Breaking Bad (TV Series) Crawl Space (2011) User Reviews

Shivers...

[Vlayer · 10/10 · 26 September 2011]

Honestly, what can I say about this episode, more specifically the ending, without making it sound like an understatement. This episode had, as usual, great scenes and plot development. Great cinematography and music. But nothing, NOTHING(!!!) tops the ending.

You have to see it yourself, to understand how incredibly fantastic the ending of this episode was. It is probably(definitely in my opinion) the best scene so far in this show, it is better than most every scene in TV and cinema history, at least from what I have seen. I can't wait until next week, and I can't imagine how they will top this scene, amazing episode, perfect ending.

Mindblowing

[diabolical_summoning · 10/10 · 26 September 2011]

Breaking Bad has held me captive in its twists and developments unlike any other TV drama has, but even taking into consideration my love of episodes past, Crawl Space just blew me away. I find it hard to understate the exceptional cinematography, cast performances (particularly Brian Cranston and Giancarlo Esposito), and the almighty climax of the episode. Cranston is hitting peaks few actors manage to achieve, comparable to Anthony Hopkins or Jack Nicholson, all of the characters are developing in ways I could never have anticipated, yet in hindsight seems to fit so perfectly.

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see more awards thrown at Breaking Bad in light of this episode, simply perfectly created drama.

The ending of this episode has to be one of the best scenes in television history

[elmervanbree · 10/10 · 5 March 2019]

I have just rewatched this work of art of a show for the 6th time, and I have to express my feelings about the ending.

No spoilers: It's so well done that it leaves me shaking every time I watch it. Simply utterly terrifying and thrilling. Of you haven't watched Breaking Bad yet, do yourself and the world of television and cinema art a favor, and watch it. Breaking Bad will go down in history as (one of, depending on your taste, but in my opinion:) the best television show of all time. WOW what an ending!

Maybe the best ending we have ever seen

[eidikos4 · 10/10 · 27 September 2011]

Just speechless...An excellent episode,with great acting especially from Cranston leading to-my opinion-one of most 'severe' endings in TV history(??)...WOW!!2 years ago i said that Breaking Bad is the only TV Series with 'balls',but i certainly didn't expect that.Of course knowing that only 2 episodes are left the directors had to make some 'emerge' moves according the plot and the continuance of the story and the characters ,but this was extraordinary!An episode worthy a Globe Nomination in my opinion,its just one of these endings that remain indelible in your mind and memorialize it for years.Just that.Respect BREAKING BAD

Just.....Wow!

[g-bodyl · 10/10 · 22 January 2015]

This is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of Breaking Bad. Hands down, this is the best episode of the season. Everything about the episode screams perfection, and I especially loved the ending. I am incredibly anxious for the final two episodes. Once again, we get fantastic acting from the whole crew as they took it up a notch.

In this episode, "Crawl Space," after the incident in Mexico, Gus and Jesse walk back to the states where it is revealed that Walt is no longer needed as a cook. Gus kidnaps Walt and brings him out to the desert where he delivers some nasty threats. Meanwhile, Skylar asks for Saul's help in forcing Ted to pay the fines to the IRS.

Overall, this is just an incredible episode. The ending is just breath-taking and it's crazy and unexpected. This is what I call high-quality television. I rate this episode 10/10.

One of the most dramatic episodes yet

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 12 January 2013]

At the end of the previous episode Gus, Mike and Jesse were fleeing from the massacre at the cartel leader's hacienda; Gus was suffering the effects of the poison and Mike had been shot. It becomes clear that Gus had prepared for such an eventuality as this episode opens with them driving to a well equipped makeshift hospital in the Mexican desert. After being treated Gus tells Jesse that he thinks he is ready to be the cook now; Jesse doesn't disagree but he makes it clear that he won't do it if anything happens to Walt. Back in New Mexico Hank's investigation starts to get even closer to the operation when he asks Walt to drive him to another suspicious building... the laundry where the lab his hidden! In an act of desperation Walt 'accidentally' crashes into another car. This may delay Hank's investigation but it won't stop it and Gus makes it clear to Walt that Hank has to go; and if he tries to do anything about it his family will be killed! If that wasn't enough drama the Ted Beneke tax evasion subplot comes to an end.

'Breaking Bad' keeps getting better... The early scenes in the desert cemented the fact that Mike has replaced Walt as the father figure in Jesse's life while showing us that he hasn't completely abandoned Walt. Walt's scenes, first with Hank then with Gus, showed us just how close he is coming to total destruction and the Beneke story's conclusion provided some strangely tragic light relief. As always the whole cast did a fine job but it was Bryan Cranston's portrayal of Walt as he broke down towards the end that impressed the most. Without giving too much away the ending was tense in a way that made me wonder if I'd watched the wrong episode; surely such scenes would be saved for a stunning season finale... but no; there is more to come; if they use such a dramatic ending in a regular episode I can't guess how the actual finale will end!

