That’s the second time Walt has killed someone so Jesse wouldn’t have to. Does anyone else feel that Walt’s motivation in killing the drug dealers was primarily to protect Jesse? He’s shielding him from the mental and emotional consequences of committing murder, as well as recriminations by the cartel and the possibility of arrest. I don’t think Walt would’ve cared enough to take any action against the dealers if he hadn’t been sure that Jesse would go after them.
I think he did it to protect Jesse but also to reassert some control. I don’t think he likes knuckling under to Gus.
He said it so the meth head would stop asking questions. I doubt that’s actually where he got it form.
I think Walt killed them due in part to protect Jesse perhaps, but mostly due to a moment of clarity. When you’re in a sterile lab and buffered from the meth dealers and the damage it causes it’s easy enough to think “consentual crimes- people are free to do what they like with their own body even if it’s destructive” and the like, but when the lead story on the news is a kid younger than yours who has killed and who has died a violent death because of your product it becomes less easy to ignore. I think he’s begun to buy his soul back and this was the downpayment; the balloon payment’s gonna be a bitch.
Also I’m still not convinced the cancer hasn’t metastasized into his brain.
I think the entire scene (and most definitely the head shot) had much to do with Mike’s earlier conversation with him. Full Measure.
Since when does Gus deal with street level dealers? I thought he was supposed to be way up on the food chain.
As Jesse was walking up to the two dealers I remember thinking “Walt’s going to come flying through and mow those guys down”, and sure enough. It seems crazy, but I guess he didn’t really have any other option. He probably went there to try to stop Jesse, but when he saw he was already out of his car and walking towards them, out-matched and out-gunned, I guess it was either that or let Jesse get killed.
He’s already stood by and watched someone die once.
Perhaps Gus’s motives were to let Jesse and the street dealers fight it out- to the death- among themselves and whoever won got that territory.
Sometimes, I’m not convinced Walt’s cancer hasn’t metastasized into Jesse’s brain. 
I agree with this. As we saw in the fly episode Walt is wracked with guilt about having let Jane die and then seeing the tragic consequences on Jesse. This is part of his payback for past actions. Jesse was deemed expendable by Gus/Mike while Walt knows that he can survive this incident because (1) Gus needs him for the meth production and (2) there seems to be a buildup of mutual respect between Gus and Walt as evidenced in the last three or four episodes.
This season had some powerful endings to episodes – Walt and Jesse trapped in the meth RV, Hank’s hit attempt, and this week’s wipeout of the dealers. This show does not disappoint to say the least. Too bad there’s only one episode left this season.
I’m surprised they’ve never used Jesse’s Girl as an episode title this season.
A great show would be a blend of Breaking Bad and Glee. A teacher who is so motivated to have a great show choir begins making and selling drugs to buy kick ass costumes and song rights and to get them all going he gives them the product, and they sing about it, very very fast.
Interesting! I’ll keep an eye out for that.
Actually, I’ll be keeping an eye out for this show, too, Sampiro. What a concept!
I agree with this. The meeting at the chicken farm should have been over speaker phone (with Mike cradling “My Little Friend”, as an enticement to agreeability). No way should a top guy be identifiable by street guys.
If I weren’t worried about going to hell with you, I would think this is great idea.
I’m now imagining that Skyler was never actually pregnant.