Breaking Bad Episodes Ranked
All 62 episodes of Breaking Bad, my favourite show of all time, ranked from worst (not that even my least favourite episodes are at all bad) to best.
(Contains spoilers)
(Contains spoilers)
List activity
20K views
• 5 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
62 titles
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt goes on the run. Jesse is taken hostage. Marie forces Skyler to tell Walter, Jr. the truth.There's nothing to say about this episode that hasn't already been said. The greatest hour of television drama ever. It will probably never be topped and I'm absolutely fine with that. Every writer, director, cast or crew member that ever worked on Breaking Bad should be incredibly proud of their contribution to the greatest television show of all time. It all peaked in this episode. I doubt that 'Ozymandias' will ever be forgotten.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulJesse is brought to the FBI for questioning on his knowledge of ricin. In a last effort to kill Gus, Walt must ask for help from an old enemy.Season 4 builds to a stunning crescendo in 'Crawl Space', then somehow it manages to top it again with its finale. 'Face Off' is superb on all fronts. We know Gus Fring is going to die, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the very best moments of the entire series. The power and emotion on the faces of Giancarlo Esposito (Gus) and Mark Margolis (Hector Salamanca) cannot be described with words. Vince Gilligan writes and directs and his work is even better than usual here. I could go on all day about this episode - the first four seasons all built to this and it does not disappoint in the slightest.
- DirectorScott WinantStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulHank asks Walt to drive him to the laundry where the meth lab is hidden. Ted still won't pay the IRS so Skyler asks Saul for help, and Saul sends in his A-Team. Gus and Jesse return from Mexico, and Walt fears he is in trouble with Gus.'Crawl Space' is a great episode all the way through, of course. However, the reason it's in my top 3 is the ending. As Walter White lies in the crawl space of his house and finds that Skyler has given all his money away, he thinks he is defeated. In that moment, he thinks it's all over and with no exceptions, this scene is Bryan Cranston's crowning achievement as an actor. The screams that turn to laughter, then just silence, are incredible. Of all the great endings that this show gave us (and there really are lots), this is my favourite. A true achievement and one of the all-time best episodes of television.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalter White returns to Albuquerque one last time to secure his family's future and settle old scores.When I first watched this finale, I was prepared to call this the best episode of Breaking Bad and indeed the best finale I had ever seen. My mind may have changed slightly by now, but it still comes close on both counts. Most complaints about the finale are due to it all being a little too neat, but I personally don't see that as a genuine criticism at all. Television is at its best when it makes me feel something, and the final moments of this show really made me feel a mix of emotions. I was happy that Walt managed to go at least some way towards redemption and it was perfect that the lab was his final resting place. On the other hand, seeing my favourite television character die was incredibly sad. Putting all that to one side though, as 'Baby Blue' by Badfinger plays and Walt drops dead, the greatest show of all time ends in a completely fitting and satisfying way.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulJesse and Hank come up with an idea to take Walt down. Walt hires Todd's uncle to kill Jesse.In my opinion, the last episode of the series that Michelle MacLaren directed is her best. The stakes had never been higher than they are in the last twenty minutes or so of this episode. Everything comes down to this - Walt, Jesse, Hank, Gomez, Jack, Todd, Kenny and the rest of them in the part of the desert where Walt and Jesse first cooked. In 'To'hajiilee', they gave us a cliffhanger to rival 'Gliding Over All' and they gave us one of the all-time greats.
