ABQ (Breaking Bad)
| "ABQ" | |
|---|---|
| Breaking Bad episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 13 |
| Directed by | Adam Bernstein |
| Written by | Vince Gilligan |
| Original air date | May 31, 2009 |
| Running time | 47 minutes |
"ABQ" is the thirteenth and final episode of the second season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the twentieth overall episode of the series.
Plot summary
The episode opens with a combined replay of the black-and-white scenes that led some of the episodes during Season Two, which show numerous first responder workers collecting and cataloging debris, including a half-burnt pink teddy bear, that had fallen around the Whites' house and its neighbors. In the distance, two columns of smoke can be seen.
Following from "Phoenix", Jesse wakes from his heroin-induced sleep to find Jane dead, having choked on her own vomit, unaware that Walt had been in his apartment and let her die. Jesse contacts Walt for help, who, feigning no knowledge of Jane's death, calls Saul. Saul sends his cleaner Mike (Jonathan Banks) to remove all evidence of drugs from Jesse's apartment and to instruct Jesse, who remains in shock from her death, how to handle any police questioning to avoid any implication he was involved in Jane's death. Donald, Jane's father, arrives at the apartment thinking she is late yet again to a rehab meeting and discovers her death, with Jesse being interviewed by the police. Jesse is unable to look Donald in the eyes, and becomes more depressed. He runs off to a crack house to try to lose himself. Walt, worried for Jesse's well-being, locates him and takes him to a rehab clinic.
Meanwhile, Walt is preparing to undergo surgery to remove his cancer. The website that his son, Walt Jr., made to bring in anonymous donations, which Saul had used to launder Walt's drug money through, has gained media notoriety due to its apparent success, and Walt becomes overridden with guilt as he is put in the spotlight. The day of Walt's operation arrives, and he is put under anesthetics; in his delirious state, he accidentally reveals the existence of a second cell phone he uses, making Skyler suspicious of his activities. Skyler begins investigating Walt's behavior of the past several months and finds out he has lied to her many times, though she does not yet learn of his involvement in meth production. She decides to leave him.
Some time has passed since Jane's death, and Donald returns to work, which is revealed to be as an air traffic controller. While on the job, his mind wanders back to Jane's death; in his emotional state, he inadvertently allows two passenger planes to collide in mid-air over Albuquerque. Walt, sitting by his pool while thinking about what has transpired, looks up to see the collision over his home, and debris start to fall from it.
Production
The episode was written by Vince Gilligan, and directed by Adam Bernstein. It aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on May 31, 2009.
Critical reception
The episode received critical acclaim. Donna Bowman, writing for The A.V. Club, commented that the episode: "...was horrific perfection".[1] The end of the episode is influenced by the 1986 Cerritos mid-air collision, in which two planes crashed into each other due to an error in traffic control. Coincidentally, the man who was directing one of the planes on air traffic control was named Walter White.
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
