Breaking Bad season 5 explained

Season Number:5
Bgcolour:
  1. 016640
Showrunner:Vince Gilligan
Network:AMC
Num Episodes:16
Episode List:List of Breaking Bad episodes

The fifth and final season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad premiered on July 15, 2012, and concluded on September 29, 2013 on AMC in the United States and Canada. The 16-episode season is split into two parts, each containing eight episodes. The first part of the season was broadcast from July 15 to September 2, 2012, and aired on Sundays at 10:00 pm ET. The second part was broadcast from August 11 to September 29, 2013, and aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm ET.[1] It debuted in the UK and Ireland on Netflix, showing one day after the episodes aired in the U.S. and Canada.[2] Part 1 was released on region 1 DVD and region A Blu-ray on June 4, 2013,[3] and part 2 was released on November 26, 2013.[4]

After receiving three nominations for seasons two, three, and four, both halves of season five won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014. The second half of the season also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2014. The entire season was met with unanimous acclaim, particularly for its second half, and many critics deemed it as one of the greatest television seasons of all time. The season received a Metacritic score of 99 out of 100, leading to the show being listed in Guinness World Records as the most acclaimed television series in history.[5]

Cast

See also: List of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul characters.

Main

Recurring

Episodes

See also: List of Breaking Bad episodes.

Development and production

In July 2011, series creator Vince Gilligan indicated that he intended to conclude Breaking Bad with the fifth season.[6] In early August 2011, negotiations began over a deal regarding the fifth and possibly final season between AMC and Sony Pictures Television, the production company of the series. AMC proposed a shortened fifth season (six to eight episodes, instead of thirteen) to cut costs, but the producers declined. Sony then approached other cable networks about possibly picking up the show if a deal could not be made.[7] On August 14, 2011, a deal was made in which AMC renewed the series for a final 16-episode season.[8] Filming began for the season on March 26, 2012.[9] Then in April 2012 Bryan Cranston revealed that the final season would be split into two halves, with the first half airing in 2012 and the second in 2013.[10] After a four-month break, filming for the second half of the season began on December 7, 2012, during which AMC sent the cast and crew cupcakes decorated with characters and props used throughout the show's run.[11] [12]

Vince Gilligan explained that the season was split at his request in order to have more time to write the final episodes. Thomas Schnauz revealed that the writers initially tried to conceive a 16-episode arc in advance of completing the first eight episodes, but that most of these plans were scrapped as new plot points emerged "that threw everything into a little bit of chaos."[13]

Dean Norris had asked Gilligan to kill off Hank during the first half of the season after being cast in a comedy pilot. However, Gilligan declined his request, citing the importance of Hank in the final eight episodes.[14]

Gilligan stated that the introduction of the M60 machine gun in the season's first episode created several problems down the line in writing. When the premiere script was developed, the machine gun was written in as a thought-provoking idea to suggest to the audience that something significant was going to happen later in the season and draw them in. However, at that time, they did not plan out how the gun would be used, and Gilligan believed that with sixteen episodes, they would be able to figure something out. As Gilligan started writing the last four to five episodes, his staff reminded him about the machine gun. Gilligan was of a mind to simply drop the machine gun but realized this would not work. He eventually had a eureka moment where Walter would need to use the machine gun to kill multiple people at once rather than a single individual, leading to the development of the character of Jack Welker and the white supremacist gang to be the target of Walter's wrath.[15]

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the fifth season has an approval rating of 97% based on 99 reviews, with an average rating of 9.5/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Breaking Bads final season cements its status as one of television's great series, propelling its narrative to an explosive conclusion with sharp direction and assured storytelling."[16] On Metacritic, it holds a 99 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, making it the highest-rated season of any show on the site.[17] In his review of the second half of the season, Seth Amitin of IGN stated, "Whether you call it a 'half-season' or consider these final eight episodes its own season, this final batch of Breaking Bad is one of the best runs of episodes TV has ever offered."[18] "Ozymandias" in particular was widely praised and has since been called the greatest television episode ever broadcast.[19]

Ratings

The fifth season had six separate episodes that became the most watched episodes in the series up to date, in order: "Live Free or Die" (2.93 million),[20] "Say My Name" (2.98), "Blood Money" (5.92), "Ozymandias" (6.37), "Granite State" (6.58), and "Felina" (10.28).

