Why Breaking Bad Is the Best Show of the 21st Century
Breaking Bad was voted the greatest television show of the 21st century by a panel, outranking Better Call Saul. Creator Vince Gilligan and stars Bryan Cranston and Giancarlo Esposito discussed the making of the series, character moral collapse, and the enduring resonance of Walter White nearly 20 years after its debut.
The conversation surrounding the series involves creator Vince Gilligan alongside actors Bryan Cranston and Giancarlo Esposito, examining how a high school chemistry teacher transformed into a drug kingpin under the pressure of a terminal cancer diagnosis.
The Anatomy of Moral Collapse
At the core of the series lies a fundamental question regarding human nature and choice. Speaking about the conceptual origins of the narrative, the creative team explored whether anyone could break bad under the right or wrong circumstances, or if the show was a specific tale of one man’s moral collapse. Gilligan noted that he thinks probably anybody could break bad. Cranston added that the audience related to the series because viewers could see themselves changing out of need or desire to accomplish something before their final days.
Character design played a crucial part in establishing Walter White’s initial invisibility within society. Cranston described wanting the character to look insignificant, noting the creation of what the team called an impotent mustache—indecisive and caught between growing facial hair or shaving—to emphasize a man who eats lunch alone in the corner and goes unnoticed by society and himself.
Villains, Humanization, and the Shadow of Prestige TV
Gilligan acknowledged the influence of preceding series, stating that Breaking Bad likely would not have been allowed to exist without The Sopranos and The Shield paving the way for the anti-hero archetype.
The dynamic between Walter White and Gustavo Fring introduced a unique pairing of two brilliant villains. Discussing the casting and development of Fring, who succeeded the erratic and unpredictable Tuco Salamanca played by Ray Cruz, Esposito explained that working on the character changed his approach to acting. His presence on set relied on stillness and a quiet energy. In a memorable behind-the-scenes detail from the direction of the famous scene where Gus’s face is blown off, Giancarlo Esposito recounted that the physical action of adjusting his tie before falling face first onto a stunt mat came from his own personal behavior as a gentleman.
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