The decision to split the final season was a strategic move by AMC. Running 16 episodes consecutively would have pushed the finale into the holiday season (November/December), a period where viewership typically declines. By splitting the season, AMC was able to stretch the show's conclusion over two years, building immense hype for the final episodes and allowing the series to end on a high note in late September.
Breaking Bad ’s final season was split into two parts, broadcast a year apart.
While the official DVD and Blu-ray releases market the entire 16-episode run as "The Final Season," many viewers and television listings refer to the second half as "Season 5B" or sometimes treat it as a de facto Season 6.
9. Blood Money 10. Buried 11. Confessions 12. Rabid Dog 13. To’hajiilee 14. Ozymandias 15. Granite State 16. Felina
The complete list of all 16 episodes details the writers, directors, and original air dates on AMC. Part 1: Season 5A (The Rise) Episode No. Overall No. Original Air Date "Live Free or Die" Michael Slovis Vince Gilligan July 15, 2012 "Madrigal" Michelle MacLaren Vince Gilligan July 22, 2012 "Hazard Pay" Adam Bernstein Peter Gould July 29, 2012 "Fifty-One" Rian Johnson Sam Catlin August 5, 2012 "Dead Freight" George Mastras George Mastras August 12, 2012 Colin Bucksey Gennifer Hutchison August 19, 2012 "Say My Name" Thomas Schnauz Thomas Schnauz August 26, 2012 "Gliding Over All" Michelle MacLaren Moira Walley-Beckett September 2, 2012 Part 2: Season 5B (The Fall) Episode No. Overall No. Original Air Date "Blood Money" Bryan Cranston Peter Gould August 11, 2013 Michelle MacLaren Thomas Schnauz August 18, 2013 "Confessions" Michael Slovis Gennifer Hutchison August 25, 2013 "Rabid Dog" Sam Catlin Sam Catlin September 1, 2013 "To'hajiilee" Michelle MacLaren George Mastras September 8, 2013 "Ozymandias" Rian Johnson Moira Walley-Beckett September 15, 2013 ["Granite State"](fandom.com State) Peter Gould Peter Gould September 22, 2013 "Felina" Vince Gilligan Vince Gilligan September 29, 2013
Instead of airing as a continuous weekly series, Season 5 was split evenly down the middle to accommodate production timelines and build narrative tension. Each half contains eight episodes.
: By airing in separate years, both halves of the season were eligible for—and ultimately won—the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in two consecutive years (2013 and 2014).
| Part | Alternate Name | Episodes | Original Air Dates | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Season 5A | 8 | July–September 2012 | | Season 5, Part 2 | Season 5B / The Final Season | 8 | August–September 2013 | | Total | Season 5 | 16 | 2012–2013 |
Episodes 9–16, aired from August 11, 2013, to September 29, 2013 . Complete Episode List
: The split allowed AMC to extend the lifespan of its most successful series while avoiding the costs and legal hurdles associated with negotiating a full "Season 6".
: Splitting allowed the writers more time to perfectly craft the final eight episodes without the pressure of a back-to-back production schedule.
Episodes 1–8, aired from July 15, 2012, to September 2, 2012 .
The decision to split the final season was a strategic move by AMC. Running 16 episodes consecutively would have pushed the finale into the holiday season (November/December), a period where viewership typically declines. By splitting the season, AMC was able to stretch the show's conclusion over two years, building immense hype for the final episodes and allowing the series to end on a high note in late September.
Breaking Bad ’s final season was split into two parts, broadcast a year apart.
While the official DVD and Blu-ray releases market the entire 16-episode run as "The Final Season," many viewers and television listings refer to the second half as "Season 5B" or sometimes treat it as a de facto Season 6.
9. Blood Money 10. Buried 11. Confessions 12. Rabid Dog 13. To’hajiilee 14. Ozymandias 15. Granite State 16. Felina how many breaking bad season 5 episodes
The complete list of all 16 episodes details the writers, directors, and original air dates on AMC. Part 1: Season 5A (The Rise) Episode No. Overall No. Original Air Date "Live Free or Die" Michael Slovis Vince Gilligan July 15, 2012 "Madrigal" Michelle MacLaren Vince Gilligan July 22, 2012 "Hazard Pay" Adam Bernstein Peter Gould July 29, 2012 "Fifty-One" Rian Johnson Sam Catlin August 5, 2012 "Dead Freight" George Mastras George Mastras August 12, 2012 Colin Bucksey Gennifer Hutchison August 19, 2012 "Say My Name" Thomas Schnauz Thomas Schnauz August 26, 2012 "Gliding Over All" Michelle MacLaren Moira Walley-Beckett September 2, 2012 Part 2: Season 5B (The Fall) Episode No. Overall No. Original Air Date "Blood Money" Bryan Cranston Peter Gould August 11, 2013 Michelle MacLaren Thomas Schnauz August 18, 2013 "Confessions" Michael Slovis Gennifer Hutchison August 25, 2013 "Rabid Dog" Sam Catlin Sam Catlin September 1, 2013 "To'hajiilee" Michelle MacLaren George Mastras September 8, 2013 "Ozymandias" Rian Johnson Moira Walley-Beckett September 15, 2013 ["Granite State"](fandom.com State) Peter Gould Peter Gould September 22, 2013 "Felina" Vince Gilligan Vince Gilligan September 29, 2013
Instead of airing as a continuous weekly series, Season 5 was split evenly down the middle to accommodate production timelines and build narrative tension. Each half contains eight episodes.
: By airing in separate years, both halves of the season were eligible for—and ultimately won—the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in two consecutive years (2013 and 2014). The decision to split the final season was
| Part | Alternate Name | Episodes | Original Air Dates | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Season 5A | 8 | July–September 2012 | | Season 5, Part 2 | Season 5B / The Final Season | 8 | August–September 2013 | | Total | Season 5 | 16 | 2012–2013 |
Episodes 9–16, aired from August 11, 2013, to September 29, 2013 . Complete Episode List
: The split allowed AMC to extend the lifespan of its most successful series while avoiding the costs and legal hurdles associated with negotiating a full "Season 6". Breaking Bad ’s final season was split into
: Splitting allowed the writers more time to perfectly craft the final eight episodes without the pressure of a back-to-back production schedule.
Episodes 1–8, aired from July 15, 2012, to September 2, 2012 .