The Terrifying Brilliance of Breaking Bad’s “Granite State” 

Jessie's cry after Andrea gets shot to this day is still one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever watched.

I like the episode where he throws a pizza on the roof.

The scene where Jesse dreams of being a wood worker just to turn around and still be a meth slave after all he went through makes me feel every negative emotion i can think of.

Ozymandias: The Climax Granite State: Falling Action Felina: Resolution El Camino: Epilogue

Andrea dying with the silenced pistol is still traumatizing to this day.

I was reading tons of serious and sad comments and then proceeded to read "I like the episode where Walt threw pizza on a roof" I liked that episode too.

7 years after it's ending, people are still making videos about it. It's THAT good.

Walt being an overqualified chemistry teacher and watching his old friends find the kind of success he felt he deserved, created a pathology of bitterness, resentment and envy. Then BOOM, his stagnant life undergoes a chemical reaction and he finds the success he was looking for in crime. His stagnant life was replaced with thrills and challenges conferrable to his intellect and ambitions. His cancer removed his fear of consequence freeing him from legal punishment. People like to trash walt because of his cold decisions but man he is just hands down one of the best anime characters of all time.

A landing platform for Ozymandias, and a launch pad for Felina. Brilliant.

I loved that Gretchen/Elliot and Uncle Jack are kind of the same to Walt. both stole his signiture product and made millions from it and he came back to end to use of his legacey

In Ozymandias, the great statue fell, and now it’s reduced to its Granite State.

In Felina, I think Walter finally realised that he wasn't just Walter White and he wasn't just Heisenberg. He was both.

Feelings of Power: Money: 10 Connections: 10 Aleczander voicing your own thoughts in his unique style: 10000

The last 4 episodes of BB are the best run of multiple episodes in TV history

The scene where Jessie is making his wooden box, but it turns out he was still a meth slave and was daydreaming hits me so hard every single time.

"You can't have fireworks without the fuse" That's some quality writing and a perfect anology, great video

last time I was this early walter was still not wearing pants

Breaking bad is a horrifying depiction of the cost of ambition, imo

Brilliant take. Thinking about it now, Ozymandais seemed very dream or rather nightmare-like. It seemed surreal how everything crashed so fast. Granite state is indeed waking up from the nightmare which actually happened and now have to live with it.

Aleczandxr and Breaking Bad is a combo that I didn't know I needed, but I do.

The slow demise of Walter White is what makes this show so great, very different from most other shows. Great video!

The last scene where the extended breaking bad theme plays .....gives the right amount of gooseflesh.

I like the scene where Jesse says: “ahhhh... wire!”

Every single episode of Breaking Bad is a masterpiece. No filler and no real flaws.

Jesse watching Andrea be murdered was the toughest point in the series for me. He was, in almost every aspect, a good person who had to deal with the terrible people around him. Despite all of this, he did what he could for the few good individuals in his life, and in the end it all still fell apart. Thank god for El Camino for giving me some much needed closure on his story

1:54 When Gus takes away your steam account.

The ending of Granite State gets me more pumped up than Captain America finally saying "Avengers assemble" in Endgame.

I could not agree more. Granite State quietly yet powerfully depicts what the bottomless torture, regret, hopelessness, utter aloneness, and despair of the human soul actually looks like. Except for the last 10 minutes of the final episode, it’s the episode that makes me weep the most. But unlike the finale, it’s not mixed with joy for Jesse, and for Walt who in the end had to lose everything to regain just a small shred of humanity. But with Granite State it’s a different kind of tears, as I also shake my head while crying. Every single time; subconsciously even, like I’m trying to will what’s happening not to be so. The begging and paying 10 grand just for an hours worth of company, how Walt meekly and pleadingly asks him if he would give his money to his family and the cold, honest response back that lets Walt and us know he won’t, the phone call with Jr.; it’s all just gut wrenching. It’s the soft, hushed brutal result that is utter destruction reeked from monstrous havoc. And Jesse, oh God, Jesse; watching Andrea murdered, his enslavement, the terrible abuse; his fate here seems unbearably horrific. It’s the depiction of living hell. Despair often comes in a whisper, yet it’s deafening and all encompassing in its stillness. And you’re so right in that it’s more powerful in a lot of ways than the action episodes are. To me, it’s more powerful in all ways. Because It feels, well, final. There is no more hope left. It’s what it looks like when all that is owed has finally come due. Incredibly Shakespearean in scope, it’s the devastating reverse image of every character; the reverse of all the good and on top times, the reverse of every single relationship, everything broken beyond broken, everything forever gone. Everything that was, everything it was all for, now forever lost. It just kills me and I often skip it just because it’s so heartbreaking to me. Gone are the golden days on top, Walt’s ego is completely stripped away, with only deep despair remaining. And a desperation to not let it all be for nothing. Truly heartbreaking. It is without a doubt, the saddest episode of the entire show. But also an absolute masterpiece.