- DirectorGeorge MastrasStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalter White's domestic life continues to deteriorate; at the same time, his growing business venture aims to steal a train car chock full of methylamine.I can clearly remember the first time I saw 'Dead Freight'. I remember feeling overjoyed when they completed the train robbery successfully, only for the ending to truly shock me. I swore out loud when it happened. It was stunning and now when I watch the episode, I both look forward to it and dread it at the same time. The entire episode is amazing but it's the horrific ending that lifts it this high on my list.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulJesse has disappeared and Walt is in big trouble with Gus. So Gus rehires Gale to learn from Walt's cooking so that they can dispose of Walt once and for all.Season 3 of Breaking Bad, one of television drama's greatest accomplishments, ends with 'Full Measure'. There are only a handful of shows ever that have been able to produce an episode of the quality of 'Half Measures'. The number of shows that have then topped that again with the following episodes is even smaller. The flashback at the beginning, Mike taking out the cartel guys and then of course the final scenes are all amazing. Saul also reveals himself to be far more loyal than we could ever imagine. I cannot stress enough how wonderful this episode is.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt expands his business overseas, and the money is pouring in.'Gliding Over All' is yet another brilliant episode directed by Michelle MacLaren. Alan Sepinwall, in his review for this episode, said that much of this episode could be viewed as a series finale of sorts. Loose ends are tied up and time passes by, before Walt's secret life is blown wide open. The truth is out. The most visually impressive episode of the entire run ends with arguably the greatest television cliffhanger of all time. That's why it's worthy of a place in the top 10.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulJesse ends up in the hospital after getting beaten up by Hank. Now he is threatening to press charges against the DEA. To stop him, Walt decides to bring Jesse on as his partner, once again.Hank Schrader is a character who really grows throughout the series. In the first season, it's hard for the audience to imagine ever feeling for him in a way that we do in 'One Minute'. This is Dean Norris' best episode by far, even before the ending. Then Hank gets a call saying he has one minute and so the cousins approach and we get one of the finest action sequences ever seen on television. Stunning.
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulAgainst Walt's advice, Jesse lashes out. Fearing for Jesse's safety, Walt takes drastic action to intervene. Meanwhile a tragic event leads to a shocking confrontation.'Half Measures' is incredible from start to finish, but there are two scenes that really stick out. First, the story that Mike tells Walt about his time as a beat cop - "no more half measures, Walter" - and then Walt's own interpretation of the meaning of this in the final scene. Never had I seen such a shocking thing on television before. "Run."
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulJesse, Gus, and Mike fly down to Mexico, and Jesse cooks the blue meth for the cartel. Walt misses his son's 16th birthday after his fight with Jesse.Only on a third watch of the entire series has this episode slipped out of the top 10. It's still on the short-list for what I consider to be the very best episodes of drama ever. Gus, Jesse and Mike go to Mexico and Gus poisons near enough the entire cartel. The gradual build of season 4 is all worth it in episodes such as this.
- DirectorThomas SchnauzStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulMike and Jesse are out. Now Walt has to handle things on his own. Hank finally finds a rat in Mike's gang.'Say My Name' is a contender for the saddest episode of Breaking Bad. Mike Ehrmantraut's swansong gives us one of the very best episodes the show has ever done, but that ending is a real gut punch. Compare it, for example, to Gale Boetticher's death in 'Full Measure'. Mike was no innocent; he was a ruthless killer. Gale, aside from the meth cooking, was innocent. The other difference though, is that for Walt and Jesse to survive, Gale had to die. Mike didn't need to die. Walt realises this and Mike goes out with one last classic line. That's the end of one of the show's very best characters.
- DirectorColin BuckseyStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Skyler have a baby girl. Now that Jesse is hooked on heroin, Walt refuses to give him his money until he gets clean. Meanwhile, as an excuse for his money, Walt decides to donate the money to himself through his son's new website.'Phoenix' is my favourite episode of season 2. Walt has now made enough money for his family and as he points out in 'Fly', he reaches what would be the perfect time to die. Of course, it's downhill from here as Walt makes a shocking decision not to save Jane. He watches her choke to death on her own vomit, the danger of which she warned Jesse about earlier on, and he becomes the villain of this story.
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt's lies have pushed Skyler to her limit. She leaves with the kids. Meanwhile, Jesse blames himself for Jane's death and goes into rehab.'ABQ' is a close second to 'Sunset' for the episode that has grown on me the most after watching again. Like many people, I felt slightly disappointed by the plane crash at the end of ABQ simply because it was not what I expected. Now, I firmly believe it is the perfect ending to one of the best second seasons I have ever seen.
