Not for the first time, Breaking Bad employs a change of events, drastic enough to end the whole series, at a time with still quite a way to go until the very last ending credits roll. And while there's more than just one scene with far-reaching ramifications in "Confessions", it's the final couple of minutes, bringing Jesse up to a major character again after his temporary step back in most of season five's first part, that has audiences stop breathing and blinking for a considerable amount of time. In a manner as extreme and ruthless as the series hardly ever shows it, the entire premise for the series finale is turned on its head again, and it is awesome to watch.
However, there's more than just one "confession", as the episode's pluralized title already indicates, and midway through it, a scene with Hank and Marie watching a videotape made by Walt not only makes itself one of the most hilarious internet memes in Breaking Bad history, but also skyrockets up on the list of the most ingenious screen writing achievements in Breaking Bad history. As if that weren't enough, Gennifer Hutchison's splendid script also leads Betsy Brandt and Dean Norris to the best of their respective acting performances. If maybe not the best, it also lays the basis for outstanding jobs at the hands of Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn (excelling herself in a comedy/drama exchange at a Mexican restaurant), Bob Odenkirk (whether it's his awkward strolling in the desert while Jesse and Walt confer or his participation in THAT ending scene), and Bryan Cranston (putting his character's chilling schemes on screen with the usual bravura).
Without any exaggeration, "Confessions" doesn't include any bad or even average moments and is one of the very few Breaking Bad episodes that succeeds in sustaining thrill and intensity over the full running time. It's a jaw-dropping game changer for the series and rates its top rating because of a screenplay nothing below fantastic.
However, there's more than just one "confession", as the episode's pluralized title already indicates, and midway through it, a scene with Hank and Marie watching a videotape made by Walt not only makes itself one of the most hilarious internet memes in Breaking Bad history, but also skyrockets up on the list of the most ingenious screen writing achievements in Breaking Bad history. As if that weren't enough, Gennifer Hutchison's splendid script also leads Betsy Brandt and Dean Norris to the best of their respective acting performances. If maybe not the best, it also lays the basis for outstanding jobs at the hands of Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn (excelling herself in a comedy/drama exchange at a Mexican restaurant), Bob Odenkirk (whether it's his awkward strolling in the desert while Jesse and Walt confer or his participation in THAT ending scene), and Bryan Cranston (putting his character's chilling schemes on screen with the usual bravura).
Without any exaggeration, "Confessions" doesn't include any bad or even average moments and is one of the very few Breaking Bad episodes that succeeds in sustaining thrill and intensity over the full running time. It's a jaw-dropping game changer for the series and rates its top rating because of a screenplay nothing below fantastic.