Breaking Bad is a critically acclaimed TV series known for its gripping storytelling, complex characters, and intense moments. Check out the top 10 episodes of Breaking Bad below.
From acclaimed writer, producer, director Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad is produced by Sony Pictures Television with Mark Johnson (Gran Via) and Michelle MacLaren serving as executive producers.
Breaking Bad first premiered on AMC in January 2008 and follows protagonist Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a milquetoast high school chemistry teacher who lives in New Mexico with his wife, teenage son who has cerebral palsy and a new baby girl.
White is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of two years left to live. With a new sense of fearlessness based on his medical prognosis, and a desire to gain financial security for his family, White chooses to enter a dangerous world of drugs and crime and ascends to power in this world.
The series explores how a fatal diagnosis such as White’s releases a typical man from the daily concerns and constraints of normal society and follows his transformation from mild-mannered family man to a kingpin of the drug trade.
Breaking Bad has garnered ten Emmy® Award wins – including the 2013 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series – and a Peabody, and been named to the American Film Institute’s (AFI) list of the “Top 10 Programs of the Year” (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012).
The explosive series that The Hollywood Reporter called “one of the greatest dramas in TV history,” returned to AMC for the first of its final eight episodes on August 11, 2013 with 5.9 million viewers, up 102 percent over its season five premiere on July 15, 2012.
Breaking Bad stars three-time Emmy® Award-winner Bryan Cranston; two-time Emmy® winner Aaron Paul; Emmy® Award-winner Anna Gunn; Dean Norris; Betsy Brandt; RJ Mitte and Bob Odenkirk.
Here are ten standout episodes that have resonated with fans:
Top 10 Episodes Of BREAKING BAD
1. “Ozymandias” (Season 5, Episode 14): This episode is often regarded as one of the greatest in television history. It showcases the devastating consequences of Walter White’s actions, culminating in a shocking and emotionally charged sequence.
2. “Felina” (Season 5, Episode 16): The series finale wraps up Walter White’s journey in a satisfying and poignant way, providing closure to various storylines while delivering intense moments of confrontation.
3. “Face Off” (Season 4, Episode 13): This episode is known for its jaw-dropping conclusion, featuring a meticulously planned and explosive confrontation between Gus Fring and Walter White.
4. “Crawl Space” (Season 4, Episode 11): A standout moment in this episode is Walter’s descent into madness, trapped in a crawl space, as he realizes the extent of the danger he’s put himself and his family in.
5. “One Minute” (Season 3, Episode 7): Hank’s intense encounter with the Cousins in a parking lot creates an incredibly suspenseful and action-packed episode, with lasting consequences for the characters involved.
6. “Fly” (Season 3, Episode 10): A departure from the show’s usual pace, this bottle episode focuses on the dynamic between Walter and Jesse as they become fixated on catching a fly in the lab. It’s a character-driven exploration of guilt, paranoia, and secrets.
7. “Dead Freight” (Season 5, Episode 5): The team’s meticulously planned train heist showcases their resourcefulness and the morally gray world they inhabit, leading to a tense and climactic conclusion.
8. “Half Measures” (Season 3, Episode 12): Walter’s decision to intervene in Jesse’s life leads to a shocking act of violence that sets the stage for later events, highlighting the moral complexities of the characters.
9. “Phoenix” (Season 2, Episode 12): This emotionally charged episode features the aftermath of Jane’s death and showcases Jesse’s spiral into despair and self-destruction, setting the stage for further character development.
10. “Better Call Saul” (Season 2, Episode 8): In this episode, Jimmy McGill (later known as Saul Goodman) faces a moral dilemma that tests his principles and introduces the colorful character of Mike Ehrmantraut in a significant way.
It’s worth noting that Breaking Bad is consistently captivating throughout its entire run, and many other top 10 episodes of Breaking Bad lists could easily be considered among the best.
AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series with Mad Men in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before Breaking Bad won it in 2013 and 2014.
The network’s series The Walking Dead is the highest-rated series in cable history. AMC’s current original drama series are Better Call Saul, Fear the Walking Dead, Kevin Can F*** Himself, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond and the forthcoming series 61st Street, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, Dark Winds, Moonhaven, Pantheon and Tales of the Walking Dead, among others.
AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like Talking Dead, AMC Visionaries and Ride with Norman Reedus. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.
Editor-in-Chief | Seat42F, a leading source of entertainment news, information, television and movie resources.
