These Are Bryan Cranston's Favourite Breaking Bad Episodes

Bryan Cranston's portrayal of Walter White in the hit TV series Breaking Bad is widely considered to be one of the greatest performances in television history. Over the show's five seasons, Cranston's character went through a dramatic transformation, and his journey kept audiences on the edge of their seats. 

We’re taking a closer look at Breaking Bad through the eyes of its star. Specifically, Bryan Cranston’s favourite episodes from the series and the reasons behind his choices. 

From intense action sequences to emotionally charged moments, Cranston's picks reveal his appreciation for the show's complex characters and masterful storytelling.

Phoenix (Season 2 Episode 11)

"Phoenix" marks a pivotal episode in the second season of Breaking Bad, delivering intense moments and raising the stakes for its characters and Walt's ultimate downfall. Following the high-pressure events of the previous episode "Mandala", Walt finds himself in a race against time to deliver a substantial quantity of meth to Fring within an hour. Simultaneously, Skyler faces unexpected labor pains, adding another layer of urgency to the unfolding drama.

Desperate to secure the missing meth, Walt frantically searches for Jesse at his home but he is unresponsive and incoherent. 

Tensions escalate as Walt grapples with conflicting responsibilities, torn between the life-changing moment of his daughter's birth and the crucial meeting with Gus. The emotional weight of his choices becomes apparent as he reluctantly sacrifices witnessing his child's arrival to fulfill his obligations in the drug trade.

Back at home, Junior proudly unveils SaveWalterWhite.com, a website created to collect funds for Walt's surgery. Despite his son's good intentions, Walt is deeply disturbed by the idea of accepting charity. However, Skyler argues that taking down the website would crush Junior's spirit. Saul presents Walt with an alternative solution: a hacker in Belarus who can launder Walt's drug money through his son's website. Walt decides to seek out Jesse once again, hoping to reason with him.

Upon arriving at Jesse's apartment, Walt decides to enter through the backdoor, just as he had done before. Inside, he discovers Jesse and Jane unconscious in bed, surrounded by drug paraphernalia. Witnessing the aftermath of their drug use, Walt is overcome with a sense of sadness and concern. However, in a moment of contemplation, he hesitates when Jane begins choking on her own vomit. Walt is faced with a pivotal choice, and ultimately, he watches as Jane succumbs to asphyxiation, her life tragically extinguished in front of his eyes - a chilling performance from Cranston.

Phoenix delves into the depths of moral ambiguity and the consequences of Walt's actions, painting a haunting portrait of a man teetering on the edge of darkness. No wonder this bold and dark storyline is one of Bryan Cranston's favourites to portray.

Felina (Season 5 Episode 16)

"Felina" serves as the ultimate finale of the critically acclaimed American crime drama television series, Breaking Bad. It marks the sixteenth episode of the fifth season and the 62nd overall episode of the series. The episode was both written and directed by series creator Vince Gilligan and was originally broadcast on AMC in the United States and Canada on 29th September 2013, with a running time of 55 minutes. 

Following this episode’s success, a sequel film titled El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie was released on Netflix on 11th October 2019. "Felina" garnered the highest ratings of any Breaking Bad episode, attracting an impressive 10.28 million viewers in the United States, including 5.3 million adults aged 18-49. The episode's remarkable success is a testament to the exceptional storytelling and production value that defined the entire series.

Walter White is on the run from a nationwide manhunt. He decides to return to New Mexico to distribute the remaining profits from his illegal methamphetamine business to his family and to settle his scores with his family and enemies. Despite his terminal lung cancer, Walt plans to settle his affairs and make peace with his past before he meets his inevitable demise. As the episode unfolds, viewers are taken on a gripping journey through Walt's final hours as he confronts the consequences of his actions and tries to make things right before it's too late.

