The developmental stage of infancy is trust vs mistrust. The infant is totally helpless, and can only express his discomforts and needs by crying. If those needs are consistently met and the child receives attention, interaction, and love from the parent he learns trust. If those needs are not met, or haphazardly met, and the child does not receive love from the parent in the process, he learns distrust. So what is the application to BB? Walt has betrayed the trust of his family on several levels, he has lied repeatedly to them, all under the guise "providing for them." But does Walt have needs that have gone unmet for many years? I feel he has rationalized his actions away, citing the unstated betrayal by Gretchen and Elliot, maybe some unstated betrayal by his own family, maybe his sacrifice for his family. In a previous thread, someone theorized that he is a rescuer. I call them a "knight in shining armor." It is a fair assessment.

Several people have mentioned Walts mother. I find it strange that he did not tell his mother he had cancer, unless he had totally severed all ties with her. Apparently he had not, as Skylar did not make a big deal out of him seeing her, other that relief she would not have to interact with her herself. So what are we to make of their relationship?

I am one of the people that stressed the question of the relationship of Walt and his mother. I still believe Walt has some issues with her, possibly his upbringing. I am believing Walt has been suppressed by his mother for many years growing up under her care and suppressed anger issues are quite apparant with Skyler too. With the dark side of Walt using Heisenberg, Walt is able to release all those years of his anger suppressed and free to speak his mind, not only with Skyler, but the world in general. This is what I stated sometime ago, that with Heisenberg, Walt is freed and likes this new independence.

Good analogy of Walt, Holly and the Peek-a-boo theory. Vince in Season 2 might shatter our admiration, seeing Walt battle cancer and struggle with life in general trying to protect his family. Vince will test the limits of Heisenberg to the utmost. Possibly Vince is playing the "Peek-a-boo" game with the viewers, trust vs. mistrust to prove his point that Walt does, indeed, has a hidden dark side to his nature afterall and how far Vince will push this character, Heisenberg will be interesting. I have a feeling Vince WILL push Walt over the edge.

You know, Rock-momma? You might on to a theme that's larger than you think. Look at the pilot episode, #1. Walt (the parent-figure) sees Jesse (the child-figure) sneaking out the upper window of a "sage, no it's green, no it's sage" meth-house. There's your first peek-a-boo moment of the whole show. Then he shows up at Jesse's house and confronts him... Trust is up in the air and they both have to catch it and neither is very good at it. Throw in Vince Gilligan's amazing ability to surprise and you've got more peek-a-boo running through the storyline than a nursery full of playful babies. Nice call, Momma!

Thanks for the comments. And WalkerColt, thanks for pointing out more peek-a-boo moments! I watched the first season when AMC showed the marathon shortly before the second season started. But I didn't turn it on until partway through the first episode they showed, so every once in awhile someone brings up something here that I haven't seen. Is the pilot considered episode #1? (Just trying to figure out how much I missed).

Anyway - watching the first season that way really drove home the idea of "Breaking Bad" being one long play rather than a series of self-contained episodes. And it still seems that way, even watching the second season as it ran, week by week.

It's all good, rockmama (I finally your name right). Yes, I was referring to the very first episode. I recognized the potential of the show from the first time they advertised Season 1 and I put every episode on VHS tape (yes, I am too old to learn how to pirate stuff off the internet). Seven episodes and then the Writer's strike! OH! OH! It's hurts the baby, Momma! I must have watched Season 1 a dozen times because everything else on TV is sh..., fu..., uh, er, .... not worth watching. Although I'm tempted to rent CDs of MadMen, also from AMC and an Emmy-winning series.

Are we done talking about the "Peek-a-boo Theory" already? WalkerColt, your enthusiasm about it gave me momentary delusions of grandeur! I was hoping we would eventually be able to trace it back to explain black holes, global warming, all the mysteries of the universe. Oh well. I enjoyed my moment of glory.

P.S. I, too, still use VHS.

Quote by rockmama:
P.S. I, too, still use VHS.

OMG!!! Don't let Scottey know that!!! LOL
Juuuust kidding!! =)
BTW...where's he been lately?!? =\

I don't know where Scottey and others who have been missing lately are, but I hope it's just because the show's between seasons and that they'll return. Hope I haven' said anything that sent anyone away. I tend to always go for the joke if there's a joke to be gone for, and sometimes I'm misinterpreted.

Hi Rockmama...I, too have some vintage VHS's I won't give up. Some films I can't find in DVD's ..so the VHS's aren't dead in the water yet..

Thanks for bringing up the Peek-A-Boo scene..one of my favorites too!! The episode with Jessie telling the mother to give that kid a bath and a hot meal, proved Jessie had a heart and soul under that punk, druggie, wise cracking exterior and Jessie wasn't the failure his parents seem to think he was.

We might see a Peek-a-boo moment with Gus. Yes...Gus...after all he is the hidden quiet man that has kept his drug kingdom under tight control with a lot of success and not caught so far. Dealing with inexperienced Walt and fairly new to the new kingdom, Walt might upset that applecart for Gus. My guess is that Gus will show his monster side of himself or turn into another "Heisenberg" if his drug kingdom is exposed by Walt not following Gus's protocol.

error..correction: Dealing with inexperienced Walt and fairly new to the drug kingdom, Walt might upset that applecart for Gus.....