History TearJerker / BreakingBad

* "[[Recap/BreakingBadS3E13FullMeasure Full Measure]]":

** One in-story, too. Jesse breaks over this. This is quite the emotional revelation for Jesse because it confirms not only that at heart he isn't a murderer but also that his beliefs held earlier in the show that he accepted his role, in his words, as "the bad guy" were false.

** The beginning of the episode, with Saul in the process of getting a new identity. Really, he's not Saul anymore. [[HarsherInHindsight Even his]] [[Series/BetterCallSaul Jimmy McGill, Attorney at Law days]] are far behind him. He's just plain old Gene Takavic now.
** Walt shelling out ten thousand dollars just so he can pretend to have a friend for an hour.

--->'''Jesse:''' You had [''Huel''] steal it off me! And all for that ''asshole '''MISTER WHITE?!'''''

--->'''Walt:''' No, no, NO! ''(suddenly on the verge of tears)'' I tried to save him!

*** Compounded by Walt screaming [[VillainousBreakdown "What the hell is wrong with you? WE'RE A FAMILY!"]] and then seeing Skyler and Walt Jr. cowering in fear of him, as Holly wails in the background. He then hopelessly whispers "We're a family". It was the inevitable conclusion that the show had been building to for five seasons: Walt destroying the family he had been trying to protect. At that moment, the apostrophe in "We're a family" was forever removed.

** Walt does successfully get his remaining nest egg to his family, by coercing the Schawarz's in using it to set up a trust fund Flynn will receive on his 18th birthday. Then during Walt's final meeting with Skyler, he claims he spent the rest of his money getting back to Albuquerque. This is because, as Flynn made clear in the previous episode, he and Skyler want nothing to do with Walt’s drug money. While they will get the nest egg in a little less than a year, they'll believe the money came from an act of charity of Walt’s former friends (and because of the “assassins” threat, Gretchen and Elliot won’t be telling the truth anytime soon). From the family’s point of view, Walt entering the drug trade to get them money was AllForNothing. Combined with them ending up worse off due to Walt's crimes (Hank's death, the Whites losing their house, all of them being associated with a drug lord), this will give them even more reason to hate him.

*** Compounded by Walt screaming [[VillainousBreakdown "What the hell is wrong with you? WE'RE A FAMILY!"]] and then sees Skyler and Walt Jr. cowering in fear of him, as Holly wails in the background. He then hopelessly whispers "We're a family". It was the inevitable conclusion that the show had been building too, Walt destroying the family he had been trying to protect. At that moment, the apostrophe in "We're a family" was forever removed.

** The entire BittersweetEnding, really. Sure, Walt accomplishes what he set out to do in the first place (make certain his family doesn't want for anything after he's gone), he does gain some measure of redemption at the end, and he makes sure all of Uncle Jack's Neo-Nazis and Lydia are dead so they can never hurt his family or anybody else ever again. However, Walt still dies alone and is hated by his remaining family, and almost every character, good or bad, is dead or has had their lives at least partially ruined by Walt's decision to become a meth cook. He also remains unapologetic despite everything that happened, and it's implied that if Walt had a chance to redo the past two years, he would still choose to go into the meth business.

* Walt Jr. receiving the cancer bomb from Walt. It breaks the kid and it's blatantly clear that it's only another manipulation tactic.
* Jesse's breakdown when Hank stops him from burning down Walt's house. You can even notice Hank trying to hold back his tears when he witnesses Jesse's breakdown, despite the antipathy he has for the young man.
-->'''Jesse:''' He can't keep getting away with it! HE CAN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH IT!
* The look on Walt's face when Jesse calls him. His prodigal son is now his enemy who he has to get rid of, you can see his heartbreak. Plus, fans now know the great Walt/Jesse team which has been the dynamic of the entire show is now over.
* Walt futilely pleading with Todd's uncle that he's calling off the hit on Jesse, after giving himself up.
* Huell's breakdown when he believes that Walt killed Jesse. Despite his goofy tough guy demeanor, you can tell he's something of a sensitive soul.
* Regardless of what side you're cheering for, it's hard not to see Walt and Jesse's entire interaction as Hank is arresting Walt as one of these. As Aaron Paul points out, it's clear that Jesse isn't feeling totally happy (he mentions Pinkman as being prideful, sad, and angry about Walt getting caught), and for his part, Walt is so upset about Jesse betraying him that he can only utter the word "coward" to his former protege. Jesse spitting on Walt, along with the ensuing scuffle between the two just drives the point home that the bond between our two protagonists has been totally and irrevocably destroyed.

** Steve Gomez's death doesn't even get shown on screen; we followed him the whole show, but our friend was ''already gone'' when the episode opens up. At least with Hank we knew what happened.

** Walt using his last meeting with Skyler to be truthful to her, admitting that he did everything, not for the family, but for himself.