Best episode of the series

[ryonnaeonn · 17 October 2011]

There has always been little bad to say about Breaking Bad, but "Crawl Space" hits the audience with such emotion and drama I wouldn't hesitate to say it's a perfect episode. We see more development in characters, including Saul's compassion, the gulf between Walt and Jesse, and Gus' ruthlessness. Cranston proves why he's earned three consecutive Emmy awards, turning in perhaps the most compelling, honest, emotional, and simply phenomenal performances I've seen in my life (television and cinema). The action rises and rises, building to the best last five minutes on television you'll ever see. The directing, cinematography, acting, and music mesh together to become simply perfect. This could easily have been a season finale, but there are two more episodes that have quite the bar to meet.

Gus's fatal mistake: real loyalty

[bgaiv · 10/10 · 24 July 2021]

Gus fights very hard to peel Jesse from Walt, and while he initially believes Jesse is some weird attachment of Walt's, in his machinations, he realizes that Jesse is actually quite an excellent and capable asset. And fries to peel him away.

It's even expressed that Jesse is valuable and quite loyal, but to "the wrong person"-- as if loyalty can be traded off!

This script is all quite brilliant. It's easy for Gus to see that this punk Jesse could be swayed, yet he couldn't see just how fiercely Jesse was loyal to Walt. And, ultimately, just fow powerful the Jesse/Walt pair could be!

The ending?

Well, this is one of the finest moments in television, isn't it?

Walt feverishly looking for the money, Skylar admitting she gave the money to Ted(!), Walt panicking at Skylar, then breaking down in insane laughter, then Marie's frantic call.

Wow!

This was the most surreal moment I think I've set seen on tv.

5 min

[magnusg-79607 · 10/10 · 1 September 2019]

The last 5 minutes is the best thing that has ever happened in television history PERIOD.

Gives me goosebumps

[UniqueParticle · 10/10 · 13 March 2021]

One of the greatest episodes in television history! Heart wrenching moments, incredible sounds, captivating performances, and a exhilarating entertainment you'd want! Ted exceedingly won't pay so that leads to exciting circumstances and Gus begins his threats which is masterful!

I was legit shaking

[swenpaii · 10/10 · 18 October 2019]

Absolute madness of an episode. In every single aspect. show's second best episode before Ozymandias. So good.

Why is this episode the best of the show?

[jdbasilio · 10/10 · 1 July 2020]

With respect for "Ozymandias", "Face Off", "Full Measure" and "Felina", this episode represent represents the essence of Breaking Bad. There is no better scene on TV than the end of "Crawl Space": the sound, the camera movement, Cranston's performance, the feeling of not knowing what will happen next and the black screen with "Created by Vince Gilligan". The result of the perfect construction of an episode.

Walt is out of his mind

[silverton-37959 · 7/10 · 29 September 2022]

Walt has some sick need to control everyone around him, and he has hit a brick wall in trying to control Gus Fring. He has so far refused to just accept that all of his problems with Fring have been of his own making. Mike tried to warn him from the first not to push for getting his own way.

Jesse warned him not to get involved with Fring in the first place. Jesse had caused problems for himself and Fring was simply going to keep Jesse out of the business, but Walt decided that he would be saving Jesse's life by getting Gale fired so that Jesse could come in with Walt in the lab.

The way I see it, Walt turned Fring against both of them and has been trying to control his own part in the business by trying to control Fring. It's obvious that this isn't going to go the way he wants it to. Fring isn't going to forgive Walt for Gale's murder.

Walt tells Fring "You can't kill me"and Fring responds that instead he can kill Walt's wife and kids, but this is the "or else" if Walt doesn't stay away from Jesse and the lab. Walt turns that around in his own sick mind to mean that Fring is now going to kill Walt's family.

Walt is out of his mind, and runs to Saul wanting to get the number for the man who can make people vanish and start over in a new life. Walt is nuts. He has always been a little looney, doing the most extreme things to prevent his own imaginings from coming true, as though he thinks he can see the future..

Walt is a control freak and he does things for reasons that wouldn't even occur to a normal person. So, Walt is an anti-hero character. That's what the story has become in my view.

Didn't make much sense

[Sewil1 · 4/10 · 19 October 2019]

Ending didn't make much sense. Gus warned him that if he interfered, he would kill his family. All Walt had to do was not interfere and he and his family would be fine and be left alone. He was out. But of course, being Walt, he couldn't settle for that. He just had to warn Hank, risking the life of his family, and then we get this artistic ending that just seems kinda cringe and overplayed. What was that deafening white noise at the end, some way of masking the nonsensical plot points?

The series' best episode up to that point, hands down.

