Sadly when Walter discovered the missing piece of broken plate he faced the reality that he had no choice but to kill Krazy 8. Worse, when Walter chose to walk down the stairs he could and most likely would be charged and convicted of First Degree, Premeditated Murder. Although Walter killed with a heavy heart he had absolutely reached the point of no return.

M3G4B!T3
(Damn, I love Breaking Bad and can hardly wait to watch the new episodes on Sunday!)

Walt has not passed the point of no return yet. Despite his downward spiral, so far he has successfully covered his tracks. The only potential loose end so far is the possibility of DNA evidence on the gas mask that is being sent in for testing. All of the murder scene evidence implicates Jesse, not Walt.

Point of no return? What does that mean, exactly?
He has cooked crystal and killed two men, not to mention blowing up a lawyer's car. He has committed the First Mistake in the Drug World- i.e. drawing attention to himself by producing something so pure that it stands out like a sore thumb. Enter Tony Soprano, or Anton Chigurh. The DEA is closing in. He has inoperable cancer and knows it. He has a very high I.Q. and a lot of pride. I would say Yes, he has passed the point of no return and is the Most Dangerous Character on television. He's very smart and totally unpredictable. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Walt is pass the point of return because he will not accept help from family and friends.
He believes he can cook and some how distance himself from the destructive power of the
drug. It aint gonna work.

Beyond no return...when Walt was left with no options between pride and death...he choose pride as most of us do. Better to die with pride than with nothing at all...

Of course his sister-in-law gives Walt the best advice.Surprising every one including her sister.She has seen what chemo does and also said it was ultimately Walt that had to live with the treatment's effects.It was nice to see someone sticking up for Walt in that room as he was being backed into a corner.

the best advice that Walt recieved at his intervention(Skyler's talk cirlce) that helped benefit him was the advice that his sister in law voiced outloud. She was able to identify the struggle that Walt's family was putting on him for his decision to not let his terminal illness or any decision he has made concerning lack of treatment, cloud his goal in mindoutweigh his need for respect and acceptance. The opportunity to vent his frustration helped him to refocus on his circle of influence within himself rather than the cirlc of concern that he has come to depend on to dictate his way of life.

There is no point of no return. We get a new day every day. Every day we choose to do what we do and I argue that indecision is a choice in itself. Walt is choosing to do what he feels on the inside despite what culture dictates. Go Walt!

Nope, I do not believe that Walt has crossed the line yet. Why? Every thing he has done todate is for a higher reason. Cooking Meth? He does this so that he can provide for his family after he dies. He doesn't want the money for himself. He's toast and he knows that his "retirement" will not provide for Skyler or his son.

The killing of Emelio and Crazy 8? Self defense. No doubt the Walt knew that if he did not act when he did against the two he and most likely "the Capt." would not live. Crazy 8? When Walt found the plate portion missing, and came down stairs he did not have a weapon and when 8 reacted to the question about the shard by trying to stab him, then and only then did Walt react and kill him. I believe that Walt feels extreme remorse over having to do what he needed to do to keep his own life, and as long as he can feel remorse, he has not gone over the line.

In episode 6 he puts his own life on the line to "make it right" for Jesse in his meeting with Tuco.

Rev Joel, you of all people should know the cardinal rule thal shall not kill. He could have turned himself in to the cops rather than take a life. Is his family's financial comfort worth someone else's life? Even an admittedly low life like Crazy 8.

He chose, or maybe felt he was "forced" by circumstance beyond his control to take the path to follow and as a result had to take two lives. He did not take those lives needlessly; only after they had both demonstrated a propensity to kill him at any chance. Right wrong or indifferent, I would not condemn Walt for the deaths of Emilio or Crazy8.

Pax Christi
Rev. Joel+

And the Cardinal Rule, if you are referring to the Commandment..."Thou shall do no murder."

Walt has definitely passed the point of no return. Now that his head is shaved and Jesse was hurt, he's one bad meth dealing chemistry man. He now knows how to do business with some of the most dangerous named in the Meth game.

Walt could never pass the point of no return. Unless he is dead or in jail, he'll always have the option of trying to cover his tracks. Although, leaving his family financially strapped and dieing peacefully at home isn't in the cards. In his mind he can't go back to the life he once lived.

What IS the point of no return here?
Could Walter return to life as he knew it before his grim diagnosis and treatment? Can someone live innocently as they did once they've killed another person in moments of desperation when they were certain their own life was in danger? Is it possible for someone to knowingly contribute to an activity that is destructive, personally and to the community by those who choose to partake, if it is done in the name of saving their life or their family's livelihood?
These are questions we all might answer differently, as they hang over both sides of right and wrong. What the point of no return was would depend on the person and is yet to be defined for Walter until we see the results of the decisions he's made and what he becomes.

Sky Rider,
I dont think he can return to his life before. His new found personel power has taught an old dog new tricks.

Rev Joel
Thanks for clearing up the cardinal rule "Thou shall do no murder."

Personally I dont see how Walt can pass the point of no return, seeing how he was forced to take a life in order to save his own, and now after meeting with Tico and his goons , well, there is only forward for now for Walt. ps,, hope Jesse is healing and feeling better!!!
j.hansen

Julie,
I am not so sure self defense is the key to his passing the point of no return, he still made a choice to go into the basement with prior knowlge that Crazy 8 was going to TRY to kill him..

If you mean by "return" that Walt would be able to go back to his old life and continue as though nothing has happened, then no, he couldn't, he has passed that point. He could never be the same man after killing one man, concealing the death of another and causing a good man to lose his job and go to jail. He's been on a downward spiral both mentally and physically since the first episode. That's what the show is all about.

