While it might seem like Heisenberg emerged as Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul characters made the show uniquely memorable, the undisputed star of the series was Bryan Cranston’s Walter White. The unassuming high school science teacher who became a murderous meth kingpin after a cancer diagnosis, Walt was a character built on contradictions. A loving family man, he was also a cold, calculated killer.
While Walter White’s wildest Breaking Bad lies might have been outrageous, the ease with which he misled his wife, his son, and everyone in his personal life proves just how little his superficially harmless personality gave away about his real self. There is an argument to be made that Heisenberg, the bombastic drug dealer persona he builds for himself, is a more accurate reflection of Walt’s personality than the sweet Walter White. The evidence that Heisenberg's roots run deep can be found in one underrated scene from season 3, episode 13, “Full Measure.”
Walter White Was Always Ambitious And Selfish (And This Flashback Proves It)
Walt’s Early Married Life Highlighted His Covetous Attitude
In a brief flashback to Walt and Skyler’s earlier life, the pair tour an open house and debate its merits. While Skyler is confident that she has found the best starter home within the family’s budget, Walt is full of complaints. These issues all stem from the same problem, with Walt noting that the “Backyard could be a little bigger,” saying “I think we’re gonna need at least five” bedrooms while the house has only three, and “I think we need to set our sights high.”
Finally, Walt concludes by telling Skyler “I don’t think this is gonna be enough.” While the line is only a small moment, it quietly sets up the real reason viewers stopped loving Breaking Bad’s Walter White. As Walt asks Skyler “Why be cautious?” the arrogance and unfeeling ambition that define his time as Heisenberg come to the surface. Walt is ultimately always interested in getting more, no matter what the cost, which eventually proves his downfall.
Walter White Didn’t “Became Heisenberg,” He Was Always Like That
Walter White’s Fatal Flaw Was Always A Part of Him
Given countless chances to cash out of his drug empire and walk away from the entire business scot-free, Walter White always chooses to take another, bigger risk at every turn. The reason Cranston’s beleaguered everyman does this is that he constantly believes that what he has isn’t enough, and he is owed more. The same mindset that led Walt to want five bedrooms when his first child wasn’t even born yet led him to double down on his drug empire after killing almost all of his associates and narrowly avoiding detection by the DEA.
It may be hard to , but Walt could have cashed out at various points throughout ’s five seasons. The reason he didn’t is that he was never satisfied with his portion of the take. Whether it was paying Jesse, splitting his profits with Gus, or hiring Mike and Saul for their expertise, Walt always felt cheated when he worked with collaborators and colleagues. His single-minded ambition created the Heisenberg persona and, by extension, eventually led to Breaking Bad’s tragic, inevitable ending.
Breaking Bad
- Release Date
- 2008 - 2013-00-00
- Network
- AMC
- Showrunner
- Vince Gilligan
Cast
Walter White
Jesse Pinkman
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Vince Gilligan, Michelle Maclaren
- Writers
- Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, Vince Gilligan, George Mastras, Moira Walley-Beckett, Sam Catlin, Thomas Schnauz
- Franchise(s)
- Breaking Bad
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