Breaking Bad attracts largest audience ever with 5.9 million viewers as hit AMC show enters eight-episode swan song

Breaking Bad never looked so good on Sunday as the hit show returned for its final eight episodes by attracting its largest audience ever.

The mid-season premiere of Breaking Bad drew about 5.9 million viewers, nearly double the record of just under 3 million it drew for an episode in August 2012, according to Nielsen figures released on Monday.



The hit AMC show broke its final season into two parts with the second part starting on Sunday.

Scroll down for video



Highest ratings: Breaking Bad enjoyed its highest ratings on Sunday as the hit AMC show broadcast the first of its last eight episodes

The episode featured a showdown between Bryan Cranston's cancer-stricken meth dealing character Walter White and Dean Norris' character Hank Schrader, who portrays a federal drug agent and Walter's brother-in-law.

The series-high ratings marked an impressive 102 percent increase from the 2012 season premiere.

'For Breaking Bad to continue to deliver record-setting ratings in its fifth and final season is remarkable,' said AMC's president and general manager Charlie Collier in a statement.

Sick man: Walter's cancer has returned in Breaking Bad

Gotcha: Furious Hank confronts his brother in law Walt after discovering that he was the mystery drug lord Heisenberg

The show also snagged a respectable 3.6 million viewers in the coveted 18-49 demographic favoured by advertisers.

The confrontation between Walt and Hank provided more of the great writing and dialogue that has helped the show become a favourite among critics and fans.

After Hank confronts Walt and threatens to take away his children, Walt lowered his voice and provided one of the show's most chilling lines.



I don't like the way you are looking at me: Hank is seething as he realises the man he has been chasing is his brother in law

'If you don't know who I am, then maybe your best course would be to tread lightly,' Walter icily told his brother-in-law.

As the show enters its swan song, it's also been a big hit on social media with nearly 760,000 tweets posted on Sunday during the episode -- about 11,800 tweets-per-minute.



Breaking Bad fans will have a special treat on Monday as the Discovery channel show MythBusters will have a special Breaking Bad cross-over episode.

Sick: the effects of the chemotherapy hit as Walt tries to keep his illness a secret from his family

Series creator Vince Gilligan and star Aaron Paul will be on hand to see if the chemistry behind Breaking Bad stands up.



The MythBusters will recreate two scenes from the show as they test out a mercury fulmate explosion and check to see if a tub of acid can dissolve through a bathtub, floor and ceiling.



The series – that has has won seven Primetime Emmy Awards—including three consecutive wins for Best Actor for Bryan Cranston, two wins for Best Supporting Actor for Aaron Paul, and four nominations for Outstanding Drama Series – continues next week.