Breaking Bad (TV Series) Confessions (2013) User Reviews

There is No Match for this one....

[theneilrules · 10/10 · 26 August 2013]

One of the greatest episodes any series TV has ever delivered. That's all I can say actually.....there are words to describe this one. Pure raw acting by all the actors. Aaron Paul with his furious performance, Dean Norris with his silence and teeth grinding parley and of course Bryan Cranston with his evil saga. What Breaking Bad delivers is incomparable to any other series because the acting is very powerful and moving. The plot-line has always something new to offer and the camera-work and direction are brilliant.

You CANNOT afford to miss this episode under any circumstances. Breaking Bad rules.

10 out of 10

Holy Sh*t!

[ljs3799 · 10/10 · 25 August 2013]

Yes, there is a reason for why I put those two words in the review summary, its because that was my exact reaction to what you simply must go out and watch right now. Im not going to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't seen this episode yet but I am going to say this: you are going to freak out.

Its that classic 'Breaking Bad Intensity' mixed with all the lies and the storyline that makes me just want to jump out of my chair and scream. The writing in this series is so phenomenal and you can really see why I'm saying that in this particular episode.

10/10 once again for this absolutely brilliant episode from the greatest TV drama of all time!

Just wow!

[mrsnyder14 · 10/10 · 26 August 2013]

Whenever you think things couldn't get any better, Vince Gilligan manages to prove you wrong again.

With things escalating far quicker in the beginning of season 5B than expected, this roller-coaster of a show doesn't seem to be coming to a stop, or is able to for that matter.

In this episode we find Walter and his family trying to come to grips with the recent discovery of both Walt's former job by Hank and his returned cancer. The way Walter tries to mitigate the danger will bring your blood to a boil and delivers one of the most brilliant plot devices this show has yet had to offer.

In addition, we find Jesse at an impasse: spiritually bankrupt and nothing physical left to lose, Jesse struggles with the realization that he might just be the loose end that needs tying up from Walt's perspective and finds himself struggling with his options.

Though manipulative Walt may seem to be sometimes, after viewing this episode you will find yourself asking whether Walt only acts out of own interest, or whether he has yet some humanity left in him.

Abandon your expectations and get ready for a thrill! Nothing can prepare you for what's about to come.

NOTE 1: In the beginning of S5B we find Walt with two weapons.. a large machine gun and the small vial of ricine. This indicates Walt has two targets, with one having to go quietly and unexpected, and one who needs to go out with a bang (and is probably a group). I keep wondering.. are we approaching the point where we can tell who the targets are?

Phenomenal

[Leofwine_draca · 10/10 · 30 April 2021]

Another phenomenal episode of the show. Walt's surprising play against Hank blew me away with the sheer audacity of it all. Then, just when you think things can't get any better, along comes the ending which features some incredible acting work from Aaron Paul, whose character of Jesse was becoming a by-product of the show but is now suddenly front and centre.

Confessions (#5.11)

[ComedyFan2010 · 10/10 · 6 January 2014]

This season is brilliant. Every episode is a 10 and this one doesn't disappoint.

There are many amazing scenes between the characters. The meeting in the restaurant was very well done. And then the confession just left me speechless! So well thought through it was too good.

I also liked the scene in the desert. People may say all they want about Walt, but he is no monster. He always cared about Jesse and protected him. And while he benefits from Jesse going away, he still wants what is good for his friend as well.

I am pretty sad about what is to happen. But Aaron Paul did some amazing acting here.

A jaw-dropping game changer for the series

[stillworkingfortheknife · 13 February 2014]

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.

Best episode of season 5 yet

[nathan-cawley32 · 10/10 · 26 August 2013]

This episode not only made me crave for next weeks episode it stuck with me the whole day all i can do is think about this episode,this episode had everything from griping storyline to amazing acting especially from Arran Paul,this episode was a 10/10 no doubt about it completely speechless about the last scene from this episode all i can think about is what will happen next.

+acting ................................................................... +story grips you by the balls ................................................ +amazing cliff hanger,bitch

-can't think of anything.

An amazing episode!!!!!!!!

[mattytodaro · 10/10 · 26 August 2013]

"confessions" is ingenious, clever, intense, crazy and overall amazing which is why i felt compelled to write a review. The confession video was absolute brilliance and put a whole new twist on everything, basically putting the blame on hank as the person who was the head honcho. It puts hank in a position he has never felt before and this will only escalate in the episodes to come.