The three episodes that represent an explosion: To'hajiilee is the match lit and the wick is shrinking until it reaches the explosive. Ozymandias is the explosion with people gone from ground zero and the shockwave hitting those further away and falling debris landing on people while a large dust cloud covers it all. Finally, Granite State is the dust cloud revealing the sky and the tragic aftermath of the event, everything is damaged, nothing will be the same again

7:08 this was the most emotional scene in Walt's life where he has to take permission to see his own daughter for the very last time, and how he was just begging for a proper farewell from Skyler and how he saw Jr. for the last time.

I thin the most poignant thing about this episode is that Walt's legacy will outlive that of Elliott and Gretchen's, but for all the wrong reasons.

I just finished this show a couple days ago and I’m still emotionally immersed

Did not expect this. Happy to be surprised.

Granite State is one of my top 5 BrBa episodes. It sobers you up from the hellstorm that is Ozymandias, and shows you the ACTUAL loss and devastation of Walt's actions, not just the final and ultimate blowback. Hank died and he left his family after they gave him up, but he truly loses them in this one. And Jesse's story just becomes a horror film. It gives the final episode the right to be what it is. Walter doing what he can to make some right out of all of this wrong. Bc now we've seen the things that have happened to him. We've seen the consequences to his actions, so now we get to see him try his best and use Heisenberg for some relative good before he's dead and gone.

That BrBa themesong of Granite State, still gives me chills.

This is the most genius show that ever graced our eye balls...

6:41 This is one of my favorite scenes in the entire series. GRANITE STATE is indeed a tough watch, for all the reasons you laid out, and to see our anti-hero fall into THIS. But also like you mentioned, seeing that RAGE come over his face, seeing what he's seeing, and the perfectly timed BREAKING BAD theme being played for the 1st time in the actual series, well damnit, it gets my blood flowing in excitement right now, all these years later and probably a couple of years at least since I last watched that episode. In my opinion, there is no movie, other TV show, docuseries, miniseries, hell even PLAY, better than BREAKING BAD. You will never watch something better than the full BREAKING BAD series

Great essay on an underrated episode. I especially love the denouement emphasized by the first and only time the Breaking Bad main theme song is played during the actual show. Just a pure moment of joy about villain Walter finally making a push to right what he can.

The ending of this episode was so bone-chilling. It was like the Heisenberg inside of Walt saying 'ONE LAST TIME'. I dunno about you but I was always rooting for Walt the entire show despite all the crimes he did because I felt like I completely understood him. I am not saying his actions are justified, but as I said before I understood him and could relate to him as the show made him feel so real and grounded, and not fictional

6:50 I like that you said he had to muster the motivation from the embers of his old anger. The following proceedings occur with a weariness, like he's conjuring Heisenberg, so he can do a job, not from any genuine remaining roiling hatred. This man has sat in a cabin thinking too long to be so petty anymore. He's strictly using these people, and Heisenberg, to achieve an end, and that's all. It's not really "real" danger or threat anymore. They WILL outlive him. He's just Walt, who screwed up, and is facing death now, doing what he can. This is what he ACTUALLY looks like with nothing left to lose.

That last scene was one of the most epic moments in TV history Thanks for incorporating the theme into this video as well

I am confident in my lifetime there will be nothing cooler and rewarding/emotional than hearing the full theme song at the end of this episode after everything Walt realizes. Maybe the last Tarantino film but still probably nothing else

Waking up to a nightmare is quite a numbing experience. To a bad breakup, to the death of a loved one, the following days just force you to deal with the new reality given to you. You feel a granite state of not knowing where to go from there, if all the effort was all a waste all along. But life goes on, and so do you.

