Vince Gilligan Calls for More Good Guys as Bad Guys Dominate Our Screens

by

A writer from “Breaking Bad” believes it’s high time for more virtuous characters, as real-life villains seem to be thriving. The attraction towards, or at least empathy for, antagonists has grown significantly, with figures like Deadpool, Tony Soprano, Rick Sanchez, and BoJack Horseman gaining widespread popularity despite their harmful actions and negative traits. However, no series portrays the antihero quite as masterfully as AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” starring Bryan Cranston as a high school teacher turned methamphetamine cook grappling with his cancer diagnosis and haunting regrets from his past. Love him or loathe him, Walter White stands as an exemplary modern antihero.

Currently, the writer behind the hit series “Breaking Bad”, Vince Gilligan, has openly shared his thoughts about his most memorable, yet complex character. At the Writers Guild Awards, where he received the prestigious Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, Gilligan chose to express his political views. As reported by Variety, he advocated for more stories focusing on virtuous characters.

Walter White is certainly an unforgettable antagonist, but if given a choice, I’d prefer to be admired for creating a character more uplifting. In 2025, it’s high time we acknowledge this preference, as our world seems filled with real-life villains who are wreaking havoc.

These aren’t your typical villains, they set their own rules and, despite what they might claim, act in their own self-interest. Who is it that I’m referring to? Well, given we’re in Hollywood, let’s just say you can probably guess.

Anti-Heroes Continue to Add Fuel to the Raging Fire

It’s particularly comforting to hear the voice of the mastermind behind television’s most adored roster of antiheroes express worry about the impact his series has had. Many viewers found Walter White an inspiring figure after watching, but Gilligan made it clear in his speech that he believes his cautionary tale has become more perilous than anticipated. He even urged writers to bring the virtuous characters back into the spotlight again.

It seems to me that when we craft characters as iconic as Michael Corleone, Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader, or Tony Soprano, people everywhere, regardless of where they live, take notice. They remark, ‘Wow, those guys are cool. I want to be like them.’ Unfortunately, these fictional villains have moved beyond their intended role as cautionary tales. In a concerning twist, they’ve become role models. Perhaps what the world needs now are strong, traditional heroes from the Greatest Generation who give more than they take. These individuals understand that qualities like kindness, understanding, and self-sacrifice aren’t just for the weak.

Watching Walter White struggle and inflict harm throughout five seasons can be incredibly frustrating, especially since it appears many viewers are siding with and applauding a drug dealer. The show’s depiction of drugs was just as authentic as its portrayal of the discomfort and pitfalls associated with problematic masculinity—the kind that prevented Walter from seeking help during his cancer treatment. It seems that the transformation of an ex-high school teacher into a gun-toting outlaw has made him an aspirational figure for some. Creator Vince Gilligan’s call for more good guys could potentially influence the kinds of heroes audiences find inspiring in the future, possibly steering stories away from antiheroes. With so many real-life bad guys around us already, wouldn’t it be nice to see more positive role models on screen?

Read More

2025-02-18 18:03