Creator Vince Gilligan Answers Fan Questions
In his chat with the fans, the Breaking Bad creator describes the creative process behind the show's craziest moments, explains the second season's shocking endgame and talks about the devil's luck behind Walt's successes.
kcbarker 4: Is there a set number of seasons that you envision for the show?
A: I don't really know how long Breaking Bad will last. These characters that my writers and I spend so much time with tend to come alive for us. And as much as we try sometimes to make Walt or Jesse behave in certain ways and get us to certain scenes, oftentimes they tell us we need to go this way instead. They're telling us their story as much as we're trying to impose a story on them, so it's really hard to say how long Walt's story will go.
DepraveDave: What inspires all those crazy scenes you come up with?
A: They all happened to me in real life [Laughs]. Uh, no, in all honesty I don't know where they come from, but they certainly don't all come from me: I have six wonderful writers that I work with, and we sit in this meeting room and just play "What If" with each other: What if Hank goes down to the Mexico border and has a terrible experience with the cartels? Severed heads are big down there, they're like a calling card. Does he find a severed head? How do we top that? What if the severed head is on the back of a tortoise? Wow that's pretty crazy, how do we top that? Well then it blows up!
Sinnerman: You have to show the negative consequences of Walt's choices, but to what extent do you feel constricted in your ability to allow Walt some success?
A: Very often we invest ourselves in a character like Walt, and we hopefully start to hope that he gets success. Yet the typical story only gives us that at the end. We know this from fairy tales, where the last line is "And they lived happily ever after." With Walt, even a broken clock is right twice a day, so every now and then he should win. But a lot of the time it's like the devil's luck. Maybe the best thing for Walt is to get caught and have to face the consequences of these bad actions. But he never has to face up to his misdeeds, and so many people suffer because of it -- right up to an unknown number of people dying because of this plane crash he helped bring about.
rico3639: Who were the two people in body bags just outside of Walt's car?
A: In my mind the wrath of God rained down on Walt's neighborhood. These two planes collided overhead and began to strew debris all over. As far as the glasses and all the other items we've seen, they're all from the plane. Right into Walt's backyard fell the pink teddy bear from some poor unknown little child on this plane. So it would follow that the body bags being zipped up are also what's left of folks who've fallen to Earth. If you look closely, those body bags are pretty empty. We can only assume they're little bits and pieces, and stuff better left to the imagination.
rickyjames: Were the black and white teddy bear shots influenced by similar shots in Schindler's List of the girl in the red coat?
A: I have to say we were consciously thinking of Schindler's List when we decided that the only item in color in these teasers should be the pink teddy bear. I think Schindler's List is a wonderful movie, and as they always teach in writing class, steal from the best. We knew we wanted to make the footage in the flash-forwards look visually different so the audience would understand that this is some alternate reality. At the eleventh hour I said, "Why not just black and white and make the pink of the teddy bear the only thing you see?" And that was a little tip of the hat to that movie.
mjzale: When Walt and Marie talk about keeping the baby on its side with the towel, did you mean to make a connection with Jane choking?
A: Oh yes. Those are the kinds of moments that you want to be subtle enough that they don't hit you over the head, but on the other hand that they register. We liked keeping the audience aware of the fact that Walt has a newborn daughter, and Jane is somebody else's daughter -- in fact a guy we've met and have a lot of sympathy for. There's an idea there of the cycle of life. And it just seemed like a cool thing to do.
sfuquea88: What is Skyler and Ted's relationship going to grow into?
A: This is one of those cases where we had this character of Ted and we thought he might be interesting for a while. But then Christopher Cousins did such a nice job and he's so very interesting that it makes us writers more interested. Ted and his relationship with Skyler interests me, and I want to see more of it myself. Not to spoil anything, but I've got a feeling we'll see more of Ted in Season 3. [Laughs]
CropDusterMan: Why did you choose to go for the hand-held versus a Steadicam in Breaking Bad?
A: I am proud to say we have not had a single Steadicam shot in twenty episodes. I did seven years on The X-Files where we used a lot of Steadicam, and it was wonderful. But coming off that I was mentally and visually ready for a different look. A major source of inspiration was The French Connection, which was shot like a hand-held news camera. And what I love about that is it's not meant for you to notice that it's hand-held. The operator is holding the camera as steady as possible. When we made the Pilot, there wasn't a whole lot of that being done in television. So often the storytelling and visual choices that we make are about giving the audience something that they're not seeing elsewhere.
wiretapstudios: Do you think ultimately this is a show about all the negative things in life, or does it show how the human spirit triumphs?
