History Heartwarming / BreakingBad

** Walt tries to flee home and kidnaps Holly after Skyler and Flynn fight him off and call the police on him. He coos over her like any other loving father while changing her diaper and coaxes her to say "dada". Holly then starts calling for Skyler, and Walt, [[MyGodWhatIDone realizing]] how much he's alienated his family to the point even his baby daughter has effectively rejected him, tears up and gives her a tight hug and a kiss before dropping her off at the nearby fire station with the Whites' home address attached to her clothes. At least it shows he still has ''some'' shred of a conscience.

** Also, the simple fact that Jesse doesn't resent his brother for

* Walter's relationship with Jesse; it's evident that Walt sees Jesse as his own son. In fact, he sees him ''more'' as his son than Walter Jr. Jesse himself saw his former chemistry teacher as the parental figure he never had. Despite how horrifically toxic their relationship generally is, there's no doubt Walt did indeed care a lot for his former student.

* Marie is the only one during the "talking pillow" debate that decides to side with Walt by telling him that he should do what he wants and agreeing with the sentiment that spending time in chemo is not exactly the best way to go. This quickly derails into an argument, but it's a first sign that Marie is more than just the obnoxious sister.
* Hugo, the janitor at the high school where Walt works, cleans up the chemo-induced vomit and offers Walt a stick of gum for his breath. The guy's so soft-spoken and genuine…
-->'''Hugo:''' ''I'll take care of it, Mr. White. You've got students to teach.''

* Walter's particularly embarrassed at a party for his old friend and colleague Elliot, especially over the tiny gift he brought in comparison to the over the top nature of all of the other presents. When Elliot opens the gift, he finds a pack of ramen. Elliot ''loves'' the gift because it was the same brand he and Walter lived off on in their days working together, and the two are seen next chatting and laughing about the good old days. Walter's discomfort is gone completely.
* Walter and Krazy-8's interactions in the first few episodes. They actually seem like genuine friends for a moment, which makes it even more [[TearJerker heartbreaking]] when Walt finds out Krazy-8 is just using him to escape and plans to stab him with the broken plate piece.
* As hamfisted and awkward as his mixed sports/poker metaphors are, Hank's speech during the family intervention has shades of this and is one of the earlier signs there is more to him than just the Meathead Cop persona he projects in the first few episodes.

* Jesse, after realising Walt is suffering from cancer after his aunt's experience with it, shows genuine concern for his wellbeing and gives him some of the advice he picked up from his aunt. He not only immediately realizes why Walt is so desperate to get the money from the cooking so far, but he tells him that using an icepack during chemo should help with the hair loss.

* Hank comforting Skyler, after her heated vent about Marie's troublemaking and other issues.

** In all honesty, "Peekaboo" could serve as one for Jesse in its entirety. This episode basically showed the audience that even though Jesse is a wannabe gang-banger and drug dealer, he's got a heart far too big to be in such a nasty business. [[WouldntHurtAChild Especially when it comes to kids.]]

** Most of Jane and Jesse's moments in "[[Recap/BreakingBadS2E10Over Over]]", really. From the surprise breakfast he makes her (she has to discretely pick out a shell) to Jane going over the superhero sketches he drew as a kid ("Kanga-Man" and "Backwardo"), he's full on {{adorkable}} in this episode and she clearly adores him for it.

* Despite having just been scared shitless by Jesse and Walt trying to scare him to represent Badger (while not making a deal with the DEA), the second Saul recognizes Walt by his cough, he advises him to take off his hockey mask so he can breath better.

** Also Walt and Jesse high-fiving once they realise they've just cooked enough meth in 2 days to make them $672,000 ''each''.

** Similarly, Jesse's genuine happiness when during "Over" when Walt tells him that he's gone into remission. The two might have a fairly rocky relationship, but there is a mutual respect and care between them.

** Hell, the reveal of the fundraiser site itself. Walter Jr. has made a page full of pictures, gushing about a father he obviously adores. It visibly warms Walt's heart too (that is, until he sees the donate button), and even after that, he tells his son, with a smile and a hug, that he is really appreciative of the efforts.