The first half of season five was watched by an average of 2.6 million viewers per episode; the second half averaged 6.04 million viewers. As a whole, season five averaged roughly 4.32 million viewers per episode.

Accolades

For the 65th Writers Guild of America Awards, the series received four nominations for Best Episodic Drama, for "Buyout" (written by Gennifer Hutchison), "Dead Freight" (George Mastras), "Fifty-One" (Sam Catlin) and "Say My Name" (Thomas Schnauz), and won for Best Dramatic Series.[21] [22] For the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series received 13 nominations, with three wins. It won for Outstanding Drama Series, Anna Gunn won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and it won for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series. Nominations included Bryan Cranston for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Jonathan Banks and Aaron Paul for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, George Mastras and Thomas Schnauz for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series ("Dead Freight" and "Say My Name"), and Michelle MacLaren for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series ("Gliding Over All").[23] For the 29th TCA Awards, Breaking Bad was named Program of the Year, and also was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Drama, and Individual Achievement in Drama for Bryan Cranston.[24]

For the 66th Writers Guild of America Awards, the series won for Best Dramatic Series and Gennifer Hutchison won for Best Episodic Drama for "Confessions".[25] The series received two other Best Episodic Drama nominations, Thomas Schnauz for "Buried" and Peter Gould for "Granite State".[26] For the 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards, the cast won for Best Drama Ensemble, Bryan Cranston won for Best Drama Actor, Anna Gunn was nominated for Best Drama Actress, and the series was nominated for Best Stunt Team.[27] For the 71st Golden Globe Awards, the series won awards for Best Drama Series and Best Drama Actor (Cranston), while Aaron Paul was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.[28] For the 30th TCA Awards, the series won for Program of the Year and received a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Drama, and Bryan Cranston was nominated for Individual Achievement in Drama.[29] For the 4th Critics' Choice Television Awards, the series won for Best Drama Series and Aaron Paul won for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Bryan Cranston received a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series and Anna Gunn received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.[30] For the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series won Outstanding Drama Series, Bryan Cranston won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Aaron Paul won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Anna Gunn won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama, Moira Walley-Beckett won Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for "Ozymandias", and Vince Gilligan was nominated for both Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for "Felina".[31]

Related media

Chicks 'N' Guns

An eight-minute bonus scene titled Chicks 'N' Guns was included with Breaking Bads fifth season DVD and Blu-ray sets.[32] Written by Jenn Carroll and Gordon Smith and directed by Michelle MacLaren, the scene offers a backstory on how Jesse Pinkman obtained the gun seen in the episode "Gliding Over All". Sony Pictures released a behind-the-scenes featurette discussing the scene on its YouTube channel.[33]

