Brian Earl Spilner said:
On this rewatch (first time I've rewatched since it ended), I think I've finally deciding my breaking point for Walt.
It's in Buyout, where Walt refuses to sell his methylamine for $5M, more than he ever needed, because he wants his empire.
Point of no return right there. Pure ego. Pure greed.
Like you I'm rewatching it now for the first time since it first aired, and I find I can't help but view it through different eyes this time.
It's really early on in the show, like mid-Season 1, where Walt's motivations stop being about providing for his family after his death and become other things...rebelling in a way he's always wanted to but never had the balls to before; being "in charge" instead of being told what to do by his wife, his bosses, etc; being "the man" instead of just being the meek chemistry teacher while Hank is viewed as the tough DEA guy; getting "what's his" after being screwed over (in his mind at least) by his former Grey Matters partners.
From about mid-Season 1, everything Walt does is ultimately out of selfishness and self-preservation. Even his supposed loyalty to Jesse is really just self-motivated. It's just not until the Buyout episode that Walt actually admits it. Still the best show ever made, IMO, but this time around my breaking point with Walt came waaaay earlier, and I found I had a lot more sympathy for Jesse from the beginning.
Also....******* I love Mike.