Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
After the plane crash, Skyler learns about Walter's drug business and demands that he leave. The Mexican cartel sends cousins to avenge Tuco, and Hank's investigation puts him in their path. Gus Fring offers Walter work in an underground lab beneath an industrial laundry, alongside Gale Boetticher. Jesse, grieving Jane, cooks and sells on his own. Hank's pursuit of the RV leads him to Jesse; after a staged call about Marie, Hank attacks and badly beats Jesse. Later, the Salamanca twins ambush Hank and leave him gravely wounded.
Walter persuades Gus to bring Jesse into the lab as his partner, replacing Gale so Jesse will drop the assault complaint. Skyler becomes involved in handling Walter's money and devises a gambling story to help explain the family's new wealth. Hank faces a slow recovery from his injuries. Jesse becomes angry when two dealers use a child to sell drugs. Walter first refuses to intervene, then runs the dealers down with his car. He shoots the surviving dealer, tells Jesse to run, and the two are now openly at odds with Gus.
Walter knows Gus can replace him once Gale is ready to cook alone. He contacts Jesse and tells him to kill Gale. Jesse carries out the murder, leaving Gus without an immediate substitute and Walter with leverage over his employer. The season ends with Walter and Jesse hiding at Saul's office after the killing, while Gus's organization searches for them and Walter's family remains entangled in the business.