- DirectorCharles HaidStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt's disappearance is met with investigation by both his wife and Hank, as Tuco Salamanca intends to leave town with his kidnapped cooks.'Grilled', as I've said many times, was the first episode that truly convinced me that Breaking Bad was one of the all-time greats. Whether it's Raymond Cruz' fantastic performance as Tuco, or the first appearance of the bell-ringing Hector Salamanca, or perhaps the shoot-out between Hank and Tuco at the end, 'Grilled' is full of great moments.
- DirectorMichael SlovisStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt makes his next move against Hank, putting Hank in a tough position. Hank confronts Jesse and attempts to turn him against Walt, and Jesse decides it's time to move on. Meanwhile, Todd has taken over the business.'Confessions' is a huge turning point episode. Walt gets the upper hand against Hank, by making a false confession video that blames the entire thing on his brother-in-law. It's a smart move by Walt and one of the best scenes of the final eight episodes. Then, at the end of the episode, we get another game-changer. Jesse's mind finally makes the connection, much like Hank's did at the end of 'Gliding Over All', and he realises that Walt poisoned Brock.
- DirectorBronwen HughesStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWith the side effects and cost of his treatment mounting, Walt demands that Jesse finds a wholesaler to buy their drugs - which lands him in trouble.What's the first truly incredible episode of Breaking Bad? My vote goes with this one. It's the first Heisenberg moment. The opening intrigues us and by the end, it's hard to say anything other than 'wow'. This is the best episode of the first season by quite a way.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse become stranded out in the middle of the desert after cooking more crystal.'4 Days Out' is undoubtedly one of the best episodes of Breaking Bad. It's arguably the finest example of how well the show always blended comedy and drama and it's carried by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul at their finest. I have seen this called the very best episode of Breaking Bad and while it isn't my number 1, I can't argue that it's right up there with the best.
- DirectorBryan CranstonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt is out of the meth business and trying to move on with his life. Jesse tries to get rid of his money. Hank now knows that Walt is the famous Heisenberg.The wait for 'Blood Money' was the hardest of the entire series, so it had a job to do to deliver - expectations were high. About halfway through the episode, it looks as though we might have to wait a while for a Walt/Hank confrontation. Of course, we should have known that in Breaking Bad, things change. The final scene shows Dean Norris and Bryan Cranston at their very best and it's the first of what is probably the best run of episodes that any show has ever done.
- DirectorJohn ShibanStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulHeisenberg's organized and practical assistant Gale greatly aids his work in Gus's lab. Hank finally tracks the RV back to Jesse, as a concerned Walt finds any way to erase the evidence.If there's one episode that I have enjoyed more each time I have watched it, it's this one. After my first watch of the series, I probably couldn't have recalled much of what happened in it, besides 'something to do with the RV'. After two further watches, I find 'Sunset' to be one of the very best episodes Breaking Bad ever did. It's the moment that season 3 really gets going and the scene where the RV is destroyed is simply beautiful. Aside from that, it's the closest Hank has ever got to catching Walt, but Hank is about to encounter other problems, as the episode ends with Gus giving his name to the cousins.
- DirectorJohan RenckStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWhen Hank produces evidence that Gus is Albuquerque's crystal meth kingpin, Walt worries that he and Jesse will be killed to protect their boss.It's hard to believe that an episode as good as 'Hermanos' misses out on the top 20, but this show just couldn't help giving us amazing episodes. This episode, much like 'Salud', belongs to Gustavo Fring. He's always been a man of mystery and everything we find out about his past here seems to only raise more questions. The extended flashback and Hank's interrogation of Gus are two of the best scenes of the entire series. 'Hermanos' is a fantastic episode.
- DirectorPeter GouldStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt struggles as he adapts to aspects of his new identity. Jesse plans an escape against Jack and his crew.'Granite State' is the transition from 'Ozymandias' to 'Felina', but it's much more than that. It gives both Walt and the audience time to reflect. It's worth mentioning that Robert Forster is great in his one-episode role of the 'disappearer' and we see Saul Goodman for the last time. The gut punch of Andrea's death is very sad and Jesse's plight continues to worsen, but the ending is the most memorable part here. Walt sees an interview with Gretchen and Elliott on the television and suddenly, he's gone. The theme tune plays in full for the first time as we realise the end is here.
