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{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox television episode
{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Breaking Bad]]
| Title = Felina
| image =
| Series = [[Breaking Bad]]
| Image =
| image_size =
| Caption =
| caption =
| Season = 5
| season = 5
| Episode = 16
| episode = 16
| Director = [[Vince Gilligan]]
| director = [[Vince Gilligan]]
| Writer = Vince Gilligan
| writer = Vince Gilligan
| music = {{Unbulleted list |"[[El Paso (song)|El Paso]]" by [[Marty Robbins]]|"[[Baby Blue (Badfinger song)|Baby Blue]]" by [[Badfinger]]}}
| Producer =
| photographer = [[Arthur Albert]]<br />[[Michael Slovis]]
| Music =
| editor = [[Skip Macdonald]]
| Photographer =
| airdate = {{Start date|2013|9|29|mf=yes}}
| Editor =
| length = 55 minutes
| Airdate = {{Start date|2013|9|29|mf=yes}}
| guests = * [[Matt Jones (actor)|Matt Jones]] as [[Badger (Breaking Bad)|Badger]]
| Length = 55 minutes
| Guests = *[[Matt L. Jones]] as [[Badger Mayhew]]
* [[Charles Baker (actor)|Charles Baker]] as [[Skinny Pete]]
*[[Charles Baker (actor)|Charles Baker]] as [[Skinny Pete]]
* [[Michael Bowen (actor)|Michael Bowen]] as [[Jack Welker]]
*[[Michael Bowen (actor)|Michael Bowen]] as [[Jack Welker]]
* [[Kevin Rankin (actor)|Kevin Rankin]] as [[Kenny (Breaking Bad)|Kenny]]
* [[Adam Godley]] as [[Elliott Schwartz (Breaking Bad)|Elliott Schwartz]]
*[[Kevin Rankin (actor)|Kevin Rankin]] as Kenny
*[[Adam Godley]] as [[List of Breaking Bad characters#Gretchen and Elliott Schwartz|Elliott Schwartz]]
* [[Jessica Hecht]] as [[Gretchen Schwartz]]
| prev = [[Granite State (Breaking Bad)|Granite State]]
*[[Jessica Hecht]] as [[List of Breaking Bad characters#Gretchen and Elliott Schwartz|Gretchen Schwartz]]
| next = <!--Do not insert El Camino: this field is only for episodes, not movies-->
| Prev = [[Granite State (Breaking Bad)|Granite State]]
| Episode list = [[Breaking Bad (season 5)|''Breaking Bad'' (season 5)]] <br> [[List of Breaking Bad episodes|List of ''Breaking Bad'' episodes]]
| episode_list = List of Breaking Bad episodes
| season_article = Breaking Bad season 5
}}
}}
"'''Felina'''" is the [[series finale]] of the American [[crime drama]] television series ''[[Breaking Bad]]''. It is the sixteenth episode of the [[Breaking Bad season 5|fifth season]] and the 62nd overall episode of the series. Written and directed by series creator [[Vince Gilligan]], the finale first aired on [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] in the United States and Canada on September 29, 2013. It was followed by a [[sequel]] film, ''[[El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie]]'', which was made available on [[Netflix]] on October 11, 2019.


The plot involves [[Walter White (Breaking Bad)|Walter White]] evading a nationwide manhunt for him in order to return to [[New Mexico]] and deliver the remaining profits from his illegal [[methamphetamine]] empire to his family, as well as tie up loose ends with his friends and enemies. Knowing his [[lung cancer]] will soon kill him, Walt revisits his family and former acquaintances to settle his affairs and prepare for his death.
"'''Felina'''" is the [[series finale]] of the American drama television series ''[[Breaking Bad]]''. It is the sixteenth episode of [[Breaking Bad (season 5)|season five]] and the 62nd overall episode of the series. Written and directed by series creator [[Vince Gilligan]], it aired on [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] in the United States and Canada on September 29, 2013. Its title comes from [Marty Robbin] classic song [El Paso] which Walter White can be heard whistling during the episode.


Upon airing, "Felina" received critical acclaim. It is considered one of the greatest series finales of all time.
The plot finds [[Walter White (Breaking Bad)|Walter White]] ([[Bryan Cranston]]) evading a nationwide manhunt for him in order to return to [[New Mexico]] to deliver the remaining profits from his illegal [[methamphetamine]] empire to his family, and to eliminate the [[Aryan Brotherhood|neo-Nazi]] gang who double-crossed him. Before doing so however, knowing the cancer will soon kill him, Walt takes a trip down memory lane to properly prepare himself for his death.


==Plot==
== Plot ==
[[Walter White (Breaking Bad)|Walter White]] steals a car, returns to New Mexico, and surprises [[Gretchen and Elliott Schwartz|the Schwartzes]]. He claims he hired [[Contract killing|hitmen]], while [[Badger (Breaking Bad)|Badger]] and [[Skinny Pete]] scare them with [[laser pointer]]s that spoof rifle [[laser sight|sight]]s. Walt coerces them to place his remaining $9.72&nbsp;million in a trust for [[Walter White Jr.|Walter Jr.]] He pays Badger and Pete, obtains confirmation that blue meth is still distributed, and deduces that [[Jesse Pinkman]] is alive.
After [[Granite State (Breaking Bad)|leaving the bar]], [[Walter White (Breaking Bad)|Walt]] leaves [[New Hampshire]] in a [[Volvo]], with [[Marty Robbins]]' song "[[El Paso (song)|El Paso]]" playing on the radio. Upon returning to [[New Mexico]], he tracks down [[List of Breaking Bad characters#Gretchen and Elliott Schwartz|Gretchen and Elliott Schwartz]] ([[Jessica Hecht]] and [[Adam Godley]]) at their new house in [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]], after posing as a reporter for ''[[The New York Times]]''. In order to circumvent the suspicions of the [[DEA]] and Skyler he orders them to give his remaining $9.72 million to Walt Jr., who will inherit it upon turning eighteen, saying this is their chance to "make things right". Under the threat of apparent snipers waiting outside, the Schwartzes agree. After Walt leaves, he pays [[Badger Mayhew]] ([[Matt L. Jones]]) and [[Skinny Pete]] ([[Charles Baker (actor)|Charles Baker]]) for aiming red [[laser pointers]] at the Schwartzes and posing as hitmen. He learns [[Jack Welker]]'s ([[Michael Bowen (actor)|Michael Bowen]]) gang has been cooking and distributing blue meth and deduces that [[Jesse Pinkman|Jesse]] ([[Aaron Paul]]) is still alive.


