10. ...And the Bag's in the River (Season 1, Episode 3)
In the aftermath of the body in the tub fiasco, this episode focuses on the interaction between Walter White and his basement prisoner Krazy-8. It features the first lengthy moral dilemma for Walt when he has to decide whether or not to kill Krazy-8. Great moments abound in this episode: Walt lights up a joint, makes a "pros and cons" list for killing Krazy-8, and demonstrates his sandwich-making method (sans crust). Walt's cough gets worse and worse as he has several reflective discussions with Krazy-8. It also features a great flashback to Walt and Gretchen discussing the spiritual implications of the chemistry of the human body. But the real highlight is the climax of the episode, when Walt frantically roots through the trash and assembles the pieces of a broken plate to find a dagger-shaped section missing. Realizing that Krazy-8 must have the piece and intends to try to kill him at the first chance he gets, Walt confronts Krazy-8 in the basement and strangles him with a bike lock, while getting stabbed in the process. It is an eye-bulging and agonizing moment for Krazy-8, Walt, and the audience as Vince Gilligan (in only the third episode) lets us know that this Walter White character is layered with complexities. It is an important episode that provides a crucial bridge between the bumbling high school teacher in the "Pilot" and the fully-formed persona of Heisenberg that we come to know in "Crazy Handful of Nothin'" and beyond. Memorable Quote: Walter White: "The soul? There's nothing but chemistry here."