Lonelywombat,
I dont think he meant returning to his old life ... I think it was more a moral turn back.

The point of no return as i see it is the instance that you realize you will never be the same person that you once were. Breaking Bad is about a man who struggles to refute the changes in his life, yet, eventually he gives into them and decides to take control of them instead of fighting them.
Walter has past the point of no return, he will be a changed man even if he survives the future, but unlike others who changed because they wanted too or were ignorant to their actions, Walter will not take any instance lightly or without thought. He "Is awake" while the rest of the world is sleeping.

"You made two mistakes."

Tawazaki,
Very astute point of view! I truly believe that walt has "decided to take control of his changes" It turns out the character has had a veil of darkness lifted off his soul by the idea of dying, self awareness is a strange bedfellow.

I've already won, but I want to answer this.

In once sense, Walt has passed the point, because he repeatedly says, "I will not do this again" or "this will happen this way" and in the next second, he has to adapt to something beyond his control. For example, Jesse says he has a connection to Tuco and Walt believes him, then it turns out the connection is tenuous at best and Jesse gets beat up and can't finish the job. So Walt has to step in and become a different person.

There have been a lot of comments about how Walt used to be one way and now he is something else and he is enjoying it. I'm remembering now, the scene in the pilot where he's striking the matches. I always thought that was where he "broke bad", where he realized he had to do SOMETHING drastic to get out of this life. I think now, that
Walt IS the match. You strike the tip and it burns, but it also consumes the rest of the wood. It will burn that way down to your fingers, or you can use it to start a bigger fire.

The question now should be is Walt going to burn out with the match (too late for that is my guess) or will he start something bigger? Is he a wildfire or a controlled burn?

DRKellog,
Ohhh Walt's a wildfire alright, Not a controlled burn!

As the contributions to this thread end I cant help thinking the thought that WALT HAS CROSSED THAT LINE. I remember thinking thoughts when I first became a dad myself "would I kill to feed my kids?". As morbid as that sounds it must be a guy thing because other friends pondered that thought as well. Obviously Vince has tapped into that primordial father thing that might be ingrained in our DNA. It still does not excuse Walt's choices. His kids were not starving and nobody was going to debtor's prison if he dies.

Walt is past the point of no return..The cancer and money are no longer the primary drive for his actions, he is becoming strong and powerful, and he likes it. I love this show and would put it in the class of Sopranos, Rome and Deadwood. This is a classic!

Walt is on the verge of an experience that few ever have the fortune of realizing.Point of no return?,,,The way Cranston portrays the ungodly surge of maniacal power and dominating victory bestowed upon a terminally ill man,,,Why would you want to go back?!! This man has finally woke up and is really starting to live! This show is GREAT! I hope you guys can find a cure for Walt or something because,I'd really hate to see a character like this just fade away or something pansified like that.This last episode has really inspired me and restored my faith in syndicated television.I used to think AMC was retirement-style programming,but you guys keep blowing me away every time I turn it on.

YOU ROCK!!!

Walt could never cross a point of no return. Although he is an morrally competent soul, he does recognize basic lefe preservation duties such as kill or be killed. There seems to be no such point for Walt. Walt saw the world in a different manner being a student of science even prior to being diagnosed with cancer, now he is certainly seizing the day knowing there might not be time to even "return" from any point.

Walt has just crossed the point of no return. After dealing with Tuco, Walt has tasted power and power is just what Walt needed! The helplessness of cancer has now been overridden by power! The power Walt has now, due to the quality of his "glass" combined with standing up to Tuco has now become Walt's drug! Walt is now unknowingly HOOKED!

I do believe Hank has passed the" point of no return". But I do like the way hes doing for his family. Twists and turns everywhere. Crazy.

I think he's not only passed the point of return. I think that he has realized the point of not wanting to return. Return to what? No respect from others and no self respect to speak of? No appreciation? No voice? No security knowing that his family will be able to survive once he's gone.
I think that Walt has always been someone that has done whatever HAD to be done. Evident in that in order to provide for his family he held down 2 jobs. One of which is thankless and the other is demeaning to him. So that's why "Crazy 8"'s fate was sealed even before their heart to heart. He wasn't looking for a reason not to kill him. He was searching for a way to. He was searching for a way to be able to get past his conscience and for the opportunity. Crazy 8's obvious intentions and the way he looked him in eye and lied to him was the catalyst. And he saw how things went with Tuco doing it "through the right channels" Not only did he lose his product and the best chance he had at providing for his family after he was gone. He also felt obligated to retaliate for what happened to Jesse. Because not only do you NOT disrespect him (lawyer in the parking lot) you don't disrespect his friends.. I'm sure that he considers Jesse his friend because he risks his ass inorder to go out and push the product and ends up in the hospital.
I think that during all the years of being laughed at, ignored, and bowing down to everyone else's want's and desires. Basically getting walked on. He was always saying to himself, "I'm so sick of not being heard.I'm going to blow everybody's mind! I'll take charge, speak up and get the respect that I deserve!"
Now that he's faced with his own mortality. He realizes that he has to change the way he does things. He has to stop being the "Chemistry Teacher that washed his student's cars." While yes he's always done what needed to merely get by. It was time to start doing what needed to be done to get AHEAD. He had to start to MAKE things happen so he could have a little self respect and dignity when he dies and that his family wouldn't be left with nothing when he was gone.
And it looks like he's off to a good start!
Incredible show!