re: Breaking Bad S5E15 9/22 "Granite State"

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if it ends with them hugging it out, I'm going to be pissed

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Yeah, that relationship along with any relationship Walt previously had is too far gone to rekindle. Vince Giligan has constantly said this is a story of Mr. Chips turning into Scarface. I can't see any other way of this ending than going out like Scarface.

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He may indirectly, but I don't think he's going back to ABQ thinking the plan is save Jesse.

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He may be going back to kill Jesse, along with Jack and Co. Who knows?

We knew from the beginning that somebody started a war, because Walt felt he needed a machinegun. Who started a war? Jack. The really smart play would have been to kill Walt along with Hank and Gomey.

But, the people saying it is Walt's ego have the strongest case - that's normally what steels his resolve. When he is fearful, he has typically run and/or get others to kill for him. However, with his back against the wall, he has always been good for effective, decisive action (coupled with a little luck, here and there).

So - we have the following motivations:

1. Provide for his family (he still believes he can do this, improbable though it may seem) - and be recognized as doing this - although that is tough the way he left it with Skyler and Flynn. (I do think that Skyler recognized he was doing the best he could to bail her out with the phone call. That is her best defense against any serious charges.)

2. Revenge on Jack & Co

3. GM disrespect

4. The blue resurfacing (if he is indeed aware of this)

5. Resolve the Jesse situation (again, not sure if he will kill him or free him.)

I'm not sure there are any other loose ends.

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the people saying it is Walt's ego have the strongest case

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I thought the last episode made it pretty clear that his motives from now till the end will be based on ego

Replying to OP because I've no other idea where else to "put" this.

Below are interesting comments (warning: long read) from an episode recap commenter on the card playing scene in the cabin. Thought this would add a little to the discussion:

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As an avid poker player,I loved the poetic symbolism of Walt's decision not to cut the cards. In poker, whether or not a player cuts cards is a very complicated tell. A lot of poker players believe that "only a fool doesn't cut cards," as it means the player is 100% trusting that the dealer has not cheated. It is a tell because it leads one to believe that the player has the classic character trait of doing the one thing someone should never do in a poker game; trust the people who only are there to take what is yours.

The fact that a man will trust that you are not cheating when you are dealing may reveal that you are willing to believe that he is also not lying about the strength of his hand. This can ultimately cripple you later in life. Some players do not subscribe to this theory at all. Some players believe that refusing to cut cards is a tell because it speaks to your pride and your ego. The fact that you know that ultimately this could be the hand that wipes you clean; and if it is, you'll be stuck with the mental anguish of "Things would've been different if I had just cut the cards in a different place...or if I hadn't cut the cards at all."

I think the 2nd explanation describes Walt's decision more accurately. Walt didn't cut the cards because even though his life is already completely in shambles, his ego can't take the suggestion that perhaps it was his fault. Instead he'd rather just blame the cards as they lie.

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I didn't get at first why some of you thought Todd was so creepy (I thought he was kind of goofy) but after the scene in Holly's nursery...

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I new Todd was going to be trouble from his very first scene on the show.

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I thought the last episode made it pretty clear that his motives from now till the end will be based on ego

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I thought so too.

Walt's pride was slipping away in that cabin. He donned the Heisenberg hat on the first day, but couldn't bring himself to walk out the gate. From there it was Walt withering away with only the thought of giving that money to his family to keep him fighting. Walt Jr's denial destroyed all hope he had.

Then the interview was a shot across the bow at everything he accomplished and his pride resurfaced

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i was the only poster to propose it, and like 2 posters responded saying i take it too seriously. and i said that they had to play a significant role. and it wasnt for a permaban. and nobody accepted. so it's a nonissue

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You did a whole lot of crawfishing over this ban thing. And btw, someone most definitely took it, even if they said they didn't want you banned...

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I'll take that bet.

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Posted by Napoleon.

You gonna be a man about it, or back out?

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Todd capping the girl

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This was the worst scene in the entire series. I wish the writers hadn't done this; it made me not like the episode.

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This was the worst scene in the entire series. I wish the writers hadn't done this; it made me not like the episode.

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What else did you think would happen. Jesse had to be punished for trying to escape. You already knew they wouldn't kill him, so this was the next move.

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I want Todd to win in the end.

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stolen from reddit....