---
title: "Breaking Bad"
year: 2008
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/breaking-bad-2008"
media_type: "tv"
tmdb_id: 1396
imdb_id: "tt0903747"
status: "Ended"
seasons_count: 5
episodes_count: 62
community_rating: 8.9
vote_count: 18133
content_rating: "TV-MA"
---

# Breaking Bad (2008) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/breaking-bad-2008

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Breaking Bad is an American neo-Western crime drama television series created by Vince Gilligan for AMC. The show is set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The series follows the life of Walter White, an overqualified high school chemistry teacher. After receiving a diagnosis of stage-three lung cancer, White faces a limited life expectancy. Driven by an unrelenting desire to secure his family's financial future, he enters the dangerous world of drugs and crime. He begins producing and selling methamphetamine with a former student. As he navigates this criminal environment, White is filled with a sense of fearlessness. The series features a cast that includes Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, and Dean Norris. The show originally aired from 2008 to 2013. By turning to the manufacturing of illegal substances, the protagonist seeks to provide for his family at any cost while grappling with his terminal prognosis. The narrative explores his transformation as he becomes deeply involved in the drug trade.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A high school chemistry teacher turns to a life of crime after receiving a terminal diagnosis."

### Why Watch
- compelling character transformation
- high-stakes narrative

### Caveats & Content Note
- contains intense themes of crime and drug manufacturing
- Tone & Suitability: The series features mature themes involving drug production and criminal activity.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: tense, gritty, dramatic, suspenseful

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads | None | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads | None | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store |
| **Canada (CA)** | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads | None | Apple TV Store |
| **Australia (AU)** | Stan | None | Apple TV Store, Fetch TV |

## Season Architecture & Lore Primers

### Season 1 (7 Episodes)
Breaking Bad is a television drama series that premiered in 2008. The narrative centers on Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher residing in New Mexico. White’s life undergoes a sudden transformation following a medical diagnosis of Stage III cancer, which leaves him with a prognosis of only two years to live. Faced with this dire situation, White experiences a sense of fearlessness and develops an unrelenting desire to secure his family’s financial future at any cost. To achieve this goal, he enters the dangerous world of drugs and crime. He is aided in this new trade by Jesse Pinkman, a street-savvy former student who helps him navigate the illicit industry. The series explores the consequences of White’s choices as he abandons his previous life to pursue this high-stakes path. The show serves as the foundation for a larger franchise, which eventually expanded to include the spin-off series Better Call Saul and the sequel film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. The original series ran from 2008 until 2013, establishing a complex story of transformation and moral compromise within the criminal underworld.

## Filler vs. Essential Episode Classifier

- **Total Tracked Episodes**: 62
- **Crucial Mytharc Episodes**: 7 (11%)
- **Character Core Episodes**: 55 (89%)
- **Side Quest / Filler Episodes**: 0 (0%)

## Creative Credits

- **Created by**: Vince Gilligan
- **Networks / Studios**: AMC

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Bryan Cranston** as *Walter White*
- **Aaron Paul** as *Jesse Pinkman*
- **Anna Gunn** as *Skyler White*
- **RJ Mitte** as *Walter White Jr.*
- **Dean Norris** as *Hank Schrader*
- **Betsy Brandt** as *Marie Schrader*
- **Bob Odenkirk** as *Saul Goodman*
- **Jonathan Banks** as *Mike Ehrmantraut*
- **Steven Michael Quezada** as *Steven Gomez*
- **Giancarlo Esposito** as *Gus Fring*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Who created the series?
The series was created by Vince Gilligan.

### Q: Where is the show set?
The story is set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

### Q: What is the premise?
A chemistry teacher diagnosed with lung cancer begins manufacturing methamphetamine to secure his family's financial future.

### Q: Who stars in the series?
The cast includes Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, and Dean Norris.

### Q: What genre is the show?
It is an American neo-Western crime drama television series.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Fox News - Breaking News Updates | Latest News Headlines | Photos ...](https://www.foxnews.com/?msockid=3c4d81f836ca66c42c81967a377f679c)
- [Breaking Bad - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_Bad)
- [Breaking News, Latest News and Videos | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/)
- [Breaking Bad (TV Series 2008-2013) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/)
- [Associated Press News: Breaking News, Latest Headlines and Videos | AP News](https://apnews.com/)
- [ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos](https://abcnews.com/)

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*