Current Events > Did Walt truly care for Jesse?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Topic
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For a while
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his reaction to skyler suggesting to kill him sort of confirmed it yea
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Yes.
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He does set him free in the last episode so yeah

Yes
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TheDarkCircle posted...

He does set him free in the last episode so yeah

Walt didn't go there to save Jesse.
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3khc posted...

TheDarkCircle posted...

He does set him free in the last episode so yeah

Walt didn't go there to save Jesse.

He didn't kill him either, he shields him from the bullets when he didn't have to

In a selfish way I suppose so. I don't think he particularly cared about his happiness or future.
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No, Walt didn't care about anything but his ego. He admits as much in his final conversation with Skylar. The whole point of the character was that he was an incredible egotist who sacrificed everyone around him and hid behind some mantra of 'just doing it for his family'. There are several points in the series where he has a way out, and he chooses not to because he doesn't want anyone else to take over 'his' business. Whenever Jesse starts doing well on his own, Walt drags him back into it; he basically kills Jesse's girlfriend, he poisons Jesse's stepson to force him back into it, and in the end, he doesn't even bother to make sure he is rescuing Jesse, because he is so blinded by his own vengeance. Walt is a horrible human being on every level and never gave a damn about anyone but himself and his incredible self--entitlement.

He does but not nearly as much as he cares about himself
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Jesse was a better son than that useless one he actually had. Took that fucker 10 years to complete any sentence.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NrRJhKPKaA
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Dash_Harber posted...

No, Walt didn't care about anything but his ego. He admits as much in his final conversation with Skylar. The whole point of the character was that he was an incredible egotist who sacrificed everyone around him and hid behind some mantra of 'just doing it for his family'. There are several points in the series where he has a way out, and he chooses not to because he doesn't want anyone else to take over 'his' business. Whenever Jesse starts doing well on his own, Walt drags him back into it; he basically kills Jesse's girlfriend, he poisons Jesse's stepson to force him back into it, and in the end, he doesn't even bother to make sure he is rescuing Jesse, because he is so blinded by his own vengeance. Walt is a horrible human being on every level and never gave a damn about anyone but himself and his incredible self--entitlement.

I hate Walt but even that's sort of unfair. Dude cared about his family, he just cared about his ego more.
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foreveraIone posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

No, Walt didn't care about anything but his ego. He admits as much in his final conversation with Skylar. The whole point of the character was that he was an incredible egotist who sacrificed everyone around him and hid behind some mantra of 'just doing it for his family'. There are several points in the series where he has a way out, and he chooses not to because he doesn't want anyone else to take over 'his' business. Whenever Jesse starts doing well on his own, Walt drags him back into it; he basically kills Jesse's girlfriend, he poisons Jesse's stepson to force him back into it, and in the end, he doesn't even bother to make sure he is rescuing Jesse, because he is so blinded by his own vengeance. Walt is a horrible human being on every level and never gave a damn about anyone but himself and his incredible self--entitlement.

I hate Walt but even that's sort of unfair. Dude cared about his family, he just cared about his ego more.

this was walt's only redeemable character trait by the end, but even then every villain the show had cared about their families as well. mike, tuco, etc.
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At first, then no, then yes at the end.
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Verdekal posted...

At first, then no, then yes at the end.

This is my take.

***Spoilers below****


It's sort of hard to say, but I think Walt truly did end up caring for Jesse, even though Walt used him a lot. A relationship was formed, and in many instances Walt helped Jesse stay clear of bad situations. Though sometimes that also favored Walt, I still think there was enough emotion shown in certain instances that indicated Walt cared about Jesse. And in the last episode Walt let him drive off, despite the circumstances Jesse set into motion that cost Walt's wealth and brother-in-law. It could actually be argued he specifically went back to save Jesse because he knew they were essentially torturing him and using him to cook.
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I think Walt did care but did the absolutely most selfish possible way to show he cared.
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A little bit. The end of Half Measure was the only time he did something completely for Jesse's sake though.
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spoils

It is how I imagine lower feudal lords were with their knights. There could be a fondness for certain individuals, and they are generally more useful alive than dead, but the knights purpose is to serve their lord. So it was Walt's property being used by others that was a large part of his motivation. But also others profiting that he didn't think deserved it. He went there to kill and die and if possible safe jesse, I think in that order.
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I'd compare it to an abusive relationship. Jesse is useful to Walt in several ways. Not just as an asset but as someone he has complete dominance and control over. Jesse makes Walt feel powerful. He doesn't want him to succeed too much or the dynamic is gone. He likes having Jesse around but his motivation for it is not healthy for either Walt or Jesse.

