I’m all the time astounded by the method of writers who’re capable of carry their visions to life on the massive and small display screen. The most effective all-time is Vince Gilligan, who took an thought about an antihero and introduced Breaking Dangerous to us.
At the moment, I need to dig right into a video detailing how Gilligan introduced the present to life.
Let’s dive in.
How Vince Gilligan Wrote ‘Breaking Dangerous’
I like compilation movies like this one as a result of they form of distill the entire course of down. Gilligan’s preliminary idea for this present was so easy: take man and have him do horrible issues to save lots of his household.
He began with that concept and constructed it outward from there.
The thought was to make Walter White a “bland, milquetoast” chemistry instructor, after which determine find out how to rework him right into a “Scarface.”
In TV, you may have seasons to do all that, however it’s a must to lay out the layers of the particular person after which begin to choose them aside.
To try this, they principally confirmed Walter’s ego early on. An essential twist was him refusing monetary assist for his most cancers therapy and as an alternative selecting to proceed cooking meth.
This choice, Gilligan explains, revealed that Walt’s motivations weren’t purely altruistic; he was doing it for himself, even when he was saying out loud it was for his household.
This quest for energy and management fueled the following 5 seasons.
The Writers’ Room
The magic of Breaking Dangerous was born within the writers’ room, the place a staff of gifted people would spend hours dissecting the story and dealing collectively to verify the perfect concepts hit the display screen.
TV is so collaborative in that means, and that is what I like about working in rooms. You get a bunch of individuals with completely different life experiences to contribute to this one nice entire.
They used a corkboard, index playing cards, and Sharpie markers to map out every plot level, continuously asking, “The place’s Walt at?” to make sure the characters’ motivations drove the narrative.
Clearly, plot mattered lots, however nothing may have occurred with out understanding the way it affected Walt and the opposite characters.
This character-centric method allowed the story to evolve organically, resulting in among the most stunning and memorable moments in tv historical past.
And a complete episode chasing a fly.
The Attraction of the Antihero
Gilligan believes that nobody sees themselves because the “unhealthy man,” and Walter White is a chief instance of this concept.
He is a grasp of self-delusion, convincing himself that he is supplier whilst he descends deeper into the felony underworld.
Walter desires the individuals in his life to see him that means, and to bend to his will. Even when his son is lauding him and preventing together with his spouse, Walter cannot see that he’s the explanation that is all taking place.
It is this complexity and vulnerability that make Walter White such a compelling character and a logo of somebody who lives exterior the principles of society.
Summing It All Up
Breaking Dangerous is without doubt one of the finest TV reveals of all time, and it created characters that may stick to us perpetually.
I’m excited for no matter Vince Gilligan brings to the display screen subsequent, and I’m so blissful to look at these reveals and to be impressed alone writing journey.
Let me know what you assume within the feedback.
