Movies News Talk
Though series producer Vince Gilligan investigated several possible endings before deciding on the one we know, Breaking Bad's last episode, "Felina," gave Walter White's journey an unforgettable ending. This essay explores the several paths the show might have followed, looking at the opportunities and the reasons Gilligan finally decided on the course he did.
Gilligan first imagined Walt's last act using the M60 machine gun in an action-packed, "Rambo-esque" manner. Walt was supposed to unleash a bullet rain upon Jack Welker's neo-Nazi compound, transforming him into an unbeatable hero. But given Walter's cancer and the grounded tone of the show, the writers felt this was too unrealistic and finally decided on a more strategic, "MacGyveresque" solution.
Walter turning into a Jesse James-like character was another fascinating alternate ending. The authors imagined a situation whereby Walt came upon police while on escape, leading to a deadly standoff with the M60. Though the team finally felt it was too predictable and didn't fit the story, the show's neo-Western components made this a tempting path.
Jesse Pinkman's fate might have been different in a third alternate ending. Rather than being held captive by the neo-Nazis, the writers looked at Jesse's potential incarceration. In this case, Walt would have staged a jailbreak, wreaking havoc with the M60 to release his former partner. Even talking about aiming a prison bus adds still another level of action to the scene.
Skyler White's fate was likewise open to several ends. Gilligan and his colleagues thought about having Skyler flee with Ed Galbraith, the "Disappearer," or perhaps join Walt after Ed created fresh identities for the two. The writers battled to come up with a reasonable justification for Walt Jr.'s participation in this scenario, though. The authors instead looked at a darker turn whereby Walt and Skyler found themselves imprisoned in a motel room. Walt would sadly kill Skyler since he reassured her everything would be okay.
Talks about eradicating Saul Goodman surfaced during the finale's development. Gilligan confirmed that everything was "fair game," even though no details on how this would happen or who would be accountable were disclosed. The spin-off series, Better Call Saul, depends on Saul's survival ultimately. But since his death was a prelude to Breaking Bad, the general story of the show would not have been much changed.
Gilligan also revealed that the creators thought of a startling ending whereby Walt and every significant character in Breaking Bad would die. Considered as a "Wild Bunch bloodbath," this grim situation was discussed during a dark week of writing but the team finally decided it wouldn't be interesting for viewers.
Likewise, the authors considered a scenario whereby Walt was the only survivor, his family and colleagues dead. Gilligan thought this ending "very much a kick-in- the-teeth kind of ending," although it would have been quite dramatic.
Jesse Pinkman killing Walt following the neo-fascist compound attack was another avenue under investigation. Although Jesse did exact revenge by strangling Todd, the writers felt this action met his need for retribution. Jesse's destiny ultimately rested in the sequel movie El Camino, where he flees and starts over in Alaska.
Though there are many other endings discussed, most people agree that Breaking Bad's chosen ending is ideal. It's evidence of the show's writing that the finale left a lasting impression on TV history and pleased viewers and critics at the same time. While also noting the effects of Walt's activities on his family, the ending offers a pleasing resolution to his path.
The success of Breaking Bad transcends its last episode. Better Call Saul and El Camino, two of its spin-offs, offer more understanding of the events and people that molded the universe of the show. Although these spin-offs add more layers to the narrative, the original Breaking Bad finale is still a fulfilling ending that will stay with viewers today in a complicated and unforgettable manner.