The Untold Tragedy: Why a Walt Jr Breaking Bad Spinoff Would Shock Fans
Would a spinoff featuring Walt Jr as Heisenberg Jr be too much to handle? Find out why Vince Gilligan's concerns about a depressing storyline are valid in this insightful article
Summary
The creator of Breaking Bad, Vince Gilligan, is not interested in making a spinoff focused on Walt Jr., as he believes it would be a sad tribute to the show.
The concept of a spinoff featuring Walt Jr. emulating his father contradicts the insights gleaned from Breaking Bad's five seasons and may diminish the integrity of the original series. Despite the potential for future Breaking Bad spinoffs, Gilligan appears disinterested in extending the franchise in this manner, emphasizing the significance of knowing when to bring a story to its rightful conclusion.
The creator of Breaking Bad has no interest in creating a spinoff centered around Walt Jr., and this is a wise decision. The show had five successful seasons and introduced the prequel spinoff, Better Call Saul, which many consider superior to the original series. With season 6 concluding Jimmy McGill's storyline, fans are curious about the future of the Breaking Bad franchise, and a popular suggestion is a spinoff featuring RJ Mitte's character, Walt Jr. However, this concept might be too bleak and Vince Gilligan, the creator, appears to concur.
As the son of the infamous Heisenberg, Walt Jr. was a more sympathetic character than his drug kingpin father in Breaking Bad. The series primarily focused on Walter White's gradual descent into the world of drugs, showcasing how his actions impacted his family. In the finale, Walt Sr. is killed in a meth-lab shootout but leaves behind a substantial trust for his son, which becomes accessible once he reaches 18 years old. Some fans propose that Walt Jr. would use this money to start his own operation. However, this idea contradicts the valuable lessons portrayed throughout Breaking Bad's five seasons.
A Breaking Bad Spinoff Focused On Walt Jr. Would Be Too Sad
In an interview with Variety, Gilligan discussed the idea of Heisenberg Jr. and expressed his lack of interest in it. He stated that it would be a disheartening tribute to the show and preferred to imagine a better future for Walt's family after the death of the drug lord. It can be argued that the best thing Walt Sr. could have done for his son is to ensure his financial success and allow him to forge his own path. While Mitte's character didn't have a particularly happy ending, he was one of the few in Breaking Bad who truly deserved one. Consequently, it is hoped that without the burden of his father's poor choices, Walt Jr. gradually found his way towards a happier life. Bringing him back into the chaos by having him follow in his father's footsteps in a spinoff would be heart-wrenching and potentially tarnish the original series' ending.
Why Another Breaking Bad Spinoff Is Likely
Rarely does a TV series manage to tell an exceptional story without overstaying its welcome, but Gilligan has proven his knack for knowing when to call it quits. Both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul concluded with just the right number of seasons, leaving audiences with a sense of satisfaction. This has generated high hopes among fans that Gilligan will continue the franchise with another spinoff. However, the showrunner seems uninterested, stating, "You just can't keep betting on red 21 repeatedly" (via Variety).
Despite this, with the original series, the perfect spinoff of Better Call Saul, and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, the franchise has introduced several characters whose stories could potentially be continued. If there is enough demand from audiences, it is highly likely that a future Breaking Bad spinoff will be created. Based on the comments from the creator of Breaking Bad, it can be assumed that a series revolving around Walt Jr. is unlikely, but as they say, we never know what the future may hold.