A: I'd really prefer to believe that this show is not just about the negative aspects. There's so much more to life than crime and evil and negativity. And yet Walt's decision-making process has really led him down some dark alleys, put him in danger and put his loved ones in danger. So the dark side is an important aspect of our show -- it probably always will be. But I'd like to think that as the show progresses, there's more and more of a light side to balance the darkness.
Diksee: How often do you and the writers come up with situations so dark that you have to decide, "Better not put that one in"?
A: If I sat down and thought about it I could probably count on one hand the number of times we came up with something that was so horrible we decided not to do it [Laughs]. The one thing that truly scared us this season was the moment where Walt watches Jane die. We had hours-long discussions on whether or not we should do it. But eventually we looked at each other and said, "Go big or go home." And it's not about getting a rise out of people; it's about examining every aspect of this character and really paying off on the promise that the show makes in the Pilot, which is that we're taking a good man and we're slowly transforming him into something else. We're going to explore some very dark facets of humanity, and for me that's what it's all about.
Check back Tuesday for an exclusive interview with Breaking Bad's star Bryan Cranston.
first off i love the creative element of the show the writing and cinematics but what do you have for us next season?
first off i love the creative element of the show the writing and cinematics but what do you have for us next season?
Is there room for fans of your show like me to add to this magnificent story telling?
Thank you SO much, Vince, for giving us an opportunity, to ask you, our questions!!
Your decision, to "Go big" with that scene, was dead-on (no pun intended) & drew us in!
Everybody at my house, were first shouting, "Help her!! Do SOMETHING!!!"
Then, we cried afterwards, like it had really happened...
It's truly rare, for a show, to have us crying like that...or, sweating bullets & jumping out of our seats, shouting,
"WOW! Did THAT, just happen?!?"
Thank you, for this show!!! And, it's VERY much appreciated, that you took the time, to answer our questions!
Gina aka Diksee
I can't seem to find where it says the next season will begin.
Vince, I just want to say thank you for displaying such courage and brilliance as a writer. You have created, in my opinion, the greatest show in the history of television, and I really cannot overstate how grateful I am for "Breaking Bad." In a TV world filled with a lot of poor programming and a few bright spots, your show truly stands head and shoulders above everything else, and I hope it stays on AMC for years to come. In a mere 20 episodes, it has already surpassed "The Sopranos" as my favorite show ever. No small feat. Thanks again, Vince, and I hope you and everyone else involved with the show keep up the amazing work.
I think "kafka" should win a prize for predicting the ending! (Read his prediction in the Ep. 12 talk section).
This interview has great insights. Excellent questions by the fans.
Bottom line; there's no second guessing Vince.
I love that. Jonesing already for #3.
On to Mad Men in August.
Thank you AMC for taking such brilliant risks.
Good show. Solid acting. Good writing
But now for some harsh words:
The finale was preposterous. The safeguards in place at air traffic control could not have let such a thing happen. It was wholly unbelievable unless you want us to take it as a "judgement of God" thing, which you seem to.
A much stronger, more believable way to ram the evilness of Walt's actions home to him would have been to get Flynn to start smoking Blue and/or have one of his friends die from it or something similar.
I really like everything about the show, except the ending. Not because of what happened, but because it was preposterous.
Good show. Solid acting. Good writing
But now for some harsh words:
The finale was preposterous. The safeguards in place at air traffic control could not have let such a thing happen. It was wholly unbelievable unless you want us to take it as a "judgement of God" thing, which you seem to.
A much stronger, more believable way to ram the evilness of Walt's actions home to him would have been to get Flynn to start smoking Blue and/or have one of his friends die from it or something similar.
I really like everything about the show, except the ending. Not because of what happened, but because it was just pain silly.
Further to that,
We don't need the writers to moralise for us.
If we can't see that drug abuse has devastating consequences on ALL those involved from just the day to day doings (which you showed very well) then what hope is there for us?
Crashing some planes together just makes it seem that for drug abuse to be really bad, a highly contrived Smiting by God is required to actually punish those involved.
The scenes with the kid in the crack house were far more emotive than this 737 down over abq nonsense.
I want to echo Ben Sand's comments from above. One thing that has really struck me about this show is that it has stayed very grounded; the situations may seem over the top, but I have yet to see anything on the show that i would deem as "out of the realm of possibility." In fact, and allow me to be candid here, I spent four years mixed up in the meth scene, and lived to tell about it. From that unique perspective, I have to say that the show has done a pretty accurate portrayal of all elements of that "world."
