13 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
Walter White, a former high school chemistry teacher, and his partner Jesse Pinkman, his former student, are forced to cook methamphetamine for Gus Fring, a cunning and ruthless drug kingpin who owns a fast-food chain as a front. Walt desperately wants to escape Gus's control and protect his family, while Jesse struggles with the moral weight of their actions. Their lives are constantly under threat as Gus asserts his terrifying dominance.
Gus immediately demonstrates his power by brutally killing Victor, one of his henchmen, as a warning to Walt and Jesse. Walt, fearing for his life, attempts to assassinate Gus, but Gus is always one step ahead. Jesse, haunted by his past actions, spirals into self-destructive behavior, but Gus manipulates him, eventually bringing him closer into his inner circle. Meanwhile, Walt's brother-in-law, DEA agent Hank Schrader, begins to piece together clues that point to Gus's involvement in the drug trade. Skyler White, Walt's wife, attempts to launder Walt's drug money through a car wash and becomes entangled in a financial mess with her former boss, Ted Beneke, which leads to Ted's severe injury.
As Gus's conflict with the Mexican cartel escalates, he poisons their leaders, including Don Eladio, solidifying his power. Gus then fires Walt and threatens his family if he interferes with Hank's investigation. Desperate, Walt manipulates Jesse into believing Gus poisoned Brock, the son of Jesse's girlfriend, leading them to team up against Gus. Walt orchestrates Gus's death by using Hector Salamanca, a former cartel boss, to detonate a bomb, killing Gus and his enforcer Tyrus. Walt then reveals to Skyler that he "won," and it is shockingly revealed that Walt himself poisoned Brock with lily of the valley.
Season 4 of Breaking Bad covers episodes 1-13. Here's everything that happened:
Season 4, Episode 1: Box Cutter - Following Gale's murder, Walt and Jesse are held captive by Gus Fring. Victor, Gus's henchman, attempts to cook meth to prove his worth but is brutally killed by Gus with a box cutter as a terrifying message to Walt and Jesse. The episode concludes with Gus ordering them to resume production, leaving them in a state of shock and fear.
Season 4, Episode 2: Thirty-Eight Snub - Fearing Gus Fring, Walt buys a snub-nosed .38 revolver to kill him. Jesse throws a massive party to numb his guilt over Gale's murder. Skyler attempts to buy a car wash. Walt confronts Mike, who brutally assaults Walt, making it clear Gus is untouchable. The episode concludes with Walt's failed assassination attempt on Gus, as he's ordered home by Gus's new enforcer, Tyrus.
Season 4, Episode 3: Open House - Skyler manipulates the car wash owner into selling by hiring a fake inspector, securing the business for a lower price. Meanwhile, Marie's kleptomania resurfaces as she steals from open houses, leading to her arrest and Hank's involvement. Jesse continues his destructive partying to numb his guilt over killing Gale. Hank is given Gale's lab notebook, potentially reigniting his investigation into the meth empire. The episode concludes with Skyler and Walt celebrating their successful acquisition of the car wash.
Season 4, Episode 4: Bullet Points - Mike Ehrmantraut survives a violent hijacking of a Los Pollos Hermanos truck, killing both assailants. Walt and Skyler concoct a gambling story to explain their newfound wealth to Hank, who reveals he believes Gale Boetticher was Heisenberg. Jesse, deep in a nihilistic spiral, loses a significant amount of money, leading Mike to believe he's a liability. The episode concludes with Mike kidnapping Jesse, driving him to an unknown desert location.
Season 4, Episode 5: Shotgun - Fearing for Jesse's life, Walt confronts Gus, only to learn Jesse is on a money pickup with Mike. Jesse bravely prevents a shotgun robbery, a stunt orchestrated by Gus to boost Jesse's confidence. Meanwhile, Walt, after drinking heavily at a family dinner, insinuates to Hank that Gale wasn't Heisenberg, reopening the investigation. The episode concludes with Walt and Skyler officially buying the car wash and considering moving back in together.
Season 4, Episode 6: Cornered - Following a cartel ambush that leaves two guards dead, Skyler, fearing for Walt's safety, takes Holly and flees. Walt, asserting his dominance, buys Walt Jr. a Dodge Challenger. Meanwhile, Gus attempts to drive a wedge between Walt and Jesse, while Jesse proves his worth to Mike. The episode concludes with Skyler returning, ready to protect her family from Walt's dangerous world.
Season 4, Episode 7: Problem Dog - Jesse Pinkman, still haunted by killing Gale Boetticher, attends a NA meeting and uses the metaphor of putting down a "problem dog" to describe his actions, ultimately alienating the group. Walt, desperate to eliminate Gus Fring, manipulates Jesse into agreeing to kill him, concocting ricin for the attempt. Meanwhile, Hank Schrader obtains Gus Fring's fingerprints, a crucial piece of evidence connecting him to Gale. The episode concludes with Jesse contemplating killing Gus during a cartel meeting but ultimately refraining, while Hank presents his findings to his DEA superiors.
Season 4, Episode 8: Hermanos - Flashbacks reveal Gus Fring's tragic past, including Max Arciniega's murder by Hector Salamanca at Don Eladio's command. In the present, Hank plants a tracker on Gus's car, and Gus deflects police suspicion regarding Gale's death. The episode concludes with Gus visiting Hector, hinting at his calculated revenge.
Season 4, Episode 9: Bug - Hank's investigation into Gus leads to a cartel sniper attack at Gus's distribution center. Skyler attempts to help Ted Beneke with his IRS audit, potentially implicating herself. The episode culminates in a brutal fight between Walt and Jesse, signifying a potential end to their partnership, after Jesse fails to poison Gus.
Season 4, Episode 10: Salud - Gus Fring exacts revenge on Don Eladio by poisoning him and his cartel associates with a rare tequila. Jesse Pinkman is forced to save a wounded Mike Ehrmantraut and a poisoned Gus Fring, driving them to safety while cartel members die. Meanwhile, Walt grapples with his actions and misses his son's birthday. The episode concludes with Gus seemingly in control, despite his near-fatal poisoning.
Season 4, Episode 11: Crawl Space - Gus fires Walt, threatening his family if he interferes with Hank's investigation. Skyler admits she gave Walt's drug money to Ted Beneke to pay his IRS debt, leading to Ted's severe injury and incapacitation. Walt, realizing he has no money for a disappearance plan and is utterly ruined, descends into a fit of maniacal laughter in the crawl space, signifying his complete mental breakdown.
Season 4, Episode 12: End Times - Following a threat on Hank's life, the DEA places the White and Schrader families under protection. Jesse learns Brock has been poisoned, and Walt convinces him Gus Fring is responsible, leading them to team up. Walt attempts to assassinate Gus with a car bomb, but Gus narrowly escapes, leaving Walt defeated.
Season 4, Episode 13: Face Off - Walt orchestrates Gus Fring's death by using Hector Salamanca to detonate a bomb, killing Gus and Tyrus. Walt then rescues Jesse from Gus's lab and destroys it. The episode concludes with Walt revealing to Skyler that he won, and a final shot showing Walt poisoned Brock with lily of the valley.
