
Breaking Bad Was Nearly Canceled After Season 3—Here’s How Netflix Saved Walter White’s Legacy
Netflix performed a key position in holding Breaking Bad alive. What many individuals don’t know is that the collection practically ended with season 3 . The shut name may have erased all the pieces that got here after, together with Walt’s full descent into Heisenberg, Jesse’s evolution and even spinoffs like Higher Name Saul and El Camino.
Breaking Bad’s Low Viewership Nearly Killed the Sequence
When Breaking Bad started in early 2008, it didn’t precisely dominate in rankings. AMC took an opportunity on Vince Gilligan’s story a few chemistry instructor turned drug maker, however it was removed from successful out of the gate. Gilligan had a tough time even getting the present made within the first place. The concept of a suburban science instructor turning right into a meth kingpin wasn’t precisely what networks have been chasing on the time. Even after AMC agreed, issues adopted.
The primary season acquired chopped all the way down to seven episodes due to the writers’ strike and paradoxically, that disruption might have saved the present.
12 yrs in the past in the present day, Breaking Bad
“Say My Identify” pic.twitter.com/5ZMFzO5FsV— Saul Goodman ⚖ (@itsSaulGoodman) August 26, 2024
Season 3 Marked a Main Turning Level in Breaking Bad
The tone acquired darker because the story moved into season 3. Walt had allied himself with Gus Fring and Skyler found the meth enterprise. Saul Goodman and Mike Ehrmantraut emerged as massive elements of the present and it was a big tipping level in additional than simply tone and character focus.
Nonetheless, AMC nonetheless had doubts. The community instructed Gilligan round 2010 that season 3 is likely to be the top and Sony, which distributed the present, didn’t wait to see what occurred subsequent. They started pitching it to different networks, and FX, which had beforehand handed on the collection, confirmed sudden curiosity.
Effectively! That modified all the pieces. As soon as AMC realized different networks have been able to seize it, they renewed the present for season 4. Even so, momentum alone wasn’t sufficient. What actually pushed Breaking Bad to the subsequent degree was streaming.
Breaking Bad “Ozymandias”
Performing. Music. Writing. Every thing. 10/10 pic.twitter.com/p8mhsJVQDD— Saul Goodman ⚖ (@itsSaulGoodman) June 4, 2025
Netflix Streaming Deal Modified Every thing
In accordance with Screenrant, Sony struck a take care of Netflix following the near-cancellation speak. The primary three seasons have been added to the platform earlier than season 4 arrived and that transfer reworked the present’s future. Individuals who had missed it on cable lastly had an opportunity to catch up and lots of truly did. With the discharge of season 5, viewership had practically doubled as a result of Netflix turned the collection from a extremely praised one to a worldwide phenomenon.
the breaking dangerous ending caught the touchdown completely. one of many best finales in television historical past.
pic.twitter.com/x4FpAvfsRh— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) May 19, 2025
The fifth season may not have come to fruition with out that increase. Walter White’s journey wouldn’t have reached its brutal finish, Jesse’s closing escape wouldn’t have been instructed, and the world of Higher Name Saul might need remained unexplored.
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