Summary
- Breaking Bad stood out for its meticulous writing, morally complex characters, and attention to detail, resulting in perfect television scenes.
- Strong acting, clever cinematography, and emotional buildup made certain moments in Breaking Bad truly memorable and well-crafted.
- The series featured standout scenes such as Saul Goodman’s introduction, Walter White’s acid bathtub mishap, and the intense desert shootout, showcasing the show’s brilliance in execution and character development.
The world of Breaking Bad became known for its meticulous writing, resulting in many scenes that were perfect television. Following in the footsteps of The Sopranos and Mad Men, Breaking Bad continued a trend of appeal for television that explored morally complex, anti-hero/villain characters. The premise of Breaking Bad offered something that directly appealed to the fantasizing escapism of the crime drama, as it saw a normal person use their skills to transform into a life of wealth, power, and danger.
A perfect TV scene can consist of a number of factors. Strong acting and writing are typical of Breaking Bad, but some moments exceed in being more memorable due to a strong execution of their emotional buildup. Breaking Bad also commonly used its cinematography to cleverly reveal the story to the audience without the use of dialogue. The series was also known for its great attention to detail, and the most well-made moments are often crafted with immense precision.
10 Saul Goodman’s Introduction
In his first moment on screen, Saul Goodman is doing what he’s best at, fast-talking, negotiating, and cleverly insulting those around him. After hilariously helping Badger, Saul goes out into the hallway and engages in some banter with Hank and Gomez. In both moments, Bob Odenkirk steals the show, proving exactly why he’d end up being worthy of his own spin-off. Saul’s writing was always concise and effective, and some of the most witty in the series. The “Better Call Saul” episode offers a perfect first display of what audiences would grow to love.
9 Acid Bathtub
As a fictional crime villain, Walter White’s genius with chemistry distinguished him from the many mobsters and hitmen that came before him. The first season of the show saw him utilizing his scientific knowledge as a weapon. In order to kill Emilio, Walt traps him in the RV with phosphine gas, then entrusts Jesse to use hydrofluoric acid to dispose of the body. Jesse makes the mistake of doing this in his bathtub, and the acid burns through the tub and floor, leaving Emilio’s remains splattered out in front of them. The perfect execution of the scene comes from Walt’s dry delivery as he condescendingly explains Jesse’s mistake to him.
8 The One Who Knocks
In a series filled with memorable quotes “I am the one who knocks” is still one of the greatest Walter White quotes. When Skyler tells Walt to admit that he’s in danger, Walt loses it for a moment, giving a monologue that flaunts his power and importance. While the dialogue is excellent, most of the credit for this scene’s perfection goes to the delivery from Bryan Cranston, combined with the shock and fear from Anna Gunn.
7 Train Heist
The season 5 train heist is one of the most meticulously planned and choreographed sequences in the whole series. It shows Walter and his crew’s amazing ability to form elaborate plans and execute them, while also offering some key character moments. Todd is a central figure in the episode. He initially comes off as being friendly and highly competent, until all of that is ruined in the episode’s closing moment when he shoots the kid on the bicycle. The scene shows his true nature but also demonstrates that no matter how much they plan, there’s always the risk of pure coincidence getting in their way.
6 Gus Gets Revenge On The Cartel
Gustavo Fring’s desire for revenge grants him his greatest moment, as well as his undoing and death. In a fantastically shot sequence, Don Eladio’s cartel party is interrupted as people are poisoned. An over-the-shoulder shot watches Gus calmly walk past startled partygoers and over to the pool, where several people lay dead, and Eladio stumbles, trying to hold on. Gus watches as his enemy falls face-first into the pool, succumbing to his poison. While the poison is still in his own system, Gus gives a final, epic, warning to those who might still oppose him.
5 Jesse Kills Gale
Season 3’s finale sees one of Breaking Bad’s most emotional moments as Gale Boetticher killed at the hand of Jesse in order to eliminate any competition for cooking meth. The subtle genius of the scene is the setup early in the episode that shows that Gale would commonly play music in his apartment, making it feel natural later on when he’d miss the warning phone call due to the noises. Jesse then arrives to shoot him, shaking with guilt for what he’s about to do. Both actors are exceptional in the scene, with David Costabile’s performance of fear and confusion adding a great emotional weight to his murder.
4 Heisenberg’s Victory And Death
Walter White’s final stroke of genius comes in the show’s finale, when he eliminates Jack’s gang with a machine gun turret, saving Jesse from a year of torture. In his final moments, Walter finishes killing his enemies, avenges Hank’s death, secures his family with his wealth, and then dies on his own terms in a meth lab. The ending of a TV series can make or break its legacy, and Breaking Bad’s closing moments fulfilled the series as one of the greatest ever.
3 Prison Assassinations
The season 5 prison murders demonstrate just how powerful Walter White has become. With Gus out of the way, Heisenberg rules, and he works to eliminate any loose ends with 10 prison murders in a span of two minutes, juxtaposed with peaceful, calm music. The montage of murders is brutally violent, contrasted by Walter White in his home pondering the action, mirroring the baptism scene from The Godfather. The lighting in Walt’s room is even reminiscent of the classic mobster saga. The montage powerfully shows something that seems impossibly difficult, with the show’s signature realism.
2 The Desert Shootout
The climactic desert confrontation between Walter White, Hank Schrader and Jack’s gang takes place between two episodes but has one of the most tense build-up and executions in the show. As soon as Walt makes the call to Jack, the weight of their arrival looms over the scene. Walt and Hank have their final confrontation, then the gang finally arrives and the shootout ensues. The most intense part of the scene sees Walt pleading for Hank’s life, while Hank retains his integrity until the moment of his execution. The bullet is fired and rings out through the desert, leaving Walt jaw-dropped in shock.
1 Gustavo Fring’s Death
The death of Gustavo Fring is easily one of the most memorable TV scenes ever, and arguably Breaking Bad’s greatest scene. As Gus arrives at the nursing home, unknowing that he’s about to die, the music builds up tension for the final showdown between him and Hector Salamanca. Their conversation is tense, but the perfect execution comes from Hector’s face changing to that of anger, and Gus’ reaction and scream when he knows what’s happening. To top it off, Gus exits the room, briefly tricking the audience into thinking he somehow survived, before the camera pans to show half of his body missing, before he collapses.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
