Jesse Pinkman, played by renowned actor Aaron Paul, featured in everything Breaking Bad-related, including Better Call Saul and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Pinkman is known for dropping the most nonsensical dialogues to the most hard-hitting ones that are quote-worthy.
Here are ten quotes from Jesse that are memorable for being funny, thought-provoking, and hard-hitting.
10. “You don’t need a criminal lawyer. You need a criminal lawyer” – Season 2, Episode 8
The episode that introduced Saul, titled “Better Call Saul,” saw Walt and Jesse in need of a lawyer to safeguard their meth-dealing adventures. Badger, unfortunately, got busted for selling meth to an undercover cop. Saul Goodman waltzes into the police station and represents Badger. Jesse explains to Walt that they don’t need a criminal lawyer but a lawyer who is a criminal himself.
The quote here represents the need for a lawyer with whom they can be transparent and help them on a legal front.
9. “What good is being an outlaw when you have responsibilities?” – Season 3, Episode 9
The episode titled “Kafkaesque” represents a situation where Jesse is forced to work with a maniacal boss whom everybody fears. With this new work scenario Jesse has found himself in, under Walter, he reminisces with Badger and Skinny Pete about being able to cook and consume meth at their leisure.
With the regiment under Heisenberg, Jesse has to follow rules and responsibilities that are different from his usual style of operating.
8. “Are we in the meth business, or the money business?” – Season 5, Episode 6
Mike and Jesse both tell Walt that they are quitting their meth business, with Mike’s reason being the constant DEA surveillance. In the episode titled “Buyout”, Jesse pleads with Walt to conclude their business as they can sell off the methylamine they gathered, which amounts to $5 million. Walt vehemently opposes this, saying they have enough methylamine to make $300 million.
This is more money than either of them needs to live out their lives, begging the question of whether Walt is in this for the meth business or the money. Walt’s need to continue shows his desire to lead a criminal empire, amassing both wealth and power.
7. “Yo 148, 3-to-the-3-to-the-6-to-the-9. Representin’ the ABQ. What up, biatch? Leave it at the tone!” – Season 1, Episode 2
The iconic line is probably the funniest voicemail greeting by a character in any show. Period. In the episode “Cat’s in the Bag…”, Walt has an awkward conversation with Jesse while Skylar is around and leaves abruptly. While Walt goes out to help dispose of Emilio’s body, Skylar is suspicious and calls back the number that was supposedly a telemarketer. The hilarious line is received with shock as Skylar realises that it is indeed not who Walter said it was.
This is one of the first times that Skylar begins to suspect Walter’s disappearances since his diagnosis.
6. “This Is My Own Private Domicile, And I Will Not Be Harassed. B***h” – Season 3, Episode 6
In one of the most heart-racing episodes of the show titled “Sunset”, Walt and Jesse are almost caught by brother-in-law, DEA agent Hank Schrader. While their RV is parked at a compound, Hank tries to enter, suspecting that this is what he has been searching for all along. Hank knows Jesse is inside, but not Walt, who is a hair’s breadth away from being caught.
Walt makes Jesse remind Hank that he cannot enter a private domicile in a hilarious exchange, adding his iconic “B***h” to the end of the phrase.
5. “You Know What? Why I’m Here In The First Place? Is To Sell You Meth. You’re Nothing To Me But Customers! I Made You My B***h.” – Season 4, Episode 7
One of Jesse’s most vulnerable moments comes in the form of the episode “Problem Dog,” where Jesse is back at his support group. Jesse is absolutely spiraling and is unable to cope with his murder of Gale, instructed by Walter to save his own skin. Jesse speaks to the group head, admitting he joined the support group to sell them meth, prompting them to ponder the way they choose to forgive wrongdoings.
The episode spirals further into descent, with Jesse revealing his emotions in a pivotal moment for the character.
4. “I’m Not Turning Down the Money. I’m Turning Down You.” – Season 3, Episode 7
Heisenberg leaves a trail of destruction, directly and indirectly. After leading Hank on a fake emergency call that claimed his wife was seriously injured, Hank is absolutely furious, thinking it was Jesse who orchestrated the affair. On a rampage, he bangs Jesse up, leading him to get hospitalised. This was the last straw for Jesse, who turned down Walter’s offer to keep working for/with him and also $1.5 million.
When Jesse turns him down, in the episode “One Minute,” he delivers a very hard-hitting line that he isn’t turning down money, but Walter himself, not wanting to associate with Mr. White’s chaotic life.
3. “Yeah, Science!” – Season 1, Episode 7
A line quoted quite frequently by fans of the show is from the episode “A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal”, where Walt demonstrates his chemistry knowledge to Jesse. Walt and Jesse share an interesting dynamic, being former teacher-student turned meth cooks.
Jesse always displayed a lack of interest, so it was very endearing to see Jesse’s childlike curiosity shine when he expresses excitement for the plans that Walt has.
2. “Yeah, B***h. Magnets!” – Season 5, Episode 1
Jesse and White plan to pull off an extremely risky heist of sorts in the episode “Live Free or Die” by testing out ways to wipe evidence from technology secured behind closed police quarters. Jesse is the one to come up with the plan to use magnets to erase the information that could get them incriminated. With a giant magnet, they turn up the voltage, resulting in their test subject, a laptop, flying off and attaching itself to the magnet.
This moment is met with hype as Jesse exclaims the hilarious line, proving he is as smart as he is resourceful.
1. “Then Do It Yourself.” – Season 5, Episode 16
The finale, titled “Felina”, is a gut-wrenching episode where Walt frees Jesse from being the slave meth cook to a gang of hooligans. Before Walt and Jesse reunite in the final episode, their last exchange involved Walt’s admission that he was there the night Jane died, and he did nothing to prevent it. After freeing Jesse, he holds Walt at gunpoint as Walt accepts his death.
In the most morbid moment of Walt’s life, Jesse gets Walt to admit that he wants to die, choosing to let him die by his own hands instead.
Jesse Pinkman sails off in a wholesome ending for the character, as we all collectively screamed in delight along with him. Here’s a summary of the episodes mentioned.
What’s your favourite Jesse Pinkman quote? Let us know in the comments.
Breaking Bad is streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
