Breaking Bad is a popular TV show with a huge fan base. And this fan base comes with a ton of conspiracy theories about the making of the show. One such theory is that the show is based on a true story, but is that really true?
Despite the many comparable events that have happened in real life, Breaking Bad is not actually based on a true story or character. It is a fictitious show resulting from a lighthearted conversation that the creator was having with their colleague.
Keep reading below to find out more about the origins of Breaking Bad.
Is Breaking Bad Based on a True Story?
Despite its extensive study and use of genuine science and technology, Breaking Bad is a fictitious show; no real people or events inspired the show’s plot.
Vince Gilligan, the show’s creator, claims that he and fellow X-Files alum Tom Schnauz had a lighthearted talk about finding new work in the years after the series ended.
In the narrative that is usually heard, Tom jokingly suggests they stop looking for writing jobs and instead drive around the country in a recreational vehicle while manufacturing meth.
Vince presented this concept to Tom as a proposal for a TV show, and Tom gave Vince the green light to pursue it. Within a few short months of this talk, both Vince and Tom had secured stable employment, proving that their worries were unfounded.
Comparable Events
Although “Breaking Bad” is a piece of fiction, it has been likened to real-life occurrences. For some, the show served as an inspiration, while for others, criminal activity was inevitable.
In a bizarre turn of events, there is a man named Walter White who is involved in the methamphetamine industry, despite the fact that the events in his story have no relation to the AMC series.
As part of their documentary series titled “The Real,” Vice investigated his life as a criminal and his subsequent time spent in rehabilitation.
The substance was responsible for thousands of dollars in daily income for the Alabama native, enough to get him in legal trouble and ultimately lead him to a religiously-based rehabilitation facility.
He then broke the terms of his probation and received a 12-year prison term.
There are many more whose lives are similar to this TV show, apart from the genuine White. Bradley Allen Rowland may not have had the same name as the fictional high school instructor Walter, but he probably would have made him proud.
The lecturer at Henderson State University followed in the footsteps of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White and started making meth. He accidentally let vapors seep into a school building, prompting an investigation that resulted in a $150,000 settlement with the university and his participation in a substance use rehabilitation program.
More investigation into the drug’s background indicates that Gilligan didn’t just come up with the concept out of thin air. Those who understand the chemistry behind producing stimulants have been experimenting with new formulas since the dawn of mankind.
Meth, crank, and speed all have their origins in 1893, when a Japanese chemist developed the drug to treat narcolepsy, asthma, and other conditions, as well as as a means of rapid weight loss due to suppressed appetite.
Although a second Japanese scientist refined the production method in 1919, meth was really given to Allied forces during World War II to keep them alert and ready to fight. In 1970, when drug use had gotten out of hand, the United States and the FDA finally outlawed it.
Reality check: None of us needed to watch Narcos to learn that narcotic crops like heroin and opium have been farmed in South America for generations.
The popularity of Miami Vice in the 1980s did not lead to the simultaneous invention of cocaine and dapper drug lords. The chemical has always existed and has been used for a very long time.
Vince Gilligan might or might not have realized that the plot of the television series was lifted directly from the news, but logic and common sense demand that he was at least partially mindful that it is not a big step to go from understanding how to manufacture the substance as a teacher to starting to market it as a side hustle.
The tricky part is finding your own personal Jesse Pinkman to match supply with demand.
What Makes Breaking Bad Unrealistic?
The idea that the blue meth Walter White sells is a 98% genuine, superior substance that gives him special rights is at odds with reality. This expensive item is the main plot device for most of the show, especially its more unbelievable scenes.
However, the blue food coloring is mainly a marketing ploy, as the product’s appeal to tweakers and speed freaks is unlikely to be significant.
Methamphetamine only comes in two isomers, L and D, where the L-isomer has no psychotropic effects, and the D-isomer has profound ones.
Meth is particularly dangerous since a small amount can provide a high that lasts for hours, and it is extremely cheap in comparison to other street narcotics.
That’s why a few extra puffs of snorting or smoking can make up for a less pure product. When intoxicated, the consumer is unlikely to notice even slight changes in purity; thus, even a total cut can fool them.
The improvement in purity of Walter White’s product is rather small, from 70% to 98%. Not much will change other than the fact that the user will snort 35 milligrams of blue meth instead of 50 milligrams of the old meth.
Alternatively, the user may snort fewer than 10 bumps over a period of 6 hours. This will be barely perceptible, especially considering how high they will be.
Conclusion
While Breaking Bad is so realistic that you might think it must have had to come from a real story, it really did not. But this doesn’t stop it from becoming a favorite among many worldwide viewers.
