Confessions (Breaking Bad)
| "Confessions" | |
|---|---|
| Breaking Bad episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 11 |
| Directed by | Michael Slovis |
| Written by | Gennifer Hutchison |
| Cinematography by | Arthur Albert |
| Editing by | Kelley Dixon |
| Original air date | August 25, 2013 |
| Running time | 47 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Confessions" is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 57th overall episode of the series. Written by Gennifer Hutchison and directed by Michael Slovis, it aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on August 25, 2013.
Plot
At a diner, Todd recalls how he helped steal methylamine from the train to his uncle Jack and one of his men, Kenny, neglecting to mention the boy he murdered. Agreeing to let Todd cook meth on his own, Jack and Kenny drive back into New Mexico. Meanwhile, Hank tells Jesse that he knows Walt is Heisenberg. Jesse refuses to cooperate, and is released after Saul shows up. Later, Walt Jr. informs his father that Marie has asked him to help repair her computer and invited him to stay for dinner. Walt manipulates his son into staying home by confessing that his cancer has returned.
Walt and Skyler invite Hank and Marie to a restaurant. The Whites try to convince the Schraders to keep their children out of the situation, but the Schraders refuse to comply; Marie even callously says that Walt should kill himself to end it all. As the Whites leave, Walt gives his in-laws a DVD of his "confession." Playing it at home, Hank and Marie discover it is really a form of blackmail accusing Hank of being the mastermind of the Heisenberg empire and forcing Walt to cook meth for him. A stunned Hank then learns that his surgery and physical therapy were paid at Walt's expense from Marie's unwitting receipt of his drug money, which Skyler had claimed were "gambling winnings." This lends credence to Walt's story and torpedoes Hank's credibility.
Walt meets with Jesse in the desert and tells him that Saul can contact someone that specializes in creating new identities. He advises Jesse to start over and have a better life. Jesse reacts angrily, asking Walt to stop trying to manipulate him, and saying "you're acting like me leaving town is all about me and turning over a new leaf, but it's really about you ... you need me gone ... just say so ... just ask me for a favor." In response, Walt simply embraces Jesse, who cries in his arms.
Jesse then agrees to leave, but while packing to do so, Saul scolds him for possessing marijuana for the journey. While Saul makes arrangements for Jesse's departure from Albuquerque, he has Huell take Jesse's marijuana without his knowledge. While Jesse is waiting for the van that will relocate him, he notices the pot is gone, and suddenly realizes that Huell must have pick-pocketed it as well as the ricin cigarette that he previously believed Gus used to poison Brock. Jesse returns to Saul's office and physically attacks him, holding him at gunpoint and demanding to know about his role in Brock's poisoning. Saul admits to his involvement in the plot, but insists he had no idea what Walt's intentions were. As Jesse leaves, Saul calls Walt, who returns in a hurry to the car wash to retrieve a hidden revolver from a vending machine. An enraged Jesse breaks down the door to Walt's house and begins to pour gasoline on the floor.
Production
Millard Drexler, former chairman and CEO of J.Crew Group, had a cameo appearance in this episode as a customer at the Whites' car wash to whom Skyler gives incorrect change. He stated that his scene, in which he says eight or nine words, took nine takes to film.[1]
Reception
Viewership
The episode was viewed by 4.85 million people on its original broadcast,[2] which was an increase from the 4.77 million of the previous episode.
Reviews
The episode received strongly positive reviews, with Walter's monologue particularly praised.[3] TVLine named Aaron Paul the "Performer of the Week" for his performance in this episode.[4]
In 2019 The Ringer ranked "Confessions" as the 24th best out of the 62 total Breaking Bad episodes.[5]
Accolades
Gennifer Hutchison won the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama for this episode.[6]
Aaron Paul won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2014 for his performance in this episode.[7]
References
- ^ Moin, David (August 28, 2013). "Mickey Drexler Makes Cameo on 'Breaking Bad'". wwd.com. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (August 27, 2013). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'MTV Video Music Awards' Dominates + 'Breaking Bad', 'Real Housewives of NJ', 'Catfish', 'Dexter' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- ^ "Episode Review: Breaking Bad, "Confessions"". Metacritic. August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "TVLine's Performer of the Week: Aaron Paul". TVLine. August 31, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
- ^ Haley O’Shaughnessy (September 30, 2019). "The Ringer's Definitive 'Breaking Bad' Episodes Ranking". The Ringer.
- ^ Matt Webb Mitovich (February 1, 2014). "Writers Guild Awards: Breaking Bad, Veep, House of Cards and Days of Our Lives Among Winners". Retrieved July 31, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Emmys 2014: Complete List of Episode Submissions". www.goldderby.com.
External links
- "Confessions" at the official Breaking Bad site
- "Confessions" at IMDb
- Template:Tv.com episode
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