When a TV show is one of the most-watched, popular, and critically acclaimed dramas of all time, you know there has to be some heartbreak and despair. That is just the case with Breaking Bad. In fact, it features a laundry list of moments that bring out the emotions in the viewers.
A number of different characters had to go through heartbreaking moments. This article will focus on 10 of those heartbreaking moments. Forewarning: this article contains spoilers.
10. Walt Missing Out on His Daughter’s Birth for a Drug Deal
This is one of the toughest decisions that Walt makes early in the show. However, this decision tells you right from the get-go where his allegiance lies.
After breaking into Jesse’s house to find the meth for a large drug deal with Gus, Walt receives a text from Skyler that the baby is coming right now. After a brief moment of consideration, Walt immediately goes back to looking for the drugs, This shows Walt cares more about getting this deal done than the birth of his own daughter. Walt would later blame Jesse for making him miss the birth of his daughter.
In Walt’s absence, Ted Beneke, Skyler’s boss at the time, takes her to the hospital and stays with her until Walt arrives.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television9. Todd Murders a Young Boy on a Bike
This is, without a doubt, one of the most horrifying and heartbreaking moments in history — and it came from out of nowhere.
After a successful heist, a young boy rides up on a dirt bike and sees the gang following their train robbery. Out of nowhere, Todd pulls out a gun and shoots the boy, who we later find out is named Drew Sharp.
Despite the heartbreak, it’s a brilliant maneuver by the writers. Throughout the whole episode, viewers are cheering for Walt and his crew to pull off their huge heist. However, the murder of Drew brings the viewers back down to earth and reminds them who the bad guys really are at this point.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television8. Walt Jr. Choosing He Doesn’t Want to Use Walt’s Name Anymore
Chances are that there are little moments more heartbreaking for a father than his son not wanting anything to do with him. And that is exactly what happened between Walt and his son, Walt Jr.
In season two, Walt Jr. decides he wants to be known as “Flynn” and no longer “Walt Jr.” in order to distance himself from his father. He did this in response to Walt’s absence and rather bizarre behavior. Also, Walt Jr. wants his own life. However, by sharing a name with his father — who was also a teacher at his school — Walt Jr. feels like he is living in Walt’s shadow.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television7. Andrea Gets Killed
This one is extremely hard to watch as a viewer. Andrea, who is Brock’s mother and one of the only sources of warmth and happiness in Jesse’s life, is killed brutally right in front of his eyes.
When Jesse is kidnapped by the Nazis and forced to work in their lab, he is told that if he tries to escape or anything of the sort, Andrea will be killed. Perhaps forgetting about the threat, Jesse tries to escape and is recaptured.
What happens next really makes you feel for Jesse and what he is going through. While being tied up and gagged in a car parked across the street, Jesse watches as Todd puts a bullet into the back of her head. This leaves Brock without a mother and Jesse without the only good thing in his life.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television6. Walt Kidnaps Holly
This must be one of the worst things a mother can go through. Your drug kingpin husband kidnapping your daughter after hearing he had a part in the murder of your brother-in-law. The police are called, an amber alert is released, and the viewer’s hearts are broken as they see Skyler screaming for Walt to stop and return Holly.
Fortunately, this scenario eventually ended without harm as Holly was found and eventually returned home.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television5. Jesse Shoots Gale
Gale was a chemist who was hired by Gus Fring in order to help set up the superlab to manufacture crystal meth. In the show, Gale essentially needed to die for Walt to remain alive. This is because once Gale was comfortable enough to run the superlab, Fring no longer needed Walt and thus could kill him.
Once Jesse arrives, Gale opens the door and we see a visibly shaken Jesse, who is within inches of breaking down. Jesse pulls a gun out and we hear a gunshot as the screen fades to black.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television4. Jesse Calling Jane’s Phone to Hear Her Voicemail, Until It Gets Disconnected
One of the hardest things for Jesse to deal with, without a doubt, was the death of his one-time girlfriend, Jane. She died of an accidental drug overdose, which destroys Jesse’s world.
Following Jane’s death, Jesse is struggling in life. One of the only things that keeps him going is the fact that he could call Jane’s phone and hear her voicemail. Then one day, Jesse is unable to connect to Jane’s voicemail since the phone is disconnected. This is an extremely emotional moment as Jesse comes to the realization that Jane is gone forever.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television3. Walt Watches Jane Die
This is probably the moment that the viewer realized the Walt we knew and loved was no more. He was now a heartless drug kingpin named Heisenberg.
After coming to Jesse’s house one night and seeing Jane and Jesse high and passed out, what happens next is heartbreaking; even Bryan Cranston himself said it was one of the most difficult things to do in the series.
Jane awakens from her sleep, throws up in her mouth, and begins to choke on her own vomit. Walt identifies and realizes what is going on, but doesn’t help her and she dies as a result. This obviously destroys Jesse, while Walt shows little to no remorse for his decision to not help Jane survive.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television2. Mike’s Death
This is one of the toughest scenes to watch in the show’s history. Despite his extremely tough and rugged behavior and tone, viewers couldn’t help but love Mike. That’s why it’s so hard not to shed some tears when he is shot by Walt.
The waterworks only continued as you see Mike sitting down, glaring out into the water, knowing he has only seconds to live. His final words of “Let me die in peace” capped off one of the saddest and most heartbreaking moments in Breaking Bad’s history.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television1. Hank’s Death
And coming in as the most heartbreaking moment in Breaking Bad is the death of DEA agent and Walt’s brother-in-law, Hank Schrader. Hank is suffering on the ground from a gunshot to the thigh out in the desert. With Jack and his band of Neo-Nazis standing above Hank with guns in hand, you know the end for Hank is likely near. What follows next are some extremely heartfelt and memorable words from Hank that bring tears to the eyes of any viewer and ignite sympathy in their hearts.
After the dust settles and Hank lays dead on the ground from a gunshot wound to the head, you know that the show lost one of its brightest characters.
Source: Screenshot via Sony Pictures Television