With "Ozymandias", Breaking Bad reaches its absolute apex, a gathering of all the worst things that could possibly happen for the series's main characters and the perfect analysis of Walter White's character. To me, this isn't merely the best episode of the series – these 45 minutes of utterly tragic intensity, having my heart continuously palpitate, are what I consider to be the best thing to be ever put on screen in any medium.
In a non-stop fashion, Looper's writer/director Rian Johnson shocks the audience with gut-wrenching, jaw-dropping, and unforgettable scenes, not leaving you any time to breathe deeply and not stopping to bother you after the ending credits roll. The screenwriters of this series have proved to be one of the most talented in their business over the course of almost five seasons up to that point and in "Ozymandias", they have all the accumulated problems ingeniously falling to pieces. In one way, it's torturing to watch all the worst case scenarios arise, but it's also fascinating because of how greatly made it is. The acting is a new career-best for virtually everyone involved and the departments that don't receive their due respect too often, such as the cinematography, the editing, or the incidental music contribute a major share to the phenomenal final good as well.
I'm completely stunned at how fantastic "Ozymandias" is and I can't think of any other episode of a TV series or any other film that emotionally affected me to the extent Vince Gilligan and his crew managed to do with this episode. Breaking Bad has had its weaker moments in previous seasons and may not be everyone's cup of tea, but with "Ozymandias", it suddenly becomes a must-see for anyone who gives anything about great film- or TV-series-making.
