way perfect like that its bad and sad but its making it the legend.

[@animefood0818]

She wouldn’t

[@shengcheng7562]

The major reason is Walter knows Jesse loves Jane and he would not cook for him if Jane was alive.

[@levy9595]

They were both already out of the cooking game by this point. And even though gus eventually ropes him back into it, walts decision to stop was at the time genuine.

[@Robert-cd2ox]

But Walt didnt need Jesse to cook.

[@zain19]

3/4 for Jesse 1/4 for himself

[@darthvader9777]

i see all the people saying walter let her die but actually he shaked jesse what let her to choke and die so its intirely his fault

[@mikea6710]

I'm sure the interviewer saw the show and followed it... But U must be thick to have his view on that scene where Jane dies Trying to not be a snob, but (Vince even explains it to him directly) Walt was haunted by that decision to let her die, in order to keep her from Jesse (Tbh I was surprised that Walt cried.. he really didn't like Jane, the threat that she was to his plans.. but it's that human element that intrigued us.. at least me)

[@sartainja]

I could not put up with Jessie if I were Walt.

[@imbaroud5273]

if jane still alive she would used jesse, maybe much worst than walt

[@thegamingreaper1293]

Soooo. I came here wondering what was up with this scene. So I took it like, Walter didn't know u needed to sleep on your side? Idk. Honestly the more I think about it the worse it gets 😭😂

[@SarathKumar-fb8su]

Its obvious

[@hudanofendi3028]

The most satisfying death in the entire series for me

[@Kirigayah]

dude stop saying "I THINK"

[@vijayjb1704]

Yah.. He's the bloody creator of the show and he's saying i think.. Wtf😂

[@usul573]

@@vijayjb1704 It's very humble for him to discuss the show this way. He gives very reasonable explanations of the episodes but without authoritatively declaring that is the only valid interpretation and that whatever anyone else says is bunk. Still the voice of the showrunner carries the most weight.

[@tracydavis148]

I had to stop watching, this show started hunting My Soul ...

[@SeFu2006]

How did he let her die? She choked to death within seconds.

[@matthewc.1194]

Well he also grabbed Jesse, which inadvertently flipped Jane on her back. Thus, causing her to choke on her vomit. So he both watched, and caused her death, technically.

[@EGL24Xx]

@@matthewc.1194 we don't know that he caused her death. She rolled over very easily, so it's very likely that the convulsions of throwing up would have caused her to roll over anyway. Plus, she aspirated stomach acid before walt could do anything. Even if he rolled her over, she still could have died without immediate treatment. He would have had to call the paramedics to save her.

[@matthewc.1194]

@@EGL24Xx had Walt not shook Jesse, odds are Jane would have laid on her side until it wore off. It seems clear the convulsions didn't began "until" she rolled over; therefore, had Walt not been there shaking Jesse, Jane more than probably would have survived the night.

[@EGL24Xx]

@@matthewc.1194 that was coincidence for plot purposes

[@matthewc.1194]

@@EGL24Xx was it tho? All we can take into account are the facts laid out for us. What we knew about Jane was that she was an experienced heroin addict. Prior to this she even positioned Jesse to lay on his side to prevent him from what ultimately ended up being her own fate. Just follow the clues and let them lead where they lead.

[@codectified]

it was the logical thing to do probably in the interests of self-preservation but the scene was kinda sloppy for how pivotal it was.. it was probably the cruelest thing Walt did in the entire show and nothing leads you up to it.. there's no sense that he's become this self-centered up until that decision so it didn't make a lot of sense for me..

[@Acevasquez1]

I feel the need to reply because it does make sense you just aren’t lying close enough attention to the details of that episode. Jane is clearly a junkie and leading down that road. Jessie wants Jane and is willing to accept her and her underlying issues. If you notice Jane claims the money and threatens Walt. (That’s a red flag) Jessie tried to escape it but his judgement is clouded by Jane through her actions and his emotions towards her. (This is me explaining to you the twisted side of Jane. She’s a user and abuser covered up in a pretty face and pouty lips. Look at the way she pathologically lies to her father. Straight to his face!) Walt didn’t do it out of purely self centered motives. He cares for Jessie and also for their business. He cares for himself and his family. She was a threat not just for him but for his partner. If you choose to see it as him just being evil (which he isn’t. She flipped on her back by accident he didn’t put her like that) then that’s how you see it but reading the scene and the episode as a whole than you know it’s not an evil act. Putting aside the fact that he let a human die right in front of his eyes. Dont be so quick to call a work of art sloppy when you are missing major details in what motivates the characters to move in the way they do. Everything has a reason and purpose.

[@ryanbrets7695]

@@Acevasquez1 The reason that he let her die is to save Jesse from a self destructive path Jane would lead him on. And mainly to get Jesse back as a partner to resume cooking.

[@simonbelmont65]

Jane should have lived, I would have loved to see her and Jesse get clean together and end up together in the end, but it’s Breaking Bad so a happy ending doesn’t exist sadly.

[@joytekb]

Why you ,Genius influence people imagination in such menace way. Are you sick?

[@miguelcotia5273]

its disgusting how insensitive the interviewer is to this, even laughing. i guess people dont agree with this because of the likes to dislikes ratio

[@captainhades3975]

jane was a bitch soooo

[@QualityandForm]

This scene had me so infuriated that it was almost my last Breaking Bad episode. I felt that his feelings were so selfish while also being very inconsiderate. His instinct to save her kicks in, but then he forces himself not to aid in helping her. The scene where Jessie says, "I loved her, I loved her more than anything," really messed with me. I feel that Walt is deep down inside an extreme POS. However, I can not leave this post without saying this. I have absolute zero sympathy for anybody who chooses to do drugs of any type. Notice the keyword there is chooses. Anybody who chooses to do drugs knows what type of dangers and possible outcomes lie ahead. Don't do drugs guys. Save your money and invest it wisely.

[@Brokebasturd]

A lot of the times even the ones choosing it aren’t really choosing it remember that its a disease once your hooked there isnt really a choice just a really long war