By far though my favorite bit about this episode is Jesse. He starts off very quiet, not saying much and just generally thinking. And then he goes crazy. His insanity is what makes him such a good actor and character, his ability to just turn on the insanity is what makes him a brilliant character. Overall it was probably my favorite episode of breaking bad ever and i hope there is more to come.

You Want A BitterSweet Excellence,You're in the Right Neighbourhood

[em_fad · 10/10 · 26 August 2013]

The best TV show of all-time delivers probably One of The Most brilliant Episode Of this series along with any Other TV Series.A Sweet Ride throughout;Until the end,which definitely gave Bumps and all.Since the last week the suspense was driving me nuts and considering the name of this episode,It grew further intense.Impatiently waiting for the next one,Keep 'em coming!

Walter Hartwell White,The Best Smart-ass Genius But What Comes next really scares me

And Jesse,in this situation My Advice to you would be to "Tread Lightly" ;)

Love You BREAKING BAD! :D

Oh my freaking god !

[chrisb993 · 10/10 · 26 August 2013]

This was absolutely the best episode EVER , i mean ever not Breaking Bad Wise , S05E11 is simply the best acting, scripting, camera work, drama ever filmed for TV !!! And it tops Season 4 , which was absolutely brilliant.

I cried 1 time simply because of the outstanding acting and chemistry of Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston. Aaron Paul is absolutely amazing, he will have a huge career after Breaking Bad, you can count on that.

The Scripting is so perfect i cannot put it to words. You feel like "Wow this is awesome" only to be wowed again 5min after that and so one.

I was nearly jumping into my TV in the last 5 min of the episode. This is such a thrill.

Whoever hasn't watched Breaking Bad, you simply miss the best drama series ever made. Breaking Bad plays in another league.

And i watched all great drama series, Lost, Sopranos, The Wire.... etc etc. totally different league. The Acting would be Oscar worthy...

Evil Genius

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 12 May 2018]

Walt has to deal with Hank somehow. There is so much circumstantial evidence but not the missing link. Because Walter always goes back to his family when he needs justification, he sets up a meeting with Hank and Marie and orders them to keep away from their kids. Hank gets quite volatile, of course, and makes more threats against both Walt and Skyler. Previously, we have seen Walter making a video--now he throws a DVD on the table and he and Skyler leaves. The remainder of the episode involves Jesse's perception that he has been betrayed. He talks to Saul and finds out about the poisoning plot against his girlfriend's little boy. The episode concludes with Jesse taking some rash action.

Making Confessions!

[g-bodyl · 10/10 · 23 February 2015]

This is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of Breaking Bad. If anything can be described as jaw-dropping, it's this wonderful episode. Many things occur in this episode, and all of them will hold your attention. The acting remains excellent, especially as Aaron Paul becomes a "regular" once more and Bob Odenkirk as Saul has his moments in the desert. Dean Norris and Bryan Cranston also deliver top-notch performances.

In this episode, "Confessions," Walt tries to convince Hank and Marie to leave his family alone and allow the cancer to do the work. After they refuse, Walt gives them a DVD essentially blackmailing them. Todd has taken over the business. Walt convinces Jesse to begin a new life in Alaska, but Jesse realizes a hurtful truth about Walt.

Overall, this is a fantastic, jaw-dropping episode. Trying to compute the happenings of this episode may create a mind explosion. That is how great this episode is. The cliffhanger is amazing and it means there is going to be some serious things happening in the final five episodes.

My Grade: A+

Every bad thing that happens to Walt is because of Jesse

[kurt7825 · 1/10 · 15 July 2022]

I hate Jesse. Walt should have killed him off in season one. Jesse is the reason everything went bad with Gus. He will probably rat out Walt. He's a mental junkie. I hope Walt kills Jesse and Hank. It was a decent episode but should have ended at episode 8.

I was left in SHOCK!

[and_mikkelsen · 10/10 · 30 April 2023]

Wow what an episode this was! Ever since the second half began, this is by far the best episode thus far! This episode was both shocking, emotional and heartbreaking!

After everything Walt and Jesse has been through this episode was a sad and emotional experience! The two of them hugging got to me when you think about everything that has happened and will happen! This show has been about their relationship and in some dark and twisted way this episode captures it!

