Really, I see this theory as a continuation of what we already know:
The writers are constantly using foreshadowing and references to past events and characters, and often mixing the two. Furthermore, the symbols chosen are initially weird and puzzling, and goes against the grain of what one would expect given the genre.
The Teddy bear is a perfect example; puzzling, somewhat anticlimatical in its revelation and now used as a reference (as the eye). The twins crawling, then one of them crawling on the hospital floor, then Hank being crippled is another good example - foreshadowing, scene, reference.
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Few people would claim (I hope) that Walt is 'taking on traits' in some magic way, and I do think that it can seem that way mostly because he is the main character. Walt needs to have the eye for us to see it, he wears the goatee, etc.
But that this happens to Hank too makes me believe it is a bit more than just symbols being placed in plain view. The symbolism does 'go with a specific character'.
Maybe you could divide these up in; dramatic irony (the stuff the characters themselves are not aware of, or at least not the result of any conscious choice), chosen personal reminders (often connected with guilt) and new capabilities.
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Dramatic irony.
Walt from Gus (mannerisms) - Towel, car wash scene.
Hank from the Twins (bum legs) - Twins crawling, losing legs, Hank crippled.
Walt from Mike (yes for an answer) - ...
Personal reminders.
Walt from Krazy-8 - When making a sandwich.
Walt from Jane - The pink teddy and eye from mural and plane.
Walt from Mike - Walt drinks his whiskey like Mike.
Walt from Gale - Book.
Hank from Tuco - Grill.
Todd from Drew - Tarantula.
New capabilites.
Walt from Krazy-8 (criminal) - Pretty vague, but he is certainly changed by the experience...
Walt from dealers (kids) - Using kids as sellers, as motivation for Jesse.
Walt from Hector (self sacrifice) - Remains to be seen...
Walt from Gus (empire, cold) - Walt becomes increasingly cold and oriented towards 'the empire' vs 'enough money'. Maybe he will take some drawn out revenge too?
Walt from Mike (?) - Efficiency? Maybe the ability to quit ("I'm out"), leave well enough alone? Handling "the guys", using contacts, ordering mass murders? Or will he become a great shot with the M60?
Especially for the personal reminders, the connecting factor is (often) guilt. It also seems to me that capabilities are only something Walt gains. This makes perfect sense, given that the whole show is about him becoming capable of terrible things. He takes on the worst traits of those left in his wake; he is learning from terrible people and circumstances.
The only real "transfer" of capabilities I see is limited to:
A) To Walt
B) From serious adversaries and "bad guys"
I don't think Walt gained anything from Jane, Tyrus or various henchmen. Or the inmates, for that matter. Nor am I too sure about Hector and Mike (who were hardly his adversary at the time). I also cannot think of anyone besides Walt who "gained" any new abilities.
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Anywho, possible interpretations regarding future events:
Walt may well have taken on Gus' long-lingering need for revenge. Hence the Ricin and M60.
Walt may sacrifice himself, as Hector did.
Skyler is dead (no wedding ring, reminding himself of her through name and bacon).
PS: Has Jesse ever taken on traits, reminders or been the 'victim' of any symbolism following Gale's murder? Has Mike, Gus or The Cousins ever taken on any traits or symbols?
After Tuco was killed Walt Adopted his Gotee. After Jane was killed Walt adopted her Dark color clothes. In the eairly seasons walt is almost allways wearing kakhi pants whereas now he almost allways wears black. Mike allways wore that canvas jacket, and in the flash forwards in this final season walt is seen wearing a canvas jacket.
--- Just a thought
No no Lancgtx, thats terrible.
He grows the goatee out during the 3 week time span separating season 2 from season 3, so it is more accurate if he inherited it from Don Margolis. And Heisenberg has been wearing black ever since episode 107.
Walter White is usually wearing light colors, including some beige. His alias Heisenberg prefers black, and sometimes green for symbolizing greed.
Now Lancgtx, lets not get this fan theory any more congested than it is. Lets not turn it into a fashion statement, Walts not raiding Mike's wardrobe
ok, he can handle the fan theory, and ill handle him
Thank Ricin, great link. The relevant quote regarding this discussion, for convenience:
- There's one specific theory, about Walt taking on the attributes of people he's killed including Gus Fring and Krazy-8, which I wanted to ask you about. Was that intentional?
- "That one was purposeful, yes. Specifically in regards to Gus. ... So yeah, he takes on those traits, I think subconsciously."
Thank Ricin, great link. The relevant quote regarding this discussion, for convenience:
- There's one specific theory, about Walt taking on the attributes of people he's killed including Gus Fring and Krazy-8, which I wanted to ask you about. Was that intentional?
- "That one was purposeful, yes. Specifically in regards to Gus. ... So yeah, he takes on those traits, I think subconsciously."
Good, that means he will spill the beans in depth on which traits are actually traits and which traits are coincidence, such as Mike's 'On the rocks'
This reminds me of a fan theory on Lost where each character was 1 of the 7 deadly sins. BUT THERE WAS WAY MORE THAN 7 CHARACTERS - that created the turmoil in the fan theory. I could always figure out that Hurley was Gluttony and Sawyer was Pride. From there it got sketchy
That might not have been true for Lost but it was definitely the case for Gilligans' Island whose creator went on to state that each of the characters was to represent a sin except for Gilligan who was the devil and keeping them on the island which represented hell.