[Next Big Thing]

He has certainly taken a darker turn the past season and a half, but initially Walt was compelled to start cooking because of his dire circumstances and desire to support his family. He wasn't splurging on himself and tried to keep his cooking a secret early on. He didn't want notoriety or glory. The incident with Tuco ruined that. His actions are not heroic, but it is understandable from his perspective.

I'm just saying that you would think as his wife, Skyler would be more understanding considering the circumstances that led him to doing what he has and not react to the extent she has at times.

SPOILER: show

To me, the show represents the slippery slope of drug dealing and does a great job of showing the perils and not glorifying it, but IMO Walt's still cooking is due to him falling down that slippery slope more so than being addicted to the lifestyle or power it brings.

I personally think Walt's actions over these past few episodes are more of him reacting to being vulnerable/treated like a victim/portrayed as weak minded more than being addicted to who he has become. Walt's more of an indentured servant than a partner. He gets played by his wife in the worst way with three simple words, "I fucked Ted," Gus owns him, Mike beat his ass despite Walt being armed and Jesse disrespects him constantly and seems to have a higher status than him or at least it's being made to seem that way (I don't think Jesse being called away and leaving Walt to clean up after the cook was coincidental).

His order to kill Gale was done primarily to keep him and Jesse alive, not to eliminate competition. He bought the gun, not to kill Gus and take over the meth empire, but because he saw Gus kill Mike's #2 man and felt that was his only way out of the bad situation.

The incident at dinner was brought about by being reminded of Skyler's affair, having to lie about being some lowly, weak gambling addict for pity from his in-laws, and hearing Hank somewhat praise Gale as a genius moments after Walt had to humble himself with that lie . The rant from this week was due to Skyler again making it seem like he was in over his head/ unable to cope with his situation.

I can understand why a guy who is floating a business that is large enough to be listed on NASDAQ would eventually grow to be resentful about being looked at as weak or a victim and having the shit kicked out of him by everyone around him.