He’s kept his illegal operation a secret from the world for multiple seasons, but Walter starts to become more careless in Season 4. Did Walter White want to get caught?
Yes, Walter White did want to get caught. His character’s downfall is pride, and he is not comfortable with Gale Boetticher, or anyone else, receiving credit for his product.
The “blue stuff” case is nearly wrapped up when Walter’s pride jeopardizes the easy getaway. Hank is prepared to label Gale as the genius “Heisenberg” the D.E.A. has been hunting for, but a drunken Walter’s pride encourages Hank to keep looking.
Hank thinks Gale is Heisenberg, Walter can’t accept it
In the episode titled “Shotgun,” the Whites invite Hank and Marie Schrader to dinner. Walter is a bit tipsy, drinking glass after glass of red wine while Skylar explains the logistics behind their car wash purchase.
Following some small talk, Walter stands up to find another bottle in the kitchen. Skyler gives a concerned look as he picks up his glass. She likely remembers when he became too intoxicated at his remission-celebration party and makes his son drink.
Despondent, Walter drinks alone in the kitchen. He nearly finishes two additional glasses by himself before Hank reminds him to carry the bottle back to the group.
Once he returns, Walter Jr. asks Hank for updates about that “crazy singing guy,” referring to Gale Boetticher. Brushing it off, Hank says he’s done with the case and his assessment has already been given to the A.P.D.
As Hank describes Gale, Walter continues to drink with a concerned look on his face. For those who don’t remember, Gale is Walter’s former laboratory assistant. Walter convinces Jesse to assassinate Gale, as he worries that Gus is planning to replace him as a cook with Gale full-time.
The D.E.A. has connected Gale to the “blue stuff,” assuming that he is indeed the “Heinsenberg” they’ve suspected of operating the large scale narcotic production.
Hank reiterates at the dinner table that Gale is a “chef,” not a cook. He says Gale’s work is five stars and worthy of candles and white tablecloth. Walter, listening to his former partner receive all the credit, begins to look agitated and continues drinking.
Walter implies he wants to get caught
Once Hank outright calls Gale a genius, Walter cannot take the misallocation of credit any longer. Hank says that if Gale applied himself to something good, he could’ve helped humanity.
It’s at this moment that Walter can no longer sit idly by as his credit is not given. Despite wanting to keep his work a secret, and Gale being the perfect scapegoat, Walter cannot stand not receiving credit.
Walter says he’s not one to tell Hank his business, but he disagrees. Pretending he’s unaware, Walter says Gale’s science notebook which Hank investigated does not indicate a genius.
The papers did not contain any reasoning or deduction, according to Walter. To Walter’s eye, he says, the “brilliance” looks like nothing more than simple rote copying of someone else’s work.
Skyler, with a terrified expression, realizes what Walter is doing. Despite not understanding Gale’s direct connection to Walter, she knows that Hank’s satisfaction with resolving the case can only be beneficial.
Hank re-opens the case
Walter, choosing to encourage Hank to re-open the case, stems from a dissatisfaction of not receiving the credit he feels he deserves. He says he’s been around enough students to notice when someone is simply copying work.
In one final push to reclaim credit without outright exposing himself, Walter says the “genius” Hank is looking for is still out there.
Of course, Walter does not want to specifically be arrested. Yet, he is not comfortable with Gale going down in the history books as being the genius behind the blue product.
Regardless of Walter’s true intentions, Hank is inspired to continue his operation. The following scene, he sits at his dining room table with papers spread throughout. He informs Marie that he wants to re-open the case, and new boxes of evidence will be arriving soon.
So yes, Walter White does want to get caught. His downfall is his pride, and he wants full credit for creating his product.