Breaking Bad writer Vince Gilligan

thinks it’s time for more good guys as “bad guys, the real life kind, are running amok.” Rooting for, or simply sympathizing with, the bad guy has become increasingly popular, with characters like Deadpool, Tony Soprano, Rick Sanchez, and BoJack Horseman becoming household favorites despite their destructive tendencies and overall “bad guy” behavior. But no show does the antihero quite like AMC’s Breaking Bad, which features Bryan Cranston as a high school teacher turned meth cooker struggling to accept his cancer diagnosis and overwhelming regrets about his past. Whether you love him or hate him, Walter White is the ultimate modern antihero.
Now, Breaking Bad writer Vince Gilligan has revealed his feelings about his most iconic, and most problematic, character. In his acceptance speech for the Writers Guild Award’s top writing honor, the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, Gilligan decided to “go political,” according to Variety, and called for more stories led by good guys.

“Walter White is one of the all time great bad guys, but all things being equal, I think we I’d rather be celebrated for creating someone a bit more inspiring. In 2025 it’s time to say that out loud, because we are living in an era where bad guys, the real life kind, are running amok. Bad guys who make their own rules, bad guys who, no matter what they tell you, are really out for themselves. Who am I talking about? Well, this is Hollywood, so guess.”

Anti-Heroes Continue to Add Fuel to the Raging Fire

There’s nothing more reassuring than the sound of the creator of TV’s most beloved cast of antiheroes expressing concern for the phenomenon his show contributed to. Many fans of the selfish and insecure character walked away thinking Walter White was someone to aspire to be, but Gilligan set the record straight in his speech. He also expressed that he felt his cautionary tale had turned more dangerous than expected​​​​​, calling upon writers to let the good guys shine again.

“I really think that, when we create characters as indelible as Michael Corleone or Hannibal Lecter or Darth Vader or Tony Soprano, viewers everywhere, all around the world, they pay attention. They say, ‘Man, those dudes are badass. I want to be that cool.’ When that happens, fictional bad guys stop being the cautionary player that they were created to be. God help us, they’ve become aspirational. So maybe what the world needs now are some good, old fashioned, Greatest Generation types who give more than they take. Who think that kindness, tolerance and sacrifice aren’t strictly for chumps.”

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As frustrating as it is watching a character like Walter White flounder and cause harm for five seasons, it’s even more frustrating to watch audiences side with and praise the meth dealer. The show’s portrayal of drugs was as realistic as its portrayal of the awkwardness and pitfalls of toxic masculinity, the kind that kept Walter from being able to accept help in his cancer treatment. However, it seems like seeing the ex-high school teacher turn into a gun-wielding badass is enough to make him an aspirational figure. Gilligan’s plea for more good guys could actually change what kinds of heroes audiences will be inspired by in the future, and perhaps shift stories away from the bad guys. After all, don’t we have enough of them in real-life right now?