Walt retrieves the [[ricin]] from his abandoned house,{{efn|Originally shown as a flashforward in "[[Blood Money (Breaking Bad)|Blood Money]]"}} connects an [[M60 machine gun]]{{efn|Originally shown as a flashforward in "[[Live Free or Die (Breaking Bad)|Live Free or Die]]"}} to a pivoting turret in the trunk of the car he is now driving, and rigs it to a [[Remote keyless system|remote unlock button]]. He interrupts [[Todd Alquist|Todd]] and [[Lydia Rodarte-Quayle|Lydia]]'s coffee shop meeting and offers what he claims is a formula for [[methylamine]]-free meth. Lydia feigns interest so Walt will meet [[Jack Welker|Jack]], knowing Jack will kill him.
On his 52nd birthday, after [[Live Free or Die (Breaking Bad)|purchasing an M60 machine gun]] and [[Blood Money (Breaking Bad)|retrieving the ricin]] from his abandoned house, Walt intercepts [[Todd Alquist|Todd]] ([[Jesse Plemons]]) and [[Lydia Rodarte-Quayle|Lydia]]'s ([[Laura Fraser]]) meeting at a coffee shop and makes a business proposal, offering a new formula for [[methylamine]]-free meth. Todd turns him down, but Lydia feigns interest so that Walt can be lured into getting killed by Jack. Later, [[Skyler White|Skyler]] ([[Anna Gunn]]) receives a phone call from [[Marie Schrader|Marie]] ([[Betsy Brandt]]), who informs her Walt is back in town, unaware that Walt is already with Skyler. Walt leaves Skyler with [[Buried (Breaking Bad)|the lottery ticket]] on which the coordinates of [[Hank Schrader|Hank]] and [[Steven Gomez|Steve]]'s grave are printed, advising her to use it to negotiate a plea bargain with the authorities. Walt also admits that his life as a drug kingpin was for himself, rather than his family, stating that he did it because he enjoyed it, was good at it, and it made him feel alive. Skyler allows Walt to see Holly one last time while she sleeps. After leaving, Walt watches from afar as [[Walter White Jr.|Walt Jr.]] ([[RJ Mitte]]) arrives home from school.


[[Marie Schrader|Marie]] calls [[Skyler White|Skyler]] to warn her Walt is in [[Albuquerque]]. Walt is already with Skyler and leaves her the lottery ticket containing the coordinates for [[Hank Schrader]] and [[Steven Gomez|Steve Gomez]]'s grave,{{efn|As depicted in "[[Buried (Breaking Bad)|Buried]]"}} which he advises her to use to obtain a favorable plea bargain. Walt admits that despite claiming he produced meth to provide for his family, he did it to gratify himself. Skyler allows Walt to see a sleeping [[Holly White (Breaking Bad)|Holly]] and he later watches from afar as Walter Jr. arrives home from school.
Walt meets with Jack and his men at their hideout, where Jesse is still performing [[slave labor]] for the gang in an adjacent [[Quonset hut]]. Jack refuses Walt's offer and orders him killed. Walt insults Jack for partnering with Jesse, but Jack calls for Jesse to be brought to them, to show Walt they aren't partners and Jesse is Jack's prisoner. When Jesse is brought in, Walt tackles him to the ground and uses his car keys to remotely fire the machine gun (which he had connected to a pivoting turret rigged to the car key's [[Remote keyless system|remote unlock button]]) from his car. The ensuing gunfire kills Jack's men and wounds Jack and Walt, but leaves Todd and Jesse unharmed. Jesse strangles Todd with his handcuffs, killing him. Walt takes Jack's gun and kills Jack, despite Jack's insistence that Walt will never find the stolen money if he does. Walt gives the gun to Jesse and asks Jesse to kill him. Jesse refuses after seeing a bullet wound on Walt. As Jesse and Walt leave Jack's house, Walt answers a call on Todd's phone from a visibly ill Lydia. He gloats that her business partners are dead and informs her that she is about to die from [[ricin]] poisoning, as he laced her [[stevia]] with it at the coffee shop. Jesse and Walt, having made peace, nod farewell to one another one last time. Jesse then flees in Todd's [[Chevrolet El Camino|El Camino]], crying and screaming with relief.


Walt parks alongside the headquarters of Jack's compound. Jack orders him killed and Walt accuses Jack of failing to carry out the execution of Jesse that Walt paid for.{{efn|As seen in "[[To'hajiilee]]"}} Jack is angered at the suggestion he partnered with a [[informant|rat]] and orders that Jesse be brought from Jack's meth lab so he can prove Jesse is a captive. Walt tackles Jesse and remotely fires the machine gun; all of Jack and Todd's associates are killed, while Walt is grievously wounded. Jesse strangles Todd to death with his shackles, then frees himself with Todd's keys. Jack pleads for his life, but Walt shoots and kills him. Walt asks Jesse to kill him, but Jesse says if Walt wants to die he should do it himself.
Walt goes to Todd's lab and nostalgically admires the equipment, holding a gas mask and rubbing a kettle. [[Badfinger]]'s "[[Baby Blue (Badfinger song)|Baby Blue]]" is heard as he succumbs to his bullet wound and collapses<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-finale-vince-gilligan/|title='Breaking Bad': Creator Vince Gilligan explains series finale|last=Snierson|first=Dan|work=ew.com|quote="... he’s expired before the cops show up."|date=September 30, 2013|accessdate=October 14, 2013}}</ref> just as police storm the lab, finding a motionless Walt, who has a frozen smile on his face.


Walt answers Lydia's call to Todd's phone and tells her she will soon die because he put ricin into her coffee shop stevia. Jesse and Walt exchange a farewell nod before Jesse flees in Todd's [[Chevrolet El Camino|El Camino]].{{efn|Events related to Jesse's escape were presented in the film ''[[El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie]]''.}} Walt admires Jack's lab before succumbing to his wound. Police rush in as he lies motionless, a slight smile on his face.<ref name="cos" />
==Reception==
===Ratings===
"Felina" had the highest ratings of any episode of ''Breaking Bad'': 10.28 million in the United States, including 5.3 million adults aged 18–49.<ref name="sept29ratings">{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |title= Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Breaking Bad' Wins Big, 'Talking Bad', 'Homeland', 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Masters of Sex' & More |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/10/01/sunday-cable-ratingsbreaking-bad-wins-big-talking-bad-homeland-boardwalk-empiremasters-of-sex-more/205986/ |work=TV by the Numbers |date=October 1, 2013 |accessdate=October 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name="zap" /> The episode generated millions of online comments and [[Nielsen Holdings]] rankings established that it was the most-discussed episode on [[Twitter]] for that week.<ref name="social" /> The popularity of the episode resulted in a 2,981 percent increase of sales of the [[Badfinger]] song "[[Baby Blue (Badfinger song)|Baby Blue]]" as well as a 9,000 percent increase in streaming over [[Spotify]].<ref name="badfinger" />


