Why did Walt let Jane die in Breaking Bad? The scene that changed everything

Breaking Bad is the best example of moral decay, earth-shattering secrets, and meth-fueled power trips. However, no scene is quite as bone-chilling as the one where Jane Margolis (Krysten Ritter) overdoses and suffocates on her vomit, and Walt watches her die instead of helping her.

As Jesse and Jane dream of starting a life away from all the crime and criminals, fate is watching them from afar and shaking its head in disbelief. Little did Jesse know his life was about to change drastically, and his partner and most trusted ally had a part to play in it.

This scene in Breaking Bad was Walter's transformation from Mr. White, a mild-mannered chemistry teacher trying to secure his family's future after his death, to Heisenberg, a cold and calculative drug lord who wouldn't bat an eye before sacrificing a life to preserve his empire. The scene makes you wonder whether Walt was ever a good person or if he was always a bad guy waiting for the right excuse.

Why did Walt let Jane die in Breaking Bad?

Jane Margolis was Jesse Pinkman's free-spirited, troubled, but smart girlfriend, who became a casualty of a war she wasn't even part of; she died of a heroin overdose and choked on her vomit, while Walter stood over her, watching her die slowly. The scene didn't just shatter Breaking Bad's timeline but also pierced the hearts of millions of fans.

Jane and Jesse: Star-crossed lovers

Jane Margolis was introduced in the Breaking Bad Season 2 Episode 5 - 'Breakage' as a headstrong, witty tattoo artist and Jesse's landlord with whom he falls deeply in love. Though talented, Jane is a troubled girl with a history of reckless behavior and heroin abuse. Jesse and Jane soon become inseparable, and she becomes his pillar of support.

Seems like an ideal love story, right? Wrong. Just like every other star-crossed love story in Hollywood, this one, too, is filled with loss, grief, and immense tragedy. When Jesse and Jane were picturing themselves as Noah and Ellie from The Notebook, their fates were being sealed as Bonnie and Clyde.

Walter, who sees Jesse as a loyal son, becomes concerned with Jane's influence on him. Jesse's changing interests from focusing on their criminal empire to shooting up heroin with his girlfriend start to bother Walt.

Walt sees Jane as an obstacle to his and Jesse's criminal empire. She is constantly getting Jesse high on drugs, pesters Walt for Jesse's share of money, and wants to take Jesse far, far away from Walt's manipulative ways.

Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 12: Phoenix

So, finally, in the Breaking Bad episode Phoenix, Walt gets a chance to turn the tide in his favor. On one fateful night, he enters Jesse's apartment to take back the drug money Jesse had extorted from him at Jane's behest. As he enters their room, he finds them both drugged out, and that's when things start to go downhill.

Jane moves and lies on her back and begins to choke on her vomit. Instinctively, Walt rushes to help her, only to freeze halfway. He realizes that his problems are choking and will end soon. So, he stands there, hands covering his mouth and tears running down his face. Soon enough, Jane dies, and Walt gets Jesse back.

The reason Walt let Jane die in Breaking Bad

The reason Walt let Jane die was simply because of control. Jane was a threat to his control over Jesse, and that's why she needed to die. Walt's entire meth empire was based on his power over Jesse, and with him gone, his hard work would crumble within no time. So, when Jane decided that Jesse needed to retire voluntarily, take his share, and disappear forever, it didn't sit well with Walt.

Walt had decided in his mind that Jesse couldn't survive without him, and this notion soon turned into the thought that Jesse shouldn't survive without him. Walt's twisted mind needed Jesse to need him forever.

In came Jane, who clearly showed that Jesse wanted her and needed her more than he needed Walt. She was making Jesse more assertive towards Walt and, more importantly, was convincing him to quit his criminal ways and start over somewhere away from Walt.

Getting rid of her would again give Walt control over Jesse. He convinced himself that she was a drug addict who was a bad influence on Jesse, which could result in his death. So, getting her out of their way meant saving Jesse. In the moment when he watches Jane die, viewers get a glimpse of the monster Walt has become.

Walter White was not the family man trying to earn money for his family. He was a ruthless drug lord whose only family was money, meth and Jesse. Jane died because Walt no longer cared for human life; all he wanted was control.

The justification of Walt's actions

The next day, when Jesse wakes up, his whole world crumbles as he discovers a lifeless Jane lying beside him. Later, Walt comes over and awkwardly comforts an inconsolable Jesse. For Jesse, Mr White is his rock in a storm of misery, not knowing that he is the one who created the storm.

Now, many Breaking Bad fans might argue that Walt was genuinely concerned for Jesse and that Jane was bad news. She enabled his drug use, manipulated him, and blackmailed Walt for Jesse's share. However, what kind of person watches another person die slowly and does nothing? A Bond villain, perhaps.

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In a show full of cartel shootouts and exploding nursing homes, Jane's silent death was equally haunting. This is the genius of Breaking Bad: It shows that you don't always need machine guns and grenades to show an impactful death. Jane's death was a small moment where Mr White slowly fell into a slumber, and Heisenberg woke up.

So, next, if you find yourself justifying a decision like Walt did, do know that it is time for you to reconsider your life choices. If you see someone choking to death, help them instead of monologuing in your head.