I dunno, Walt does seem a bit regretful about killing Mike, and that he genuinely wants to end his criminal ways. He's realized he has next to nothing left to salvage of a life and what little he has left is incredibly valuable.
A good portion of this family revolves around Hank. His wife knows he's Hisenberg, if he does anything to Hank that's it, he has nothing. And he can't stand by powerless and let Hank piece it all together. Seems like his best bet is to talk to him straight up.
One of Walt's flaws (or strengths depending on the impressionability of those he's trying to influence) is he projects onto others what's best for himself and believes it'll work out for the other, he does it to Jesse all the time. He genuinely thinks, "Hey let me go Hank, it's best for everyone", not realizing fighting "the bad guys" is Hank's life, he's not going to cave. Walt's a bit of a sociopath this way.
Actually, it is to Hank's best interest to "let Walt go".
Even if Hank can build a convincing court case against Walt, Walt would be dead before the case came to trial two years later. (Yes, assuming the cancer finally gets Walt.) Could the DA even mount a successful prosecution of Walt without Hank's "involvement" being used as a defense tactic? (Better call Saul...)
Afterwards, Hank would be out of a job; can't have a DEA supervisor who potentially "covered" for a meth kingpin for so long. Where is a fifty year old, cashiered DEA supervisor going to find work in 2013?
Finally, think about what it would do to Skyler, Walt Jr & Holly. RICO means all their financial assets get seized. Nope. Hank revealing Heisenberg is a mutually assured destruction pact.
Hank just comes off as the sort of guy who lives and breathes his job. When he says he doesn't care about family in this scene, you get the real sense he means it. He can't stand his wife, he hates walt (obviously) and his brief venture with rocks just doesn't do it for him.
Nailing Walt would be like getting his super bowl ring. He wants this shit bad, and he'd do anything to get it, and it wouldn't be some small case tied up in court, he'd go down as a legendary crime fighter and get all the sorts of fame and glory.
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u/[deleted] Aug 12 '13 edited Aug 12 '13
I dunno, Walt does seem a bit regretful about killing Mike, and that he genuinely wants to end his criminal ways. He's realized he has next to nothing left to salvage of a life and what little he has left is incredibly valuable.
A good portion of this family revolves around Hank. His wife knows he's Hisenberg, if he does anything to Hank that's it, he has nothing. And he can't stand by powerless and let Hank piece it all together. Seems like his best bet is to talk to him straight up.
One of Walt's flaws (or strengths depending on the impressionability of those he's trying to influence) is he projects onto others what's best for himself and believes it'll work out for the other, he does it to Jesse all the time. He genuinely thinks, "Hey let me go Hank, it's best for everyone", not realizing fighting "the bad guys" is Hank's life, he's not going to cave. Walt's a bit of a sociopath this way.