Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for the show Breaking Bad.
Breaking Bad is being brought back — now as a movie. After almost six years since the show’s finale aired on AMC, tying up most of the storyline knots and bringing the Heisenberg era to an end, the infamous story will return to follow the footsteps of Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul). It has been revealed by Netflix on Saturday that El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie is set to be released on October 11th.
Netflix has provided a brief plot summary, stating: “In the wake of his dramatic escape from captivity, Jesse must come to terms with his past in order to forge some kind of future.” The teaser trailer also does not deliver any hints to the main action of the plot: being a mere minute long, it showcases one of Pinkman’s friends, Skinny Pete (Charles Baker) being questioned by the DEA. On the wall hang photos of the deceased Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) and Steven Gomez (Steven Michael Quezada).
Fans are excited — their favourite show is receiving a sequel, featuring one of the most charismatic characters. Reception to the trailer has been mostly positive, as everyone took to Twitter and the comment section under the teaser trailer to show their enthusiasm. The teaser trailer has whetted the fans’ appetites, the amount of which has been growing progressively ever since the show first premiered over ten years ago.
As a Breaking bad fan October 11 is going to be a glorious day
— Arnold (@ABasaJJ) August 25, 2019
However, some are worried about what the movie will be able to add to the already-completed story. Given the fact that a lot of the characters that have been pivotal to the show are dead, such as Walter White or Hank Schrader or even Mike, it is uncertain whether Pinkman will be able to carry the whole movie on his back. Although he is a charismatic character, he is still a sidekick type nonetheless — it would feel rather inorganic for him to become the main one.
#BreakingBadMovie #ElCamino has to reach the level of TV series #BreakingBad, I don't want it to go the same way #GameOfThrones did 🤦♀️
— 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐢 (@ranbirvinita) August 25, 2019
Others are afraid the movie will rid the show of the ambiguity that the finale created. Considering the fact that the show was not intended to be continued, it is debatable whether the shaky foundations that it provides for a movie will be good enough to craft a picture that will satisfy fans of Breaking Bad. The show finale is considered to be one of the best in TV show history, so is it worth to touch it by creating a movie at a risk of only making things worse?
Video-essayist Karsten Ranquist has stated about the movie: “I am someone who loves a perfect mix of ambiguity and satisfying wrap-up, which is exactly what the final episode of Breaking Bad was. [Writer of the show] Gilligan left us with so few questions that felt unanswered, but left us one giant idea to think about and discuss for years to come — what happened to Jesse?”
“What happened to Jesse?” has been a question plaguing numerous viewers after completing Breaking Bad. The movie will answer this. Image Source: AMC.
In an interview, Aaron Paul stated: “It’s a chapter of Breaking Bad that I didn’t realize that I wanted and now that I have it, I’m so happy that it’s there.” Perhaps, viewers should not doubt the mastery of Vince Gilligan, writer of Breaking Bad who will write and direct El Camino, and trust him to create a well-crafted continuation to the cult TV show. After all, if he has full control over the creative process, nothing should go wrong. Paul says, “All I can say, I think people will be really happy with what they see.”
Whether it is to bring back the attention to the TV show, or to salvage the possibility of earning even more money, the film surely evokes some nostalgia. With a little more than forty days left until El Camino and 62 episodes of Breaking Bad, it is probably time to rewatch the show and brace oneself for what Gilligan has to offer.
Featured Image via AMC