So, it was with great disappointement that the last scene went down the way it did. As Ben said, the safeguards at ait traffic control would NEVER EVER let such a crash occur. It was ludicrous and unnecessary. A very disappointing end to what may have been one of the greatest television seasons ever.
Looking forward, I wonder about the chicken/meth kingpin's apparent discovery that Walt's brother-in-law is a DEA agent. I say apparent because I find it hard to believe that if he is careful and calculating as we have been led to believe, that he certainly would have done his die dilligence and been aware of this fact prior to seeing Walt's pic in the DEA office.
Ben Sand
have you never heard of suspension of disbelief?
It's ENTERTAINMENT!
and diksee:I agree,It is amazing how we care for the characters. I don't care if they all die,just so Jesse and Walt live. I love them.
I am real nervous about Walt getting so much publicity.
And at first, Sky quit her job because Ted was breaking the law,but she came back and made allowances and fell for his crap. But will she realize that the tangled web that Walt wove was for the family-her family? Lotsa dough involved,and money talks.
I can't wait for next season. Thank God that Mad Men will alleviate some of my withdrawal pangs.
@Twinkle...suspension of disbelief? Maybe. But it seems to me that the writers worked very hard to cultivate a show steeped heavily in realism, and have done a very good job doing so. That's would makes choosing to end such a great season in such an absurd manner so disappointing.
Breaking Bad is G E N I O U S. Watched the entire first season night after night when I first found out about the show and I was addicted.
Last night's finale of season 2 hit all the right notes for me. In particular, i was really struck by the writer's choice to not have Jesse's girlfriend's father beat the crap out of him when they were taking her body out of Jesse's apartment. What beautiful restraint.
Keira NYC
I wholeheartedly agree with Ben Sands and smokingtheblue. There are only two possible interpretations for the ending. Either it was an astounding coincidence, or it was a cosmic/biblical sign. Suspension of disbelief is fine, but only to a certain extent. A coincidence like this is so preposterous, I doubt even a tabloid or a show like Guiding Light would entertain the idea of utilizing it as a plot point. And the "Smiting Hand of God"... seriously? Where did that come from!?!?! Fine if that's what you're into, but there was never a hint before of this type of religious zealotry.
This has been one of my favorite shows from the very beginning, but the ending was heavy-handed and contrived and just did not fit with the rest of the series. Such a disappointment, such a blow to a show otherwise (as smokingtheblue pointed out) "heavily steeped in realism". I don't know that it can ever recover in my eyes.
I was thrown for a loop last night. A plane crash is the last thing I was expecting--and I'm thinking that was a little bit over the top. When we kept seeing those flash forwards of the body bags and the guys in the space suits and the shattered windshield on the Jeep and the Teddy Bear, I thought it meant someone was going to gun down Walt's family. Especially when Gus finds out Walt's brother in law is a big narc. I thought, uh oh, ultra-careful Gus is going to wipe Walt out. Never saw a plane crash coming.
By far the best series out there. Some might say far fetched at times, but having chased meth guys for an extended career I can say this shit really happens to these bozos. The writer(s) are brilliant, but hard to believe they have not actually lived it to be this right on most of the time. Better watch out, we may start following you guys around.
Love ya
CB
My girl partner CT and I are fighting about breaking bad. two big issues:
1) CT thinks that the chemistry teacher is guilty of not trying to save Apology Girl when he broke into the kid’s apartment while she was ODing. I think she was already dead and the chemistry teacher did nothing wrong.
2) I think Apology Girl's Dad was not spaced out or confused or made a mistake. I think he crashed those plans intentionally. Maybe temporary insanity - but defiantly intentional - he was mad and took it out on the world in the most spectacular way that he could.
I have NEVER commented on a TV show blog in my life. I spent the last 20 years complaining about how stupid TV is. Between AMC's Breaking Bad/Mad Men - HBO's Treatment and Starz crash... I'm a pathetic TV addict. I'm not proud of it. This is crack. What you do is worse than Meth.
BREAKING BAD is the work of geniuses. This is the best tv show made to date, I relate to it so much, I live in a border city (Laredo) where drugs are shipped from mexico to US so this relates. This show is so much better than that crap show LOST which is a soap opera in my opinion. Im into this show so much I made a trip to Alberquerque, NM, awesome...... yes I flew in.
BREAKING BAD is the work of geniuses. This is the best tv show made to date, I relate to it so much, I live in a border city (Laredo) where drugs are shipped from mexico to US so this relates. This show is so much better than that crap show LOST which is a boring soap opera. Im into this show so much I made a trip to Alberquerque, NM, awesome...... yes I flew in.
