Walter White is the one who knocks, but he might not be knocking on heaven’s door just yet.
Following the “Breaking Bad” finale in 2013, it’d be easy to assume White (Bryan Cranston) was dead, right?
Let’s review the evidence:
In the final episode, we see White remotely fire a machine gun from his car’s trunk into the Neo-Nazi hideout, killing nearly everyone and also apparently injuring himself. He starts bleeding a lot. After telling Lydia (Laura Fraser) over the phone that he poisoned her with ricin and watching Jesse (Aaron Paul) escape, White walks among meth-making equipment and eventually collapses. The final image we’re left with is White, who’s also supposedly already dying of cancer, lying motionless on the ground in blood-soaked clothes as the cops rush in.
To any casual viewer, he’s dead. He’s clearly very dead.
But that’s not enough for theorists.
Since that time, “Breaking Bad” fans have come up with elaborate (and convincing) theories about how White could’ve survived. One idea explained on The Film Theorists YouTube channel even takes into account the height of the car in which White installed the machine gun.
The video determines that White’s injury is not as bad as we thought; and the police, who were right on the scene, likely ensured that he would survive to face trial. The theory also claims that his cancer (surprisingly) could’ve helped his blood clot better, perhaps saving his life.
If you haven’t seen the video, it’s pretty fantastic:
Then, of course, there’s the fact that Bryan Cranston also fed into the speculation, hinting that White may have survived.
“Hey, you never saw bags zip up or anything,” he teased to CNN.
Finally, “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan had a chance to clear things up on Thursday.
Gilligan participated in a Reddit AMA as a way to promote a contest to join him and Bob Odenkirk at the “Better Call Saul” Season 3 premiere, benefiting Geffen Playhouse and Autism Speaks.
During the AMA, Gilligan was asked that one big question: “Is Walter White dead?”
His answer? “Sure looked that way to me.”
Now, to a casual viewer, this might be acceptable. But not to die-hard “Breaking Bad” fans.
“Looking” dead just isn’t good enough.
One fan even pointed out the literal doctor from “Arrested Development” as proof that it was a cagey answer.
Another brought back everyone’s favorite “Westworld” quote.
(Does this mean Walter White is also the Man in Black?)
Is Walter White actually dead?
Gilligan’s answer may be enough for some, but to others the theory is still alive and well.
We’ll see all you truthers on SaveWalterWhite.com.
Before You Go
