10 Best Episodes Of Breaking Bad, According To Ranker

From 2008 to 2013, Breaking Bad slowly but surely became a worldwide phenomenon, one that continued its legacy with the sequel movie, El Camino, in 2019. As the highest-rated long-running television show of all time on IMDb, it is hard to argue against the incredible quality of the series.

Showrunner Vince Gilligan skillfully crafted a single story that followed the final two years of Water White’s life. Walt, a seemingly milquetoast high-school chemistry teacher receives a fatal cancer diagnosis and resolves to make a career in the meth trade to provide for his family when he dies. Breaking Bad has episodes that are considered some of the best hours of television of all time- but which 10 episodes on Ranker have fans considered the best?

10 Crazy Handful Of Nothin’ (Season 1, Episode 6)

As the only season 1 episode to be considered in the best 10 episodes of Breaking Bad, “Crazy Handful Of Nothin'” is one of the first episodes to showcase the qualities of the show that fans came to love. The episode sees Walt and Jesse attempt to find a dealer to sell their product to in bulk, which leads to disastrous results.

From the introduction of Walt’s signature shaved head to Walt’s deception of Hank after he traces evidence to Walt’s school, this episode culminates in Walt’s first power-play: blowing up Tuco’s office. Not only does the episode intensify the cat-and-mouse game between Walt and Hank, but it also proves Walt’s ability to defy the odds that are stacked against him, and hold his own in this unfamiliar criminal underworld.

9 Crawl Space (Season 4, Episode 11)

One of the best examples of the ever-present suspense in Breaking Bad is season 4’s “Crawl Space.” This episode sees Gus threaten Walt’s family, leading him to panic and gather his money as he knows he is no longer needed by Gus. When Skyler reveals she gave their money to Ted Beneke for his IRS audit, Walt loses it.

It is far and away one of the scariest moments in Breaking Bad. With Bryan Cranston’s bone-chilling maniacal laugh, Anna Gunn’s utterly believable terror about the safety of her family, and Marie’s panicked phone call on the White family’s answering machine, all accompanied by Dave Porter’s score, this ending scene is truly something to behold.

8 Dead Freight (Season 5, Episode 5)

Like much of the series, “Dead Freight” takes place primarily in the desert, and it features one of the best scenes in Breaking Bad. Walt and Jesse’s business takes a hit when they run out of methylamine and the group devises a heist to come into possession of an “ocean of the stuff” as Lydia puts it.

A tension-filled sequence sees the characters narrowly pull off the heist, successfully gaining the methylamine and celebrating afterward. When a young boy, Drew Sharp, witnesses the whole event, Todd shockingly decides to shoot him dead. It is an example of why Breaking Bad can be a tough watch as it is not afraid to depict the sheer horrors of the world that Walt is in.

7 Say My Name (Season 5, Episode 7)

Season 5 of Breaking Bad depicts Walt’s rise to the top of his game, to his inevitable, fatal downfall. The first half of the season portrays Walt growing his empire after the defeat of former meth kingpin Gustavo Fring, and in the 7th episode”Say My Name,” sees Walt at his most arrogant.

Not only does he exert his power over Declan, the meth distributor, but he also murders Mike Ehrmantraut in cold blood after being insulted by him. This episode is highly-regarded as it is a showcase of Jonathan Banks’ talent and ability to portray Mike’s utter vitriol against Walt, and it succeeds in displaying Walt as too far gone.

6 Full Measure (Season 3, Episode 13)

The season 3 finale of Breaking Bad, “Full Measure,” is a monumental episode in the long-running series. The episode sees Walt begin to worry that Gus’ increasing impatience will land him in trouble. On top of that, Gale has replaced Walt as Gus’ cook, meaning that Gus may no longer need Walt alive.

As Walt panics, he devises a last-minute plan for either him or Jesse to kill Gale, leaving Walt as the only cook. Jesse is vehemently reluctant to go through with the plan but is coerced by Walt to pull the trigger. The final scene is incredibly important as it is the first time that Jesse has directly killed anyone, and Aaron Paul expertly portrays his conflicting emotions.

