[Warning: Spoilers ahead for Sunday’s episode of Breaking Bad, “Ozymandias”]
Things came to a head and everything fell apart in Sunday's episode of Breaking Bad. We said goodbye to Hank (Dean Norris) and Gomez (Steven Michael Quezada), Walt Jr. (R.J. Mitte) said goodbye to the father he knew, and Walt (Bryan Cranston) said so long to Albuquerque, most of his fortune and his family. And poor Jesse suffered the worst fate of all -- destined to be a meth cook / slave for the Aryan gang. (Or as Paul tweeted, "dog on a leash.")
The episode also featured plenty of lines destined to become instant classics. Below we count down our five favorites.
“My name is ASAC Schrader, and you can go f—k yourself.” (Hank to Jack)
Hank died the way he lived – without compromise. This pretty much put the nail in the coffin for viewers holding out hope Walt would be able to negotiate for Hank’s life. But Hank knew he was a goner, telling Walt “You want me to beg? You’re the smartest guy I ever met, and you’re too stupid to see—he made up his mind ten minutes ago.”
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“I watched Jane die. I was there. And I watched her die. I watched her overdose and choke to death. I could have saved her. But I didn’t.” (Walt to Jesse)
This is an unspeakably cruel moment. Not only has Walt signed off on Jesse being tortured and killed by Todd, but he’s brining back the cruelest thing he’s done to Jesse and using it to hurt him even more. It’s also a callback to season 3’s “The Fly” – when an addled Walt apologizes to Jesse, and nearly confesses his role in Jane’s death. In that case, he was contrite, but here there is nothing but malice.
“I need the police. My dad—he pulled a knife on my mom. He attacked her. He’s dangerous. I think he might have killed somebody.” (Walt Jr. to a police dispatcher)
After seasons of dumping on Skyler (Anna Gunn), Walt Jr. finally sees his dad for who he is – and makes a stand against him. Like Gomez showing up to help Hank, Walt Jr. finally realizing the situation with his father is something we’ve been waiting for.
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“I told you Skyler, I warned you for a solid year: You cross me, and there will be consequences.” (Walt to Skyler)
At first it seems like cruelty, but Walt gives Skyler an alibi here, performing for the police officers he clearly knows are listening in on the conversation. Walt tweaks the history of the last year, making it seem like he threatened Skyler at every turn in order to get her to become involved in the business. That wasn't the case. Walt is truly playing a different type of game here.
“I’ve still got things left to do.” (Walt to Skyler)
It’s on. Like “tread lightly” in the first of the final eight episodes, Walt’s final words set up the showdown that is to come in the final two. We can only assume he’ll plan an intricate revenge against the Aryan gang. And we hope the plan will somehow put things in motion that will free Jesse, though we aren’t counting on it considering how crushing this episode was.
What was your favorite line? Sound off in the comments!
Breaking Bad airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.
E-Mail: Aaron.Couch@THR.com
Twitter: @AaronCouch