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulThere is a fly loose in the lab. Walt and Jesse must do whatever they can to kill it before it contaminates the meth.Here it is then - number 23 on my list. I'm sure many people will think it's ridiculous that it's this high, but be glad it's not my number 1. I'm sure others will think it should be higher. Either way, I love this episode. Not a lot happens to move the plot forward, but Walt's realisation that it would have better to die the night Jane died is an important one. Aside from that, 'Fly' is a very entertaining episode and one of the funniest of the series.
- DirectorPeter MedakStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulAfter Skinny Pete gets ripped off, Walt makes Jesse go get the money. Meanwhile, Walt's cover story on how Elliott and Gretchen are paying for his medical treatment is on the verge of collapsing.Aaron Paul was quoted as saying that this was his favourite episode of the series and it's not hard to see why. He is nothing short of brilliant as Jesse pays a visit to Spooge to recover what he stole. Jesse caring for children is a theme that comes up again and again in the series and it's a large part of what makes him such a compelling character.
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse clean up after the bathtub incident before Walt decides what course of action to take with their prisoner Krazy-8.Into the top 25 now and this, the third episode of Breaking Bad, still holds up as a classic. It caps off what can be thought of as a trilogy of episodes in style as Walt finally deals with the Krazy-8 situation. The conversations between the two of them in Jesse's basement still rank among some of the best dialogue in the entire series.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulThe DEA is putting Hank and his family in protective custody; however, Walt refuses and awaits his fate in his house. Meanwhile, Brock has fallen terribly ill and Jesse suspects Walt may be behind it.'End Times' takes on a whole new meaning after watching 'Face Off'. Either way though, it's a brilliant episode that leads us perfectly into the fourth season finale.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulDiagnosed with terminal lung cancer, chemistry teacher Walter White teams up with former student Jesse Pinkman to cook and sell crystal meth.There's not a lot I can add to what has already been said about the pilot of Breaking Bad, but I will say that it is a true achievement. Of the many pilots I have watched over the years, this is up there with the very best. This is the beginning of the journey for Walter White - in my opinion, the greatest television character ever.
- DirectorTerry McDonoughStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulBadger is caught by the DEA. Walt and Jesse hire the best criminal lawyer in town, Saul Goodman.'Better Call Saul' is simply excellent. It's one of the funniest episodes the show ever did and it's an important one for introducing one of the show's best characters - Saul Goodman. Bob Odenkirk is pitch-perfect from his very first scene. Indeed, if the spin-off show of the same name can produce episodes of this quality, it'll be well worth watching.
- DirectorColin BuckseyStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulIn the aftermath of the train heist, Jesse and Mike decide to quit the business, leaving Walt to handle things on his own. Mike is being followed by the DEA.'Buyout' comes between 'Dead Freight' and 'Say My Name', two of the best episodes that the show ever did, but that doesn't detract from its quality. Mike and Jesse want out, but Walter won't let them leave without a fight.
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse are held captive by Gus, after Gale's death. Meanwhile, Skyler tries to find out what happened to Walt.It is often said that season 4 takes a while to build, but people who say that mean AFTER the first episode. 'Box Cutter' is an episode where not much appears to be happening, until Gus cuts Victor's throat and everyone in the audience and in the scene is shocked - even Mike!
- DirectorPeter GouldStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulSkyler looks to continue her family's trend of appearing poverty-stricken by forcing Walt to return the car he bought. A concerned Walt chauffeurs Hank to Los Pollos Hermanos, and the articulate yet immobile DEA agent collects prints.This is one of the best episodes for Aaron Paul as he talks about the 'Problem Dog' that he had to get rid of - the poor, innocent Gale Boetticher. The remorse that Jesse shows makes him ultimately far more likeable than Walt. This episode also sees Hank get closer to the truth about Gustavo Fring.
