During an interview on “Who’s Talking To Chris Wallace?”, guest Bryan Cranston discussed why he believes “Breaking Bad” was so successful.
Bryan Cranston, who played the lead role in AMC’s critically acclaimed drama “Breaking Bad,” recently discussed why he believes the show has remained popular even a decade after its final episode aired. Created by Vince Gilligan, the show aired in 2008 and ran for five seasons before concluding in 2013. The plot centers around Walter White (Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher who turns to cooking and selling meth with former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Despite ending eight years ago, the show’s fanbase has continued to grow, and Cranston’s insights shed light on the enduring appeal of Gilligan’s creation.
“I think people related to this guy. They empathized with it, with him to have a man who is trying to really instill enthusiasm in his, in his science, to nothing but a sea of apathy with his students, to having to have a second job for his special needs son’s care. So, the teaching profession, the healthcare system, these were all part of it. And you felt for him, and he’s got terminal cancer.”
“And this poor son of a gun is like oh, and then he and that was all by design, create the empathy. And then you, everybody was signed on and rooting for him. But then he does something illegal? Well, I will give him a pass. And something a little brutal, a little more, a little more. And Vince Gilligan wanted to see how long he can go and how far he can go away from that initial man, and still keep the allegiance from the audience. So it was a real test. And it’s never been done in the history of television, to have a series star change character within the course of the series. And so I was blown away by that prospect and wanted to be a part of it.”
Recently Bryan Cranston reprised his role as Walter White in a Super Bowl commercial for Popcorners. The ad features Jesse and Walter cooking in their camper, but they are making chips instead of the famous blue meth. The finished product is presented to Tuco, who recreates an iconic scene from the series to show his enthusiasm for the chips.
