Hank And Walt's Big Confrontation Scene Was Reshot To Amp Up The Emotional Intensity

In the Vulture article, Dean Norris explained what the original plan for the scene was like — and it was much more angry and violent, including having Walt essentially turn into Heisenberg and be much more outwardly threatening. Norris said, "That's how it was written in the script. Bryan [Cranston] and I thought it turned out okay, but we weren't entirely satisfied ... we felt uncomfortable; it seemed like too much." Ultimately, their reservations, alongside a conversation with episode writer Peter Gould, led to them redoing the scene, instead focusing on the aspect of betrayal.

Norris continued, "Cranston, in his greatness, synthesized that as Walt being sad, too. In the next take, his speech was much more heartfelt — more of a plea than a threat. I think he might have had a tear in his eye."

And, while focusing on the betrayal, Norris ended up channeling another on-screen act of betrayal — in "The Godfather Part II." Norris explained, "Vince [Gilligan] asked me, 'What was that great thing where you grabbed the back of Walt's head?' when Hank says, 'All along it was you.' It wasn't a specific reference, but I realized it was from The Godfather 2 — Michael Corleone saying to his brother, 'I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart.'"