The best show on t.v now, hope to see many more seasons.
Don't know If I can leave a question for Vince on here. But if I can it would be is there any significance in episode 4 "Down" the bear is shown in the pool being burnt on the right side when every other time we have seen the bear it is burnt on the left. The reason I ask is because it is quite obvious there is a direct correlation between Walt and the pink bear. I don't think it is coincidence Walt is wearing that pink sweater in the season finale. I recall an episode where Walt is explaining the term "chiral" to his class. Which is essentially two things that are mirror images of each other. Walt and Heisenberg for example. The bear being burnt on the left and then the right. etc...But perhaps I am looking for more than is actually there.
Breaking Bad rules !!!!!
Hope season 3 comes out quick !!!
We need our BB fix !!
:)
I had a friend tell me about this show in the beginning of the first season and let me tell you, I love this show! Season 2 has been great and looking forward to season 3 and hopefully more. Keep BB rolling, You have my attention!!
i have to say this is the best show to grace tv series. but even though the final sequence was done brilliantly, i am a little upset that it was unrealistic, i mean, it could have happened..., but it is so unlikely that it is unrealistic, this show has been 100 % based on reality up until this point, please, in the 1st episode, explain the crash to us on a grounds where it can be beleivable, to salvage the consistency of realism. i have to say i still enjoyed it, but wont let myself as much until next year when you HOPEFULLY elaborate on just exactly why that happened, cant wait till season 3, ur still my hero
Thanks for everything Vince, you are the man.
Now get us some damn merch so we can help support whatever bad habits you may have, other than this show that is.
I want to announce to the world that BB is here to stay.
My husband and I love the show! We're retired and live in the Austin area. We were so surprised to see Donald(John De Lancie) turn out to be an Air Traffic Controller as that's what my husband is retired from--started out at the ABQ. Center in 1970-so it was a little Deja Vu for us. Did you have a Technical advisor on set? I watched John in Days of Our Lives many years ago so good to see him again.--We work as Extras over here in TX. so we appreciate a good show, crew and a good set environment--Keep up the good work and can't wait for Season 3-Susan Patterson(Bastrop,TX.)
I was simply astonished by this season finale. The way it was written, the things it made us think about, the cause/consequences issue...
Congratulations to the writers, actors and the entire crew. Mr. Gilligan, you're a genius and thank to people like you (and the wonderful writers who work with you) Television is up to another level. I'll be counting the seconds for season 3.
BTW: I work as film and video editor and on a show like that I could work for free! ; )
I was simply astonished by this season finale. The way it was written, the things it made us think about, the cause/consequences issue...
Congratulations to the writers, actors and the entire crew. Mr. Gilligan, you're a genius and thank to people like you (and the wonderful writers who work with you) Television is up to another level. I'll be counting the seconds for season 3.
BTW: I work as film and video editor and on a show like that I could work for free! ; )
Why did you decide to name the main character Walt?
Dear Mr. Gilligan...I seriously have not looked forward to a TV show...since I was a youngster...waiting for the new episode of 'Happy Days'. I have told all my friends and relatives that 'Breaking Bad' is a mix between 'To Live and Die In L.A.', and 'Pulp Fiction'...and they all agree. I theorize that these two films, along with 'The French Connection' were inspirational to 'Breaking Bad'. Is William Friedkin truly an influence on your work? Just wondering. Thank you for putting your heart and soul into this show. I am sure millions of American agree...one of the best overall concepts in television history.
To the rest of the bloggers...if you enjoy this show, and have not seen 'To Live and Die In L.A.'...I highly suggest renting it. That film is not only underrated, but it was seriously the beginning and the of this whole type of film genre. Every character is complex...and all the players are somewhat jaded in one way or another. I LOVE THAT!! I am sure 'The French Connection' and 'To Live and Die in L.A.' were major inspirations. All I request for Season 3 are several obscure references to alleged underground base in Dulce, New Mexico. People in New Mexico HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT from time to time. No question about it. In fact...I would LOVE to see you cover that whole mystery...I wrote a screenplay all about it. Feel free to contact me for details. Mr. Gilligan...the Dulce subject is so intriguing, I would LOVE to see you bring that to the screen someday. You are the man for the job. Thank you Mr. Gilligan...I am so happy I started watching your show. So many twists and turns...such a inner-connected...tight inner circle, and such a 'small world'. The irony is absolutely hilarious sometimes. Great writing...just superb. Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNWA3vc66HE
Oh...one last thing...the counter on Walt Jr.'s computer annoyed Walt for obvious reasons...but does anyone think it also reminded Walt Sr. about Tuco's final scene?? My friends and I think so. I laughed out loud...when I realized it...and it took a few minutes for it to sink in. DING!!