[stillworkingfortheknife · 21 December 2013]

I don't suppose any sane person thought anything else than "WOW" when the credits for "Crawl Space" began to roll. Hands down, the ending sequence is one of the best things to ever happen on television and I don't suppose that I have to point out what it is that makes it that brilliant. But, contrary to its episodic predecessor, there's not only one amazing scene that you won't forget, but a whole episode you won't forget.

Opening with the ramifications of "Salud" taking place in a portable, so to say, Mexican hospital, where Gus and Mike are treated, this episode cuts right to the chase, which is especially pleasant if you're watching the season in a row on DVD/Blu-Ray (and I guess there's no other way to go if you watch it on DVD/Blu-Ray for the first time). But very soon, we're north of the border again and are confronted with lots of trouble as well. For one, Ted Beneke's bitchiness reaches a new apex and in such a situation – Better call Saul! That's what Skyler does and that's what provides for the funniest scene over the course of four seasons of the series, if you ask me. Bill Burr and Lavell Crawford excel themselves in their roles and, guess what, I don't have anything to criticize Christopher Cousins about. To that novelty comes an abrupt ending to Hank and Walt's investigation joyrides, something that may not have been the greatest scene, but something very important to the plot that is also a partial reason for the unforgettable episode finale (something that great has to be called finale, right?).

Jesse gets something else to do as well in "Crawl Space", as we firstly see that he now has a wonderful relationship with Andrea and Brock (knowing the series, this is highly unlikely to last long), but secondly get further proof that Walter has lost all of his rationality due to the admittedly uncomfortable situation he is in currently. Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston have another paramountly acted confrontation that leads to a desert scene even better than the one we've had pretty much exactly one season ago. Giancarlo Esposito shows his intimidating side once again and now we're already at the final moments of "Crawl Space". Whoever had the idea for this should win a Nobel Prize or be canonized because that is sheer perfect. Oh, and same goes for Bryan Cranston who has now officially ascended to the highest tier concerning acting skills.

What was that?

[sarker306 · 10/10 · 19 November 2012]

An episode full of anger, remorse, curiosity, panic, revenge, loyalty and the laughter. The moments of Don Salamanca, the encounters of Jesse and Walter, the freaky deliveries from Skyler, hands of Gus playing in a "brilliant" game of survival while all others stands against each other in a complicated standoff where there seems no chance of getting out bloodless.... Seriously, this was the laughter that chilled me. I hate it, really hate it. Adding the panic of other casts, with the laughter ringing in the background.... It is a murderous 47 minutes. I won't talk about more acting, cinematography, score, dialogues, plot. Nothing at all. They mesh up to produce such a chemical solution, which is.... what? I don't know how exactly I feel right now. I don't know how they pull from here to 5th season, but I cannot wait to watch.

Ending= most mindblowing scene I have ever witnessed.

[hitdoctor24 · 10/10 · 31 October 2013]

This isn't a full review or anything like that, seeing as how I'd likely ramble on a bit too long and eventually lose focus. I just have to write something because I need to share my thoughts on the masterpiece that is "Crawl Space". After a great premiere, season 4 definitely slowed down for a bit. Episodes 2-6 were fairly slow paced with not much happening. While it may have been boring at the time, episodes 7-13 more than make up for it, and make you appreciate the slow parts more. "Crawl Space" does a perfect job of setting up the 2 part finale for the season. Anyways, let's get right to it. Before I start with the ending though, I must point something out. The scene where Ted tries to escape Huell and the red head guy (can't remember the name) and knocks himself out by tripping into the kitchen counter is easily the funniest moment of the show. I died laughing for a good 3 minutes. This show has a knack for making me laugh, despite the extremely dark nature of the show. But basically, the main story lines of the episode involve Skyler trying to get Ted to pay his taxes with the money she gave him, but more importantly, Gus threatening to kill Walt and his family. The scene in the desert is fantastic. Giancarlo Esposito delivered once again, as Gus was a cold blooded bastard here. This is where the episode really kicks off. Walt now realizes that he has no choice but to take his family and get as far away as possible. So he goes to Saul and asks him to contact the guy who can make them disappear. He's told he'll need 500,000 dollars to pay the guy so he heads home to gather all the money he has stashed in the crawl space under the house. As he races against the clock and jumps down the crawl space, he has a horrifying revelation: there's not enough money. Skyler runs into the room to see what's wrong, which is where the chills start to kick in. The tension is almost too much to handle, as Walt learns that Skyler gave the rest of the money to Ted. Walt screams as Skyler cries, devastated and shocked to see Walt's behavior. Then, out of no where, Walt begins laughing uncontrollably. The laughter is so maniacal and sadistic, that I couldn't help but just sit at the edge of my chair with my jaw dropped open and chills running through my body. And just when things couldn't get any worse, Marie calls, in tears, to inform Skyler that the cartel are planning to kill Hank. The suspense, Walt's terrifying laughter in the background, and the subtle yet very ambient music make this my personal favorite TV scene of all time. It's an experience unlike anything I've ever been a part of. If you thought the endings of "One Minute" or "Full Measure" were mind blowing, you've got another thing coming when you watch this episode. I truly don't think this moment will ever be topped by any other show. It's that good.