** In the previous two episodes, Hank goes to track Heisenberg and finds Walt and Jesse's RV with them inside, but gets a phone call telling him Marie is in the hospital. After realizing it was a trick, he goes to Jesse's house and beats him unconscious. After being suspended from the DEA and told he he's facing serious charges, he finally sees Marie. And of course, it gets even worse because he gets shot by Leonel and Marco shortly thereafter.

** "Run." Walter saving Jesse from two drug dealers by running them over with his car, shooting the one that survived, and telling him to escape. This is after Walter warns Jesse that he won't be able to protect him since he was stealing meth from the lab, and also spends the whole time lecturing Jesse how killing 2 of Gus' drug dealers would be disaster.

* Walt telling Gus that he's his only hope to keep the meth business running, so Gus can't kill him, then adding that he also won't do the work if Gus kills Jesse.

** Jesse pays him back (though unfortunately not with Walt as witness) when Gus seems to be asking him if he could take over the lab if Walt were killed, and Jesse says that Gus will have to kill him too if that happens.

** Saul encourages Jesse to go see Andrea himself, and is kind to Brock. [[https://open.spotify.com/episode/6l2yknoAytFnAAKSTXUhU1?si=0d70a49669574cec According to]] WordOfGod, that was a moment where Jimmy [=McGill=] woke up for a second.

* Walt talking business with Skyler about where to put the air fresheners, before talking about buying a second car wash. Before laundering money comes up, they sounds like two people running an honest business, leading a normal life. Kinda of heads into tearjerker territory though, when you consider that Walt could have avoided ever being involved in the meth business if he had just taken that job at Grey Matter. Maybe he and Skyler could've opened up an honest business funded by clean money.
* Walt's moment of vulnerability after collapsing due to exhaustion with Skyler. He says that he knows Skyler must have went for a deal and that he'll make it easy and turn himself in and all he wants is for Skyler to not give out the money to the DEA, just sit on it and give it to the kids, just as he intended. It's heartbreaking to see the original Walter White for a moment there -- a deeply flawed man who brought all of this on himself, but in the end just wanted to leave something for his children.

* Walt is finally cornered, caught by Hank with hard evidence as he, Gomez, and Jesse arrive to arrest him. His first instinct is to call Todd for a rescue, but then he looks at them again and realizes that even with as far as he's sunk, this is a step he can't take, so he tells Todd to forget it, and gets a look of absolute peace on his face as Hank calls for him to come out.
* Hank telling Marie that he loves her when he arrests Walt. What makes it very sad but heartwarming too that this was the last time he spoke to her.
** "[[HarsherInHindsight It may be a while before I get home.]]"
* When Hank and Gomez finally arrest Walt. They were partners until the very end, even as they were cornered by Jack's gang:

* Walt leaving Holly at the fire department, after having taken her when fleeing from his house. At least it shows he still has ''some'' shred of a conscience.
** And in the process, making a call to Skyler, knowing the police are there, in which he portrays himself as a terrifying villain who kept Skyler in line through fear throughout the series, exonerating her of any related charges.
** This one is very Fridge, but the fact that he claims that he killed Hank is also one of these. He could very well keep telling her that he didn't kill Hank while only he would know he was telling the truth, but instead he chooses to lie, somehow making himself out to be more of a monster than he actually is, and in the process Marie can actually know that Hank is dead instead of holding out hope that he's just missing, giving her at least some closure.
* Crossed with Awesome: Walt offering Jack his entire money stash to ''not'' kill Hank, proving once and for all that underneath the ruthlessness, manipulations, and greed, Walt values his family more than his money. Creator/DeanNorris said that moment redeemed Walt in Hank's eyes, at least partially, as Hank can at least acknowledge that as much as Walt put him in that situation, he did everything he possibly could to try to save him.
** Hank's way of telling Walt that his pleading is pointless -- he says that even though Walt is the smartest man he has ever met, he still can't understand that Jack has made the decision 10 minutes ago. It not only points out how heartbreaking it was for Hank to learn that Walt is Heisenberg, but also underlining the large respect he felt towards his brother-in-law's intellect. It's also delivered in a surprisingly quiet and tender tone, showing a sign of that feeling of partial redemption Norris mentioned Hank felt Walt had achieved.