Every actor delivers as usual! Aaron Paul in particular gives of a raw and real performance as Jesse in a broken, shocked and vengefull state!

Amazing soundtrack that captures the vibe and tone to perfection!

This episode is phenomenal qnd deserves as a major turning point!

The bar has been set sky high

[carlospvillegas · 10/10 · 26 August 2013]

I gotta admit, I was only halfway through the first season and I was about to quit watching it. Sure, the plot was good and Bryan Cranston's class was appealing enough to keep me interested for a while but this series didn't quite deliver. First season was (imo) not well defined and though it sets the table for what's to come, it doesn't do any justice to the greatness of this show. I decided to keep watching till I was done with season 2 and then I knew it was only getting better. You will love and hate many of the characters in this show, but episode 5x11 has been by far, the greatest and most intelligent piece of TV I've come to watch. It's difficult to think that this will get any better, and now the bar's been set pretty high... If they don't screw up the season finale, this has the potential to be the best drama series ever. But even if it disappoints in the end, this episode is worthy of an Emmy in any category you may think of. A true Masterpiece

The brilliant plan of Walt which forgot that Jesse lost his mind

[belaidinazim-57060 · 10/10 · 30 September 2021]

We start the episode by Walter recording a video supposedly confessing but it turns out it's like a threat to hank, creating a perfect story saying that hank is the haisenberg and giving false evidences that seem very true and that's because the crazy good performance by Bryan Cranston, the best of him so far. I nearly believed him, let alone the characters that may receive this video. So that's a bold move from Walt that at least slow down hank investigation, on the other hand Jesse is still lost like he has been all his life, but of course he is a threat so Walt convinces him to leave the town after a long speech, was that coming of love to Jesse or fear of getting caught, that's something I can't tell. However, Jesse discovers that Walt poisoned the kid with the cigarette missing, so he changes his mind and comeback to Saul and beats him. So now we have no idea about what may happen let's just wait and see.

Blackmail and confrontation

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 3 July 2015]

After an opening scene where Todd calls Walt to tell him he has taken over production from the Arizonans we return to Jesse and Hank. Hank doesn't get far with his questioning though as Saul ends the interview. He then takes Jesse to see Walt and Walt talks about how he might be better off moving away from New Mexico although Jesse suspects this is more for Walt's good than his own. Walt and Skyler then have a meeting with Hank and Marie and tensions simmer barely below the surface as Hank promises to take Walt down, adding that he will take Skyler down too if she insists on standing by him. The meeting ends with Walt handing a disc to Hank. This contains his recorded confession… about how Hank blackmailed him into working for him, sold his services to Gus Fring then forced him to make the bomb that killed Gus! There may not be a word of truth in it but the message is clear; if Hank brings him down he is going down too. Saul arranges for Jesse to leave New Mexico with a new identity but a last minute epiphany has Jesse attacking Saul and heading off to confront Walt.

This might not be an action packed episode but it certainly keeps the tensions high; especially when we see Walt's shocking 'confession'; I don't know about other viewers but I certainly wasn't expecting what we saw. If that wasn't enough the concluding scenes make it crystal clear that Walt and Jesse will never be friends again. The acting was top notch throughout with all of the cast giving great performances. As is often the case with 'Breaking Bad' there is some humour; this time coming from an over-enthusiastic waiter who keeps interrupting the meeting between Walt and Skyler, and Hank and Marie… which just served to raise the tension around the table. The ending was another classic which will leave viewers desperate to watch the next episode.

Season 5B - Incredible - and an even more incredible episode at that.

[sebastianmitton · 10/10 · 26 August 2013]

Beaking Bad ... There have been a few times I have been left in such awe from this show and tonight's episode has once again done just that. Season 5 episode 10 - Confessions has proved once again that this show is the pinnacle of drama and there is nothing out there that comes anywhere near surpassing it.

To re-cap - The episode starts off with a little showing of what's to come; with Todd giving Walt a phone message telling him there's been a little change in the way things are being done. Todd doesn't think Walt would really care and in my opinion I don't think he'd care either. Todd then talks with his uncle (the Nazi guys) who then continue their road trip back into New Mexico. It's a little unclear where this storyline is going to go but time will tell.

Meanwhile Hank tries to get Jesse to confess and give up Walter, Jesse is reluctant and Saul interrupts their interview. Hank realises that he is rapidly losing his case against Walt and needs someone to confess for it to be solid. The scene where the two of them are talking is well done from all aspects but notably the cinematography. The lighting, the dark room, black walls really showcases the dark abyss both these characters find themselves in.

