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The final season was broadcast in two parts, commonly referred to as “Season 5A” and “Season 5B,” but officially constitute a single 16-episode series.

The season holds a Metacritic score of 99/100 , earning it a spot in the Guinness World Records as the most acclaimed TV series ever.

If you are settling in to watch the final chapter of Walter White’s transformation, you might be wondering exactly how much time you need to set aside. The question of episode count for the fifth season of Breaking Bad is slightly more complex than other seasons due to a unique broadcasting decision.

Aired from July 15 to September 2, 2012.

While it is officially classified as a single season (Season 5), it was marketed and aired as two separate mini-seasons.

From a production standpoint, the cast and crew treated it as one long 16-episode season. However, AMC opted to stretch the show's conclusion over two years. This allowed them to maximize the ratings and build anticipation for the series finale, a strategy that paid off significantly as the show became a cultural phenomenon during its final eight episodes.