In the spirit of the latest LTTP Breaking Bad thread, which made me relive seasons 1 and 2 (which I haven't seen in a long time, by now), I thought it might be interesting to see people's top 10 moments of the show so far, up to and including the latest episode. I don't think you'll find much controversial in here, except perhaps number 10, but still, it just goes to show how many amazing moments there are in this show. Note also that many fantastic episodes don't get a look in, as they lack a single defining scene to me - such excellent episodes include Better Call Saul, 4 Days Out, and Full Measure).
10. The Talking Pillow
This might seem an odd choice for some of you, but this scene was one of the first that really showed off how powerful the concept was, at least to me. Powerful acting by everyone involved. Look at Walt there, and marvel at how he has changed. Can you really imagine the man in that scene doing what he's done in the last few seasons? It also highlights how everything that has happened was because of him, and his choices.
9. Assembling the Plate
And this was the moment that made me realise how great this show had the potential to be. His first kill, after spending a slow episode getting to know Krazy 8, and even feeling sympathy for him, all led up to the rollercoaster of fear as the plate was assembled, tension as Walt went down to the basement, and then brutal, visceral action as he killed his prisoner.
8. Welcome to Mexico!
The absurd gruesomeness of the head on the turtle is then eclipsed by the devastating gore following the bomb blast. One of the first moments, other than when Hank kills Tuco, that we see Hank's bravado act stripped away, and his fear bubble to the surface. Also very effective at introducing the Cartel as larger players in the series.
7. Jane's Death
I couldn't find a good video for this, but my word was this a dramatic moment. Most people's sympathy was not with Jane by this point in season 2, but she had some redeeming features in the happiness she brought Jesse. To see Walt stand back and allow her to die was dark (not as dark as Gilligan initially intended, at least) and the mental torture which it put Jesse, and Jane's dad through, has had continued, tragic effects throughout the series.
6. This...isn't meth!
This is notable for two reasons: the first real appearance of Heisenberg, and the first "yeah science!" moment. The two combined make this an absolutely seminal moment in the series. The suspense is built up by the episode beginning with a now-bald Walt walking away from a scene of destruction.
5. Run!
What makes this scene, as much as the gorgeous cinematography and editing, is the suspense created by the sound design. Both the music cue, and the overall arrangement, with the gradual creeping-in of the engine sound, make this an incredibly tense and dramatic moment. Combine that with Walt's merciless entrance, saving Jesse and effectively sealing their fate with Fring, and you have a scene that could have
easily functioned as the finale to season 3.
4. Ding ding ding ding ding
Immediately before this scene, Gus walks in slow motion, backed by an instrumental version of Apparat's Goodbye, into the nursing home where most of us know he will meet his end. By this stage in season 4, Tio had seen a lot of development as well, and to see a character that emerged as a plot device in early season 2 eventually be used to take down the omnipresent threat of seasons 3 and 4 was as joyous in its clever construction as it was alarming in its gore. The moment would have been in the top 3, had Gus never emerged from the room, but Gilligan felt the need to be unambiguous given the Gale fiasco between seasons 3 and 4.
3. Now, Don Eladio, you have my permission to die
One of the show's best, and most cathartic action scenes. Gus may have been evil, but the Cartel were just as bad, and given Mike and Jesse were also in danger, there was a palpable sense of relief seeing everything go to plan. The shot of Gus walking out of the house, which perfectly mirrored Don Eladio's entrance in episode 8, was very satisfying, as was Gus' feigned speech of strength as they made their escape.
2. Where is the Money?!
It was an incredibly difficult decision between this and the number 1 moment, and I can't possibly justify placing this second any more than I could have done had the ranking been reversed, so I won't bother. We all know why this is amazing - the haunting music, the lighting, the acting, everything came together to make this one of the most defining moments of the entire series. As the top comment says: Walter White died at this moment, and Heisenberg emerged.
1. One Minute (thanks Cornballer)
The parking lot shootout came so early in season 3 that it almost seemed like Hank was more likely to die than the twins, who had been painted as the season's antagonists. It was incredibly frustrating, in a good way, to watch as all the pieces aligned to leave Hank, unarmed, being tracked down by the twins in a car park, having just given an "everything will be alright" speech, which usually signals imminent death, to Marie. The car alarm that goes off after Hank crushes the first of the twins carries on, dimly in the background, throughout the scene, as the second twin tracks a bleeding, wounded Hank through the parking lot. In the end, it is the spare bullet that saves Hank, capping off what I thought was the most tense, engrossing and accomplished moment of the entire series.
Then after season 3 my brother lent me the DVDs and I was hooked again. Watched ever since.
