Bryan Cranston's Favorite Breaking Bad Episode May Not Be What You'd Expect

"Breaking Bad," Vince Gilligan's tragic drama about one man's rise through the drug trade on the barren plains of the New Mexico desert, is still considered by many to be one of the most perfect shows ever made. Nearly a decade after its final episode closed the book on the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who turns to crime after being diagnosed with cancer, "Breaking Bad" lives on with its fans.

Many "Breaking Bad" fans have strong opinions when it comes to selecting a favorite episode. While publications like this one may list our own choices for the best episodes of "Breaking Bad," in a show that's constantly operating at such a high level that some universities offer courses on it that compare it to Shakespeare, it's hard to choose wrong. Some may love the sweeping tragedy of "Ozymandias," while others prefer the suffocating claustrophobia of "The Fly."

For his part, Aaron Paul has noted his favorite "Breaking Bad" episode as "Four Days Out," wherein his character, Jesse Pinkman, heads into the desert with Walter to cook meth, but their RV breaks down and the two must construct a makeshift battery to restart it. Let's take a look at how that compares to Cranston's favorite episode.

In an interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Bryan Cranston was pressed to name his favorite episode of "Breaking Bad." Cranston paused for a moment and then said, "I gotta say the finale." Of course, the final episode of the series sees Walter White rescuing Jesse Pinkman from the clutches of a meth gang who has imprisoned him, taking the gangsters out with a Gatling gun activated via remote control. The episode closes with a shot of Walter lying dead on the floor of the meth lab. 

Set to a needle drop of "Baby Blue" by Badfinger, the soundtrack asks, "Did you really think I'd do you wrong?" Roll credits. At the time of its release, many outlets praised the episode as one of the greatest series finales in the history of television. Indeed, all of these years later, the final season still has a 98% Tomatometer rating among critics. Similarly, IMDb scores indicate near universal approval from general audiences.

Apparently, the actor thinks showrunner Vince Gilligan and his writing staff crafted the perfect sendoff for one of television's most complex anti-heroes, calling it, "an incredibly satisfying and justifiable end to this journey." In Cranston's mind, Walt had to die because of the malignance his actions inflicted on those around him. "He became a cancer of his own," the star explained. "When he created that Gatling gun in the car, he was committing suicide." The moments right before Walt's death, wherein Walter caresses the chemistry equipment in his final moments, are of particular significance to Cranston. "This is his home. This is what he loved, and this is how he died."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.