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 ca n'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 existential crises all of these characters must be dealing with at all times . " 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
65th Primetime Emmy Awards
65th Primetime Emmy Awards
Fifty-One