#3 - "Face Off"
Season 4, Episode 13
"Face Off" is the thirteenth episode and season finale of the fourth season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 46th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on October 9, 2011. It was directed and written by series creator and executive producer Vince Gilligan.
The episode marks the culmination of the arc concerning the conflict between Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) which served as the focus of the fourth season. The episode marks Esposito's final appearance as Fring, as well as the final appearances of recurring characters Hector Salamanca and Tyrus Kitt, played by Mark Margolis and Ray Campbell, respectively.
At the pinnacle of the episode, Walt used Gus' pride to end him,
knowing the man would want to personally kill Hector. He insulted Uncle Jack's
(Michael Bowen) pride by suggesting he was partners with a rat. Jack couldn't let
the insult stand, so he ordered Jesse to be brought to them, allowing Walt to save
his former partner and kill the gang. While we doubt Walt had planned to save Jesse
going in, we're very glad he did.
"I'm going to show you just how wrong you are, and then I'm putting that
bullet in your head myself."
Gus’ bloody, jaw-dropping, and immensely satisfying end made for one of television’s finest season finales, but nearly every other scene in “Face Off” demands similar praise. Despite the high stakes, “Face Off” also offered a good number of laughs via Saul Goodman’s secretary extorting Walt, Jesse’s police interrogation, and Hector Salamanca’s DEA meeting.
Had “Breaking Bad” not been renewed for a fifth season, most fans would’ve been plenty satisfied with how “Face Off” wrapped things up, despite the reveal of Walt’s deception at the end of the episode.
