Following last week’s episode of Breaking Bad, there were a lot of comments flying about how the ricin-laced cigarette found its way into Brock’s hands. Three of the most popular theories: Gus stole the cigarette from Jesse, and he gave it to Brock; Walter stole the cigarette and gave it to Brock; and Brock simply took the cigarette out himself. After reviewing the episode closer, I’m convinced that at least one of those theories can be thrown out: Brock did not get the cigarette himself. This is because I’m near certain that Saul’s bodyguard swapped cigarette packs with Jesse when he patted him down, and I’ve got proof.
I’ll go a step further and say that I believe Walter is behind Brock’s poisoning, though I’m not ready to believe it was through deadly ricin. Walter more than likely came up with something milder in order to scare Jesse into at least believing it could be the ricin, and then work his way into talking him over onto his side. The way I see it as going down:
Maybe it didn’t all go down like that, but I’d say it’s plausible. We’ll find out soon enough! In any case, here’s a quick clip of the scene so you can see for yourself:
UPDATE (2011-10-11): Actor Bryan Cranston confirms!
“So yes, the cigarette pack was exchanged by Huell in Saul’s office [when he frisked Jesse in Episode 12]. If you look carefully at that scene, you’ll see that when he’s done searching Jesse, he puts his hand in his pocket. It’s a quick moment, but you see his hand go in his pocket quickly. So it was set up that way.”
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Oct 07, 2011 @ 11:57 EST5EDT
I really can’t tell from the clip. But I’m willing to believe it’s all Walt’s plan IF it’s not ricin. I still maintain that even the full “Scarface” version of Walter White is not killing an innocent child. Poisoning one enough to land him in the intensive care unit in the hospital is already pushing it.
You seem to forget that Huell is completely incompetent.
There is one more *possible indirect ad-hoc clue from creators* in favor of “Walt poisoned Brock” theory. Specifically, in the scene where Walt is doing Russian roulette thing and for third turn the gun points to Hyacinth flower pot which is poisonous, has some symptoms similar with ricin poisoning (or basically any other poisoning) and lethal only in high dosages.
I think this could be it. Walt poisoned Brock, but definitely not lethally.
P.S. I really missed Huell pocketing something at first watch, but now I can see it clearly.
oh snap, Nostradamus over here!
And what about when Jesse gave Gus the ultimatum about not cooking for him if he kills Walter and Gus replies “I will have an appropriate response for that”. I was like “uh oh, Jesse has had it now”. I knew he wouldn’t kill Jesse but I was thinking about who could possibly harm to bring Jesse into line and thought about Brock or his mom. But I like Walter for it too. He is a desperate man and desperate men to desperate things. I also don’t believe it was the ricin but the Hyacinth makes good sense. I like that explanation!
Saul poisoned Brock. No one amongst the Breaking Bad characters could get close enough to him without Brock avoiding them. Saul gave Brock a final thought when they had last met “Carpe diem-Seize the day.” Walt had never cold bloodily threatened Saul’s life while Mike & Gus had. If Brock had to be killed to keep Jesse on Walt’s side, preserving Saul’s position as consigliere to Walt maintaining his silent role in the criminal enterprise, so be it.
*POST AUTHOR*
Tell me then, how did Saul know about the poisoned cigarette?
Walt probably never told Saul it was ricin. He hid his true intentions and what the capsule contained. Even moreso, having Saul do the deed Walt has cemented Saul’s loyalty to Walt.
Walt told Saul.
guys, Walt stole the cigarette from Jesse at the laundromat. If you recall when he asked to borrow a smoke…. he took the ‘lucky cigarette’, lit it, took a couple draws and put it out!!! think people… Saul was not in on this one, this was all Walt.
*POST AUTHOR*
Pretty sure Jesse handed him the cigarette.
Jesse handed Walter the whole pack of cigarettes and if you watch closely enough, Walter takes the cigarette out and spins it before putting it in his mouth. Meaning the cigarette was in upside down as it was the risin cigarette.
But I could being looking into something that is not there :D
Dang! I wish I had known about this page all season! Wonderful to read the theories.
Goddamnit, are you some kind of genius? You got it exactly right!
BRAVO!! you nailed it!
Walt smoked it a couple episodes ago. Ricin on wikipedia is said to be used experimentally on wikipedia as a treatment for cancer. I think this is just like the Vince aimed at Jessie, Jessie didn’t shoot Gale theory. Honestly I think Walt is behind it whether he smoked it or pocketed it. I still believe only Walt and Jessie know about the ricin cigarette. Huel brushes his front I swear. Plus how would Huel taking it improve the story? I think I might be right and we’ll get a pre credits flash of it
huell taking the ciggs means walt somehow got saul on his side…which is remarkable considering jesse’s gonna be gus’ guy and walt was a dead man at that point.
bryan cranston was on david letterman a wk or so ago. he told us to watch the close-up at the end of the show carefully, & we would know who the bad guy was. so, at the end of the show, the camera closes in on the poisonous potted flower near the pool in walt’s backyard. walt poisoned brock. and, i believe he conspired with saul, because both of them had to save their own lives asap, or die at gus’ hand. ps: bryan cranston is brilliant in this drama, but he’s also incredible at comedy. i hope he doesn’t throw that aspect of his talent to the side for too long….
I thought the last few episodes of this season were brilliant. That finale was terrific. HOWEVER, one thing that is really bothering me – why isn’t anyone asking this very obvious question… “Why did Jesse so casually accept the idea that Brock’s poisoning was accidental?”
It just doesn’t make sense.
The ricin cigarrette WAS stolen. And Jesse knows it was stolen by either Tyrus (at the lab) or Huell (at Saul’s office) because they were the only two with an opportunity to do so, since Jesse put the ricin cig in a new pack that morning.
Seriously, are we to believe that Jesse accepts the notion that Brock was accidentally poisoned by lily of the valley within a day of his ricin cig being stolen? That’s quite a coincidence.
Maybe he didn’t believe that :) We have to wait n see…
Walt didn’t smoke the cigarette.. in the final episode Jesse says he changed the ricin cigarette pack THAT morning. Meaning it was still there.. Walt definitely convinced Saul to help him get Jesse on his side to get rid of the largest threat: Gus. I also believe that Walt chose a poisonous substance but one that was easy to cure, or a non-fatal poison as he doesn’t really want to kill an innocent child. So, Huell definitely swiped the ricin cigarette.