10 Best TV Episodes Set In Just One Room
5. Breaking Bad - Fly
One of Breaking Bad's most polarising episodes, Fly is seen by many fans as the show's weakest offering: a dull filler episode in which "nothing happens". On the contrary however, Fly is in fact a fiendishly clever character study, its low-stakes plot providing an introspective look at the inner psyches of Walt and Jesse.
When a fly enters Walt's underground meth lab (in which the entire episode takes place) he becomes implacably obsessed with killing it, worrying that it could contaminate their yield. This laser focus on such an insignificant problem demonstrates not only Walt's relentless drive for dominance and control, but also his vulnerability. Jesse is bewildered by Walt's obsession with the fly, yet soon begins to reluctantly help him kill it, revealing his inner desire to earn Mr White's respect. It's not about the fly, it's about the characters.
Fly was conceived as an answer to Season 3's rapidly ballooning budget, and it relishes the opportunity to slow down the pace and ease off the plot to focus on Walt and Jesse and what makes them tick. It's the epitome of the idea that limitations and restrictions can often allow creativity to flourish.