Talking Bad

See main article: Talking Bad. After the success of the live talk show Talking Dead, which aired immediately following new episodes of The Walking Dead, AMC decided to create a similar series, titled Talking Bad, for the remaining episodes of Breaking Bad. Chris Hardwick, host of Talking Dead, also hosted this series; Talking Bad also had a similar logo and theme music to Talking Dead. Talking Bad featured crew members, actors, producers, and television enthusiasts, recapping the most recent episode, and taking questions and comments from viewers.[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AMC Announces Breaking Bads Final Premiere Date, Confirms Launch of 'Spin-Off'. TVLine. Ausiello. Michael. April 17, 2013. April 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130420075626/http://tvline.com/2013/04/17/breaking-bad-return-date-final-8-episodes/. April 20, 2013. live.
  2. Web site: Breaking Bad Coming to Netflix U.K. One Day After U.S. TV Debut . PCMag.com . Chloe . Albanesius . July 26, 2013 . August 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130730215215/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2422347,00.asp . July 30, 2013 . live .
  3. Web site: Breaking Bad – Press Release: 'The 5th Season' DVDs, Blu-rays with Finalized Artwork . TV Shows On DVD . Lambert . David . April 1, 2013 . April 1, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130403130632/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Breaking-Bad-Season-5/18269 . April 3, 2013 .
  4. Web site: Breaking Bad - Complete Series Press Release and Artwork . TV Shows On DVD . Gord . Lacey . September 9, 2013 . September 9, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130912052005/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Breaking-Bad-Complete-Series-Press-Release-Artwork/18944 . September 12, 2013 .
  5. Web site: Breaking Bad Cooks Up Record-breaking Formula for Guinness World Records 2014 Edition . September 4, 2013 . Mike . Janela . . September 9, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131024153945/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/9/breaking-bad-cooks-up-record-breaking-formula-for-guinness-world-records-2014-edition-51000/ . October 24, 2013 . live .
  6. Web site: Rhodes . Joe . July 15, 2011 . Shattering All Vestiges of Innocence . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171213010852/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/arts/television/breaking-bad-returns-and-walter-whites-descent-continues.html . December 13, 2017 . December 20, 2011 . The New York Times.
  7. Hibberd . James . August 1, 2011 . 'Breaking Bad' shopped to other networks as fifth (and final?) season renewal talks drag on . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110930080933/http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/08/01/breaking-bad-renewal-talks/ . September 30, 2011 . August 2, 2011 . Entertainment Weekly.
  8. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . August 14, 2011 . AMC & Sony TV Reach Deal For 16-Episode Final Order Of 'Breaking Bad' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120618091340/http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/done-amc-sony-tv-reach-deal-for-16-episode-final-season-of-breaking-bad/ . June 18, 2012 . June 15, 2012 . Deadline.
  9. Web site: Radish . Christina . March 23, 2012 . Bryan Cranston Talks BREAKING BAD Season 5, Directing an Episode of MODERN FAMILY, and More . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120625033910/http://collider.com/bryan-cranston-breaking-bad-season-5-interview/154476 . June 25, 2012 . June 15, 2012 . Collider.
  10. Web site: Stoute . Scott . April 11, 2012 . 'Breaking Bad' Season 5 Will Air in 2012 & 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200626170714/https://screenrant.com/breaking-bad-season-5-premiere-2012-2013/ . June 26, 2020 . June 24, 2020 . Screen Rant.
  11. Web site: Cranston . Bryan . December 7, 2012 . First day if shooting the last season of BB was delicious. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121222081255/https://twitter.com/BryanCranston/status/277076620039303170 . December 22, 2012 . January 4, 2013 . Twitter.
  12. Web site: Paul . Aaron . December 7, 2012 . Who wants a Breaking Bad cupcake? Thank you AMC for the treats. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005034427/https://twitter.com/aaronpaul_8/status/277120808642564096 . October 5, 2013 . January 4, 2013 . Twitter.
  13. Web site: Dixon . Kelley . July 17, 2012 . Breaking Bad Insider Podcast . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131225234234/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-bad-insider-501/id311058181?i=118231993&mt=2 . December 25, 2013 . December 2, 2013 . iTunes . Podcast.
  14. News: Dekel . Jonathan . February 1, 2013 . Breaking Bad's Dean Norris asked series creator to kill his character off . . live . February 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130205090119/http://o.canada.com/2013/02/01/breaking-bads-dean-norris-asked-series-creator-to-kill-his-character-off/ . February 5, 2013.
  15. Web site: Sepinwall . Alan . January 17, 2018 . Vince Gilligan On The Toughest Jams The 'Breaking Bad' Writers Put Walter White Into . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200229180044/https://uproxx.com/sepinwall/breaking-bad-10th-anniversary-vince-gilligan/ . February 29, 2020 . February 29, 2020 . Uproxx.
  16. Web site: Breaking Bad: Season 5 (2012-2013) . . November 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523200301/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/breaking_bad/s05 . May 23, 2019 . live .