5 Half Measures (Season 3, Episode 12)

Season 3 of Breaking Bad posed a moral conundrum throughout its 13 episode run: take a half measure or a full measure? The proposition was introduced by Mike, who lectures Walt on his past mistake of taking a half measure when he should have taken a full measure.

In the penultimate episode of the season, Walt latches onto this advice, and murders two of Gus’ men who Jesse was hellbent on killing himself. The ramifications that “Half Measures” has made it one of the most important episodes of Breaking Bad, and the final scene sees Walt committing murder again, but this time, with less remorse.

4 Salud (Season 4, Episode 10)

“Salud” is one of the highest-rated episodes of Breaking Bad, despite the main character Walt not being involved in the episode’s main plot. The late season 4 episode follows Mike, Jesse, and Gus in Mexico where Jesse must cook his and Walt’s signature meth for the cartel.

It is revealed throughout the episode that Gus has a tragic history with the cartel as his old business partner (and potential lover), Max, was shot dead by Don Eladio. Gus enacts his revenge in a thrilling scene that sees him poisoning the entire party, proving that he is a force to be reckoned with, and it makes the upcoming battle between Gus and Walt even more suspenseful.

3 Face-Off (Season 4, Episode 13)

In the 4th season finale, the three-season arc of Walt’s battle with Gus comes to a head. The episode sees Walt finally gain the upper hand over Gus, by leading him to visit Hector Salamanca in his nursing home, which Walt blows up with Gus, Hector, and Gus’ bodyguard, Tyrus, inside.

It is undeniable that Walt is an anti-hero, yet most cannot help but root for him to win in his fight against Gus, leading to a satisfying conclusion. However, the final frame of the episode almost punishes the audience for daring to root for Walt, as it is revealed that he poisoned Brock to get Jesse on his side. It is without a doubt one of the worst things that Walt does in Breaking Bad, and it proves just how focused he is on self-preservation.

2 Felina (Season 5, Episode 16)

According to Breaking Bad fans on Ranker, the series’ final episode, “Felina” is the second-best episode of the entire show. Considering how so many beloved TV shows end disappointingly (Game of Thrones, Dexter, The 100), it is truly shocking to see a finale being so well-received.

Arguably, the extremely positive reaction to the final episode is thanks to Vince Gilligan, who expertly crafted several character arcs that were complete by the end of Breaking Bad. The episode perfectly encapsulated Walter White’s downfall and the knock-on effects on his family and others in his life, and it helped to solidify the series as one of the greatest of all time.

1 Ozymandias (Season 5, Episode 14)

If a Breaking Bad fan is asked what they think is the best episode of the series, it is astoundingly common for the answer to be “Ozymandias.” The 60th episode of the series was arguably the show’s turning point, as it saw Hank’s tragic death, Walter Jr. finally learning the truth, and the inevitable decimation of the White family.

In one of the most well-crafted sequences in television history, Walt tries to take his family on the run, but Skyler reaches her breaking point and pulls a knife on him. A gripping fight ensues, which ends in Walter Jr. protecting his mother and Walt kidnapping Holly and driving away, as Skyler chases the car, screaming, until she falls to her knees, covered in blood. As in the poem of Percy Bryce Shelly of the same name, “Ozymandias” says to the viewer, “look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” and expertly showcases how one man’s downfall can destroy so many lives in its wake.

About The Author

Ross Phillip
(44 Articles Published)

Ross Phillip is a freelance writer and video editor based in Scotland. As a university graduate in English Literature and Film Studies, he is an experienced writer, particularly in film analysis. In addition to this experience, Ross is utterly passionate about film and television, with a particular love of Breaking Bad and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Ross’s love of cinema led to him writing a 10,000-word dissertation on the ability of the movies to provoke a visceral reaction, allowing the viewer to feel what they see on screen.

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