Marie Schrader makes a phone call to Skyler to inform her that Walt is in Albuquerque. However, Walt is already with Skyler and hands her a lottery ticket that contains the coordinates for Hank Schrader and Steve Gomez's grave. He advises Skyler to use the information to obtain a favorable plea bargain. Walt confesses that his motive for producing meth was not to provide for his family but rather to satisfy his own ego. Skyler allows Walt to see their sleeping daughter, Holly, and later, he watches from afar as his son Flynn arrive home from school.

Walt then parks his vehicle next to Jack's headquarters at the compound. Jack orders that Jesse be brought from the meth lab as proof of his captivity. Walt remotely activates a machine gun, resulting in the death of everyone other than Jesse and Walt. Jesse frees himself and escapes btu before he does, Walt requests Jesse kill him. Jesse refuses and tells Walt to do it himself if he truly wants to die.

After its release, "Felina" received widespread critical acclaim. Many reviewers have lauded it as one of the finest series finales ever produced. The episode's title pays homage to the song "El Paso" by Marty Robbins.

Ozymandias (Season 5 Episode 14)

Written by Moira Walley-Beckett and directed by Rian Johnson, it aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on 15th September 2013 and it is the 60th episode of Breaking Bad over all. The episode answers the cliff-hanger which ended the previous episode “To'hajiilee”.

The episode "To'hajiilee" features a dramatic scene where Walt surrenders to Hank in the desert. However, the arrival of Jack and his crew changes the course of events, as they disregard Walt's warning not to come and confront Hank and Gomez. Despite Walt's desperate attempts to calm the situation, the gang refuses to back down, and a chaotic shootout ensues. To survive, Jesse and Walt seek refuge, dodging a hail of bullets.

At the beginning of "Ozymandias," Hank Schrader is injured after the confrontation with Jack's gang, and his partner Steve Gomez is dead. Jack and his crew emerge unscathed and are ready to kill Hank. Walt pleads with Jack to spare Hank's life, offering his entire fortune of $80 million. However, Hank almost smirks at Walt saying that Jack has already made up his mind, and sure enough, Jack ruthlessly kills Hank. The devastating turn of events leaves Walt reeling and collapsing to the ground in shock.

Afterwards, Walt locates Jesse's whereabouts under the car and orders Jack to carry out his plan to kill him. However, Todd proposes that they capture Jesse to extract information about his conversations with Hank and Steve, and Walt agrees. In a vengeful move, Walt also confesses to Jesse that he deliberately left his ex-girlfriend Jane Margolis die when she overdosed. Jack’s gang imprisons Jesse in a cell and coerces him to cook meth for their operation.

The production of "Ozymandias" was emotionally challenging for those involved due to the intense nature of the storyline. The death of Hank really was a culmination of the all of the previous episodes. After its release, the episode received significant attention and analysis. Critics and fans alike examined the episode's connection to its literary namesake, Percy Shelley's "Ozymandias" as well as its portrayal of redemption in Walt's phone call to Skyler. The episode's intricate themes and powerful performances left a lasting impact on viewers and critics lauded its exceptional writing, acting, and direction. 

It has been widely recognised as one of the greatest television episodes ever produced. During the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, Moira Walley-Beckett received the Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series award, while Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn were awarded the Lead Actor and Supporting Actress awards, respectively, for their outstanding performances in the episode. "Ozymandias" stands as a testament to the incredible talent and creativity behind Breaking Bad's unparalleled success.

Bryan Cranston's favourite Breaking Bad episodes showcase his deep appreciation for the show's complex characters, intricate storytelling, and thrilling twists and turns. From the explosive "Ozymandias" to "Felina," these episodes represent some of the best that Breaking Bad has to offer. 

Cranston's love for the series is evident in his insightful interview comments about each episode, highlighting the incredible talent of the cast and crew who brought this ground-breaking show to life. For fans of Breaking Bad, these episodes are essential viewing, providing a glimpse into the mind of one of the show's most iconic actors and serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of this unforgettable series.

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