{
  "id": 7888390,
  "title": "13 Years Later, Breaking Bad's Best Episode Is Still Nearly Impossible To Top",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/13-years-later-breaking-bads-best-episode-is-still-nearly-impossible",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-16T22:37:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2260829/breaking-bad-best-episode-ozymandias-13-year-anniversary/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thirteen years after its premiere on September 15, 2013, \"Ozymandias\" remains widely considered to be the pinnacle of the acclaimed television series \"Breaking Bad.\" As the third-to-last installment of the show, the episode has garnered a perfect 10/10 rating on IMDb for years, until a review-bombing controversy between fans of the series and another unrelated series caused its score to be removed in 2026. The episode encapsulates the conclusion of Walter White's (Bryan Cranston) journey, highlighting the destruction of his family, the breakdown of his relationships with Jesse (Aaron Paul), and much more. The series' creator, Vince Gilligan, also acknowledges \"Ozymandias\" as one of the show's finest episodes, although the script was penned by Moira Walley-Beckett, co-writer of \"Fly.\" Walley-Beckett revealed that the most challenging scene to write was the phone call between Walt and Skyler (Anna Gunn), showcasing Walt's vile and heinous comments towards Skyler while trying to save his sister-in-law's reputation. The scene sparked debates among fans regarding the authenticity of Walt's rage. Walley-Beckett also mentioned that she requested Rian Johnson, her previous collaborator on \"Fly,\" to direct \"Ozymandias.\" Johnson's involvement is particularly intriguing as \"Fly\" is one of the show's most debated episodes, with a minimalistic plot set almost entirely in a single room. Both \"Fly\" and \"Ozymandias\" share a common thread - they revisit Walt's involvement in Jane's (Krysten Ritter) death from Season 2. In \"Fly,\" Walt nearly confesses his guilt, while in \"Ozymandias,\" he confesses out of rage. Walley-Beckett expressed gratitude for working with Johnson on these episodes, highlighting the significant transformation in Walt's character between the two contrasting episodes.",
  "summary": "Breaking Bad delivered plenty of unforgettable episodes, but one still stands above the rest 13 years later, thanks to its devastating story and performances.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}