Breaking Bad: When Vince Gilligan reflected on the finale and the one thing they got wrong

Breaking Bad has become a cultural landmark. Vince Gilligan’s brainchild reshaped what audiences expect from prestige TV.

Over five seasons, the journey of Walter White, the meek chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin, captivated millions. And when it all came to a close in 2013 with the explosive finale, fans and critics alike hailed it as one of the most satisfying endings in television history.

In 2023, a full decade later, Vince Gilligan had time to look back, and he had some thoughts. In a candid conversation with Variety, the creator opened up about the pressures behind crafting the Breaking Bad ending.

He shared about the little detail he regrets and the uncertainty that once loomed over that machine gun. This shows that even the most carefully constructed stories come with their own share of doubts and uncertainties behind the scenes.

Breaking Bad: Vince Gilligan on the finale

When asked about how he feels about the Breaking Bad finale, Gilligan says that he's proud of it. But he also points out a detail he wishes had been more realistic.

“I’m very proud of it, and I have to stress that it was a group effort. I had wonderful writers and we strained our brains mightily to tie everything together. I think the one thing we got wrong was Aaron Paul’s teeth. They’re too damn perfect! For a guy who got beaten up as much as he did and smoked that much meth, his teeth would not look so beautiful. We probably did the country a disservice, but having said that, Aaron’s easy on the eyes so that was just as well for folks watching.”

It's a specific detail, but it speaks volumes about the level of authenticity the Breaking Bad team held themselves to.

But not everything about the finale was so lighthearted. In fact, Gilligan confesses that the most stressful piece of the puzzle was planted long before he even knew what to do with it.

“The biggest single fear we had was what to do with that damn machine gun. At the beginning of the final run of 16 episodes, we had Walt buy a machine gun in the trunk of a Cadillac. That was the thing I remember freaking us out the most because we did that, I committed to that. One of the dumbest things I’ve ever done in my career was committing to the idea of Walter White buying a machine gun when we did not know what he was going to do with it. We had no clue. There were literally months on end when I was completely freaked out. We’d be in the writers’ room for a full day, and I’d be slowly banging my head against the wall — not enough to hurt myself but just enough to jar the ideas loose. And everybody was kind of worried about me."

He continued:

"Once we figured out this machine gun, that was when the dam broke and things started slowly to click together. It was after that point that we figured he’s got to win. He’s lost everything because of his hubris and his pride and his ego. He’s lost his family, he’s lost his soul. But he’s got to win on some level. He’s at least got to deliver that money to his family. How the hell does he do that once the world knows who he really is? When we figured out that Gretchen and Elliott could be the mechanism by which Walt wins and gets that money to his family, that was a good day."

Even with its creator second-guessing a few aesthetic choices or sweating over last-minute plot mechanics, the legacy of Breaking Bad remains untouchable.

Gilligan and his team accomplished more than just tying up loose ends; they gave Walter White a conclusion that felt earned, messy, and very human.

More than a decade later, Breaking Bad fans are still digging into the layers, proving that when it comes to great television, the end is only the beginning of the conversation.

Trending

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more updates and detailed information.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback