What's the story behind Jesse's hole-digging ploy in Breaking Bad? Though his famous catchphrase might suggest otherwise, Jesse Pinkman isn't brought into Walter White's methamphetamine operation because of his scientific nous. Jesse's there to lend his expertise of the local narcotics trade, and guide Walt through new territory, both literally and figuratively.Whether he's providing contacts, sourcing street dealers, or gunning down mild-mannered karaoke stars, Jesse plays a vital role in the enterprise, and his street smarts even take hardened criminals like Mike Ehrmantraut by surprise.
In Breaking Bad season 4's "Cornered," Jesse accompanies Mike to investigate a stolen batch of blue sky meth. Concerned about the unpredictability of armed "meth-heads," Mike wants to sit back and watch the suspect house in traditional police stake-out style. Unaccustomed to waiting around and jittery through withdrawal, Jesse Pinkman insists on taking the direct approach. After failing to convince the dealers inside that he's a buyer, Jesse takes a shovel and begins digging a hole in front of their house. Tucker exits the property and curiously asks what Jesse's digging for. Through something vaguely resembling a Jedi mind trick, Jesse encourages Tucker to take over working on the hole, and let him inside the house, impressing Mike, who watches from the car.
The ploy can be credited entirely to Jesse's in-depth knowledge of meth addiction. Not only does he have extensive experience selling to long-time users, Jesse's also a recovering addict, giving him unique insight into the mindset of Tucker and his gun-toting friend. Having briefly witnessed Tucker's condition when he tried posing as a buyer, Jesse realizes his target's rationality is impaired, and knows that where a regular person might be angered by a stranger digging up their yard, Tucker's curiosity will be piqued. Jesse maintains the act by not paying Tucker any mind when he comes outside, just continuing the dig.
Jesse also knows all too well how meth addiction leads to heightened paranoia, so when Tucker asks why his yard is being dug up, Jesse presses exactly the right buttons. Pinkman leads with "you know why," playing into whatever delusions Tucker might be suffering, and allowing his meth-fueled imagination to run wild. Jesse smartly follows up with "how deep do you think IT is?" which seals the deal for poor Tucker, selling him on the idea that something fascinating is buried far beneath the dirt. From there, it's a simple matter of passing over the spade and sneaking indoors. Jesse's intimate, first-hand knowledge of meth addiction symptoms and the small glimpse he gets of Tucker through the front door is enough to predict more or less exactly how he'll react.
Though Breaking Bad's hole-digging scene is a perfect example of Jesse's practical knowledge trumping Walter White's genius, or Mike's cop training, the usefulness of Aaron Paul's character was already established long before season 4. The moment's true purpose is to bring Jesse and Mike closer together. Earlier in the same episode, Mike was concerned by Jesse's withdrawal, clearly viewing his new partner as a liability. The most important shot in the whole sequence is Mike's smile when he sees Jesse's plan come to fruition - a redemptive moment, and a show of strength for Jesse as he battles addiction to prove his worth in a world of hardcore criminals and chemist extraordinaires. Mike and Jesse go on to form something of a father-son bond in Breaking Bad's later seasons, and his expert navigation of a meth-addled mind in "Cornered" represents a major step on that road.
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