A Brief History of ‘Breaking Bad’s’ Pink Teddy Bear Recurring Motif

The article makes interesting visual parallels, but it doesn’t explain the meaning of the motif. The eye is a direct physical reminder of the negative consequences of Walt’s choices – and the only one of which Walt willingly holds onto. For sure, Walt’s guilt manifests itself through many channels – his unnatural attire, the body coming thru the bathtub, Walter Jr. messing up the pool, the Aztek’s continuously-breaking glass, the purchase of the Dodge Charger, the RV itself, and to a certain degree Skyler’s affair – but all of these things are taken off, repaired or cleaned up to maintain the social order. The eye, on the other hand, can be easily concealed as just a weird-looking eye. The eye is a scar that only Walt can see, and can return to when he sees fit. The eye serves as (safe) proof to himself that Walt doesn’t run from everything. It shows us how much Walt will punish himself – enough to remind him of his evil ways, but not enough to burden him politically in the world.

It’s interesting to note different parties’ reactions to the eye. Skyler is clearly freaked out by it. By that point she has heavily implicated herself with Walt’s choices, and even though she doesn’t know what the eye is exactly, she seems to be remarkably susceptible to the eye’s judication. On the other hand, the cartel brothers take a look at it – and disregard it. No surprise – they don’t feel guilty about much of anything – and they can view it as just a weird-looking eye.