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Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois
I'm not sure why Todd has so much respect for Walt, unless it just the "awe of science" or some shrewd tactical moves. It can't be out of fear, since Jack was the one providing Walt's muscle.
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Walt pulled the same thing with Jesse, the fill in paternal role, and taught him to cook- something that would be seen as valuable to Jack and his guys. He made him a valuable asset and like I said Walt has always been good with manipulation. Todd maybe a sociopath, but it's pretty clear that he does have a motivation to be considered a key guy within the criminal circles he hangs around.
Walter opened the door for him to move up more than anyone, and you can't say he has zero motivation for his actions as there is at least some need for recognition and acceptance he wants - kinda like his smirk when they watched Jesse's confession and all the guys found out that he was the one that killed Drew. Not because it's a kid, but it reinforced that he will do whatever is necessary to ensure that nothing stands in the way.
It's Todd's pride to a degree but also he identifies with Walt's obsession with infamy. Just like his quick thinking to not kill Jesse right away, and his conversation with Jack. They have more money than they could ever need, but he's the one that pushes to keep cooking, so money is clearly not his endgame.
Todd wants power, and the notoriety that came when Walt was Heisenberg. He even says it's not personal before shooting Andrea, a defense and rationale Walt used to justify even going back to Crazy8. Todd just has little or no moral qualms in reaching his decision to do those horrible things, and it's not "personal" because it's "business" and the surest way to keep Jesse from trying to run as well as provide him a reason to keep cooking.
Not going after Walt's family is a half measure like Mike used to talk about, and if you recall his quote about Lydia, he says something along the lines of, "if there ever was a Bitch that deserved to die, she was it." She's just as much a sociopath as Todd. Possibly the reason why he identifies with her, and has a thing for her. Her response is very similar, take out all of Mikes guys, and when Mike refused, she immediately trys to have Mike killed so he won't be in the way to stop killing the rest.
Unfortunately for Mike, he doesn't take his own advice and does a half measure- sneaking into her house to kill her but doesn't follow through. Contrast that with Todd sneaking in to threaten Skyler, another half measure, as Lydia points out, but the difference in extremes being Mike had no intention of harming Lydia's child or leaving her dead for the kid to witness her murder, versus Todd makes his initial play by breaking in to Holly's room to get her attention and threaten. Skyler walks in and he's hovering over the crib, the implied threat is not simply to Skyler if she talks, but to send the message that her children are in danger- which has been her biggest fear the entire show.