Crawl Space (#4.11)

[ComedyFan2010 · 10/10 · 5 January 2014]

Wow, absolutely mind blowing. I can't believe all of this happened in one episode. And it was absolutely high quality episode with amazing acting.

It is already great in the beginning when Jesse brings Gus and Mike into the hospital and is concerned for Mike not getting enough care. This is very much what Jesse is like.

Then we have this amazing moment when Hank pretty much asks Walt to go their lab! I could not come up with an idea of what they will end up doing. So good.

Then we have some comedy where Ted is forced to write a check to IRS (one doesn't see that very often on a TV show) and then ends up injuring himself.

And Brian Cranston is absolutely outstanding in this episode. There is the moment when he realizes that somebody was cooking in the lab without him and the whole panic starts. The confrontation he has with Jesse. And yes, the absolutely amazing ending scene. We hear his hysterical laughter while over panicked Skylar talks on the phone to Marie who is terrified about the message that Hank received.

I really hope to see Jesse and Walt get back together. In this episode aside from their confrontation we can see how they care for each other. Walt all worried about what might have happened to Jesse and Jesse telling Gus that he will not cook if anything happens to Walt. Let Jesse save Walt now!

Crushing

[skynet1984-171-531330 · 10/10 · 27 September 2011]

Exquisitely written and acted. The cinematography featured at the conclusion is as harrowing as it was genius, I'd suggest this long buildup to a short segment; the final scene; should be considered one of the finest pieces of cinema ever shown on our screens.

Up until this point series 4 has appeared rather slow-paced to me, it felt as if the show was losing direction and running out of fresh ideas, but this single episode has made the series make sense. It was all a build up to the events which have exploded into the story which in my sense, suggest that the series has many years to run. As long as episodes of this quality are delivered, I'll always consider Breaking Bad to be one of the finest TV shows.

It's extremely hard to explain the magnitude of the episode without posting spoilers, but suffice to say that this episode changes everything, and one can only wonder at how it will all turn out in the next episode, the grand finale of season 4.

Incredible

[Leofwine_draca · 10/10 · 26 March 2021]

An incredible episode. Possibly the best one ever yet. I was totally bowled over by the constant shocks, twists and surprises throughout. Splendid acting from all involved, lovely character work, great and entertaining interactions, all building to an ending of astonishing intensity. Next please!

WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!?????

[grigorisspanoudis · 10/10 · 1 April 2021]

That ending was damn i dont know how to say it and walters laugh was sooooo scary i almost had nighmares.

Holy Sh*t!!

[rishabhcv-86377 · 10/10 · 13 August 2017]

Rate this episode out of 10?? I'll give it 1 million out of 10!! There are no words that can appropriately describe how great this episode is.

For me, the episode kicked off right from the very first shot at that at portable hospital. Each and every scene was simply perfect. The Walt-Jesse scene, the desert scene, even the bitchy Ted scenes were great. And then, of course, there was the ending scene. That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. The tension, the tears, the phone call, and the laughter-that damned laughter. I was scared sh*t less.

Everything was perfect in this episode. The cinematography was beautiful, the acting was top notch, and the music, especially in the final moments, was absolutely chilling. As the credits rolled up all I could think was wow!!! I can't wait to see what happens next. And it's a good thing I don't have to wait an entire week for that.

Best episode

[eastondk · 10/10 · 20 March 2019]

The acting of Bryan Cranston in this episode is perfect, the fact that he lost it at the end of the episode with that creepy laugh made this my favorite episode

Genius - A Work of Art

[debi-13 · 5 September 2014]

You can tell by the date of this posting that I am watching the series after it ended. I enjoyed the ride, the first time around, with each new episode. Now, I am binge watching the entire series on Netflix. This is my third day, and this particular episode was so utterly mind-blowing that I had to express myself. The entire episode, but especially the ending, is a Work of Art worthy of the finest museum to preserve it for all time. Hopefully, in 3000 years it will still be on exhibit, giving it the honor it deserves. I am so impressed with the intricacies in respect to all aspects of production, cinematography, character development, writing and acting that I am simply stunned. I rushed to IDMB to see if what I experienced in the last 2 minutes was within the same realm of other people's experience. By the comments left for this episode, I see that I am not alone in my assessment. To sum up my thoughts - simply: "WOW!"

The last couple of minutes

[msaha-17128 · 10/10 · 12 September 2020]

Yes, the last couple of minutes was probably the most scariest scene I've ever seen.