Can you believe that its getting close to 2 years since Breaking Bad left our screens? Yeah, me neither. It seems like it was just the other day that we were first introduced to the story of high school teacher turned methamphetamine cook Walter White. Each week, Vince Gilligan would take us on a roller-coaster ride filled with riveting character development and gut-wrenching suspense. For the rest of the week we would take some time to recuperate and anxiously wait for the next instalment.
At least weโve now got Better Call Saul gracing our screens. The cinematography, the sharp dialogue and dark humour is all too familiar, and watching Bob Odenkirk tear it up as the titular character is entertaining as hell. But letโs just say for arguments sake that Better Call Saul is like Vanilla Coke. We all love it. Itโs still refreshing compared to the rest of todayโs market. But at the end of the day, you still come back to Classic Coca Cola. Because letโs face it, Classic Coke is the best (can I get a โYeah Bitchโ?).
It goes without saying that every episode in the series is good, but there are some that just go to another level. Itโs taken a lot of time and much consideration. So I present to you 5 of the greatest episodes of the series that redefined television.
NOTE: The following article quite obviously contains spoilers. But if you havenโt watched Breaking Bad yet, you should probably re-evaluate your life
5. Phoenix (Season 2, Episode 12)
Considering the frantic ending to previous episode โMandalaโ, the penultimate episode of Season 2 begins with a more settled pace. Weโre introduced to Waltโs daughter Holly, and the scenes between father and newborn are genuinely touching. The protectiveness of Walt over Jesse is mirrored here between Jane and her father, Donald. Walt and Donald meet by chance at a bar, and converse about water on Mars, and the difficulties of looking after someone you truly care about.
The biggest moment of the episode happens right in the last 2 minutes. As Walt enterโs Jesseโs house and attempts to wake Jesse up from his drug-addled state, Jane begins to choke on her own vomit. Instinctively, Walt rushes over to help but he pauses and merely watches on. Itโs unclear as to why Walt lets Jane die. Maybe to remove the potential threat to his operation, the woman who blackmailed him for Jesseโs money. Perhaps itโs to reclaim his power and influence over Jesse.
Whatever the reason, this is the biggest turning point for Walter White so far. Itโs arguably the point where we no longer sympathise for him, where we no longer see him as a loving, family man. Itโs a moment of no return for Walt, and itโs one that is seared into the minds of Breaking Bad fans everywhere.
4. Full Measure (Season 3, Episode 13)
If thereโs one thing Walter White understands (besides making Baby Blue), its leverage. He uses it to negotiate for his life against Gus and Mike, meeting them in the desert. Itโs a fantastic way to demonstrate just how big Walterโs ego has gotten throughout the season. By the end of the episode Walt has completely turned the tables on his employers, leaving Mike visibly stunned, a rare feat.
With Jesse โon the runโ, Gale returns to the superlab to assist Walt. However, as Gale begins to press Walt with questions about the cooking process, he realises Gusโ plan: Once Gale is fully confident he can complete a cook, Gus will kill Walter and Jesse as neither will be needed. Both men know what has to be done. Be prepared for a tense final 15 minutes.
As sad as I was to see Gale die, my heart goes out to Jesse. Both Gale and Jesse are just two men following orders from their superiors, thrust into a situation that could only end one way. Although for Jesse, Walt is more than a superior; heโs someone who he looks up to. The emotion on Jesseโs face at the end says it all. He knows that what he has to do will shatter him, and it makes for a hell of a cliffhanger.
3. Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)
The one that started it all. From the very first opening scene, you already know youโre in for an absolute gem of a series. Vince Gilligan sets the foundation for his โMr Chips turning into Scarfaceโ premise, and weโre introduced into the initially rather boring world of chemistry teacher Walter White.
Not long after his 50th birthday, Walter finds out that he has inoperable lung cancer. With a big โFuck Youโ to Bogdan and his eyebrows, Walt leaves the car wash and accompanies his DEA brother-in-law Hank on a ride-along to a meth lab. He spots one of his old students, Jesse Pinkman, fleeing the scene. Walter later propositions Jesse into cooking and selling crystal meth with him and the wheels are set into motion.
Straight away thereโs a special chemistry between Walter and Jesse (excuse the pun), and the acting by everyone is strong. The writing by Gilligan is excellent. While thereโs a lot that happens within the episode, it never feels rushed. Thereโs a healthy balance between drama and comic relief. All the main characters are introduced well, setting them up for some interesting character development as the series progresses.
Riveting and unpredictable, it as good as any pilot youโll ever come across.
2. Crawl Space (Season 4, Episode 11)
I believe โspeechlessโ is the best way to describe my first reaction to this episode. It begins right where previous episode โSaludโ concluded. After successfully taking down the cartel, Gus and Mikeโs lives hang in the balance in a portable Mexican hospital. With tensions still high between Walt and Jesse, Walter is taken to the desert and is fired by Gus. Gus knows that he canโt kill Walter, because Jesse is too loyal. He instead threatens to kill Hank for his investigation, and if Walter so much as interferes, he will murder Waltโs entire family.
Itโs fair to say that the acting throughout the whole series is pretty excellent. But here, Bryan Cranston gives the performance of a lifetime. Walterโs breakdown in the crawl space is one of my favourite scenes from Breaking Bad. Very few actors could pull off that scene, but Cranston gives such a fine performance that youโre left with goosebumps. I still remember watching this episode for the first time. The sound of Waltโs maniacal laughter pierces the ears, as a build up of white noise makes you feel encapsulated and claustrophobic. When the screen cut to black, I just sat there frozen, trying to comprehend what I just witnessed.
It really is one of those scenes that you just have to watch in order to understand just how amazing it is.
1. Ozymandias (Season 5, Episode 14)
Director Rian Johnson (Looper, Brick) returns for his third and final directorial contribution. Having already directed โFlyโ from Season 3 and โFifty Oneโ from Season 5, his last effort, โOzymandiasโ is often described as the best hour of television ever made.
In a flashback opening, weโre taken back to where it all began with Walt and Jesseโs first cook together in the RV. We remember the main reason that Walt began cooking meth in the first place: to provide for his family when he dies, and reminded of all the things that Waltโs about to lose.
Jump forward nearly 2 years later to the same location, and things have changed dramatically. Walt watches Hank die, and he sees his empire taken away by the neo-Nazis, leaving him with one barrel full of cash. Jesse is taken and forced to cook meth by Todd AKA Meth Damon, and Walt Jr discovers the truth about his fatherโs activities.
This episode is just painful. Itโs the bleakest, and definitely the toughest episode to watch in the series. As you watch Skyler and Walt scuffle over the kitchen knife and Waltโs kidnapping of baby Holly, you know youโre watching a man who has lost everything and is desperate to hold on to whatโs left of his family.
Personally, I like to see the two remaining episodes as an epilogue, tying up all the loose ends of the saga. But Ozymandias is the true finale. Itโs when shit officially hits the fan. Where secrets are finally aired out. Itโs when 5 seasons of character development and captivating writing culminate in the most intense hour of television ever produced.
Thanks for the memories, Vince.
