9. Tuco In Jesse's Car
There aren't many "shock" moments in Breaking Bad, but the first season features perhaps the most obvious one. It is so unexpected and well-executed that it does work in the context of the scene, but with retrospect it certainly feels a little bit like every-slightly-unbelievable-shock-scene-in-every-horror-film-ever. Jesse phones Walt at his house, asking him to come outside. At this early stage in the narrative, Walt's second life remains hidden from his family, so he is naturally angry at Jesse's intrusion into his personal life. However, when he goes outside to confront Jesse, Walt and the audience are shocked to find Tuco sitting in the backseat with a gun. It is a real surprise, because Walt has effectively only just warned Jesse to skip town, and it is also implied that Tuco now knows where Walt's family is based. But the horror movie cliché of the back seat has, of course, been done to death. Given that Breaking Bad thrives on stunningly original moments (particularly as the seasons unfolded), it's a bit of a shame to see such a generic set-piece employed here.