Though I was an avid fan (RABID after season 4), I remember being underwhelmed by Season 6…UNTIL S7.   Now when I re-watch the entire series, S6 is absolutely the heart-breakingest

I reserve the right to postpone final judgement until Breaking Bad wraps up, but it's on its way.  I try not to compare them though; their differences are fair.  Breaking Bad is a wild ride, but a rather overt black and white descent.

Today, I stopped lurking and finally registered here.  Your comment is validation.  I find solace with anyone who think Hyatt HAD to be more than some awful misstep.  That he was an unwelcome way for us to compare and contrast Vic.

That's a fair nag, but I feel it's a crucial lynchpin decision that haunts not only season 7, and not only season 5, but I think it makes for great compare/contrast when we see the monsters made in Season 4. 
(I'm trying to dance around spoilers best as I can)

the Shield, no question

it's hard to ask this of someone, but the show rewards you if you complete all 7 seasons, and all rewards are earned from the pilot all the way to the finale.  It not only rewards, it STAYS

for your own good, put the internet down for a while and finish the Shield ASAP

I wonder if they had similar revelry for the soundtrack sometimes

That finale wrung my heart like a towel. I felt like I couldn't even eat breakfast the day after I was so upset…at a television show

Surprised to hear you weren't into the 4th, but even Ryan feels like that was the season he wishes he could re-do.  After seasons 5-7 you'll know why.  I often feel like the caveat when imploring friends to get into the Shield is "If you can just make it to season 4…it's the best ever" etc

It's almost as if they had no original plans for the strike team. Ronnie was just a pal of Ryan's told to sit there and look pretty, Lem's not even a regular cast member in the credits for a season, and Shane is absent from a few episodes this season.  Shane was like the Pinkman they wanted to kill as soon as possible…

It adds to the ambiguity I had at first about the character.  Are they writing an accurate pig very well, or sincerely hoping I want to bro down with him?  I found myself rolling my eyes at most of the "school cut up" badassery, but it's all rather perfect for him too

come ooooooon ZMF….Klaatu Barada Nikto….

I was glad how wrong my predictions were before that final episode.  Since season 2 I could always be heard to smugly say how "Ronnie is just smart enough to get away with it all."  Interesting to see the path of all who followed Vic 

but the small "blink and you'll miss it" nod in the finale was so very appreciated