== Production ==
===Critical reception===
On September 18, 2013, it was announced that both "[[Granite State (Breaking Bad)|Granite State]]" and "Felina" would run 75 minutes, including commercials.<ref name="hr" /> The actual runtime of the episodes is 55 minutes. The episode was written and directed by series creator Vince Gilligan.
[[File: Bryan Cranston by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|Critics praised Cranston's performance in ''Felina.'']]
Upon airing, the episode received universal critical acclaim, with critics agreeing that the finale lived up to the hype that was generated around it.<ref name="meta" /><ref name="bbc" /> In her review of "Felina", Donna Bowman of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode an A rating, writing that, "Walt's purpose is fulfilled, and he just stops".<ref name="avclub" /> Seth Amitin at [[IGN]] also praised the episode, calling it fully satisfying and awarding it a score of 9.8 out of 10.<ref name="ign" /> Katey Rich agreed with the above sentiments, calling the episode "a deeply satisfying and surprisingly emotional finale."<ref name="cb" />


===Awards and nominations===
=== Title reference and music ===
The episode title, "Felina", is an [[anagram]] of the word "finale." It is also inspired by the character Feleena from the song "[[El Paso (song)|El Paso]]" by [[Marty Robbins]], which is featured throughout the episode.<ref name="avclub" />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| rowspan=11| 2014
| [[American Cinema Editors|American Cinema Editors Eddie Awards]]
| Best Edited One-Hour Series for Commercial Television
| Skip MacDonald
| {{won}}
|-
| [[ADG Excellence in Production Design Award|Art Directors Guild Award]]
| One-Hour Single Camera Television Series
| Mark Freeborn
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Cinema Audio Society Awards]]
| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series - One Hour
| Darryl L. Frank
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[66th Directors Guild of America Awards|Directors Guild of America Award]]
| [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series|Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series]]
| Vince Gilligan
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Motion Picture Sound Editors|Golden Reel Awards]]
| Best Sound Editing in Television - Short Form: Sound Effects and Foley
| Nick Forshager
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2| [[66th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]]
| rowspan=2| Vince Gilligan
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=4|[[66th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards]]
| Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series
| Skip MacDonald
| {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special
| Tarra Day, Steve LaPorte, Greg Nicotero, Stephan Dupuis, and Howard Leigh Berger
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
|
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)
| Darryl L. Frank, Jeff Perkins, and Eric Justen
| {{nom}}
|}


The story of "El Paso" closely mirrors Walter White's [[character arc]] in the final season of ''Breaking Bad''. Walt, who has become a notorious criminal, flees from Albuquerque, living as a fugitive. Despite this being a successful outcome in the context of the story, he finds himself increasingly isolated and dissatisfied. Because his desire for emotional closure outweighs his fear of capture and death, he is eventually driven to return to the scene of his crimes, where he finds the closure he seeks but ultimately meets his end. "El Paso" is on a Marty Robbins cassette in Walt's car, and is played during the episode. Additionally, Walt sings the song to himself while building his machine gun turret. The writers changed the subject's name from ''Feleena'' to ''Felina'' so that, when used as the title, it could serve as an anagram of ''finale''.<ref name="rs" /><ref name="amc" />
==Production==
[[File:Vince Gilligan by Gage Skidmore.jpg|alt=Gilligan looking to the camera|thumb|Series creator [[Vince Gilligan]] wrote and directed "Felina"]]
On September 18, 2013, it was announced that both "[[Granite State (Breaking Bad)|Granite State]]" and "Felina" would run 75 minutes, including commercials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/breaking-bad-final-two-episodes-631824 |title=''Breaking Bad'': Final Two Episodes Get Extended Run Times |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=September 18, 2013 |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref> The actual runtime of the episode is 55 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/breaking-bad-the-final-season/id665386598 |title=Breaking Bad, The Final Season |publisher=iTunes |accessdate=October 7, 2013}}</ref> The episode was written and directed by series creator [[Vince Gilligan]].


[[Badfinger]]'s "[[Baby Blue (Badfinger song)|Baby Blue]]" is played during the final scene. According to series creator Vince Gilligan, this is a reference to the high-quality blue meth Walt had produced over the previous seasons and his life as a drug kingpin which the main character, at last, recognizes he had enjoyed.<ref name="rs" /> According to ''Rolling Stone'', the music supervisors on the show disagreed with Gilligan's choice for the final song;<ref name="rs" /> however, music supervisor [[Thomas Golubić]] stated that "journalists sometimes try to create drama where there isn't any" and that his quotes were "mis-represented".<ref name="ama1" /> "Baby Blue" became an obvious choice as the editing came closer to completion, with Golubić describing the process of finalizing the song:
===Title reference and music===
The episode title, "Felina", is inspired by the character Feleena from the song "[[El Paso (song)|El Paso]]" by [[Marty Robbins]], which plays a major role during the episode.<ref name="avclub" /> The writers tweaked the name from ''Feleena'' to ''Felina'' so that it would also be an anagram for ''Finale''.<ref name="rolling stone">{{cite web |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/why-breaking-bad-chose-badfingers-baby-blue-20131001 |title=Why 'Breaking Bad' Chose Badfinger's 'Baby Blue' |work=Rolling Stone |first=Steve |last=Knopper |date=October 1, 2013 |accessdate=October 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/insider-podcast-season-5 |title=Breaking Bad - Insider Podcast Season 5 |publisher=AMC |accessdate=October 7, 2013}}</ref> Moreover, the word Felina can also be broken up into three different symbols of chemical elements found in the [[periodic table]]: Iron (Fe), Lithium (Li), and Sodium (Na); some sources note that these three elements are found, respectively, with [[Blood, toil, tears, and sweat|blood, meth and tears]].{{#tag:ref|According to Eric Brown of ''[[International Business Times]]'':<blockquote>"In its pure form (...) methamphetamine is composed solely of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N), no lithium involved. However, there are multiple ways to synthesize meth from other ingredients, and several involve lithium. The Birch reduction, also called the "Nazi method," mixes lithium and ammonia to create a reaction. Another, called the "Shake 'n' Bake" method, involved throwing lithium and several other ingredients into a single pot to create the drug. Both methods are extremely dangerous, as lithium is a highly volatile element. Unfortunately, there's a big hole in this theory: Walt never uses a lithium-based synthesis in the show. (...) Walt uses two methods throughout the show: first the Nagai method involving red phosphorus and later a methylamine P2P reaction resulting in the famous blue meth. Neither one uses lithium at any point, shooting at big hole in this theory."<ref name="Decoding the 'Breaking Bad' finale">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/decoding-breaking-bad-finale-four-theories-what-felina-means-1411728 |title=Decoding the 'Breaking Bad' finale |date=26 September 2013 |publisher=[[International Business Times]] |accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref>| group = "note" }}</blockquote><ref name="time">{{cite web | url=http://entertainment.time.com/2013/09/25/is-felina-the-secret-to-the-breaking-bad-finale/ | title=Is “Felina” the Secret to the Breaking Bad Finale? | work=[[Time magazine]] | date=September 25, 2013 | accessdate=May 5, 2014 | author=Locker, Melissa}}</ref><ref name="digitalspy">{{cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s166/breaking-bad/recaps/a519483/breaking-bad-series-finale-recap-blood-meth-and-tears-in-felina.html | title='Breaking Bad' series finale recap: Blood, meth and tears in 'Felina' | work=[[Digital Spy]] | date=September 30, 2013 | accessdate=May 5, 2014 | author=Dibdin, Emma}}</ref>


