ABQ

The teddybear teases at the beginning of the season and the reveal at the end of the season... genius.

'Breaking Bad' is one of the most popular rated shows on IMDb, is one of those rarities where every season has either been very positively received or near-universally acclaimed critically and where all of my friends have said nothing but great things about.

Very few shows in recent memory had me so hooked from the very start that before the week was over the whole show had been watched, especially when for a lot of shows now airing watching one episode all the way through can be an endeavour. 'Breaking Bad' had that effect on me, and its reputation as one of the best, consistently brilliant and most addictive shows in many years (maybe even ever) is more than deserved in my eyes. Its weakest season is perhaps the first season, understandable as any show's first season is the one where things are still settling.

Actually everything is established remarkably from the very start, but once the writing and characterisation becomes even meatier the show reaches even higher levels.

"ABQ" is yet another amazing episode of a consistently great season, for me it's in the top three of Season 2 along with "Grilled" and "Phoenix" and couldn't have been a better season finale. It has intensity but is also one of the show's most emotionally devastating episodes.

Visually, "ABQ" is both stylish and beautiful, with photography and editing that are cinematic quality and put a lot of films today to shame, where there are a lot of visually beautiful ones but also some painfully amateurish looking ones. The music always has the appropriate mood, never too intrusive, never too muted.

The writing in "ABQ" is a fine example of how to have a lot of style but also to have a lot of substance. The dialogue throughout is thought-provoking and tense, while also have a darkly wicked sense of humour, nail-biting tension and heart-tugging pathos. The story is texturally rich, intimate, tense and layered, with the pace of it consistently deliberate but taut.

Can't say anything bad about the acting. Bryan Cranston is phenomenal as one of the most fascinating anti-heroes, or even of any kind of character, in either film or television. Aaron Paul has never been better and Anna Gunn is affecting. The characters are compelling in their realism.

Overall, amazing and powerful. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Very creative one.

Now who wud have thot about the 'head on the tortoise'.

The way Danny Trejo's head moves is hilarious.

The statement by Mr White, 'stay outta my territory' was epic.

The teddy bear stuff is filled with suspense.

This season has some amazing introduction of new characters, especially Saul Goodman.

This is the thirteenth episode of the second season of Breaking Bad and up to this point, this may be the best episode yet. As for finales go, this blows away the finale of Season 1. This has many shocking moments, such outstanding dialogue, solid visual effects, great acting especially by Cranston and Anna Gunn.

In this episode, "ABQ," Jesse blames himself for the death of Jane so he enters himself into rehab. Meanwhile, as Walt is about to go under the knife, he accidentally let something slips which has a dominoes effect as Skylar is fed up with his lies.

Overall, this is an incredible episode full of many intense moments. It's emotional on a high level and just a smart, well-written episode that has not one, but several shockers. Bring on the third season! I rate this episode 10/10.

There is virtually no plot details I could reveal about this one without spoiling, but it safe to say that it contains some truly horrendous concepts to behold, but does it with phenomenally good writing, filmmaking and performances.

There are several cold openings to episodes of Season 2 that prompt huge intrigue and I admit when I first saw the show on its initial release that I did not predict where it would go. We get a big reveal in this episode and first time round (even though it's a work of fiction) I was gobsmacked. On a recent second watch, it works incredibly well, but in a different way as you are watching all details of the story, plus the foreshadowing closely.

Although the contrivances are huge and somewhat unlikely, the writers and filmmakers put everything across in such a clever and cinematic way, you cannot fail to be impressed with the production. Even the lower key (if you can call them it) moments are full of instances of cleverly thought out dialogue and storytelling that calls back to previous episodes and sets up plot threads yet to come.

All actors are immense, particularly Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Jonathan Banks and John de Lancie.

Visually it is absolutely brilliant, with massive credit to the visual/audio effects and editing.