Agreed, Jules. Gus was a very interesting and complex character indeed. If only he and Walt could get along, it would have been a different story.

I had issues with Walt killing Lydia too. She never seemed as direct a threat to him as the others he went after in the finale.

I liked the ending but wasn't wowed by it like I have been with some other episodes. Don't get me wrong, I think it ended perfectly (except for my questions about Lydia) but it also wasn't that surprising. I thought one of the best scenes is where Walt finally stops lying to Skyler and actually admits that he did it for himself.

Lydia was a direct threat to Skyler: remember that she wanted her dead because she saw her face at the car wash and she was upset with Todd for just scaring her and not killing her when they broke into the house that night.

I think Walt was being prudent in making sure she would be dead and never be able to harm anyone in his family.

I just went over the Stevia scene, and you're right, it's subtle what she says to Todd after Walt leaves them: "Jeez, did you look at him? We'd be doing him a favor."

Incidentally, that scene at the coffee place with Todd and Lydia takes place before Walt goes back and talks with Skyler (and hears about the nighttime visit from Todd). I guess there must have been a more explicit dialogue that I missed in a previous episode where Lydia expresses the need to have Walt taken out.

Sorry for the obsession....probably because I'm a writer, I am hung up on continuity and characters/plot points being solid and believable.

Jules, I got that vibe from Gus and Max as well. Giancarlo Esposito played Gus so well. What an interesting character! (Does anyone else remember that actor from Homicide? He played Gee's son.)

Lydia was a calculating control freak, filled with anxiety and the need to protect her own at the expense of anyone else. I enjoyed her character but could see how Walt would want her gone too. He really wanted to erase that entire operation as thoroughly as he could. She was the nearest to the top of that pyramid (above Todd and the Nazis) as he could strike.

Plus, Lydia could pose a very real threat to Skyler, as Claudia pointed out. Just like everything Walt did, there was a motive for his own personal power, but also a sub-motive, to protect his family.

It's OVER! WAAAAAH!

Ok, I really liked the ending, it tied up everything. Love that Jesse got out, he deserved to live. The only thing I didn't like was when Walk when to see Skylar, I wish they would have had a bit more of a loving goodbye. I know that will sound crazy, but honestly I'm still not in the camp that Walt is all that Psycho, and I felt like even though he did enjoy his meth job, he still really wanted to do right by his family. I guess I just understood his actions based on the fact that if you really, honestly felt like your life span was down to months, then all normal societal morals sort of go out the window. I think people can get desperate in those situations, and I still saw a lot of humanity in Walt. And I thought Skylar kind of understood that too, so knowing he was pretty much leaving to go to his death (either imminent or cancer) I was hoping she would have at least hugged him, said thanks for thinking of us, etc. Maybe that's crazy, I think I'm just too sympathetic!

I appreciate everyone's insight into Lydia's murder.

Raisin - I lost all sympathy for Walt when he let Jane die. He could have rolled her over and prevented that death but he didn't. He thought he was helping Jesse but there are better ways to help an addict than kill them. I also could never forgive him for Drew Sharp. I realize Todd pulled the trigger, but Walt helped dispose of the body (of a child!) and never told the parents what happened to their son. I just think that's absolutely unforgivable.