Skyler wasn’t a villain but a victim in Breaking Bad: Here’s why we think so

In the popular show Breaking Bad, Walter, who risks his family's life by committing heinous crimes and becoming the kingpin in drug dealing, is often called a "mastermind" by the fans. We have our empathy with the ordinary chemistry school teacher turning into a meth cook, regardless of who he ends up killing. Even Jesse Pinkman is embraced for being vulnerable and realising the consequences of his actions. On the other hand, Skyler White, Walter's wife, is almost considered a villain in Breaking Bad, always trying to expose her husband.

The fans, per reports, have concluded her as a hypocritical figure; however, it is only Skyler who genuinely tries to pull Walter back from the criminal business, and her only aim has been to safeguard her family. Anna Gunn, who plays Skyler herself, wrote about the backlash for her character reflecting the deep-seated gender biases within society.

**Disclaimer: This article is the author's opinion; the reader's discretion is advisable.

Here is why Skyler wasn’t a villain but a victim in Breaking Bad

In the Netflix show Breaking Bad, Walter has been diagnosed with lung cancer and is left with a limited lifetime. This compels him to do something to make enough money for his family to live on after he’s gone. He uses his chemical knowledge to cook meth, a highly effective and powerful illegal drug. His meth is the purest in the market and of high value. Walter soon rose to become the kingpin of a drug empire; however, the journey was full of consequences.

Skyler White's reaction to her husband's criminal empire was natural. Her first instinct was to save her family and kids from the consequences of Walter's actions. She was worried about how Walter was also risking his life to earn money. Skyler’s “crime” in the eyes of many fans wasn’t violence or drug dealing, but standing up to Walt, questioning his actions, and resisting his authority. This highlights how, as viewers, we end up sympathizing with antiheroes and consider female characters challenging them as villains.

Skyler was never written to be a villain, but a victim of Walter's lies and manipulation. In fact, Skyler was the most humane character in Breaking Bad, reacting authentically to months of lies from Walter about the cancer, meth making, and finances, while she is forced to make life-altering choices without being aware of the "why".

Skyler helping Walt with money laundering wasn't ambition but survival in Breaking Bad

One of the iconic dialogues comes when Skyler pleads with Walt to stop, as she can recognize the danger. But it's only later that she realizes how the danger is not any rival or enemy but her own husband as he grows more ruthless.

"I am not in danger, Skyler, I am the danger. A guy opens his store and gets shot, and you think that of me? No, I am the one who knocks."

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When Walt finally asks her to launder the money, Skyler joins him not out of greed or ambition but survival. She decided to manage the mess Walter had created to protect herself and the family. She is the one who tells him to stop and restart a normal life after getting a report on his cancer healing. But, till then, Walter was no longer doing the business for money but because he started enjoying it, the power, the authority that comes with it. For a long time, Walt had manipulated her, giving half-truths, and in episode "Fifty-One", when Skyler tells him she's waiting for his cancer to relapse, it's not malice but despair, and she sees no other escape from his control.

Therefore, this reflects how a hatred towards her had more to do with audience bias and gender expectations than her actual role in Breaking Bad. Fans wanted to see Walt succeed in his drug empire, so Skyler was cast in the role of the obstacle. But obstacles aren’t villains. In reality, she was one of the only characters consistently trying to stop the bloodshed and shield the innocent, while herself being the victim of it all.

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