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulIt's Walt's 51st birthday. His return to the drug business causes Skyler to go into depression.If there was one episode that Anna Gunn truly shines in more than any other (apart from perhaps 'Ozymandias'), it would be 'Fifty-One'. I am quite sure that she was perfect for the role of Skyler White and this is a fine example of exactly why. Aside from Skyler's story, this is a great episode as Walt celebrates his birthday.
- DirectorTerry McDonoughStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWhile Walt tries to subvert Hank's probe into the Albuquerque meth scene, a deadly warning forces Gus to consider a deal with the cartel.Every episode in the back half of season 4 is amazing. The scrappy fight between Walt and Jesse is a stunning moment and it leaves their relationship at an all-time low.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse seek out an unlikely partner for a new business venture. The DEA follows up new leads in its investigation.'Madrigal' is largely focused on Mike Ehrmantraut and that can only be a good thing. He is undoubtedly one of the best characters and he's never better than in this episode. Once again, this is a wonderful episode from the rather bizarre opening (a man we have never seen before trying out sauces?) to Mike finally agreeing to go into business with Walt and Jesse at the end.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulHank is determined to bring down Walt. Walt scrambles to hide evidence before Hank gets to it, and Skyler tries to stop Hank and Marie from taking away the kids.The final batch of episodes that Breaking Bad gave us is full of gems and 'Buried' is no exception. Dean Norris and Betsy Brandt are both terrific as Hank and Marie in the final season, particularly here.
- DirectorJohan RenckStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulGus tries to get Walt back in the business by offering him three million dollars and a brand new lab. Jesse is furious that Walt received half of the money for his blue meth. Hank tries to track down the RV meth lab.The middle of season 3 focuses on the end of one story and the beginning of another. We find out the origins of the RV and its end is brought about by Hank's investigations, while Gus introduces Walt to the super-lab, which is the beginning of an entirely new chapter in this story.
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulThe guys put a business plan into action; Walt confesses to Marie.'Hazard Pay' is one of those early season 5 instalments that is simply a wonderfully well-made episode of television. Here, we get Walt and Jesse going into business with Mike, finding a new place to cook - people's homes.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulJesse rides shotgun with Mike on a perilous run of pickups, prompting Walt to worry that his partner is about to be killed.Breaking Bad manages to produce a scene that, in almost any other show, would seem ridiculous. Walt gets rather drunk and practically gives himself away to Hank. Of course, the amazing work done by everyone on this show, particularly Vince Gilligan and Bryan Cranston, means that this doesn't seem out of character at all. In fact, it makes for an excellent episode.
- DirectorColin BuckseyStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulHank ends up in the hospital after being attacked by Tuco's cousins. Walt spends too much time by his family's side when he should be cooking meth.'I See You' spends most of its time at the hospital, where Hank is being treated after the cousins' attack on him. There are many great moments, as Marie struggles to cope and Gus Fring pops in for a quick visit.
- DirectorPhil AbrahamStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt's cancer has greatly improved. Time to celebrate. Meanwhile Jesse tries to meet his new girlfriend's father.'Over' is one of my favourite episodes of the second season, for many reasons, most of which can be summed up by saying that the acting in this show is excellent. How an episode that I love as much as this is down in the bottom half of my list is astonishing.
- DirectorColin BuckseyStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulAs Skyler concocts an elaborate story to explain the Whites' finances, a worried Walt discovers that Hank has begun a new investigation.'Bullet Points' opens with Mike in the Los Pollos Hermanos van. He waits for a storm of bullets and then kills the cartel guys. He realises that half his ear has been shot off and he sighs in annoyance. From start to finish, this is a great episode, as Skyler plans how to feed Hank and Walter Jr. the lie about Walt's gambling.
- DirectorBryan CranstonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulSkyler goes through with her plans to divorce Walt. Jesse finishes rehab.The season 3 opener is Bryan Cranston at his multi-talented best. Not only does he direct the episode, but he also gives us Walt's speech about how the plane crash wasn't THAT bad. Amazing.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulSkyler gets more involved in Walt's business, much to his chagrin, as Hank struggles with his recovery. Meanwhile, Jesse takes an active role in his new enterprise, leading him to a startling discovery.'Abiquiu', which, by the way, I still have no idea how to pronounce, is an episode that is probably overlooked because it is followed by two of the best episodes the show had given us yet in 'Half Measures' and 'Full Measure'. Watching it back, it's still full of quality.
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalter, Jr. is having a rough time accepting his parents' separation. Jesse buys his old house from his parents. Meanwhile, two mysterious men have come into town looking for Walt.I love 'Caballo sin Nombre'. It is one of many so-called 'slower' episodes of Breaking Bad that I could watch over and over again. The cousins waiting outside Walt's bathroom is so very tense, before a 'POLLOS' text halts them in their tracks. We also get Walt throwing the pizza on the roof of his house - a classic Walter White moment.
- DirectorMichael SlovisStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulNow that Gus is dead, Walt, Jesse, and Mike work to cover their tracks. Skyler panics when Ted Beneke wakes up.The season 5 opener gives us magnets and a surreal flash-forward to the future. At a push, I would call this the weakest of the first eight episodes of season 5, but we are talking about one of the finest runs in all of television, so that is hardly an insult. Walt's ego is bigger than ever here and it's great to see Larry Hankin return as Old Joe (one of my favourite minor characters) to help them destroy Gus Fring's laptop.
- DirectorMichael SlovisStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulSkyler adopts an aloof approach when she suspects that Walt isn't telling her the truth. Meanwhile, Jesse proves his worth to Mike and Gus.No matter how good or bad the rest of this episode was (it was quite good, as it turns out), this one will only ever be remembered for Walt's famous 'I am the one who knocks' speech. It's one of Bryan Cranston's finest moments, which is saying something.
- DirectorFélix Enríquez AlcaláStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulRumor is spreading that Jesse killed the man that ripped Skinny Pete off. Walt uses this to his advantage on expanding their territory. Meanwhile, Hank has been promoted to the El Paso office. But it's not all he hoped it would be.I have heard some people say that 'Negro y Azul' is one of the very best episodes of Breaking Bad. While I wouldn't go quite that far, there's definitely a lot to like as Hank takes a job in El Paso and becomes a hero.
- DirectorTerry McDonoughStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse try to come up with alibis for their disappearances.'Bit by a Dead Bee' showed us that Breaking Bad was just as good at showing the fallout from big events as it was at showing us those events themselves. After the events of 'Grilled', we see Walt and Jesse try and get themselves off the hook and it's a joy to watch.
- DirectorSam CatlinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt discovers Jesse broke into his house and attempted to burn it down. Walt wants to protect his family so he moves them into a hotel for a few nights. Jesse makes plans to take down Walt.'Rabid Dog' could seem a little underwhelming after the unbelievable cliffhanger that comes at the end of 'Confessions'. We didn't get the Walt/Jesse confrontation we might have been expecting, but we did get a great hour that moves some important pieces into place for the fantastic final four episodes. It's testament to the quality of season 5 that its weakest episode is still very good.
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse's little empire begins to crumble. Saul tries to set them up with a mysterious distributor.The episodes that precede and succeed 'Mandala' are excellent, so that may be why it is not held in such high regard in comparison to the best of season 2. However, we get the introduction of one of the all-time great television characters and we have an intense ending that leads us nicely into the season's endgame.
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulAfter their first drug deal goes terribly wrong, Walt and Jesse are forced to deal with a corpse and a prisoner. Meanwhile, Skyler grows suspicious of Walt's activities.The second ever episode of Breaking Bad was a wonderful thing - it confirmed to us that this show was not going to rapidly decline in quality after the great pilot. The ending still holds up as one of the most gruesome of the series.
- DirectorMichael SlovisStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulSkyler hatches a plan as Hank's hospital bills stack up. Meanwhile, Walt and Gus come to a better understanding as Jesse, looking for more independence, pursues a new opportunity.Aaron Paul is terrific as Jesse Pinkman for pretty much every scene he has in the series, but one of his finest moments comes in 'Kafkaesque' when he tells the story of a box he made in high school. This may not be one of the most memorable episodes of season 3, but I think it deserves more credit.
- DirectorTim HunterStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse try to up their game by making more of the crystal every week for Tuco. Unfortunately, some of the ingredients they need are not easy to find. Meanwhile, Skyler realizes that her sister is a shoplifter.Among the most misunderstood instalments in the series, perhaps only behind 'Fly', is the first season finale. The tone that it ends on, while horrifying, does not feel like what we might expect at the end of a season of drama. In retrospect, it is the perfect way to set up a fantastic second season.
- DirectorJohn DahlStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulSkyler keeps mysteriously leaving without talking to Walt. Jesse's parents throw him out of his own house.'Down' is the perfect title for this episode. It's mostly an exercise in misery, but it's well-written, well-directed and well-acted as always, making for a great episode.
- DirectorTricia BrockStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt rejects everyone who tries to help him with the cancer. Jesse tries his best to create Walt's meth, with the help of an old friend.'Gray Matter' features one of my favourite scenes of the first season - the talking pillow scene. It lets us see all the characters in the White/Schrader family in a new light and Walt's speech is really quite emotional.
- DirectorDavid SladeStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWhile Walt worries about Gus's interference and Jesse's increasingly fragile state of mind, Skyler steps up the pressure to get what she wants.In a word, I would describe this episode as underrated. The main complaint about this one seems to be that Marie isn't a character the audience cares about. I disagree and I very much like the focus on her character here. Of course, her stealing ties into the main story when Tim asks Hank to look at some lab notes that belonged to a certain Gale Boetticher.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt has moved back into the house without Skyler's consent. Now she can't get him out. Meanwhile, Jesse continues to cope with Jane's death.The episode that went some way towards justifying all the Skyler White hate. Her actions were cruel, but Walt understands better than anyone that people do crazy things when they are desperate. This one is unforgettable for the words that give the episode its title.
- DirectorJohan RenckStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse decide to start their own little empire with the help of Jesse's friends: Skinny Pete, Combo, and Badger. Meanwhile, Hank tries to pull himself together after his encounter with Tuco.'Breakage' sees Walt and Jesse set up on their own and it begins the story that leads to Jesse visiting Spooge and Skank in 'Peekaboo'. It is one of those forgotten season 2 episodes that is actually rather good.
- DirectorBryan CranstonStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt and Jesse realize how dire their situation is. They must come up with a plan to kill Tuco before Tuco kills them first.Even I am surprised to find myself ranking the season 2 opener this low, but I guess that tells you all about the standard of episodes in Breaking Bad's catalogue. Bryan Cranston directs his first of three episodes as Walt and Jesse play (and lose at) a tense game of cat and mouse with Tuco Salamanca.
- DirectorScott WinantStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt's world crumbles even more after finding out that Skyler is cheating on him. Jesse tries to set up a meeting with Gus to try and sell his own version of the blue meth. Meanwhile, Hank is growing obsessed with finding Heisenberg.'Green Light' is the one episode of the third season that I enjoy less than all the others, but it still features some great moments, as Walt struggles to cope with Skyler's affair.
- DirectorMichelle MacLarenStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt attempts to form a new alliance as he plans his next move. Meanwhile Skyler pushes Walt towards a business opportunity, in hopes of protecting the family.After 'Box Cutter', the fourth season of Breaking Bad gives us a gradual build-up to the intense final few episodes. 'Thirty-Eight Snub' is good, but it's my least favourite hour of the season.
- DirectorJim McKayStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulWalt tells the rest of his family about his cancer. Jesse tries to make amends with his own parents.I like this episode, so it's unfortunate that it finds itself at the bottom of this list. The only reason I can think of for it being my least favourite episode is that it comes after three episodes which, combined, make for one of the most entertaining openings to any television drama ever.