Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is an American television series created by Vince Gilligan. The show originally aired on the AMC network for five seasons, from January 20, 2008, to September 29, 2013. It stars Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine manufacturer, and Aaron Paul as his former student and business partner, Jesse Pinkman.

Plot[edit | edit source]

The series follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. To secure his family's financial future, Walter turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with the help of his former student, Jesse Pinkman. As the series progresses, Walter adopts the alias "Heisenberg" and becomes deeply involved in the drug trade, leading to numerous conflicts with law enforcement, rival drug dealers, and his own family.

Main Characters[edit | edit source]

Walter White – A high school chemistry teacher who turns to cooking methamphetamine after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
Jesse Pinkman – Walter's former student and business partner in the methamphetamine trade.
Skyler White – Walter's wife, who becomes increasingly suspicious of his activities.
Hank Schrader – Walter's brother-in-law and a DEA agent.
Marie Schrader – Skyler's sister and Hank's wife.
Saul Goodman – A criminal lawyer who becomes involved in Walter and Jesse's operations.
Gustavo Fring – A major drug distributor who becomes an adversary to Walter.
Mike Ehrmantraut – A former police officer who works for Gus Fring and later assists Walter and Jesse.

Production[edit | edit source]

The series was created by Vince Gilligan, who also served as an executive producer and head writer. The show was produced by Sony Pictures Television and Gran Via Productions. The series was filmed primarily in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Reception[edit | edit source]

Breaking Bad received widespread critical acclaim and is considered one of the greatest television series of all time. The show won numerous awards, including 16 Primetime Emmy Awards. Bryan Cranston won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times for his portrayal of Walter White. Aaron Paul won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series three times for his role as Jesse Pinkman.

Spin-offs and Related Media[edit | edit source]

The success of Breaking Bad led to the creation of a spin-off series, Better Call Saul, which focuses on the character of Saul Goodman before he became involved with Walter and Jesse. Additionally, a sequel film, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, was released in 2019, continuing the story of Jesse Pinkman.

Cultural Impact[edit | edit source]

Breaking Bad has had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring numerous parodies, memes, and references in other media. The show's portrayal of the drug trade and its complex characters have been the subject of extensive analysis and discussion.