At dinner at the Whites, Hank goes to the bathroom and while there, pages through a copy of Leaves of Grass that Gale had given Walter. He recognizes the writing from Gale's notebook, and from Gale's dedication to Walt, is shocked to conclude that Walt is Heisenberg.
Gliding Over All - Wikipedia.
Hank found out about Walt being the mysterious drug lord Heisenberg during the 8th episode of season 5, which is titled The Book of Walt.
Hank never really starts suspecting. He simply stumbles into a piece of very strong circumstantial evidence, at which point he immediately knows that his brother-in-law is behind the famous blue meth. From that moment on, it's just a matter of proving it. I believe he did not suspect Walt up until the very very end.
Each member of Walter White's family, including Skyler and Hank, eventually find out his secret in Breaking Bad. But when does Hank find out about Walt? The story of Breaking Bad sees Walt, a boring and unadventurous chemistry teacher and car wash assistant, diagnosed with terminal cancer.
They run and take cover as Tuco pulls himself from the ditch and limps toward Jesse's car. But it's not the Cousins - it's Hank, following the LoJack on Jesse's car. He gets out and quickly recognizes Tuco.
In the final scene, Hank figures out that Walt is Heisenberg while perusing Walt's copy of “Leaves of Grass” on the toilet. The book is inscribed: “To my other favorite W.W. It's an honor working with you.
After doing a recent rewatch of the show, I think Hank originally obsesses over Heisenberg to get his mind off of his PTSD, and eventually continues to obsess over it to conquer his PTSD. First, the Heisenberg case is used to avoid going back to El Paso.
In Breaking Bad, does Hank feel respect/sympathy/forgiveness for Walter just before he dies? Yes. Forgiveness may be a stretch, but certainly some degree of understanding. It's my favorite scene in the series.
After a failed attempt to poison Tuco, they manage to escape on foot. Hank, who had been searching for Jesse, spots his car at the house and kills Tuco in a gunfight. Walter is arrested when he takes off all his clothes in a grocery store.
After Walt tries one last time to intimidate Saul into doing his bidding, his cancer rears its ugly head in a series of coughs that bring him to his knees and let Saul know big bad Heisenberg is no more before he leaves for his new life in Omaha.
Hank underestimates Walt, insofar as he believes Walt is a bit of a loser: smart but not in a practical or useful way, at least not in Hank's world view. He often undermines Walt by letting him know that he hasn't much respect for his work or his earning power.
After Breaking Bad
In an interview, show creator Vince Gilligan confirmed that Walter Jr. eventually received his father's drug money through Gretchen and Elliott Schwartz, which he had arranged beforehand.
He confronts Hank and asks about the tracker; an enraged Hank punches Walt and accuses him of being Heisenberg. Walt tells Hank it would be difficult to prove his allegations; in any case, Walt says his cancer has returned and would probably kill him before he could be jailed.
Later in the season, Walt and Todd use hydrofluoric acid to dispose of Mike's body after Walt shot him in a fit of rage ("Gliding Over All").
Why did Hank turn on Walter so quickly (Breaking Bad)? Hank was mostly hurt and angry that his brother-in-law was the biggest meth dealer in America. That sense of betrayal really bothered him as he tearfully and angrily scolds Walt in the garage when he finally realizes that Heisenberg was Walter.
His criminal activity has resulted in the death of a family member. With Hank's death the Heisenberg façade is shattered for good. Walt can't deny his culpability in Hank's death, not with any credibility. He doesn't have that resolve anymore.
Hank then tells Jack to do what he has to do and Jack kills him with a shot to the head. Jack's men bury Hank's and Gomez's bodies in the hole Walt had stored his money, stealing most of it but leaving one barrel totaling approximately $10M for Walt.
Hank being killed is a direct result of Walt's choices that he has made. I think [Walt] realizes this in this moment. He is beyond inconsolable.” Dean Norris, who plays Hank, even says in the same video that he signed off on his character's fate with just one request of the writing staff.
Why Walter White Called Himself Heisenberg. The name of Walt's alter ego came from Werner Heisenberg, a German physicist known as a pioneer of quantum mechanics. As a chemist, Walt would be familiar with famous scientists; likely, he took Heisenberg as an inspiration.
Hank Is The Hero
Breaking Bad is one of the rare series that features a villain as a protagonist. Whereas Walt is evil, Hank is good. For all intents and purposes, he is the hero of the show.
1. when he first started cooking meth (episode 1 season 1), putting his finances above the law and the well being of others. 2. When he turned down help from Gretchen and Elliot (season 1 episode 5), making it clear that his actions are out of pride rather than to help his family.
After realizing that it was Walt who poisoned Brock, Jesse went ballistic. He wanted to bring Walt to justice, even if it meant he has to confess to everything he had done up until that point as well. As a response to this betrayal, Walt put a hit out on Jesse's head.
It's revealed in Season 5 that Ted ended up hospitalized with severe neck trauma. He has to keep his head in a huge protective brace and his head was completely shaved.
Even as her marriage crumbles, Skyler permits Walt to take care of Holly and defends some of his actions to her lawyer, who advises that she leave Walt immediately. She later finds that Walt has signed off on their divorce and left the house for good.