F4U Corsair model aircraft parts painted and partially assembled dangled from Walt Jr's (RJ Mitte) bedroom in episode 12 ("Phoenix"). I also noticed wall paper in Walt Jr's bedroom that appeared to display the Corsair in navy blue, just like the dangling model parts. As a WWII fighter buff, I'd liked this very much and wondered how many viewers might have noticed; and also, what the significance (if any) might be - especially of the partial assemblage. Anyone??
Hey Vince,
Your season finale sucked.
I've enjoyed your show until now - impressed by Stephen King's endorsement as the best writing on TV and have personally enjoyed the writing. However your show no longer has a relatable hero for me since you've turned Walter into a insensitive asshole , selfish out of control egomaniac and a murderer. No matter what you do with him now, save perhaps the death of his daughter and creating an elaborate trail of painful karmic events linked directly to his choice not to save Jane which in turn result in excruciating and incremental moments of self-realization, the Walter character is lost. Thanks for the good times but this show is done for me. I WILL NEVER CHEER FOR A VILLAN no matter how intriguing you make him. It would be like a christian chosing lucifer over god! Sorry. You and your writing staff can go 'find yourselves' on your own time.
One last thing - what kind of a cowardly weakling crashes two planes killing hundreds of innocent people for revenge or remorse? Get real! A distraught father would have ripped Jessie's head off and placed it on a pointed stick. Or better still, put a bullet in his OWN head out of remorse and a sense of failure for not haveing been able to help his daughter beat her addiction. But to melt down like that - are people really that weak? I don't think so.
All you 'breaking bad asses' will hopefully see that there is only one way to end this farse and that is to KILL MR WHITE!
Anyway, on a lighter note, perhaps if there is a TV god the terminator series will be back this fall.
Professionals don't discuss details on cell phones as much as is discussed in breaking bad. Perhaps have more scenes where people meet in person or develop code words like in real life...
You wrote "The safeguards in place at air traffic control could not have let such a thing happen" Ben Sand.
Even though you may be an expert tech in air traffic control, I have to disagree.
All our technology is running on basicly chain link principles; a single broken link brings it all down. You can add in all sorts of redundancy, but it only helps in a finite number of circumstances.
If you consider the fact that alot of the air traffic system is old and wearing out, not every maintenence tech is the best, and that someone could sabotage the system, saying it's preposterous is preposterous.
A movie reko: Falling Down
Its another story of an ordinary guy going bad. I think every fan of this show will like it.
I'm always a "day late and a...", well you know the rest. However being a new fan of Breaking Bad, I'm curious how Mr. Gilligan came up with the "concept" for this remarkable show? Kudos to the creative casting "director(s)", to which this small ensemble of actors work incredibly well together. Sheer BRILLIANCE is all I can say about the show. In a time when "reality based" shows (God bless Ms. Dunim! For, I do believe she was the true pioneer of reality TV with MTV's REAL WORLD; footnote: I still love the show!) are saturating our viewing experiences with "garbage". How ironic is it that in 2009, Breaking Bad seems to be the perfect "fix" for what ails me? Clean, Sweet, Peace! OXXO Sher
Am wondering where the Serenity Spa in Season 2 Episode 13 was actually filmed... is it in NM or another locale ?
Hi Vince, I am an aspiring writer.. The reason I like this show more than others is that in the mojave area of Los Angeles county, a lot of the scenery reminds me of out here in the desert. The characters, remind of a lot of people and experiences out here.. I have met the real Jesse, Tuco, Jane, Walt even Hank... The whole show just reminds me so much of growing up here... Sometimes I feel like I am Jesse.. other times he is people I knew.. Sometimes I feel "Breaking Bad" is just an artistic expression of my past and people I knew.. I have watched each episode at least twice so far, my friends wonder why I watch it so much, but they soon get drawn into it like I did. Thanks.
Vince: Love your show, hated that ending. You teased us all season with a symbol that turned out to mean nothing to any of the characters -- that's the most disappointing thing.
And a mid-air collision of two commercial airplanes, brought on because one air-traffic controller is depressed? If that could happen, it would -- but it doesn't. The series feels so realistic and there are so many plausible tragedies that to have two planes collide over Walt's house was ridiculous. Worse than a fade-to-black, it's as if you and the writers asked your preschooler-age kids how to end the season.
Please don't give us any more deus ex machinas in Season 3. Thanks.