--->'''Skyler:''' ''(in tears)'' If I have to hear... one more time... that you did this for the family—

** Walt giving Skyler the note with GPS coordinates for where Hank and Gomez' bodies are buried to avoid jail time and Skyler's reaction. He even tells her that when she calls the DEA after he leaves, she tells them that Walt forced his way in and forced her to make him breakfast to explain how she got it, all to keep up the alibi that Skyler was an abused wife who was forced into her husband's crimes.

** When Walt goes back to his old house, now abandoned, fenced off, graffitied, and trashed, he has a flashback to the very first episode during the big group photo when everyone was happy and the house was lively. It's a somber reminder how much Walt lost and how much he's destroyed by his two-year descent into a life of crime.

** The entire BittersweetEnding, really. Sure, Walt accomplishes what he set out to do in the first place (make certain his family doesn't want for anything after he's gone), he does gain some measure of redemption at the end, and he makes sure all of Uncle Jack's Neo-Nazis and Lydia are dead so they can never hurt his family or anybody else ever again. However, Walt still dies alone and hated by his remaining family, and almost every character, good or bad, is dead or has had their lives at least partially ruined by Walt's decision to become a meth cook. He also remains unapologetic despite everything that happened, and it's implied that if Walt had a chance to redo the past two years, he would still choose to go into the meth business.

** Walt does successfully get his remaining nest egg to his family, by coercing the Schawarz's in using it to set up a trust fund Flynn will receive on his 18th birthday. Then during Walt's final meeting with Skyler, he claims he spent the rest of his money getting back to Albuquerque. This is because, as Flynn made clear the previous episode, he and Skyler want nothing to do with Walt’s drug money. While they will get the nest egg in a little less than a year, they'll believe the money came from an act of charity of Walt’s former friends (and because of the “assassins” threat, Gretchen and Elliot won’t be telling the truth anytime soon). From the family’s point of view, Walt entering the drug trade to get them money was AllForNothing. Combined with them ending up worse off due to Walt's crimes (Hank's death, the Whites losing their house, all of them being associated with a drug lord), this will give them even more reason to hate him.

** Even ''Walt'', who has opposed Mike ever since the Gus situation crumbled, reacted to shooting him with [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone shock and horror]], a reaction we haven't seen from Walt regarding anyone he killed since Krazy 8's death way back in Season 1. During his final talk with Mike, he almost seems to feel remorse for it ending the way it did. This coming from the guy who was willing to poison an innocent child.

* Jesse's revelation that his mentor and partner betrayed him, lied to him, and manipulated him with Brock's poisoning. It had to come sooner or later, but it's heartbreaking to see how much it breaks Jesse.
** Especially the end of the episode where he's pouring gasoline all over Walt's house in a fit of blind rage. It's downright heartbreaking when you realize just how broken this kid has become over the past 16 months.
** Also, when Jesse beats up Saul and confront him about the risin cigarette. Even at his lowest, having rejected his one chance of escape out of blind rage and grief, even when he realises that Walt has never been on his side, the manipulation has gotten into him so deep he ''still'' can't help but refer to him like he's still a teacher:

** Not to mention how extra-heartbreaking this comes off after watching ''Better Call Saul'' and realising that Saul himself is just as manipulated and betrayed a person as Jesse, and still couldn't do anything to stop him from being used and discarded by Walt, just as Jimmy [=McGill=] was by his brother.

* The look on Walt's face when Jesse calls him. His prodigal son is now his enemy who he has to get rid of, you can see his heart break. Plus, fans now know the great Walt/Jesse team which has been the dynamic of the entire show is now over.

** Hank's death. Walt tries ''desperately'' to get Jack to spare him... only for [[FaceDeathWithDignity Hank to point out Jack made his decision "ten minutes ago"]].
--->'''Hank:''' ''[to Jack]'' Do what you’re gonna d- ''[[[KilledMidSentence bang]]]''
** Even worse is Walt just [[HeroicBSOD collapsing]] afterward. And what’s worse is that it’s eerily similar to the way Gus collapsed after Hector murdered Max. Walt and Gus were more alike then they knew...

** When Walt Jr. asks Skyler why she would go along with Walt's schemes, she tearfully says, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone "I'll be asking myself that for the rest of my life."]]

** Even ''Walt'', who has opposed Mike ever since the Gus situation crumbled, reacted to shooting him with [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone shock and horror]], a reaction we haven't seen from Walt regarding anyone he killed since Krazy 8's death way back in Season 1. During his final talk with Mike, he almost seems to feel remorse for it ending the way it did. This from the guy who was coldly indifferent to the murder and disposal of an innocent child.