* Even after everything that's happened, Marie still struggles to forgive Skyler, and tries to make what she thinks is Walt's downfall as easy on her and Walter Jr. as possible, letting Skyler be the one to tell him.
* One of the sole bright spots of ''[[DramaBomb Ozymandias]]'' is ironically Walter becoming the mask one last time in order to provide Skyler an alibi. Skyler slowly recognizes what exactly it is he’s doing and goes along with it.

** While the relationship between the two sisters is still broken, [[ThickerThanWater Marie still calls Skyler]] to warn her the cops discovered Walt returned to Albuquerque. Marie, who believes now that Walt had abused Skyler into being his accomplice, also warns her sister to be careful on the slightest chance that Walt manages to get to her (not knowing he's already in the apartment waiting for Skyler to finishing the phone call).
** Walt giving Skyler the lottery ticket with the coordinates for her to use as a bargaining chip. This will also allow Hank and Gomez to receive a proper funeral, giving closure to their loved ones, and also allow Skyler to avoid being prosecuted for Walt's crimes and keep custody of their kids. ''Better Call Saul'' would later reveal that it worked; Skyler managed to use the ticket as a bargaining chip for a deal, so as much as Walt put her in a horrible situation, he did manage to get her out of it as well.
** Walt admitting he wasn't in the meth business for the family, it was for himself. That may sound oddly warped, but in truth, it was heartwarming because he had spent the whole show lying and he finally gave her the truth she and the rest of his family deserved to hear.

** In a warped sense, Walt tackling Jesse to the ground so that he wouldn't get mowed down by the M60, thus letting him live. WordOfGod is that Walt was going to let Jesse die until the moment before the machine gun went off, as he just couldn't hurt the kid. Bonus points for Walter, if viewed a second time, is completely shielding Jesse from the side the machinegun is going off, makes the scene even more heartwarming.

** After EVERYTHING that's happened, Walt and Jesse looking at each other one last time. They can't bring themselves to fully get over what they did to each other (''especially'' Jesse, who refuses to give Walt a MercyKill) and they know this is goodbye, but it doesn't prevent them from giving each other final nods of understanding.

** Walt taking one final stroll through the superlab before dying, with the knowledge that despite his motivations, his family will be exempt from blame and provided for, and that they and Jesse will be safe.

** While the relationship between the two sisters is broken, [[ThickerThanWater Marie still calls Skyler]] to warn her the cops discovered Walt returned to Albuquerque. Marie, who believes now that Walt had abused Skyler into being his accomplice, also warns her sister to be careful on the slightest chance that Walt manages to get to her (not knowing he's already in the apartment waiting for Skyler to finishing the phone call).

** While the relationship between Marie and Skyler is still pretty broken, the former calls the latter to let her know that the cops discovered Walt returned to Albuquerque. Marie, who believes now that Walt had abused Skyler into being his accomplice, also warns her sister to be careful on the slightest chance that Walt manages to get to her (not knowing he's already in the apartment waiting for Skyler to finishing the phone call).

* Walt offering Jack his entire money stash to ''not'' kill Hank, proving once and for all that underneath the ruthlessness, manipulations, and greed, Walt values his family more than his money. Creator/DeanNorris said that moment redeemed Walt in Hank's eyes, at least partially, as Hank can at least acknowledge that as much as Walt put him in that situation, he did everything he possibly could to try to save him.