{{blockquote|"Before I saw the scene, I pulled together a number of ideas&nbsp;– one which I thought worked pretty beautifully against picture: [[The Bees (English band)|The Bees]]' "No More Excuses"&nbsp;– but once I saw that beautiful shot, and saw the scene in context, I realized why Vince was so strongly attached to the Badfinger song. It's tricky for us as music supervisors in that we keep pulling together ideas and revising them. None of us know the right answer until we are at the very end of that process and have cut and locked picture to work with. Vince is just really talented at knowing what the final effect he is looking for, and knew early on that Badfinger's "Baby Blue" was the right choice for what he was looking to do. It took until the final picture was assembled that I was able to also see what a fantastic choice it was."<ref name="ama2" />|source=}}
[[Badfinger]]'s "[[Baby Blue (Badfinger song)|Baby Blue]]" is played during the final scene. According to series creator Vince Gilligan, this is reference to the high-quality blue meth Walt had produced over the previous seasons and his life as a drug kingpin which the main character lastly recognizes he had enjoyed.<ref name="rolling stone"/> According to ''Rolling Stone'', the music supervisors on the show disagreed with Gilligan's choice for the final song;<ref name="rolling stone"/> however music supervisor Thomas Golubić stated that "journalists sometimes try to create drama where there isn't any" and that his quotes were "mis-represented."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1nsvvf/i_am_breaking_bad_and_the_walking_dead_music/cclqk5a?context=1 |title=I am Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead music supervisor, Thomas Golubić, ASK ME ANYTHIN |publisher=Reddit |date=October 5, 2013 |accessdate=October 12, 2013}}</ref> "Baby Blue" became an obvious choice as the editing came closer to completion with Golubić describing the process of finalizing the song:


=== ''El Camino'' ===
{{quote|Before I saw the scene, I pulled together a number of ideas&nbsp;– one which I thought worked pretty beautifully against picture: The Bees "No More Excuses"&nbsp;– but once I saw that beautiful shot, and saw the scene in context, I realized why Vince was so strongly attached to the Badfinger song. It's tricky for us as music supervisors in that we keep pulling together ideas and revising them. None of us know the right answer until we are at the very end of that process and have cut and locked picture to work with. Vince is just really talented at knowing what the final effect he is looking for, and knew early on that Badfinger's "Baby Blue" was the right choice for what he was looking to do. It took until the final picture was assembled that I was able to also see what a fantastic choice it was.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1nsvvf/i_am_breaking_bad_and_the_walking_dead_music/cclp9kd?context=1 |title=I am Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead music supervisor, Thomas Golubić, ASK ME ANYTHING |publisher=Reddit.com |date=October 5, 2013 |accessdate=October 12, 2013}}</ref>|Thomas Golubić}}
{{main|El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie}}
After the conclusion of the series, Gilligan had considered Jesse's fate, stating that rather than getting caught by police, he had envisioned that Jesse would end up in Alaska to start his life anew.<ref name="ew" /> He had mulled this idea over for some years, and as the tenth anniversary of ''Breaking Bad'' neared, became interested in producing a work to follow Jesse's fate after this episode.<ref name="thr20190918" /> This ultimately resulted in the film ''[[El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie]]'', which first aired on [[Netflix]] on October 11, 2019, and had limited theatrical runs that weekend. ''El Camino'', named for the car Jesse escapes in, takes place immediately after the events of "Felina", and was considered by Gilligan to be a [[coda (music)|coda]] to the overall series to close out Jesse's story.<ref name="thr20190918" /> [[Aaron Paul]] returned to star as Jesse, and the film includes brief appearances by [[Bryan Cranston]], [[Jonathan Banks]], [[Jesse Plemons]], [[Robert Forster]], [[Matt Jones (actor)|Matt Jones]], [[Krysten Ritter]] and [[Charles Baker (actor)|Charles Baker]].


==Note==
== Reception ==
<references group="note" />


=== Ratings ===
"Felina" had the highest ratings of any episode of ''Breaking Bad'': 10.28 million viewers watched the episode in the United States, including a 18–49 rating of 5.3.<ref name="sept29ratings" /><ref name="zap" /> The episode generated millions of online comments and [[Nielsen Holdings]] rankings established that it was the most-discussed episode on [[Twitter]] for that week.<ref name="social" /> The popularity of the episode resulted in a 2,981 percent increase of sales of the [[Badfinger]] song "[[Baby Blue (Badfinger song)|Baby Blue]]", which features prominently in the ending sequence, as well as a 9,000 percent increase in streaming over [[Spotify]].<ref name="badfinger" />


=== Critical reception ===
==References==
Upon airing, the episode received critical acclaim.<ref name="bbc" /> A round-up of critical reviews by Metacritic assessed 25 reviews as "extremely positive", 19 as "positive", and four as "mixed/so-so".<ref name="meta" /> It is considered one of the greatest series finales of all time.<ref name="multi" /> In her review of "Felina", Donna Bowman of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode an A rating, writing that "Walt's purpose is fulfilled, and he just stops".<ref name="avclub" /> Seth Amitin at ''[[IGN]]'' also praised the episode, calling it "fully satisfying" and awarding it a score of 9.8 out of 10.<ref name="ign" /> Katey Rich agreed with these sentiments, calling the episode "a deeply satisfying and surprisingly emotional finale".<ref name="cb" /> However, [[Emily Nussbaum]], writing in ''[[the New Yorker]]'', criticized the episode, claiming it so neatly wrapped up the series in Walt's favor that it seemed more like "the dying fantasy on the part of Walter White, not something that was actually happening".<ref name="ny" />
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<!--<ref name="atlantic">{{Cite web |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/09/-em-breaking-bad-em-some-very-confident-totally-sensible-finale-predictions/280087/ |publisher=[[Atlantic Media]] |date=September 29, 2013 |title=''Breaking Bad'': Some Very Confident, Totally Sensible Finale Predictions |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>-->


In 2019, ''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'' ranked "Felina" as the 19th best out of the 62 total ''Breaking Bad'' episodes.<ref name="ring" />
<ref name="avclub">{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/felina,102961/ |title="Felina" |last=Bowman |first=Donna |publisher=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=September 29, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>


=== Accolades ===
<ref name="badfinger">{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/02/breaking-bads-final-scene-boosts-sales-for-1970s-band-badfinger/ |title=''Breaking Bad''{{'}}s Final Scene Boosts Sales for 1970's Band Badfinger |last=Subramanian |first=Courtney |publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |work=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]] |date=October 2, 2013}}</ref>
This episode was nominated for six [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]. [[Vince Gilligan]] was nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]] and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]] for directing and writing this episode, losing the latter to [[Moira Walley-Beckett]] for "[[Ozymandias (Breaking Bad)|Ozymandias]]". [[Skip Macdonald]] won [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series]], Darryl L. Frank, Jeffrey Perkins, and Eric Justen were nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour)|Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour)]], [[Greg Nicotero]], Howard Berger, Tarra D. Day, Stephan Dupuis, and Steve LaPorte were nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special|Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special]], and Kurt Nicholas Forshager, Kathryn Madsen, Jason Tregoe Newman, Mark Cookson, Cormac Funge, Jane Boegel, Jeffrey Cranford, Tim Boggs, [[Gregg Barbanell]], and Dominique Decaudain were nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour)|Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour)]].