** Jesse's discussion of Mike's death. He knows that Walt lied and that he will never see his friend again. He humors Walter and says he believes him, but he's crying afterwards.
** After he's prevented from giving his money to the parents of the boy Todd killed and Mike's granddaughter, Jesse desperately drives around in Albuquerque, and tosses $10,000 bundles out of his car to front lawns. The next time we see him, he's at a playground and laying on a roundabout, completely silent and staring into the sky.

** Saul asks after Mike, as he hasn't heard anything from the old guy lately, but one tearful DeathGlare from Jesse makes the mask break a little when he realises.

** When Walt kidnaps Holly to "punish" Skyler. What brings it over the edge is when we hear Holly's first word: Mama. At that point, Walt [[HeelRealization realizes]] [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone that]], because of his own actions, his family will never love him again, and returns Holly.

** Jesse's horrific fate at the end of the episode. [[FateWorseThanDeath Tortured, enslaved, and chained up like a dog in Todd's meth lab, with the implication he'll be there until]] [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he's no longer useful]]. Not to mention that there's a photo of Andrea and Brock against the wall to remind him of what will happen if he doesn't comply...

** Jesse is rotting in a Neo Nazi basement, forced to work as a meth cook slave, with a photo of Andrea and Brock to remind him that if he tries anything, they'll be killed. In a fit of desperation and despair, he tries to escape, thinking that they'll kill him. No such luck.

*** Compounded by Walt screaming [[VillainousBreakdown "What the hell is wrong with you? WE'RE A FAMILY!"]] and then sees Skyler and Walt Jr. cowering in fear of him, as Holly wails in the background. He then hopelessly whispers "We're a family". It was the inevitable conclusion that the show had been building to, Walt destroying the family he had been trying to protect. At that moment, the apostrophe was forever removed.

** Flynn's (previously known as Walt Jr.) last conversation with Walt over the phone. The look of sadness on Walt, unbearable. Flynn blaming Walt for Hank's death, for everything that happened, and for abandoning Skyler (who he now believes was never a willing accomplice in Walt's crimes) as TheScapegoat. Flynn ends the conversation screaming "Just leave us alone! YOU ASSHOLE! Why are you still alive? Why won't you just die already?! Ju-Just DIE!" Walt's last words before the phone is hung up? Don't let what he did mean nothing. Walt's face looked like a man who truly had nothing left. A man whose son despises him to the point where he legally changed his first name because of how ashamed he is to share his original name with his criminal father, the world hates him for being a monster, and he hates himself for letting it get out of control.

** Jesse's daydream. Oh, ''god''.

-->-- '''Jesse Pinkman''' summing up the show in an ultimate ReasonYouSuckSpeech to Walter White, "[[Recap/BreakingBadS3E7OneMinute One Minute]]"

* Jane's death in "[[Recap/BreakingBadS2E12Phoenix Phoenix]]". Walter accidentally knocks her on her back after she and Jesse did drugs and she chokes on her own vomit. Walter lets it happen, but sheds a tear over this, knowing that he'll have Jesse back, but he'll be shattered when he wakes up to find her dead.

** [[TheWoobie Skyler's]] fate is one as well. Her life is practically destroyed, with the trauma of her husband's crimes taking a heavy toll on her, standing a high risk of prosecution for his role in the same activites even though Walt made it look like he abused her into cooperating with him, and working as a taxi-dispatcher to make ends meet. [[FromBadToWorse Think that's bad?]] She also has the Neo-Nazis come after her and threaten to kill her and her entire family if she ever mentions them or Lydia. She now has to live under constant terror of her life if she dare tells what happened. Even if you haven't liked her before, you will ''definitely'' feel bad for what happened to her.

->''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech "Ever since I met you, everything I ever cared about is gone! Ruined, turned to shit, dead, ever since I hooked up with the great Heisenberg! I have never been more alone! I HAVE NOTHING! NO ONE! ALRIGHT, IT'S ALL GONE! GET IT? No, no, no, why...why would you get it? What do you even care, as long as you get what you want, right? You don't give a shit about me! You said I was no good! I'm nothing! Why would you want me, huh?"]]''
-->-- '''Jesse Pinkman''' summing up the show, "[[Recap/BreakingBadS3E7OneMinute One Minute]]"

*** Also ''where'' he dies. Before the police come in, Walt is all alone and there are no other people to be with him in his final moments of life. What's there to keep him company instead? ''Meth-cooking equipment.'' The very end of Walt's life was a microcosm of what his entire life had become thanks to his own poor decisions and actions.
** Walt does successfully get his remaining nest egg to his family, by coercing the Schawarz's in using it to set up a trust fund Flynn will receive on his 18th birthday. Then during Walt's final meeting with Skyler, he claims he spent the rest of his money getting back to Albuquerque. This is because, as Flynn made clear the previous episode, he and Skyler want nothing to do with Walt’s drug money. While they will get the nest egg in a little less than a year, they'll believe the money came from an act of charity of Walt’s former friends (and because of the “assassins” threat, Gretchen and Elliot won’t be telling the truth anytime soon]]. From the family’s point of view, Walt entering the drug trade to get them money was AllForNothing. Combined with them ending up worse off due to Walt's crimes (Hank's death, the Whites losing their house, all of them being associated with a drug lord), this will give them even more reason to hate him.

