10 Episodes Of Breaking Bad That Are Considered Masterpieces (Number 1 Is Undisputed)

Breaking Bad is arguably one of the best TV shows of all timewith many episodes that are still considered masterpieces today. Centered on the descent of Walter White, a mild-mannered school teacher, into life as the head of a drug empire, most of the Breaking Bad characters are flawed, making them both realistic and polarizing.

The show has some exciting and explosive action scenes, but the best episodes of Breaking Bad tend to be character studies. From iconic speeches to scenes between the main characters that are both heartbreaking and hilarious, virtually every aspect of Breaking Bad has been praised, from the acting to the camera work, and the show still holds up today.

10

Fly

Season 3, Episode 10

Breaking Bad‘s “Fly” episode is a controversial masterpiece that divided viewers from the moment it aired. This bottle episode sees Walt channeling his guilt into an obsession with removing a fly from the lab. The majority of “Fly” takes place within the state-of-the-art meth labwhich gave Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul the chance to showcase their acting skills.

There are plenty of moments featuring Breaking Bad‘s signature dark humor, but it also reveals more about the two main characters than any other episode, showing both to be in a very dark place. “Fly” may have less of the explosive action and nail-biting tension of other Breaking Bad scenesbut it has some of the best character development in the show.

9

Face Off

Season 4, Episode 13

“Face Off” is best remembered for Gus Fring’s shocking deathbut there’s more to the episode than this moment. The entire episode is full of tension as Walt goes on a frantic mission to protect himself from Gusonly to discover that Hector Salamanca could be the unlikely answer. While it is difficult not to root for Walt, another twist is coming.

Breaking Bad gives us one of the most disturbing twists in the series in the final moments of “Face Off” when it shows that Walt has Lily of the Valley in his garden. This reveals Walt as Brock’s poisoner, cleverly manipulating viewers just as Walt manipulates so many people around him. This brief moment is iconic, and totally changes the game.

8

Crazy Handful Of Nothin’

Season 1, Episode 6

If there has been one criticism of Breaking Badit is that some viewers found it more of a slow burn. The slower pace of the first few episodes comes to an explosive end during “Crazy Handful of Nothin'” where Walt gives us a glimpse of his true potential. It is one of the first episodes that inspired a conversation about whether Walter White was always evil.

“Crazy Handful of Nothin'” is a masterclass in overcoming the odds, with Walt seemingly in over his head but with nothing to lose. However, this is deceptive, and shows that Breaking Bad was never going to be predictable. The episode gets viewers more invested in Walt than any previous installment, foreshadowing Heisenberg through the other characters’ different reactions to his shaved head.

7

Live Free Or Die

Season 5, Episode 1

The best episodes in Breaking Bad are generally excellent character studies that inspire several emotions within the same scene. No episode shows this better than “Live Free or Die,” which sees Jesse out-think some of the smartest characters in the show. Jesse Pinkman is a funny and quotable characterbut is often underestimated because of his demeanor.

Breaking Bad won a total of 16 Primetime Emmy Awards throughout its run.

While Walter and Mike are arguing over the best way to corrupt a laptop from afar, it is Jesse who suggests a magnet, growing louder as the two talk over him. Jesse’s triumph when his plan works is a perfect contrast to the start of the episodewhich shows the despairing Walt, clearly in a very different position in life.

6

Health

Season 4, Episode 10

Gus Fring is the unrivaled best villain in Breaking Badand “Salud” proves this while being a true masterpiece of an episode. For a show like Breaking Badepisodes set in a completely different location have the potential to feel mismatched. However, Gus and Jesse’s presence and demeanor keep the tone of the show consistent while revealing more about the mysterious businessman.

Knowing that Don Eladio killed Gus’s partner in the same spot where they are standing, “Salud” uses framing and camera shots to create tension. We know that something huge is going to happen, but we are not sure how until the last possible moment, when we find Gus willing to risk dying to get revenge. This develops his character even during the chaos.

5

One Minute

Season 3, Episode 7

Breaking Bad builds some episodes around one single moment, while others are a complex system of moving parts. “One Minute” has several high-stakes parts to it, both in the emotional sense and in a tense action scene that feels straight out of a spy movie. Keeping the episode this tightly woven showcases the skill of the writers as it sets up its cliffhanger.

“One Minute” contrasts serious and painful injury with a much more theatrical scenewithout making Breaking Bad feel disjointed. Jesse’s suffering through Hank’s righteous anger leads to one of his most emotional scenes yet, while the silent Salamanca Twins stalk Hank. The moment in the parking lot relied on characters making split-second decisions, and the episode was essentially perfect.

4

Dead Freight

Season 5, Episode 5

One of the greatest strengths of Breaking Bad is the way that it switches genres without compromising the tone of the show. The episode “Dead Freight” is heavily influenced by Westerns, and shows Walt and his team pulling off one of the greatest train heists in TV history. Even so, the episode still features subtle moments that show how Walt has become a monster.

Walt gleefully tells Skyler that he is “robbing a train,” showing his enjoyment of his new life. An unbelievably dark scene that shows how the characters have changed is when Todd shoots the child. Jesse is horror-struck, showing that he has kept his empathywhile Walt starts strategizing. It comes as no surprise that this is Bryan Cranston’s favorite Breaking Bad scene.

3

Crawl Space

Season 4, Episode 11

While the entire episode “Crawl Space” is a masterpiece, it contains one of the most genius Breaking Bad scenes that we are still thinking about. Though Walter White is monstrous, watching his terror when Gus threatens his family is still heartbreaking to see. It does not get better for Walt, and “Crawl Space” leads into one of Bryan Cranston’s best Breaking Bad scenes.

Walt’s breakdown is both powerful and extremely disturbing to watch.

When Walt finally decides to get Ed “The Disappearer” to give his family new identities, all he needs is the money. However, Skyler has already given it to Ted. Walt’s breakdown is both powerful and extremely disturbing, as he finally loses control. It is a genius contrast to the way that Skyler handles being blackmailed in the same episode.

2

Ozymandias

Season 5, Episode 14

Breaking Bad‘s episode “Ozymandias” is not just one of the best in the show, but arguably the greatest TV episode of all time. The episode is character-driven but still action-packed, and delivers one heartbreaking twist after another without letting up. In terms of emotional stakes, “Ozymandias” is one of the hardest Breaking Bad episodes to watch.

The title “Ozymandias” refers to a poem about an arrogant king who has gained everything, but loses his empire as it fades from memory.

Both Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn won Emmy awards for their performances in this episode, and “Ozymandias” is the only TV episode ever made that has a 10/10 rating on IMDb. Starting with Hank’s powerful and unfair death at the hands of Uncle Jack, the episode keeps racing towards Walt eventually getting his comeuppance after the empire that he began in season 1.

1

Feline

Season 5, Episode 16

Breaking Bad‘s finale episode is packed with the subtle details that made the show excellentand inspires fan debate. The title, “Felina,” is an anagram of “finale,” and the Breaking Bad finale title breaks down into chemical symbols that some argue represent blood, meth, and tears. Ending a series as critically acclaimed as Breaking Bad while giving Walt a deserving fate could have been a challenge, but “Felina” was perfect.

Breaking Bad‘s final episode ties up most of the loose ends in the showbut keeps the stakes high. Most of the characters received fitting endings that were not forced. The final shot of Jesse screaming as he escapes the compound underlines the fact that there are few happy fates in Breaking Badbut the ending was still a masterpiece.