=== In popular culture ===
<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24328751 |title=Breaking Bad finale is a hit with TV critics |publisher=BBC |date=September 30, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>
''[[MythBusters]]'' tested the potential lethality of a machine-gun turret mounted within a vehicle's trunk, and they deemed it "plausible".<ref name="pop" />


== Notes ==
<ref name="cb">{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Breaking-Bad-Finale-Was-Really-Ending-Walt-Deserved-59497.html |title=Breaking Bad Finale: Was That Really The Ending Walt Deserved? |publisher=CinemaBlend.com |date=September 29, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>
{{notelist}}


== References ==
<!--<ref name="ewvince">{{Cite web |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-finale-vince-gilligan/ |title=''Breaking Bad'': Creator Vince Gilligan Explains Series Finale |last=Snierson |first=Dan |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |date=September 30, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>-->
{{reflist|30em|refs=


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<ref name="GameSpot Final">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/breaking-bad-is-walter-white-actually-dead-creator/1100-6470395/ |title=Breaking Bad: Is Walter White Actually Dead? Creator Finally Answers The Question |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=October 10, 2019 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011002848/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/breaking-bad-is-walter-white-actually-dead-creator/1100-6470395/ |archive-date=October 11, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref-->


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<ref name="IndieWire Final">{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/breaking-bad-vince-gilligan-walter-white-dead-1202179753/ |title='Breaking Bad' Creator Vince Gilligan Shuts Down Theory That Walter White Is Alive |last=Sharf |first=Zack |work=[[IndieWire]] |date=October 8, 2019 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820170333/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/breaking-bad-vince-gilligan-walter-white-dead-1202179753/ |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref-->


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<ref name="ign">{{cite web|author=Amitin, Seth |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-felina-review |title=Breaking Bad: "Felina" Review |publisher=IGN |date=September 29, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="Interior Final">{{cite book |title=The Interior Landscapes of Breaking Bad |editor-last1=Bell |editor-first1=Erin |editor-last2=Edelson |editor-first2=Cheryl D. |editor-last3=Gray |editor-first3=Will |editor-last4=Paproth |editor-first4=Matthew |chapter=Breaking Free: Confinement and AMC's Breaking Bad |pages=17–34 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1-49859-790-6}}</ref-->


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<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/feature/breaking-bad-series-finale-reviews-felina|title=Episode Review: Breaking Bad Series Finale|last=Dietz|first=Jason|date=September 29, 2013|accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="Inverse Final">{{cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/15968-all-of-breaking-bad-boils-down-to-the-final-shot-of-crawl-space-money-shot |title=All of 'Breaking Bad' Boils Down to the Final Shot of "Crawl Space" {{!}} Money Shot |last=Hutchinson |first=Sean |work=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]] |date=May 21, 2016 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608204302/https://www.inverse.com/article/15968-all-of-breaking-bad-boils-down-to-the-final-shot-of-crawl-space-money-shot |archive-date=June 8, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref-->


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<!--<ref name="paste">{{Cite web |url=v |title=Breaking Bad Review: Series Finale 'Felina' (Episode 5.16) |publisher=[[Wolfgang's Vault]] |work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |date=September 30, 2013 |last1=Jackson |first1=Josh |last2=Ryan |first2=Shane |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>-->
<ref name="Refinery29 Final">{{cite web |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8553699/how-did-walter-white-die-breaking-bad |title=In Case You Forgot, This Is How Walter White Died On Breaking Bad |last=Sorren |first=Martha |work=[[Refinery29]] |date=October 11, 2019 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213091106/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8553699/how-did-walter-white-die-breaking-bad |archive-date=December 13, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref-->


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<!--<ref name="slateeb">{{Cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/tv_club/features/2013/breaking_bad_final_season/week_8/breaking_bad_finale_recap_final_episode_of_breaking_bad_was_perfect.html |title=Breaking Bad, Season 5, Part 2 |publisher=[[The Washington Post Company]] |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=September 29, 2013 |last=Bazelon |first=Emily |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>-->
<ref name="Restivo Final">{{cite book |title=Breaking Bad and Cinematic Television |last=Restivo |first=Angelo |publisher=[[Duke University Press]] |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-47800-344-1}}</ref-->


<ref name="ama1">{{cite web |date=October 5, 2013 |title=I am Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead music supervisor, Thomas Golubić, Ask Me Anythin |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1nsvvf/i_am_breaking_bad_and_the_walking_dead_music/cclqk5a?context=1 |access-date=October 12, 2013 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224180925/http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1nsvvf/i_am_breaking_bad_and_the_walking_dead_music/cclqk5a?context=1 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<!--<ref name="slatejt">{{Cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/tv_club/features/2013/breaking_bad_final_season/week_8/breaking_bad_finale_review_how_walt_trapped_his_enemies.html |title=Breaking Bad, Season 5, Part 2 |publisher=[[The Washington Post Company]] |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=September 30, 2013 |last=Thomas |first=June |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>-->


<ref name="ama2">{{cite web |date=October 5, 2013 |title=I am Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead music supervisor, Thomas Golubić, Ask Me Anythin |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1nsvvf/comment/cclp9kd/?context=1 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322210722/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1nsvvf/comment/cclp9kd/?context=1 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<!--<ref name="slatemy">{{Cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/tv_club/features/2013/breaking_bad_final_season/week_8/breaking_bad_final_episode_the_plot_was_totally_absurd.html |title=Breaking Bad, Season 5, Part 2 |publisher=[[The Washington Post Company]] |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=September 30, 2013 |last=Yglesias |first=Matthew |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>-->


<ref name="amc">{{cite web |title=Breaking Bad – Insider Podcast Season 5 |url=http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/insider-podcast-season-5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228104514/http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/insider-podcast-season-5 |archive-date=February 28, 2014 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |website=[[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]]}}</ref>
<!--<ref name="slatewp">{{Cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/tv_club/features/2013/breaking_bad_final_season/week_8/breaking_bad_finale_review_felina_was_not_quite_great.html |title=Breaking Bad, Season 5, Part 2 |publisher=[[The Washington Post Company]] |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=September 30, 2013 |last=Paskin |first=Willa |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>-->


