Had this season been a standard 13 episodes, we might have lost the quiet devastation of "Granite State" or the slow-burn tension of the "Rabid Dog." The 16-episode structure allows the audience to sit in Walt’s degradation. We get to see the distinct shift from Heisenberg the Kingpin (Part 1) back to Walter White the desperate fugitive (Part 2).
Broadcast from July 15 to September 2, 2012, this half follows the aftermath of Gustavo Fring's death and Walt’s rise to undisputed power. "Live Free or Die" Episode 2: "Madrigal" Episode 3: "Hazard Pay" Episode 4: "Fifty-One" Episode 5: "Dead Freight" Episode 6: "Buyout" Episode 7: "Say My Name" Episode 8: "Gliding Over All" (Mid-season finale) Part 2 (Episodes 9–16) breaking bad season 5 how many episodes
Broadcast from August 11 to September 29, 2013, the final eight episodes focus on the investigation by Hank Schrader and the final collapse of Walt’s world. Had this season been a standard 13 episodes,
make up the fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed drama Breaking Bad . "Live Free or Die" Episode 2: "Madrigal" Episode
Number of episodes in Season 5