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One of the most critically acclaimed shows of all time, Breaking Bad, has been ruling the hearts of audiences ever since the first episode aired in 2008. Created by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad follows a modest chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime and drugs to support his family and pay for his cancer treatment. This road takes him down a dark path of betrayals, violence, and death, turning him into a vile version of himself.
The Breaking Bad fandom has been following the show religiously for the past 16 years and would know every detail related to it. However, there are a few things about the show that may come as a surprise to fans.
Surprising Breaking Bad facts that fans need to know
1) It's just candy
The blue stuff Walter White cooks up, along with his business partner, Jesse, gains notoriety due to its distinctive color and purity. However, Bryan Cranston revealed that the prop used during filming is a rock candy that he and co-star Aron Paul used to snack on in between takes.
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In an interview with First We Feast on YouTube, Sean Evans Cranston had this to say:
"TV methamphetamine, the way we made it with a little blue tint, is actually rock candy, and the flavor was cotton candy rock candy."
2) Mike's introduction
Introduced in Breaking Bad season 2, Mike Ehrmantraut, a former Marine Corps veteran and skilled hitman, quickly became a fan favorite for his no-nonsense attitude and bad*ss nature. However, most fans are unaware that Mike Ehrmantraut was not initially in the script.
The character was created as a substitute for Saul Goodman's character, as Bob Odenkirk (the actor who portrayed Saul) was unavailable to film for the second season finale. Jonathan Banks, the actor who played the role of Mike, thought that his character would only appear for one episode but ended up appearing in all the subsequent seasons.
3) Jesse's favorite word
Jesse Pinkman, everyone's favorite drug dealer, is known for his colorful language in the show. However, the B word is his signature way to punctuate a sentence.
Over the years, the word has defined his character and garnered a place in meme culture. Throughout the show, Jesse has uttered the word 54 times. Some fans might find that number surprisingly low, considering how much emphasis the fans put on that aspect of Jesse's character.
4) Breaking Bad made Albuquerque famous
The city of Albuquerque was probably a blip on the map before Breaking Bad came around. However, after the show's popularity, tourists have been flocking to the city. This popularity has naturally boosted the economy and has benefitted local businesses.
Owners of a home used as a shoot location in the show have turned their property into an Airbnb to give fans an unparalleled experience. The local attractions include a taco restaurant that served as the shooting location for Los Pollos Hermanos, Gustavo Fring's base of operations.
5) The Pizza shot was filmed in a single take
Fans of the show are aware of the iconic scene in season 3 where Walter White brings a pizza to share with his family. But when his wife, Skyler, refuses to let him into the house, Walt throws the pizza in frustration, which lands on the roof.
Surprisingly, in a 2012 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Bryan Cranston claimed the entire shot was taken in a single take, even though the production team had set aside hours for that shot.
Keen viewers of the show concluded that this could only be accomplished with an unsliced pizza which, was the exact type used for this shot. The in-universe explanation for the unsliced pizza was given by Badger during a house party scene in season 4:
"That's the gimmick … they don't cut the pizza and they pass the savings on to you."
6) Bryan Cranston wasn't the first choice
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul's iconic performances as their respective characters are one of the reasons behind the show's popularity. However, Cranston was interestingly not the first choice in the minds of the executives at AMC. They could not get past his comedic image after doing shows like Malcom in the Middle and were unsure whether he could perform such a dark role.
The role was initially offered to John Kusack and Mathew Broderick, both of whom passed on the opportunity. Vince Gilligan, the show's creator, pulled for Bryan, and he ended up with a career-defining role.
7) The website is real
In the second season, Walter White's son, Walt Jr., created a website to raise funds for his father's cancer treatment. The website was one of the catalysts that began White's descent into becoming a full-time drug lord, as he was unwilling to accept help through charity.
The website is still live and features the donate button, which previously led to a charity page for cancer patients when clicked. Now, the website leads to AMC's homepage.
More than a decade later, since its last episode aired, people continue to observe new things and interesting facts about Breaking Bad. This dedication from fans is a testament to the show's quality and the love and attention that went into creating it.
Breaking Bad was also followed by another critically acclaimed show, Better Call Saul. The show was meant to be a prequel that portrayed the past life of Saul Goodman. However, the show also ended up trailing his life after the events of Breaking Bad. Due to the nature of portraying past and present events simultaneously, Better Call Saul became both a prequel and sequel.
