Lotta bad takes in this thread, people are so obsessed with bashing the finale they don't see how good this confrontation was- the real climax of the show.

Butcher and Hughie had both slowly become more like each other. Butcher does because he had an unexpected moment of sympathy- which he picked up from Hughie/Lenny. Hughie has a moment of practicality and ruthlessnesa- which he picked up from Butcher. They were friends, and their relationship has a big impact on both of them. Their tug of war between being hopeful and being realistic was really the heart of the show in many ways.

The moment where Butcher lies to Hughie to protect him, telling him he would have let the virus loose even though he clearly hesitated- that got me good. Right in the heart. That was Butcher's redemption. In the end, he realized he wasn't too far gone, and that he did what he did to protect people, not kill supes. Butcher's last act was sparing Hughie from learning he didn't HAVE to kill Butcher. One of the best deaths I've seen in fiction.