The scene with them all at the Mexican outdoor restaurant couldn't help but make me smile as the contrast between what was going on at the table, the tension as opposed to what was going on in the background. Bright colours, loud music and people all sitting around having a great time. This self contained tension worked remarkably.

Then came the scene that had be clutching my hair and mouthing 'oh my god' - speechlessly. When Walt gives Hank his 'confession' tape only to find that it wasn't as much of a confession as it was an attempt to warn Hank off by threatening him. By stating in the tape that Hank made me do it. Your move Hank.

Walt tries to manipulate Jesse into leaving for good by making it seem like a great idea for Jesse to do so, however Jesse has had it with Walt's 'playing him' and demands Walt just tell him the truth. Tension is high as Walt slowly walks up to Jesse only to give him a hug. Despite that speech, Jesse still goes to skip town as his old cooking partner suggested. But when he realises the dope was pick pocketed just moments before he left, he connects the dots that Huel could have just as likely lifted the ricen from his jacket back in season 4.

Jesse looses it. Aaron Paul once again proves how great of an actor he really is; the raw emotions you see of his face when he's holding that gun to Sual Goodman's head is just impeccable. Saul then tells Jesse it was Walt who put him up to it and Jesse leaves. Sual calls Walt, forcing Walt to grab a gun he had been hiding, obviously from Skylar. However Skylar doesn't pick up on his unusual behaviour as she would assume he is on edge from the whole Hank ordeal.

Cut to: Jesse tearing into the White's driveway and pulling out a bottle of petrol. He then kicks down the door and starts to pour it everywhere screaming with fury.

The following has spoilers from the preview for next week:

Even though we didn't see Walt Jr's car out front, I think he will either be home as Jesse is doing this; or he comes home. The reason I say this is because we see the White's house intact. So Jesse obviously doesn't burn it down. My prediction is (Although this show is very unpredictably) Jesse will tell Walt Jr what a monster his father is and leave for another day.

All in all an amazing episode, a good 35 minutes of non-stop heart racing tension. And that ending literally had me yelling in my house for a good 15 minutes, not wanting to accept that the episode had finished.

9/10

We are getting closer to the end. And its a very dark place

[jacomurray141 · 8/10 · 26 August 2013]

Well done Vince. Very well done. This episode reminded me exactly why Breaking Bad is the greatest show ever.

Not saying the last few episodes were bad its just that they weren't The best. This episode was brilliantly written, engaging, and extremely Intense.

I really enjoyed this episode it is not the best but it is still up there. Not to mention the ending. I do not want to spoil anything this review so I will not say anything but I will say that the ending was unexpected.

This If you have-not seen this already and have seen the rest watch it now! You will not be disappointed.

"This is my confession" like 13 Reasons Why would NEVER

[Trey_Trebuchet · 10/10 · 2 June 2023]

Hello Hank. This is your tape.

Phenomenal writing. Obviously Hank was never going to just let this thing go, but seeing him and Marie get blackmailed and getting sent back to square one really threw me in for a loop. The scene at the restaurant with the Whites and the Schraders was great. And sad.

I hate seeing this family being slowly torn apart, just when Walter tried to legitimately leave it all behind. This second half of this season is literally everything falling apart, so it seems. I have no idea, literally no idea, how this show is going to end. It's frustrating in the best way possible. I cannot even imagine having to wait a week for each episode. I couldn't do it!

All of the acting here was phenomenal. Dean Norris and Betsy Brant are probably the best they've ever been in this series, and Cranston and Gunn are also excellent. But it's Aaron Paul who gets the best scenes in the episode if you ask me...

What a cliffhanger! I knew Jesse would find out about the poison eventually, but I forgot about it amongst the rest of the chaos going on. The final moments of this brought an already great episode to a pretty much perfect one for me. Even having seen the episode following this one, I still love it a whole lot.

Dang good television. I think it's great that the writing team have crafted basically a downward spiral of a final season here, but not at the expense of great tension, writing and character work. Seriously good episode.

Did Walter overplay his cards?

[sisirider · 9/10 · 2 September 2013]

Overall I have enjoyed watching every single episode of Breaking Bad. Everything has already been said about this master piece of storytelling, acting, character development, etc. This episode rocked, it had me on the edge of my seat.

