Since Walt is initiating all of this with his new "occupation", he's always gonna be a few steps ahead of Hank. Especially with Hank being his brother-in-law with an apparent gift for gab, and totally unsuspecting of what Walt's doing, they talk together and Walt could ask subtle questions, and virtually know just about every move Hank and the DEA will make.

Hank and his DEA buddies are used to going after brainless druggies and pushers who don't have a clue how to cover up their operations. Walt knows this from studying Hank's actions and listening to his stories, and possesses the ultra intelligence to sharpen up his game and not make the blunders the other guys do.

As far as who's gonna kill who? That's a really good question. I really don't think Walt would have the balls to kill Hank, nor do I think he would develop any to be able to do so either. I'm sticking to my original story that Tuco's cousins will have something to do with doing something to Hank or maybe Marie to avenge Tuco getting killed by him.

Now with Jesse? He's developing a set of balls of his own, as well as some smarts too. He's not gonna let himself get into a situation where he's gonna be looking down the barrel of Walt's gun (that is if Walt gets his own gun). Anyway, why would Walt want to kill his distributor? Without Jesse pushing the meth for him, he has shit, and Walt sure as hell ain't gonna do it!

I'm gonna use this spot to make another bold prediction: The Boys from Juarez are gonna come blazing on in, and they're eventually gonna get ahold of Jesse somewhere, and torture him into telling them who's cooking the blue meth, and where does he live?

That is a bold prediction, bfn! Why does Jesse seem to be the beat-up doll in all these situations, though? Jeesh!

I think that Walt (and we're talking waaayy down the line here in the story) will be capable of killing both Hank and Jesse. At that point, if Walt has been able to keep his secret from Skyler and Walt, Jr. and elude the DEA, but is in danger of being exposed to his family by Hank, I think he'd kill Hank.

As for Jesse, again, I think, at the point where Walt would and could be capable of killing Jesse, he wouldn't need Jesse anymore. He would be a druglord kingpin, and probably would not need to share any power with Jesse or be dependent on Jesse.

You know, if it came right down to it, I don't think Hank would just go to Walt's house with his DEA brigade and bust down the door and cuff and stuff him in front of his family if he found out the awful truth of what Walt's doing. Hank really does like Walt, and enjoys having him for a brother-in-law, which leads me to say I believe Hank would take him somewhere private and ask him "What's going on here and WHY?"

If this would ever happen, and Walt would come completely clean with him with no bullshit, Hank would either (1) Tell him to just "Knock it off Walt, or I'll have to bust you." or (2) Take heart of the situation Walt and his family are in, and completely look the other way, or (3) Since he has to do his job and arrest somebody for producing the blue meth, go pin everything on Jesse Pinkman and his distribution team, fanangling it so Walt was never involved. This would be easy for Hank since he hates Jesse anyway.

bfn: Well, if it was Door #3 that Hank chose, that would be soooo rotten. Walt dies, Jesse takes the hit? Just the possibility of Jesse taking the whole brunt of the consequences of this whole caper would kill me. I just have a terrible soft spot for Jesse, junkie or not.....maybe it's because of his youth, immaturity, waywardness, stupidity. He's not a dying man, but a young one with a future of some kind unless something freakish happens (he's killed in the process of building this crime empire) which isn't too unlikely given the nature of their activities. Though, I can't imagine Jesse not being in the full run of the series because his character's downfall is just as pivotal as a contrast to Walt's downfall.

jamm54: BUT if Hank DOES decide to go with that last choice to save Walt's ass, and busts Jesse and his boys, there's the chance he could get off when it would go to trial. Jesse would then live to see another day, and would really piss Hank off just that much more! This is all just going on the way crazy, unpredictable things happen in this show.

I can't wait until tonight's show! I saw a preview commercial earlier, and it showed Hank with binoculars with a kind of "What the FUCK??" expression on his face from something he saw....

That scene was cool with Hank and the binoculars. Nothing like a human head on a big turtle that blows up! Looks like Mexican drug cartels are entering the picture as the opening scene with the Mex trio sang about. Looks like Jesse will get laid by the gal with black hair.

jamm54, you always manage to bring up some great questions/theories! =)
Looks like Jesse has learned to keep a low profile, by not running his mouth as much. He really did'nt want to discuss much about the whole Spooge & Ms. Skank ordeal, where before he might have to "puff" himself up. LOL
For the time being, I too, feel Walt still needs Jesse around...but, he sure is Walts' scapegoat!
But, if Walt was to get strung-out on his own product, seems like he could wig-out & lose it completely and hurt Jesse unintentionally. (Well, you know, hallucinate that Jesse was threatening him...then snap out of it & regret harming poor Jess!)
As far as Hank...much as I love the big lug...seems like he's gonna have to be put into some kind of Protection Program. =(
I would say, he'll join forces with Walt, but after experiencing first-hand how brutal the Trade can get...bless his heart, his nerves don't look like they're gonna hold up...you can bet mine would'nt!
macattack...looks like he's gonna, huh? ;)
It's great to see that Jesse finally has someone, besides his family, that truly could care about him!

Thanks for the nice compliment, diksee! Do I have too much time on my hands or what?

I'm coming late to your comments (post Ep. 8), but your idea of Hank possibly protecting Walt, family, and maybe even Jesse(!) in the future after seeing what the cartel does to traitors, stool pigeons, enemies, etc., may not be that far-fetched.