In my extremely biased opinion breaking bad is the almost perfect show

Oooh. A breaking bad analysis? Please do more!

Look closely at the napkin in the last shot, it’s shaped like a swan because this is Walters swan song

“You can’t have the fireworks without the fuse” I think this quote perfectly sums up what granite state is

ozymandias: ending of breaking bad granite state and felina: the epilogue

My favorite episode of the series pretty much just because of the ending. There was something almost inspiring about it. Even though he's an irredeemable character its like even when you're at the end of you're rope theres still things you can do to change the future for better or worse. Its why I think Walt is such a compelling character. I love the way his ego drives him to keep being a mastermind until the end. When he told Jesse he's going to hell earlier in the season then he said "but I'm not gonna lie down till I get there" that shit gave me chills down my spine.

Love seeing this episode get some much-needed dedicated praise like this. That bit in the middle of the video made me think of it almost like Ozymandias is the finale, Granite State the aftermath, and Felina an epilogue. Not that entirely makes much sense, but comprehensively it's a kinda dope way to think about it imo. Also really love how you nailed the *feeling* of the episode, especially since I had never realized it but could certainly perceive it. I recently dealt with some personal tragedy in my life and while it was terribly and weighed on me heavily, the real horror was dealing with it after. Having to continue and get back to life while still feeling the pressure of what had happened permeate throughout my daily life... It's overbearing and huge and it really is in many ways worse than the terrible thing itself. You really struck the nail on the head with this one and the fact that it's both right while I'm dealing with some personal life stuff and finishing rewatching season 5 of Breaking Bad just makes it extra special for me, personally. Super great video and concise expression, man, keep it up!

Love when you do non-anime stuff. This, the Pokemon reviews and the Harry Potter critique are among my favorite videos of yours.

You can do all the breaking bad and I'm tuning in.

Producers: You can use the intro theme for only one scene. That's all. Vince Gilligan : Fine by me. No problem.

I’m still morning A. Sack Schrader. RIP

Your videos are like a relic. I don’t search them up, but everytime I come across them it’s a masterpiece

I will never tire of watching Breaking Bad content. And once again, you pov makes me appreciate what I've watched even more.

Walter throwing a pizza on the roof wss cool But Walt and Jesse taking on a fly was straight fire

I love the 'wooden box I made in high school' in season one that Jesse fantisizes about holding in his hands and admiring his craftsmanship of the only one good thing he ever did.

Brilliantly put. The slow down and sheer despair in the beginning, the purgatory throughout and the ramp up with the main theme at the end. Damn, this episode was perfect!!!

Please more Breaking Bad Videos!! Just finished rewatching it and your videos make me appreciate it much more!

Fun fact that I haven't seen mentioned, even in the DVD commentary, the key fob for the Volvo that says "just for today" is from narcotics anonymous

Yes. I'm very familiar with that terror that comes from wanting to wake up from a nightmare only to realize that this is real life and there will be consequences. There is no reset. There is no rewind. There is no pause. It is gut wrenching.

Brilliant...truly brilliant. My friends and I have had many discussions and full out arguments about this episode and my opinion was that this episode was needed and after watching this video I have the perfect thing to share with them to send my point home. Well done.

This was a great video, well spoken bruh. Makes me want to go back and watch this series again.

This might be my favourite episode. I watched it many times the week it aired. The feeling was like the Friday afternoon before a flight to a vacation. Anything could happen next in the final episode, I had no idea what was coming. But that episode was just wonderful to sit in. Such a breather

Oh wow I'm loving this. I didn't know I needed this.

Me and my dad are about to rewatch this series, glad to see that you made this video man💪🏼

Aleczandxr - Well done! I thought it was interesting that you put a disclaimer about how you don’t condone Walt’s actions. I think what made this show resonate with so many people is that they can imagine themselves being so desperate and hopeless, that they might actually do what Walt did. Naturally, most of us wouldn’t do it because the combination of moral repugnance and the ease of simply accepting our fate are simply too great, but we can see how someone WOULD do what Walt did. When Jesse tells hand that Walt is “smarter than you and luckier than you” explains why Walt keeps going. Walt keeps surviving against incredible odds due to his intellect and amazing luck. That combination has driven a LOT of otherwise law-abiding people to “break bad” and keep going until they are (usually) destroyed.

Hank: “It’s a mineral goddamnit!”