[[folder:Meta examples]]
* Actor Creator/JonathanBanks' comments in regards to his departure from the show, and Mike's death qualify as this.
-->"This is a glorious end to a magnificent character, that I've been lucky enough to play. So now you know, I'm a cupcake. 46 years professionally, and this is as good as it's ever been. Thank you."
* For the band Music/{{Badfinger}}, whose song "Baby Blue" closes out the series with Walt's death. After reaching the height of fame in the 70's, the band suffered a series of professional and personal misfortunes which culminated with two band members committing suicide, and went into relative obscurity. Following the use of their song in the finale, it was reported that online streams of "Baby Blue" have gone up ''astronomically''.
* One devoted fan group put an obituary to White in the October 4, 2013 issue of the ''Albuquerque Journal'':
-->White, Walter AKA "Heisenberg," 52, of Albuquerque, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer, and a gunshot wound. A co-founder of Gray Matter, White was a research chemist who taught high school chemistry, and later founded a meth manufacturing empire. He is survived by his wife Skyler Lambert; son Walter "Flynn" Jr.; and daughter Holly. A private memorial was held by his family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a drug abuse prevention charity of your choice. He will be greatly missed.
** Then on October 19, 2013, some people carried out a mock funeral procession (including a hearse and a replica of White's meth lab RV) and a funeral service was held at Albuquerque's Sunset Memorial Park cemetery. A headstone placed with a photo of Cranston as White read, "Beloved Husband, Father, Teacher & Entrepreneur: R.I.P. Walter White (September 7, 1959 — September 7, 2011)".
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFHIEynduqM After his third Primetime Emmy win]], one of the first things that Aaron Paul said was a request that everyone give another round of applause to the other nominees that didn't win. ''Aww...''
* According to [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2301451/trivia IMDb]], the flashback scene at the beginning of "Ozymandias" was the final scene filmed for the series, meaning that after all the events that transpire, Creator/BryanCranston and Creator/AaronPaul got to close their time working together on a beautiful, sunny day, in an emotionally much happier place than the last scene we see them in together in-universe.
* Almost five years after the end of the series, [[https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2317452/what-breaking-bad-creator-vince-gilligan-thinks-happened-to-jesse-pinkman Vince Gilligan came out]] and admitted that, although he's not too keen as to what would've happened next, he personally believes that Jesse managed to get away clean and start a new life.
-->There could have been police right around the next corner. Or there could have been an unfettered, free future for him. I personally would like to think he got away, because he paid his dues tenfold. I like to believe he got away. I don't really know in terms of what he should be doing as a career. I just hope he would get away, and meet somebody nice, and not be a criminal anymore and not face those horrors that he faced. I always liked that character. I always had a soft spot for him.
** And six years later, [[Film/ElCamino Jesse did]].
[[/folder]]

* "[[Recap/BreakingBadS4E5Shotgun Shotgun]]": The first shot of the episode is a panicked Walt leaving Skyler a voice message on the answering machine [[IfIDoNotReturn to say he loves her.]] She doesn't hear it until after the two of them sign the paperwork for the car wash, but once she does, [[CoitusEnsues the two of them immediately have passionate sex.]] Following that scene features Skyler and Walt having a very warm conversation, including her playfully chiding him for a compliment about her new haircut, Walt Jr. getting grossed out once he realizes [[ParentalSexualitySquick what his parents were doing,]] and Skyler gently pitching the idea for Walt to move back in with them. It is sweet, domestic, and ''very'' [[HappilyMarried normal,]] in a way that it wasn't really before, and likewise [[TraumaCongaLine never would be again.]]

* "[[Recap/BreakingBadS4E8Hermanos Hermanos]]": The fact that Gus set up a scholarship in Max's name. It's even more poignant when you consider that this is a link to his old life that could very easily cause some problems for him if anyone decided to pursue it. It's the sort of loose thread Gus simply doesn't leave, except where Max is concerned.

* Jesse, after realising Walt is suffering from cancer after his aunt's experience with it, shows genuine concern for his wellbeing and gives him some of the advice he picked up from his aunt. He not only immediately realizes why Walt is so desperate to get the money from the cooking so far, but he tells him that using an icepack during chemo should help with the head loss.