<ref name="avclub">{{cite web |last=Bowman |first=Donna |date=September 29, 2013 |title=Felina |url=https://www.avclub.com/breaking-bad-felina-1798178138 |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=The A.V. Club |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930040139/http://www.avclub.com/articles/felina,102961/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="social">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-breaking-bad-dominates-social-media-conversation-around-tvt-20130930,0,7294771.story |title=''Breaking Bad'' generates millions of comments on Twitter, Facebook |publisher=[[Tribune Company]] |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 30, 2013 |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn C. |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>


<ref name="badfinger">{{cite magazine |last=Subramanian |first=Courtney |date=October 2, 2013 |title=''Breaking Bad''{{'}}s Final Scene Boosts Sales for 1970's Band Badfinger |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/02/breaking-bads-final-scene-boosts-sales-for-1970s-band-badfinger/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=October 3, 2013 |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003003953/http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/02/breaking-bads-final-scene-boosts-sales-for-1970s-band-badfinger/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<!--<ref name="wired">{{Cite web |url=http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/09/breaking-bad-recap-felina-finale/ |title=''Breaking Bad'' Recap: What Walt Deserves |last=Hudson |first=Laura |date=September 30, 2013 |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref>-->


<!--<ref name="wsj">{{Cite web |url=http://stream.wsj.com/story/latest-headlines/SS-2-63399/SS-2-341145/ |title=How the ''Breaking Bad'' Finale Put It All Together |last=Crook |first=Marshall |date=September 30, 2013 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[News Corp]]}}</ref>-->
<ref name="bbc">{{cite web |date=September 30, 2013 |title=Breaking Bad finale is a hit with TV critics |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24328751 |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=[[BBC]] |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930105826/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24328751 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="cb">{{cite web |date=September 29, 2013 |title=Breaking Bad Finale: Was That Really The Ending Walt Deserved? |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Breaking-Bad-Finale-Was-Really-Ending-Walt-Deserved-59497.html |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=CinemaBlend |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930204015/http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Breaking-Bad-Finale-Was-Really-Ending-Walt-Deserved-59497.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="zap">{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-finale-scores-record-10-3-million-viewers-6-7-million-adults-18-49/205634/ |title=''Breaking Bad'' Finale Scores Record 10.3 Million Viewers, 6.7 Million Adults 18–49 |last=Bibel |first=Sara |publisher=[[Tribune Media Services]] |work=''[[Zap2it]]'' |date=September 30, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>-->}}


<ref name="cos">{{cite web |last=Roffman |first=Mark |date=October 8, 2019 |title=''Breaking Bad'' Creator Vince Gilligan Confirms Walter White's Fate |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/10/vince-gilligan-walter-white-fate/ |access-date=October 8, 2019 |publisher=[[Consequence of Sound]] |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008195735/https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/10/vince-gilligan-walter-white-fate/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
==External links==

*[http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/episodes/season-5/felina "Felina"] at the official ''Breaking Bad'' site
<ref name="ew">{{cite magazine |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=September 30, 2013 |title='Breaking Bad': Creator Vince Gilligan explains series finale |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-finale-vince-gilligan/ |access-date=October 14, 2019 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014001048/https://ew.com/article/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-finale-vince-gilligan/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{imdb episode|2301455|Felina}}

* {{tv.com episode|breaking-bad/felina-2823883|Felina}}
<ref name="hr">{{cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=September 18, 2013 |title=''Breaking Bad'': Final Two Episodes Get Extended Run Times |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/breaking-bad-final-two-episodes-631824 |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511055013/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/breaking-bad-final-two-episodes-631824/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Breaking Bad}}

<ref name="ign">{{cite web |last=Amitin, Seth |date=September 29, 2013 |title=Breaking Bad: 'Felina' Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-felina-review |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=[[IGN]] |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002045130/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-felina-review |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="meta">{{cite web |last=Dietz |first=Jason |date=September 29, 2013 |title=Episode Review: Breaking Bad Series Finale |website=[[Metacritic]] |url=http://www.metacritic.com/feature/breaking-bad-series-finale-reviews-felina |access-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930172916/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/breaking-bad-series-finale-reviews-felina |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="multi">{{bullet}}{{cite web |website=[[TVLine]] |url=https://tvline.com/lists/best-tv-series-finales/ |title=Best TV Series Finales of All Time, Ranked |date=August 24, 2022 |access-date=2022-09-04 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826183236/https://tvline.com/lists/best-tv-series-finales/ |url-status=live}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite magazine |date=May 12, 2015 |title=End Game: TV's Best and Worst Series Finales |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/end-game-tvs-best-and-worst-series-finales-20150512 |access-date=February 28, 2017 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213084317/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/end-game-tvs-best-and-worst-series-finales-20150512 |url-status=live}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite web |date=September 3, 2016 |title=This is the End: The 13 Best TV Series Finales Ever |url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/best-series-finales/#/12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203164851/http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/best-series-finales/#/12 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |website=[[Digital Trends]]}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite web |date=September 18, 2016 |title=The 20 Greatest TV Finales of All Time |url=http://screenrant.com/best-tv-show-finales-of-all-time/?view=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003332/http://screenrant.com/best-tv-show-finales-of-all-time/?view=all |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref>

<ref name="ny">{{cite magazine |date=September 30, 2013 |title=The Closure-Happy 'Breaking Bad' Finale |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-closure-happy-breaking-bad-finale/ |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=January 24, 2018 |archive-date=January 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134505/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-closure-happy-breaking-bad-finale |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="pop">{{cite web |last=Bishop |first=Rollin |date=August 28, 2015 |title=The MythBusters Take on the 'Breaking Bad' Finale |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/tv/a17125/mythbusters-breaking-bad/ |access-date=March 4, 2016 |website=[[Popular Mechanics]] |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308075213/http://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/tv/a17125/mythbusters-breaking-bad/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ring">{{cite web |date=September 30, 2019 |title=The Ringer's Definitive ''Breaking Bad'' Episodes Ranking |url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/9/30/20885880/breaking-bad-episodes-ranking |access-date=November 5, 2019 |website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]] |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030073808/https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/9/30/20885880/breaking-bad-episodes-ranking |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="rs">{{cite magazine |last=Knopper |first=Steve |date=October 1, 2013 |title=Why 'Breaking Bad' Chose Badfinger's 'Baby Blue' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/why-breaking-bad-chose-badfingers-baby-blue-20131001 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226132440/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/why-breaking-bad-chose-badfingers-baby-blue-20131001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="sept29ratings">{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=October 1, 2013 |title=Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Breaking Bad' Wins Big, 'Talking Bad', 'Homeland', 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Masters of Sex' & More |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/10/01/sunday-cable-ratingsbreaking-bad-wins-big-talking-bad-homeland-boardwalk-empiremasters-of-sex-more/205986/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024033044/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/10/01/sunday-cable-ratingsbreaking-bad-wins-big-talking-bad-homeland-boardwalk-empiremasters-of-sex-more/205986/ |archive-date=October 24, 2013 |access-date=October 3, 2013 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>