Never thought I could see a Breaking Bad analysis in Aleczandxr.. Please make more of the BB universe 😍

Very well said, dude. Nicely done. Bravo! I thought a lot about several episodes throughout the series but I had not thought about granite state quite like this. I love this!

This is such an outstanding video, not only about the episode but also about narrative. Great job!

I always thought of Granite State to be the end of Heisenberg, and the return of Walter White. The episode to me has always shown Walter finally contemplate his mistakes and what has brought him to his current miserable state. I believe the character in Felina was Walt, no longer Heisenberg.

Yooooo didn't expect a Breaking Bad video. KING!!

So happy you managed to recover! One of my favorite creators!

Great, you motivated me to rewatch the series. Much respect for your abstraction and verbal abilities. Keep up the good work.

Pizza jokes aside, this was an eloquent video man, very well put together. I finished watching this series today and Granite State was an episode that really stuck out to me (in terms of the latter half of Season 5). I really hope that more people see this episode for the masterpiece it is. For me, it represents Walter admitting to his mistakes. His 2-episode long redemption arc if you will, or at least failed attempt at redemption. He has lost EVERYONE and EVERYTHING he cared about and this episode is the turning point where he finally realises how bad he messed up, or at the very least, this is where he admits it. He FINALLY admits to his mistakes, he admits his pride to Skyler and has such a heartfelt conversation to Flynn/Junior over the phone and the last words he ever hears from his own son is "why don't you just die already". Goddamn, it's just so gut-wrenching and fantastic, but the thing that really gets me is that Walt is so genuine in that scene. You can tell he did really care, he just let his ego get in the way more and more throughout the series, which lead to his demise. He probably knew in his heart that he wouldn't be able to un-fuck the things he did, but it was at least worth a try.

Thank you for the vídeo . Such an in depth analysis . Of such a great series . It truly is wonderful to watch and ponder right after

Thank u for the brilliance of this episode to people.... That last TV and Glass shot is one of my favourite of the entire series

new alecz video, great way to start your friday

This episode has always stuck with me and has been what I've thought back on the most when I think of breaking bad and its tone and cinematic magic. Thanks for highlighting it

I love your work! It’s gotta be tough, to put into words the very feelings a piece of storytelling can invoke in an audience, but you make it look easy. Look forward to your next one!

Granite State is my favorite BB episode. I'm glad you made a video about this episode :)

This is my favourite episode in terms of storytelling. It's so damn perfect: it gives us such a good insight about the current empty, granite, still painful state of the characters in contrast to the intense and drastic changes and the devastating emotions of the characters in the episode before and it also builds up the smoothest transition and the best foundation for the series finale. Such a masterpiece.

This series is so 10/10. It's trippy almost how good it is.

Thank you! I always personally liked this episode more than one before and the one after.

This was a great video! It had been in my recommended for ages while I was watching the series but I finally finished the series and got around to watching this video. I love hearing takes like this, and I agree with you completely. Nice work :)

Damn underrated video talking about an underrated episode!! Thanks for the video

That's it, I'm gonna watch BB again. Depression, here I come.

Binged the series a few weeks ago. I still can’t get over the ending. I have so many mixed emotions. The story shows that nothing good comes from pride and ego and addiction. Walts journey is a tragedy and it’s really sad but it was also so epic

Thank you so much for talking about my favorite tv show!

That was great man. I'm certain we could all watch different takes on different fave episodes and agree w every one.

I remember when I watched Breaking Bad the first time and it was right as it was ending/just had ended. Watched the final episode a few weeks after they aired with my two friends who I got into it with me. The finale scene of this episode was truly magnificent and always reminds me of that sleepover Breaking Bad finale we had. As another commenter has said, that scene always gave me chills to watch and I would do so on RU-vid quite a bit after finishing the show,

Weirdly enough I was thinking about granite states underatedness and then I see this video pop up in my recomended

This is great. Thank you for posting it.

I experienced some severe adversity and extreme events in my life and looking back, the scariest part was the quiet moments after something happened. You are just sitting in your pain and have no way to quell it other than to sit and hope you can hold on.

Granite State has always been my favourite episode of Breaking Bad but I couldn’t put into words why You just did, so thank you sir

The scene where the intro music started playing was epic.

Dude your Videos are in a Granit State as in they are always so solid.

Too short my god I need more of this