AMC
Here’s why I absolutely love the marketing for El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie: it knows the power of Breaking Bad.
Mere days after fans simply learned that production on the film had not only begun, but had already wrapped (!), Netflix dropped the first, and likely only, teaser trailer on us. A teaser trailer scant of any plot detail, by the way.
Unlike traditional popcorn affair — which typically has at least a 12-month period of ceaseless rumors and speculation — El Camino was announced before fans even had a chance to realize it was coming, and when they did finally figure it out, they were only six weeks away from the film’s release.
In typical Breaking Bad fashion, it was a master class of efficiency. Netflix knew the power of Breaking Bad and employed that pristine reputation as the film’s entire marketing strategy — Breaking Bad doesn’t need months of hype and half-a-dozen teaser trailers, it simply needs to exist. As the saying goes, build it, and they will come.
Anyway, why are we here? Well, if you’re like me, then the trailer for El Camino has likely sent you down a rabbit hole of Breaking Bad rewatches and content consumption. After all, you gotta get prepped for the movie, right?
With that in mind, I’ve been doing my best to bring relevant Breaking Bad information to our readers prior to the premiere (check out our Countdown to El Camino series), and I think Aaron Paul’s Top Five Breaking Bad scenes certainly falls in that category.
So, without further ado, here is three-time Emmy winner Aaron Paul’s official top five, via Vanity Fair:
5. Walt’s Proposal to Jesse – Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”
“I love this scene because this is where the true journey begins for Mr. White and Jesse Pinkman. This is the decision that changes both of their lives forever.”
4. Jesse Discusses Shooting Gale – Season 4, Episode 7, “Problem Dog”
“When Jesse confesses to his group how he had to put down the “dog” – I love this because it allowed Jesse to finally (somewhat) confess his sins.”
3. Jesse Shows Up at Mr. White’s House to Kill Walt – Season 4, Episode 12, “End Times”
“This scene is incredibly powerful to me because everything Jesse screams out in this scene was the truth. It was easy for me to perform because I truly already had all of those feelings bottled up from all of the previous seasons and it was a nice way for me to let it all out. Walt was behind all of it and all Jesse had to do was pull the trigger. Walt, of course, talked him out of it and convinced him that he had it all wrong. Walt is a master puppeteer and Jesse was just on one of his many strings. What a bastard.”
2. Mr. & Mrs. White Have Dinner With Jesse – Season 5, Episode 6, “Buyout”
“Do I really need to explain why I love this scene? I think it’s pretty obvious. I just love how uncomfortable Jesse is the entire time and how he uses his glass of water as his security blanket.”
1. The Final Showdown between Jesse and Walt – Season 5, Episode 16, “Felina”
“It’s the final showdown between Walt and Jesse. Will Jesse end this once and for all, or will he just walk away? When Jesse says “Say you want this! Nothing happens until I hear you say it!” And Walt’s response is “I want this,” and then Jesse just simply says, “Then do it yourself” and he drops the gun and walks away. The final look Walter and Jesse share speaks volumes with no words needed. So much pain on both ends and they both know it is all over. Then the drive off with every emotion pouring out of Jesse was such an incredible thing for me as an actor playing Jesse to perform. I felt like it was a perfect way to end this journey for me and for Jesse. Yeah bitch!!”
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie will hit Netflix on Friday, October 11.
COUNTDOWN TO EL CAMINO: Did Walt Ever Truly Care About Jesse?
COUNTDOWN TO EL CAMINO: Why Did Walt Leave Gray Matter?
COUNTDOWN TO EL CAMINO: How The F*ck Did Walter White Poison Brock?
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Contact him: eric@brobible.com.