<ref name="social">{{cite web |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn C. |date=September 30, 2013 |title=''Breaking Bad'' generates millions of comments on Twitter, Facebook |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-breaking-bad-dominates-social-media-conversation-around-tvt-20130930,0,7294771.story |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=October 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001044131/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-breaking-bad-dominates-social-media-conversation-around-tvt-20130930,0,7294771.story |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="thr20190918">{{cite web |last=Keegan |first=Rebecca |date=September 18, 2019 |title='Breaking Bad' Returns: Aaron Paul and Vince Gilligan Take a TV Classic for a Spin in 'El Camino' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/breaking-bad-movie-aaron-paul-series-creator-revisiting-amc-show-1240406 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920084157/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/breaking-bad-movie-aaron-paul-series-creator-revisiting-amc-show-1240406 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="zap">{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=September 30, 2013 |title=''Breaking Bad'' Finale Scores Record 10.3 Million Viewers, 6.7 Million Adults 18–49 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-finale-scores-record-10-3-million-viewers-6-7-million-adults-18-49/205634/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930182831/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/30/breaking-bad-finale-scores-record-10-3-million-viewers-6-7-million-adults-18-49/205634/ |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |access-date=September 30, 2013 |website=[[Zap2it]] |publisher=[[Tribune Media Services]]}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
* {{official website}}
* {{IMDb episode|2301455|Felina}}
{{Breaking Bad episodes}}
{{Breaking Bad episodes}}
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaOutstandingDirectingDramaSeries 2010–2029}}
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaOutstandingDirectingDramaSeries 2010–2029}}


[[Category:2010s American television series finales]]
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Felina (''Breaking Bad'')}}
[[Category:Breaking Bad (season 5) episodes]]
[[Category:2013 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Screenplays by Vince Gilligan]]
[[Category:Breaking Bad season 5 episodes]]
[[Category:Television series finales]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by Vince Gilligan]]
[[Category:2013 television episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes set in New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Vince Gilligan]]

Latest revision as of 05:19, 17 November 2024

"Felina"
Breaking Bad episode
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 16
Directed byVince Gilligan
Written byVince Gilligan
Featured music
Cinematography byArthur Albert
Michael Slovis
Editing bySkip Macdonald
Original air dateSeptember 29, 2013 (2013-09-29)
Running time55 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
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—
Breaking Bad season 5
List of episodes

"Felina" is the series finale of the American crime drama television series Breaking Bad. It is the sixteenth episode of the fifth season and the 62nd overall episode of the series. Written and directed by series creator Vince Gilligan, the finale first aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on September 29, 2013. It was followed by a sequel film, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which was made available on Netflix on October 11, 2019.

The plot involves Walter White evading a nationwide manhunt for him in order to return to New Mexico and deliver the remaining profits from his illegal methamphetamine empire to his family, as well as tie up loose ends with his friends and enemies. Knowing his lung cancer will soon kill him, Walt revisits his family and former acquaintances to settle his affairs and prepare for his death.

Upon airing, "Felina" received critical acclaim. It is considered one of the greatest series finales of all time.

Plot

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Walter White steals a car, returns to New Mexico, and surprises the Schwartzes. He claims he hired hitmen, while Badger and Skinny Pete scare them with laser pointers that spoof rifle sights. Walt coerces them to place his remaining $9.72 million in a trust for Walter Jr. He pays Badger and Pete, obtains confirmation that blue meth is still distributed, and deduces that Jesse Pinkman is alive.

Walt retrieves the ricin from his abandoned house,[a] connects an M60 machine gun[b] to a pivoting turret in the trunk of the car he is now driving, and rigs it to a remote unlock button. He interrupts Todd and Lydia's coffee shop meeting and offers what he claims is a formula for methylamine-free meth. Lydia feigns interest so Walt will meet Jack, knowing Jack will kill him.

Marie calls Skyler to warn her Walt is in Albuquerque. Walt is already with Skyler and leaves her the lottery ticket containing the coordinates for Hank Schrader and Steve Gomez's grave,[c] which he advises her to use to obtain a favorable plea bargain. Walt admits that despite claiming he produced meth to provide for his family, he did it to gratify himself. Skyler allows Walt to see a sleeping Holly and he later watches from afar as Walter Jr. arrives home from school.

Walt parks alongside the headquarters of Jack's compound. Jack orders him killed and Walt accuses Jack of failing to carry out the execution of Jesse that Walt paid for.[d] Jack is angered at the suggestion he partnered with a rat and orders that Jesse be brought from Jack's meth lab so he can prove Jesse is a captive. Walt tackles Jesse and remotely fires the machine gun; all of Jack and Todd's associates are killed, while Walt is grievously wounded. Jesse strangles Todd to death with his shackles, then frees himself with Todd's keys. Jack pleads for his life, but Walt shoots and kills him. Walt asks Jesse to kill him, but Jesse says if Walt wants to die he should do it himself.

Walt answers Lydia's call to Todd's phone and tells her she will soon die because he put ricin into her coffee shop stevia. Jesse and Walt exchange a farewell nod before Jesse flees in Todd's El Camino.[e] Walt admires Jack's lab before succumbing to his wound. Police rush in as he lies motionless, a slight smile on his face.[1]

Production

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On September 18, 2013, it was announced that both "Granite State" and "Felina" would run 75 minutes, including commercials.[2] The actual runtime of the episodes is 55 minutes. The episode was written and directed by series creator Vince Gilligan.

Title reference and music

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The episode title, "Felina", is an anagram of the word "finale." It is also inspired by the character Feleena from the song "El Paso" by Marty Robbins, which is featured throughout the episode.[3]

The story of "El Paso" closely mirrors Walter White's character arc in the final season of Breaking Bad. Walt, who has become a notorious criminal, flees from Albuquerque, living as a fugitive. Despite this being a successful outcome in the context of the story, he finds himself increasingly isolated and dissatisfied. Because his desire for emotional closure outweighs his fear of capture and death, he is eventually driven to return to the scene of his crimes, where he finds the closure he seeks but ultimately meets his end. "El Paso" is on a Marty Robbins cassette in Walt's car, and is played during the episode. Additionally, Walt sings the song to himself while building his machine gun turret. The writers changed the subject's name from Feleena to Felina so that, when used as the title, it could serve as an anagram of finale.[4][5]

Badfinger's "Baby Blue" is played during the final scene. According to series creator Vince Gilligan, this is a reference to the high-quality blue meth Walt had produced over the previous seasons and his life as a drug kingpin which the main character, at last, recognizes he had enjoyed.[4] According to Rolling Stone, the music supervisors on the show disagreed with Gilligan's choice for the final song;[4] however, music supervisor Thomas Golubić stated that "journalists sometimes try to create drama where there isn't any" and that his quotes were "mis-represented".[6] "Baby Blue" became an obvious choice as the editing came closer to completion, with Golubić describing the process of finalizing the song:

