I came away from the latest episode with two prevailing feelings: where is this going, and why do I care? Walt is evil; the transformation is complete. Got that. It's entertaining to watch his machinations, but I don't find the apparent stakes (the well-being of Jesse and Skyler and, in theory, the good people of Albuquerque and their dirtbike-riding children) particularly compelling. Put another way: at this point, I'm having trouble imagining a resolution to the show that would be satisfying.

What's keeping you engaged?

I've felt that one intriguing potential ending would have Walt, Jr. wind up as a meth addict. I also believe that while Walt's character has descended into megalomania, Jesse's character has become humanized and more emotionally sympathetic. Hated Jesse at the start of the series, so this has been a big transformation. Maybe a showdown where Walt has to choose between his blood family and his adopted "son," Jesse?

I completely buy Jesse as a protagonist now. They're making him smarter, more measured. My guess is he may turn out to be a threat to Walt. Also, Walt has cancer.

I can certainly see a situation in which Jesse has an about-face, particularly if this Todd fellow starts acting as Walt's goon (as Sarah expects). But however it happens, we all know Walt is headed for a fall. Are we just waiting to see how it happens—by Jesse having the moral awakening he's clearly headed toward, or by Hank catching on, or by Walt simply alienating everyone he needs? (That part of Walt's ascent is interesting: while he has proven willing to get his hands dirty, he's still dependent on the operational know-how and contributions of Mike and Jesse. If they walk, he's helpless.)

I'm intrigued by the idea of something happening to Walter Jr. The children seem to be the only characters Walt has legitimate affection for.

I think Jesse's already changed. As for why I'm still watching, it's less about Walt's descent/ascent... that's already happened, as you point out. I'm curious more as to the "how" of his final demise.

Or what form that demise ultimately takes. The season opened with him at that diner in ... New Hampshire? ... buying a car and some firepower. He had a full head of hair, so you have to figure it's a healthy number of months in the future. To date, only a year of TV time has elapsed since the first season, so a big chronological leap forward appears inevitable. Just a question of where that moment falls vis-a-vis the resolution of the story.