Breaking Bad Creator Reveals Shocking Season 5 Twist: The Most Regrettable Move I Made

Summary

Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan views the decision to include the opening scene of season 5 as "the dumbest thing" he ever did.

The scene, unintentionally, lays the groundwork for a gripping conclusion by introducing the machine gun and building suspense. In the end, the machine gun becomes crucial, enabling Walter White to avenge himself and rescue Jesse Pinkman, ultimately leading to a poignant yet fulfilling ending.

Breaking Bad's creator, Vince Gilligan, has admitted that the opening scene of season 5 was a mistake. Gilligan reflects on the scene where Walter White, living under a new identity, has a somber breakfast at a Denny's on his 52nd birthday. After leaving the restaurant, Walter opens the trunk of a Cadillac to reveal an M60 machine gun, leaving viewers in suspense.

During an interview with Variety commemorating the 10th anniversary of the show's finale, Gilligan acknowledged that he didn't have a plan for Walt's use of the machine gun when he wrote the scene. He described this decision as the "dumbest thing" he ever did. Read Gilligan's full remarks below.

The primary concern we had revolved around the dilemma of what to do with the troublesome machine gun. At the onset of the final installment of 16 episodes, we depicted Walt purchasing a machine gun hidden inside a Cadillac's trunk. This particular aspect had greatly unsettled us because we had made a commitment to it. It was one of the most foolish decisions I have ever made in my career, to commit to the concept of Walter White acquiring a machine gun without any knowledge of its purpose. We were completely clueless. Months on end passed when I was constantly consumed by anxiety. During full-day sessions in the writers room, I would occasionally tap my head against the wall, not forcefully enough to cause harm but just enough to jolt my thoughts. Everyone was understandably concerned about me.

However, once we devised a plan involving the machine gun, everything started falling into place. It was at that moment when all the pieces gradually began to fit together. We determined that Walt had to triumph in some way. He had already lost everything due to his arrogance, pride, and ego. His family and his essence were gone. But he had to achieve some form of victory. At the very least, he had to ensure the delivery of his ill-gotten gains to his loved ones. How on earth could he accomplish that once his true identity became public knowledge? The day we discovered that Gretchen and Elliott could serve as the means for Walt to achieve his goals and secure his family's financial future was a moment of triumph.

The decision I made was incredibly foolish. I thought to myself, "Let's kick off this season with a bang." It was Walt's 52nd birthday, so let's recreate the bacon scene, but this time he's alone in a Denny's. And he looks dreadful, resembling the Unabomber. Why is he at a Denny's? Well, to buy a machine gun, of course! It was obvious that Walt's story was not heading towards a happy ending, so it made sense for him to appear as though his cancer had returned. However, we were navigating blindly. We had no idea where we were headed. It's astonishing how little we knew. I had a bit of arrogance, thinking we could figure it out.

"We have 16 episodes left until the end. We'll figure it out!" But we were still six or seven episodes away from the finale and we hadn't even determined the purpose of the machine gun. I remember suggesting, "Let's imagine for a moment that we never introduced the machine gun." I was genuinely terrified, but my writers kept me accountable. They challenged me and insisted that we address the machine gun. However, we improvised as we went along. What does this character desire right now? What obstacles stand in his way? To anyone aspiring to be a showrunner who may be reading this, do not approach it this way! It's agonizing and frightening.

Breaking Bad Season 5's Opening Flash-Forward Set The Stage For A Great Ending

Gilligan regrets his decision to give Walt the machine gun without knowing its purpose, calling it the dumbest thing he has ever done. However, this unintentionally paved the way for a remarkable ending. According to Gilligan, understanding Walt's plan for the gun was crucial in creating the perfect conclusion. Ultimately, Walt uses the weapon to avenge his brother-in-law Hank's murder and reclaim his stolen money from Jack and his Neo-Nazi gang. Additionally, the machine gun allows him to rescue Jesse from captivity.

Throughout season 5 of Breaking Bad, Walt experiences numerous losses, including his family and wealth. However, before his grand exit, he intimidates Gretchen and Elliot to ensure the remnants of his meth empire go to his estranged son, Walter Jr., and wife, Skyler. Despite his arrogance resulting in the loss of almost everything, the ending delivers several small victories for Walt, as noted by Gilligan, resulting in a perfectly bittersweet conclusion. Perhaps it was not a foolish decision, but rather a brilliant move by Gilligan to corner himself, ultimately leading to one of the greatest finales ever.

Source: Variety