<P> "Fifty - One" was watched by approximately 2.29 million American viewers in its original broadcast, matching the second episode's numbers . </P> <P> The episode received critical praise with many critics singling out Anna Gunn's and Bryan Cranston's performances . Luke Gelineau of TV Equals called "Fifty - One" the "best episode of the season thus far", adding "I think the first three episodes were all quite good, but I honestly can't think of any other episode in this show that focused so heavily on the characters of Walter and Skyler White ." The Baltimore Sun's Wesley Case called Skyler's pool scene "unnerving" and "heart - wrenchingly sad", adding "Breaking Bad is a show built around action--big explosions, shoot - outs, throat - cutting murders, and other vivid portraits of the messy drug - dealing business . Besides Jesse's breakdowns, we rarely we see the exisential (sic) crises all of these characters must be dealing with at all times ." </P> <P> For his direction of this episode, Rian Johnson won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing--Drama Series . Anna Gunn won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in this episode at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards . </P>

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