  17. Web site: Breaking Bad: Season 5. Metacritic. September 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20120717035954/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/breaking-bad/season-5. July 17, 2012. live.
  18. Web site: Breaking Bad: The Final Season Review. IGN. Seth. Amitin. October 3, 2013. October 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131003220627/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/03/breaking-bad-the-final-season-review. October 3, 2013. live.
  19. Web site: Is Breaking Bad's Ozymandias the greatest episode of TV ever written?. Mendelsohn. Tom. September 17, 2013. The Independent. February 12, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20170111235336/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/is-breaking-bads-ozymandias-the-greatest-episode-of-tv-ever-written-8821985.html. January 11, 2017. live.
  20. Web site: AMC's 'Breaking Bad' Season 5 Premiere is Most-Watched Episode Ever. Kondolojy. Amanda. July 16, 2012. TV by the Numbers. AMC press release. July 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120718233112/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/07/16/amcs-breaking-bad-season-5-premiere-is-most-watched-episode-ever/141710/. July 18, 2012. dead.
  21. Web site: 'Breaking Bad,' 'Homeland,' 'Girls' Among 2013 Writers Guild Awards Nominees . TheWrap TV . Tim . Kenneally . December 6, 2012 . December 6, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121209020645/http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/breaking-bad-homeland-girls-among-2013-writers-guild-awards-nominees-68181 . December 9, 2012 . live .
  22. Web site: Writers Guild Awards 2013: Full winners list . Zap2it . Chris E. . Hayner . February 18, 2013 . February 19, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130220125205/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/02/writers-guild-awards-2013-full-winners-list.html . February 20, 2013 .
  23. Web site: Breaking Bad . Emmys.com . July 19, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328045720/http://www.emmys.com/shows/breaking-bad . March 28, 2016 . live .
  24. Web site: Tatiana Maslany, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, The Americans, Bunheads, Parks and Rec, Big Bang Among Winners at 2013 TCA Awards . TVLine . Michael . Ausiello . August 3, 2013 . August 4, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160422050315/http://tvline.com/2013/08/03/tca-awards-winners-2013-breaking-bad-parks-and-recreation/ . April 22, 2016 . live .
  25. Web site: Writers Guild Awards: Breaking Bad, Veep, House of Cards and Days of Our Lives Among Winners . TVLine . Matt Webb . Mitovich . February 1, 2014 . February 2, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202165155/http://tvline.com/2014/02/01/writers-guild-award-winners-2014-list-wga/ . February 2, 2014 . live .
  26. Web site: Breaking Bad, Orange Is the New Black, House of Cards Lead 2014 WGA Nominations . TVLine . Michael . Ausiello . December 5, 2013 . December 5, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131206071420/http://tvline.com/2013/12/05/writers-guild-award-nominations-2014-list-wga/ . December 6, 2013 . live .
  27. Web site: 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Breaking Bad, Modern Family Score Multiple Wins . TVLine . Michael . Ausiello . January 18, 2014 . January 19, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170624173247/http://tvline.com/2014/01/18/screen-actors-guild-awards-winners-2014/ . June 24, 2017 . live .
  28. Web site: Golden Globes: House of Cards, The Good Wife, Candelabra and Breaking Bad Lead Noms; Parks & Rec, Brooklyn, Spader and Maslany Score Nods . TVLine . Matt Webb . Mitovich . December 12, 2013 . December 12, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212154341/http://tvline.com/2013/12/12/golden-globe-nominations-2014-globes-awards-nominees/ . December 12, 2013 . live .
  29. Web site: TCA Awards 2014: Good Wife, OITNB, True Detective, Veep, Breaking Bad, RuPaul Among Winners . Michael . Ausiello . TVLine . July 19, 2014 . July 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140721020708/http://tvline.com/2014/07/19/tea-awards-2014-winners-list-the-good-wife-veep-true-detective/ . July 21, 2014 . live .
  30. Web site: Critics' Choice Awards: Fargo, OITNB, Breaking Bad, Normal Heart, Cosmos and Allison Janney Are Big Winners . TVLine . Matt . Webb Mitovich . June 19, 2014 . June 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140620050150/http://tvline.com/2014/06/19/critics-choice-awards-winners-television-2014-list/ . June 20, 2014 . live .
  31. Web site: Emmys 2014: Sherlock, Breaking Bad, Horror Story: Coven, True Detective and Many Repeat Winners Grab Gold . TVLine . Matt Webb . Mitovich . August 25, 2014 . August 26, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140826011014/http://tvline.com/2014/08/25/emmy-winners-2014-emmy-award-winner-list/ . August 26, 2014 . live .
  32. Web site: Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season 'Chicks 'N' Guns' Blu-ray Featurette . MovieWeb . Brian . Gallagher . June 3, 2013 . August 23, 2022.
  33. Breaking Bad - "Chicks n' Guns" Behind The Scenes . Sony Pictures . YouTube . May 31, 2013 . August 22, 2022.
  34. News: Bibel . Sara . July 21, 2013 . AMC Announces Chris Hardwick as Host of 'Talking Bad' . AMC press release . . dead . July 22, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130725013110/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/21/amc-announces-chris-hardwick-as-host-of-talking-bad/193046/ . July 25, 2013.

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