At the end I think he does attempt t atone for what he's done though yeah. But for Jesse that's far too late.
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He cared as much as he could. Which is to say Jessie's life, safety and happiness came second to Walt's ambition and ego.
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The "absent father" thing was absolutely something the show was going for, but I don't think they really executed it as much as they could have, either by intention or design. But I get the feeling they were going for the whole redemption arc with the two of them. Jesse had a toxic relationship with his own family. He absolutely viewed Walt as a surrogate father, and was willing to do anything for him, including "destroying his innocence" via Gale. When him and Walt began to fall apart Jesse latched onto Mike in that similar role, which Mike sort of embraced. Which Walt ultimately resented and we saw how that all ended.

The show examines that theme in plenty of ways though. Walt is definitely not involved in Walt Jr.'s life, to the point where we see Walt Jr. look to Hank as that figure. Jesse wants to be the father to Brock as his own is absent, yet becomes "poisoned" by Walt. Heck even Mike's the surrogate for his granddaughter in place of his son. I think that theme was absolutely prevalent for the show, and they probably were going for the redemption/freedom story with Walt/Jesse.

Edit: Thought of another absent father/son with Tio and both the Cousins and Tuco.

Walt cared for Jesse, but in his own twisted way. Walt had such a big ego that he was certain that he knew what was best for Jesse, and would try to guilt him whenever he strayed from Walt's master plan.
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The Great Muta 22 posted...

The "absent father" thing was absolutely something the show was going for, but I don't think they really executed it as much as they could have, either by intention or design. But I get the feeling they were going for the whole redemption arc with the two of them. Jesse had a toxic relationship with his own family. He absolutely viewed Walt as a surrogate father, and was willing to do anything for him, including "destroying his innocence" via Gale. When him and Walt began to fall apart Jesse latched onto Mike in that similar role, which Mike sort of embraced. Which Walt ultimately resented and we saw how that all ended.

The show examines that theme in plenty of ways though. Walt is definitely not involved in Walt Jr.'s life, to the point where we see Walt Jr. look to Hank as that figure. Jesse wants to be the father to Brock as his own is absent, yet becomes "poisoned" by Walt. Heck even Mike's the surrogate for his granddaughter in place of his son. I think that theme was absolutely prevalent for the show, and they probably were going for the redemption/freedom story with Walt/Jesse.

Edit: Thought of another absent father/son with Tio and both the Cousins and Tuco.

I think this is a fantastic take on that angle, well said on all accounts.
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PrinceDBF posted...

foreveraIone posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

No, Walt didn't care about anything but his ego. He admits as much in his final conversation with Skylar. The whole point of the character was that he was an incredible egotist who sacrificed everyone around him and hid behind some mantra of 'just doing it for his family'. There are several points in the series where he has a way out, and he chooses not to because he doesn't want anyone else to take over 'his' business. Whenever Jesse starts doing well on his own, Walt drags him back into it; he basically kills Jesse's girlfriend, he poisons Jesse's stepson to force him back into it, and in the end, he doesn't even bother to make sure he is rescuing Jesse, because he is so blinded by his own vengeance. Walt is a horrible human being on every level and never gave a damn about anyone but himself and his incredible self--entitlement.

I hate Walt but even that's sort of unfair. Dude cared about his family, he just cared about his ego more.

this was walt's only redeemable character trait by the end, but even then every villain the show had cared about their families as well. mike, tuco, etc.

I completely disagree; He specifically admits to Skylar that he did it all for his own ego. His behavior shows that he either was unwilling or incapable of caring about his family. He actually knowing associated with groups that were known to kill family members as punishment, even after he had several opportunities to leave. He lied to his family the entire time, up until he got caught, at which point he pressured them into working with him. He manipulated Flynn/Walt Jr in order to pressure Skylar into staying, like he was a game piece. When that didn't work, he threatened Skylar. He got Hank killed because he was an idiot. He even fired a loaded minigun into a room with Jesse, tackling him only as an afterthought. Dude was a straight up monster. This isn't even all the shit he pulled. IIRC, he also killed Mike, manipulated Jesse into killing Gale, got Hank killed, and poisoned a child, all of which benefitted his family in absolutely no way.

I feel like people apologize for a lot of what he did because he had some admittedly badass moments, but even the character admitted it was all a selfish game for him. It's hard to argue otherwise.

I think the point is that yes he did originally, then over time it all went to his head and his ego grew to a point where everything and everyone else took a backseat. He liked the power he had and being this kingpin that he'd become.

And in the end of of series he realizes this and helps Jesse escape (even though that isn't why he went there) that was just sort of his last attempt at being the person he was again and trying to get a final pinch of redemption.
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