2. Face Off (Season 4, Episode 13)
Gus Fring has to die. Gus Fring
will die. But how? And by whose hand? Perhaps the most tense episode of Breaking Bad so far, up until the very last moment, you think Gus is going to survive and either Jesse or Walt may not make it out alive. Before, one always felt that even as they were close to death the duo would somehow make it out alive- just. But in this episode, youre not quite sure that is true. The stakes have never been higher, and the Season5 finale will have its work cut out trying to top this episode. Like Breaking Bad wasnt full of iconic moments, perhaps one of the best, at least in terms of visual humour and total surprise, is when Hector Salamanca has blown himself and Gus half to hell in his retirement home. However, Gus emerges from the room, adjusting his tie, seemingly unscathed. Its only when the camera rotates that we see half his face and body gone that we have the disgusting realisation that Gus is finally dead in the most dramatic way possible. What is even more horrific about this episode is that we realise what a complete and utter monster Walter has become. The simple delivery of I Won as he explains his actions to Skyler over the phone sends chills down my spine. And even more effective is the closing shot of Lily of the Valley, when you realise that Walter endangered a childs life and manipulated his own friend into helping him eliminate Gus for his own selfish needs. Without doubt, by this point Walter White becomes the shows greatest villain. So, the burning question is which episode is the danger? Well, it took a long time to decide on one to top the rest, but that honour goes to