Vince Gilligan left nothing to chance. Over the seasons, the Breaking Bad creator and head writer has hidden many characters in his 16 Emmy-winning series — even the total number of episodes it contains.
After it became difficult to sell to the chain, breaking bad It found its place on AMC, where the story of the famous Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a father and chemistry professor who turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine after learning that he has terminal cancer, flourished for seasons. Its phenomenal critical and public success spawned a franchise with the prequel series Better Call Saul and the follow-up film El Camino.
And what did he do? breaking bad Unforgettable, apart from his impeccable acting, is his writing with its themes and symbols. Vince Gilligan He was truly a master in the art of using the most ordinary objects, turning them into uniquely meaningful puzzle pieces. Examples include a pink bear, a fly, and various character outfits. In addition, he took calculated decisions regarding the serial’s name, credits and song selection. Even Walt’s pseudonym, Heisenberg, inspired by the German physicist Werner Heisenberg, informed the story of the central character, a real-life physicist known for his uncertainty principle, which determined Walt’s unpredictable actions throughout the show.
over five seasons, breaking bad A total of 62 episodes were recorded. Of all the seasons, Season 1 was the shortest, with only seven episodes. The next three seasons consisted of 13 episodes each, before the fifth and final season was expanded to 16 episodes, split into two parts. The number 62 may not seem significant, but as screenrant points out, looking at the periodic table of the elements (very related to the series and its imagery), the 62nd element is samarium. Samarium (Sm) is not the most well-known chemical element, but it has been linked to cancer. This may be a coincidence, but given the advanced level of symbolism Vince GilliganThis is unlikely.
Samarium against cancer
In the beginning breaking badWalt learns that he has inoperable lung cancer, giving him only two years to live. Faced with this dire prognosis, he is forced to take desperate measures to find a way to financially support his family after she is gone. By producing methamphetamine with his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), he was able to earn a lot of money, which not only provided a future for his loved ones, but also financed the treatment of his disease.
And it turns out that samarium is a component of the drug Quadramet, which is used to kill cancer cells in people with lung, breast or prostate cancer. Given the specific rarity of Walt’s fate and the importance of the treatment, it’s possible that the show’s creator planned (from the beginning?) to end it at episode 62 for this reason.
always together breaking bad, Walt himself was a personal form of cancer to his family and friends. He destroyed the welfare of others and remained “invincible” for much of the series. Despite some attempts to help him with the trouble he had caused, he refused their efforts – as if the cancer refused to be treated. And in the end, even though Walt was indeed dying at the end of the series after his illness returned, it was the gunshot wound that really killed him. And all this after destroying the lives of those around him while trying to redeem his financial means.
Coincidence or not? We will give you a decision. However, we must admit that the detail is quite important…
Breaking Bad can be watched in its entirety on Netflix.
Check out other highlights from the series in the video below:
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
