Breaking Bad ‘To’hajiilee’: Is Hank Dead?

Last night’s episode of Breaking Bad, “To’hajiilee,” left us hanging and left us wondering “Is Hank dead?”

It doesn’t look good.

Walt’s former right-hand man, Jessie Pinkman, has joined forces with DEA agent and Walt’s brother-in-law, Hank, in an effort to take down the evil Mr. White. Jessie, Hang and Hank’s partner Gomez plot to trick Walt into leading them to his hidden stash of drug money. The con is simple. Jessie pretends to have tracked down Walt’s money and calls his former partner and threatens to burn all the cash unless Walt shows up. Meanwhile, Walt is being tailed  as he rushes to the hiding place to meet Jessie’s demands. He falls for it hook, line and sinker.

But Walt does Hank and company  one better. Not only does he fall for the trick, Walt boldly confesses numerous crimes on the phone to Jessie while racing to the meet. Walt is so upset and livid that Jessie would destroy the legacy he planned to leave to his family that he momentarily flies off the handle, admitting guilt to numerous murders and crimes as he tries to convince Jessie that his evil deeds were justified.

By the time Walt realizes he’s been lured into a trap, it is too late. Hiding behind a rock, Walt calls in Todd’s uncle and his band of Nazi racists to save him. He gives them the coordinates of his location before realizing that it isn’t just Jessie who is arriving to take him down but also Hank. Ever the family man, Walt tells the Nazis to stay away and that he no longer needs their assistance.

Realizing the game is up, Walt gives himself up to Hank and Gomez while Jessie stands by, waiting for the perfect opportunity to spit in Walt’s face. Hank then takes a moment to call Marie to gloat that he has finally caught Walt and that he has him dead to rights. This proves to be a prideful mistake as Hank wastes precious time because you see, the Nazis decided to come anyway. A lot of them.

Walt’s friends show up and despite the fact that he loudly protests from inside Hank’s car for the Nazi’s to back off, a gunfight ensues. Gomez and Hank fire back though they are hopelessly outnumbered. Walt and Jessie look on helplessly from separate cars. Gomez appears to be hit and the gunfire continues…before the episode ends.

It looks bad for Hank and Gomez. We know that Walt likely escapes this situation, as the season began with Walt returning to town after being on the run. The sentimental phone call between Hank and Marie just before the Nazi’s show up is also bad news.

Still, we didn’t actually see Hank get killed. If the plan was to off Hank in a hail of gunfire, why wouldn’t the shows producers and writers just finish him off at the end of this episode? Why drag it out? It isn’t like Breaking Bad is having a hard time roping in viewers.

I think Hank is going to make it out of this situation. If he was going to be killed, I think he’d have died at the end of “To’hajiilee.” Sure, the situation looks hopeless but how many times has Walt been backed into a corner only to squirm away at the last second?

Then again, this is the final season, so anything can happen.

What do you think? Are Hank and Gomez toast?