Leading men share impressions on the ending of the AMC series

Oct 1, 2013 02:11 GMT  ·  By
“Breaking Bad” ending was “a tragedy of almost Shakespearean level,” says actor Bryan Cranston
   “Breaking Bad” ending was “a tragedy of almost Shakespearean level,” says actor Bryan Cranston

“Breaking Bad” proved that we are truly living in a new golden age of television. Going from strength to strength with each new episode, it was a very well thought-out, smart, dark, and witty series. It’s now over, with the series finale airing on AMC last night.

Leading men Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul talked to Entertainment Weekly about the final episode, sharing their impressions on the way writers and series creator Vince Gilligan chose to close the book on Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.

They, just like Gilligan, declared themselves completely happy and satisfied with the ending.

*Those who have not seen season 5 / series finale, are encouraged not to read any further, because major spoilers are included.*

While Gilligan chooses to consider the ending from the perspective of Walter getting his wish, the one that got him started on this very dangerous journey years ago, when he found out he was suffering from terminal cancer (that of leaving money for his family for when he’d be gone), Paul and White opt for the humanity in that last scene in the series: the one where Walter takes a bullet for Jesse.

“There were thoughts I had that maybe Walt will be the only one standing. I love that toward the end, Walt’s there to go on a suicide mission and blow everyone up, including Jesse, but he sees what they have put him through,” Paul tells the publication.

“His hair’s super long, he’s vacant. There’s not a soul in him anymore, and [Walt] decides that he deserves a second chance, so he dives on him. He throws himself in front a bullet for him — and it’s kind of beautiful,” the actor adds.

But, Paul laughs, it’s not like Walter didn’t have it coming for him. If anyone on the series “deserved” to die, that was him because he pretty much ruined the lives of everyone who came in contact with him.

Cranston believes Walt’s journey and the way it ends is a “tragedy of almost Shakespearean level.” He’s not off base at all in saying this, if you think about it.

“Tragedy is not a bunch of bad guys doing bad things: ‘Oh, they killed the good guys!’ Tragedy is when the bad guys are sympathized, when you realize that it could have gone another way,” he explains.

“There was hope for them at one time. Macbeth! Oh! In its truest sense, our story is a tragedy — an American tragedy. It’s not ‘good conquers evil,’ it’s not ‘good guys against the bad guys,’ it’s much muddier than that. Shades of gray,” the actor explains.

Cranston and Paul agree that such a series could not get a better ending than the one it got. What do you think?