--->''Guess I got what I deserved...''

** Walt does successfully get his remaining nest egg to his family, by coercing the Schawarz's into setting up a trust fund Flynn will receive on his 18th birthday with the remaining cash he has. Then during Walt's final meeting with Skyler, he claims he spent the rest of his money getting back to Albuquerque. This is because, as Flynn made clear the previous episode, they want nothing to do with Walt or his cash after all the crimes he's committed. While they will get the nest egg in a little less than two years, they'll believe the money came from a philanthropist couple's act of charity, making them believe Walt's actions to get them money were AllForNothing. Combined with them ending up worse off due to Walt's crimes (Hank's death, the Whites losing their house, all of them being associated with a drug lord), this will give them even more reason to hate him.
** Even sadder when one realizes that there's only a handful of people who'll ever have even an inkling of why Walt really came back to Albuquerque. We know that he did all this to at least ''try'' and make things right, securing his nest egg and saving Jesse. But to the rest of the world, Walter "Heisenberg" White showed up in town on his 52nd birthday, tracked down the wife he abused into complicity with his crimes to terrorize her further by forcing her to make him breakfast, and later that night, he was found dead from a bullet wound to the abdomen in the meth lab on Jack's compound. Since Jesse is the only survivor, the conclusion will likely be that Walt went there and killed everyone simply to stop them from selling ''his'' meth before he died. Meaning not only does he die alone and hated by his family, but history will remember him as a vindictive and violent drug lord whose final act was done out of pettiness and spite.

* "[[Recap/BreakingBadS1E5GrayMatter Gray Matter]]", Any interaction between Walt and Skyler, Elliot, Elliot's wife... ESPECIALLY Elliot's wife. Oh God.

* Jesse's breakdown when Hank stops him from burning down Walt's house. You can even notice Dean Norris trying to hold back his tears when his character witnesses Jesse's breakdown.

** After he's prevented from giving his money to the parents of the boy Todd killed and Mike's granddaughter, Jesse desperately drives around in Albuquerque, and tosses $10,000 bundles out of his car to front lawns. The next time we see him, he's laying on the roundabout, completely silent and staring into the sky.

* Walt's Speech during "[[Recap/BreakingBadS3E10Fly Fly]]". He admits that he should have died, and at the end, he basically says that if he had died while listening to his wife and daughter on the baby monitor, then it would have been perfect. A tear falls from his eye when he finishes.

''Breaking Bad'' showcases how far the consequences of a humbled man's pride spreads, providing all these painful examples.

''Breaking Bad'' showcases how far the consequences of a humbled man's pride can spread, which provides all these painful examples.

''Breaking Bad'' showcases the wide-spreading consequences of a humbled man's pride, all of which is made ''very'' clear in the examples below.

** Even sadder when one realizes that there's only a handful of people who'll ever have even an inkling of why Walt really came back to Albuquerque. We know that he did all this to at least ''try'' and make things right, securing his nest egg and saving Jesse. But to the rest of the world, Walter "Heisenberg" White showed up in town on his 52nd birthday, tracked down his abused wife to terrorize her further by forcing her to make him breakfast, and later that night, he was found dead from a bullet wound to the abdomen in the meth lab on Jack's compound. Since Jesse is the only survivor, the conclusion will likely be that Walt went there and killed everyone simply to stop them from selling ''his'' meth before he died. Meaning not only does he die alone and hated by his family, but history will remember him as a vindictive and violent drug lord whose final act was done out of pettiness and spite.

** Walt giving Skyler the note with GPS coordinates for where Hank and Gomez' bodies are buried to avoid jail time and Skyler's reaction. He even tells her that when she calls the DEA about it, she tells them that Walt forced his way in and forced her to make him breakfast to explain how she got it, all to keep up the alibi that Skyler was an abused wife who was forced into her husband's crimes.

** Even sadder when one realizes that there's only a handful of people who'll ever have even an inkling of why Walt really came back to Albuquerque. We know that he did all this to at least ''try'' and make things right, securing his nest egg and saving Jesse. But to the rest of the world, Walter "Heisenberg" White showed up in town on his 52nd birthday, and later that night, he was found dead from a bullet wound to the abdomen in the meth lab on Jack's compound. Since Jesse is the only survivor, the conclusion will likely be that Walt went there and killed everyone simply to stop them from selling ''his'' meth before he died. Meaning not only does he die alone and hated by his family, but history will remember him as a vindictive and violent drug lord whose final act was done out of pettiness and spite.