"Before I saw the scene, I pulled together a number of ideas – one which I thought worked pretty beautifully against picture: The Bees' "No More Excuses" – but once I saw that beautiful shot, and saw the scene in context, I realized why Vince was so strongly attached to the Badfinger song. It's tricky for us as music supervisors in that we keep pulling together ideas and revising them. None of us know the right answer until we are at the very end of that process and have cut and locked picture to work with. Vince is just really talented at knowing what the final effect he is looking for, and knew early on that Badfinger's "Baby Blue" was the right choice for what he was looking to do. It took until the final picture was assembled that I was able to also see what a fantastic choice it was."[7]

El Camino

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Main article: El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

After the conclusion of the series, Gilligan had considered Jesse's fate, stating that rather than getting caught by police, he had envisioned that Jesse would end up in Alaska to start his life anew.[8] He had mulled this idea over for some years, and as the tenth anniversary of Breaking Bad neared, became interested in producing a work to follow Jesse's fate after this episode.[9] This ultimately resulted in the film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which first aired on Netflix on October 11, 2019, and had limited theatrical runs that weekend. El Camino, named for the car Jesse escapes in, takes place immediately after the events of "Felina", and was considered by Gilligan to be a coda to the overall series to close out Jesse's story.[9] Aaron Paul returned to star as Jesse, and the film includes brief appearances by Bryan Cranston, Jonathan Banks, Jesse Plemons, Robert Forster, Matt Jones, Krysten Ritter and Charles Baker.

Reception

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Ratings

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"Felina" had the highest ratings of any episode of Breaking Bad: 10.28 million viewers watched the episode in the United States, including a 18–49 rating of 5.3.[10][11] The episode generated millions of online comments and Nielsen Holdings rankings established that it was the most-discussed episode on Twitter for that week.[12] The popularity of the episode resulted in a 2,981 percent increase of sales of the Badfinger song "Baby Blue", which features prominently in the ending sequence, as well as a 9,000 percent increase in streaming over Spotify.[13]

Critical reception

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Upon airing, the episode received critical acclaim.[14] A round-up of critical reviews by Metacritic assessed 25 reviews as "extremely positive", 19 as "positive", and four as "mixed/so-so".[15] It is considered one of the greatest series finales of all time.[16] In her review of "Felina", Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A rating, writing that "Walt's purpose is fulfilled, and he just stops".[3] Seth Amitin at IGN also praised the episode, calling it "fully satisfying" and awarding it a score of 9.8 out of 10.[17] Katey Rich agreed with these sentiments, calling the episode "a deeply satisfying and surprisingly emotional finale".[18] However, Emily Nussbaum, writing in the New Yorker, criticized the episode, claiming it so neatly wrapped up the series in Walt's favor that it seemed more like "the dying fantasy on the part of Walter White, not something that was actually happening".[19]

In 2019, The Ringer ranked "Felina" as the 19th best out of the 62 total Breaking Bad episodes.[20]

Accolades

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This episode was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards. Vince Gilligan was nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for directing and writing this episode, losing the latter to Moira Walley-Beckett for "Ozymandias". Skip Macdonald won Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series, Darryl L. Frank, Jeffrey Perkins, and Eric Justen were nominated for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour), Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger, Tarra D. Day, Stephan Dupuis, and Steve LaPorte were nominated for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special, and Kurt Nicholas Forshager, Kathryn Madsen, Jason Tregoe Newman, Mark Cookson, Cormac Funge, Jane Boegel, Jeffrey Cranford, Tim Boggs, Gregg Barbanell, and Dominique Decaudain were nominated for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour).

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MythBusters tested the potential lethality of a machine-gun turret mounted within a vehicle's trunk, and they deemed it "plausible".[21]

Notes

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  1. ^ Originally shown as a flashforward in "Blood Money"
  2. ^ Originally shown as a flashforward in "Live Free or Die"
  3. ^ As depicted in "Buried"
  4. ^ As seen in "To'hajiilee"
  5. ^ Events related to Jesse's escape were presented in the film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.

References

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  1. ^ Roffman, Mark (October 8, 2019). "Breaking Bad Creator Vince Gilligan Confirms Walter White's Fate". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  2. ^ Couch, Aaron (September 18, 2013). "Breaking Bad: Final Two Episodes Get Extended Run Times". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Bowman, Donna (September 29, 2013). "Felina". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Knopper, Steve (October 1, 2013). "Why 'Breaking Bad' Chose Badfinger's 'Baby Blue'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  5. ^ "Breaking Bad – Insider Podcast Season 5". AMC. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  6. ^ "I am Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead music supervisor, Thomas Golubić, Ask Me Anythin". Reddit. October 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  7. ^ "I am Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead music supervisor, Thomas Golubić, Ask Me Anythin". Reddit. October 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Snierson, Dan (September 30, 2013). "'Breaking Bad': Creator Vince Gilligan explains series finale". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Keegan, Rebecca (September 18, 2019). "'Breaking Bad' Returns: Aaron Paul and Vince Gilligan Take a TV Classic for a Spin in 'El Camino'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  10. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 1, 2013). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Breaking Bad' Wins Big, 'Talking Bad', 'Homeland', 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Masters of Sex' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  11. ^ Bibel, Sara (September 30, 2013). "Breaking Bad Finale Scores Record 10.3 Million Viewers, 6.7 Million Adults 18–49". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  12. ^ Chmielewski, Dawn C. (September 30, 2013). "Breaking Bad generates millions of comments on Twitter, Facebook". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  13. ^ Subramanian, Courtney (October 2, 2013). "Breaking Bad's Final Scene Boosts Sales for 1970's Band Badfinger". Time. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  14. ^ "Breaking Bad finale is a hit with TV critics". BBC. September 30, 2013. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  15. ^ Dietz, Jason (September 29, 2013). "Episode Review: Breaking Bad Series Finale". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  16. ^  • "Best TV Series Finales of All Time, Ranked". TVLine. August 24, 2022. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
     • "End Game: TV's Best and Worst Series Finales". Rolling Stone. May 12, 2015. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
     • "This is the End: The 13 Best TV Series Finales Ever". Digital Trends. September 3, 2016. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
     • "The 20 Greatest TV Finales of All Time". Screen Rant. September 18, 2016. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  17. ^ Amitin, Seth (September 29, 2013). "Breaking Bad: 'Felina' Review". IGN. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  18. ^ "Breaking Bad Finale: Was That Really The Ending Walt Deserved?". CinemaBlend. September 29, 2013. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  19. ^ "The Closure-Happy 'Breaking Bad' Finale". The New Yorker. September 30, 2013. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  20. ^ "The Ringer's Definitive Breaking Bad Episodes Ranking". The Ringer. September 30, 2019. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  21. ^ Bishop, Rollin (August 28, 2015). "The MythBusters Take on the 'Breaking Bad' Finale". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
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