From Mike getting shot to Jane dying from an overdose,Breaking Badhas numerous heartbreaking moments. Many more such moments can be found in the show’s greatest episode, “Ozymandias.” A provocative tearjerker, the episode is a richly rewarding study of interpersonal connection and consequences, full of disclosures and twists.
In it, the DEA agent, Hank Schrader, is shot dead by the Neo-Nazi gang leader, Jack Welker, while trying to arrest Walt. Jesse is also taken captive by Todd, who later subjects him to endless torture. Then, fans witness the biggest domestic fight in television history when Walt attempts to flee with Baby Holly against Skyler’s wishes.
Breaking Bad
Inspired by a sonnet of the same title by the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, it is the only episode to have a flawless 10/10 rating on IMDb, and it is still analyzed heavily to date for its themes and hidden meanings. It was also the perfect showcase for Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn at the peak of their powers. The two won Emmys for their performances, while Walley-Beckett scooped the award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series. Interestingly, the most heartbreaking scene wasn’t in the script.
Baby Holly Shouts “Mama!” While Walt Is Trying to Bond with Her
After the desert incident, Walt rushes home and frantically packs his belongings, only to be confronted by Skyler’s simmering resentment. She quickly figures out that Hank has been killed, and as expected, the discovery crushes her. As they both unload a backlog of unsettled emotions, the couple hurl hurtful recriminations at each other.
At this point, viewers are left hoping that by releasing all the surging venom, the family can forge a peace treaty and proceed to healthier terms. Instead, Skyler threatens Walt with a kitchen knife, and the two have a brief fight before Walter Jr. intervenes, by tackling his father to the ground and dialing 911. Unwilling to stick around and get arrested, Walt takes Baby Holly and flees, leaving Skyler screaming on the road.
Breaking Bad: A Deeper Look Into Vince Gilligan’s Color Theory
Diving into the color theory Vince Gilligan had when making Breaking Bad.
Later,Walt tries to change the baby’s diaper inside a public bathroom, only for her to shout “Mama!”The development almost brings Walt to tears, and he realizes that as much as he loves his child, he cannot take her on the run with him. He is not only not in a position to take good care of a child at this point, but he will also be putting her in danger. He thus leaves her at a fire station with her home address written on a note.
Baby Hollydidn’t shout “Mama!” because she prefers to be with Skyleror because she was trained. About the scene, director Rian Johnson explained that the baby’s mother was on set, monitoring everything that was happening. And when Cranston was carrying her,the baby demanded to be with her mother, hence the reason she said the word. Thankfully, Cranston remained in character and went along with it, resulting in an emotionally powerful moment,
Series creator, Vince Gilligan, enjoyed the scene too:
“That was one of the best performances in the whole series. That baby looked so sad. I promise you, no babies were harmed in the episode.”
Well, an Emmy for the baby would have been fair.
“Ozymandias” Marks the Beginning of the End for Walter White
For a long time, fans often asked themselves an important question: Will Walt eventually get his comeuppance, or will he ride off to Shangri-La unscathed? Well,the Baby Holly moment, coupled with the rest of the key scenes in “Ozymandias,“confirmed that there was no way back for Walter White. He had been separated from his family, his brother-in-law was dead, partially because of him, and he had fallen out with his work partner, Jesse Pinkman, for good. From there, he became a man on the run. He relocated to a cabin in New Hampshire, found a creative way to leave $9,720,000 to his son, thentook revenge on Jack Welker in the wildest way possible.
Why Season 1 of Breaking Bad Only Has 7 Episodes (And Which Character Almost Got Killed Off)
Breaking Bad’s first season is way shorter than the rest, and there is an interesting behind-the-scenes reason why only 7 episodes were made.
Speaking of leaving money for his son (despite the young man disowning him on the phone), and wiping out Jack Welker’s gang,the episode marks a form of redemption. Before that,he had unquestionably been a villain, but after that, he does right by everyone. He returns Holly, protects Skyler from any potential prosecution, and ensures he saves Jesse from his captors, despite their differences. He even considers turning himself in briefly, something the former version of Heisenberg would never think of.When Walt finally dies, he dies a hero, a man who realized the error of his ways (even though it was too late), and tried to fix as much as he could.
Overall, the episode doesn’t just borrow the title of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s sonnet, it evokes the work of literature in multiple ways. The sonnet addresses the downfall of a once-proud pharaoh, which is the same thing Walt is going through. He worked hard to make money for his family and tried to build a great empire, but all that had come crumbling down because of his poor choices. Both Walt and the ruler from the poem are left with little to show for their actions, leaving them devastated and regretful. Interestingly, despite the milieu and over-the-top nature, “Ozymandias” never once hits a wrong or gratuitous note. Every scene exists for a reason.
It’s a tragic story, but fans would never have wanted it any other way.