But when listening to Walter's confession, I noticed something which I believe wasn't well thought off by Walter. He mentioned that his kids were held hostage at some point in time. Hank could easily show the DVD to Flynn and ask him why his father is not telling the truth. Flynn, as honest as he is, will probably agree with Hank.

Let's see what the next episodes will bring us. i cannot wait to see the remainder of this season. I already have to prepare on a life without Breaking Bad....

will never be beat.

[thedarkbite · 26 August 2013]

The show that keeps on giving. I have a list of my top 5 episodes of all time of all dramas. and they went like this, although in no particular order. Spoilers! 1. Walt kills Gus 2. Prison break final episode season 1, Flight 3. The shield pilot. 4. Walking dead season 2, Sophia walks out the barn a zombie. 5. say my name!

But i have to say i would have to find a space for" confessions". What an episode. Amazing acting, superb drama and a couple of fantastic WOW moments. Sad thing, only 5 to go but hey its gonna go down the greatest show ever made so that makes me happy. ENJOY this amazing show why. It makes me laugh in the UK you cannot watch it on any channel apart from having Netflix. you can watch X factor and the Only way is Essex but not Breaking Bad lol, what a country.

laughable

[kedoink · 1/10 · 13 September 2013]

I never write reviews, but seeing all these reviews screaming "awesome" "wow" and "best ever" (from literally ALL OVER THE WORLD, sure...) I just had to. I looked forward to watching the last six season 5 episodes, but BOY the quality difference with all previous episodes is just painful! Bad acting, sloppy montage, dull dialogue, changed characters, disproportionate amounts of showtime being spend on characters I don't care about, unsynchronized voices, it's just too much to throw at. It's majorly cheap compared to what I was used to enjoy so very much. All those 10 stars, I can't believe it, and make me wonder why something bad as this is being applauded.

Back to the basics - strong characters at the heart of a good story

[sansanome · 9/10 · 28 August 2013]

Breaking Bad has progressed from a fascinating premise set around mundane lives in the pilot 5 years ago, to an edge of the seat soap opera set around extraordinary lives with seasons 3-5. I prefer the former to the later. As Breaking Bad nears its conclusion, "Confessions" feels closer to those earlier episodes than what I have seen with the rest of season 5.

The drug kingpins, incredibly fat stacks of cash, heavily armed cardboard mobsters, gun battles, and tightly wound plots jerking you desperately into the next episode are absent here. I felt like "Confessions" was a brief return to seeing Walt and Jesse as real people. For the first time this season I felt as if I could connect with them emotionally again. The acting from all of the leads was excellent and helped to draw me back into caring about their characters. For many episodes now I was loosing that connection. Walt, Jesse, Hank and Skyler had become more like archetypes supporting a pulsating and creative plot than real people. A totally engrossing story is great, but if you are not emotionally invested in the characters, the impact of the story is lost. "Confessions" brings that back for me.

I must add that Walter plumbs new lows in manipulation in this episode, so much so that I wanted to scream out loud, shake someone, smash something. It was so painful to watch. However, I had a different take on one of these scenes. Where others see manipulation, I see love. Walter and Jesse have an interaction here that for me shows Walter to have retained a tenuous hold on morality. I see him as still caring deeply about Jesse. There was a time when Jesse was the only person left that Walt could share a genuine relationship with; Walt's lies had distanced himself so far from his former colleagues, friends, and most importantly his family. The degree to which Walt has come to love Jesse is shown beautifully in a season 3 episode where he calls Walt Jr. "Jesse" as he is drifting off to sleep after a rare heart to heart with his son.

Anyhow, call me crazy, but I see Walt truly shedding the Heisenberg alter-ego before all is said and done with Breaking Bad. The guy with the M-60 machine gun and ricin sure as hell is not the Walter White we knew in seasons 1 and 2, but I suspect he is not Heisenberg either. After this episode I take "Remember my name" as Walt's plea to remember his humanity. His name is not Heisenberg. Remember, his name is Walter White. All these interviews with Vince Gilligan saying that Walter White was always at his core bad, rather than someone who was turned bad by circumstance - it's just a smoke screen.

Cheers!

Too much awesomeness

[kv101kv · 10/10 · 27 January 2021]

Too much awesomeness in one episode. No dull moment. Hank and Marie horridly watching Walter's confession was a stroke of genius moment