Update: Hitfix’s Alan Sepinwall is reporting via Twitter that Aaron Paul jumped the gun. AMC will not confirm this date, and an official announcement is unlikely for some time. So take with a grain of salt for now.
Hank Schrader’s über-revealing, seemingly never-ending shit will finally come to an end on Sunday, July 14. That’s the date AMC’s Breaking Bad — CHUD’s pick for the best show on TV — will begin airing the second half of its fifth and final season, according to Jesse himself, Aaron Paul. Only eight episodes remain, so, by my math, that means Sept. 1 will be the date we’ll all watch the last episode and then come running to the forums here to cry about how it’s over and attempt to console each other.
While we wait for the final batch of episodes to begin, here’s something to stew over. Back when AMC originally announced that Breaking Bad would conclude with a 16-episode final season split into two parts, most assumed series creator Vince Gilligan was getting to end his series on his own terms. Gilligan has said all along that he didn’t think the show could support more than four or five seasons anyway. However, on the night AMC announced that Glen Mazzara would be stepping down as the showrunner of The Walking Dead, writer/producer Shawn Ryan (The Shield, Last Resort) took to Twitter to trash the network. In his rants, he claimed that it was “common knowledge” that Gilligan wanted more time to wrap up the show but that AMC low-balled him down to the 16 episodes we’re getting. So, yeah … that pretty much sucks, huh?
Source: Aaron Paul’s Twitter feed, BITCH
Follow Bob on Twitter: @robertbtaylor
7 comments
Seems less like a split season now.
I always hate when they do this “Season X, Part X” bullshit. I mean, these last 8 episodes felt more like a full season than even the FIRST season did, which itself was only 6 or 7 episodes, wasn’t it? When they split up a season of “Walking Dead”, that feels more natural, as they’re mid-storyline and there’s only a couple of months between sections, not unlike a mid-season holiday hiatus like normal shows get. Meanwhile, “Breaking Bad” is coming back at the same time it did last year, and the game has DEFINITELY changed.
It’s often a contractual thing. You decide to promote each group of eight episodes as separate seasons and suddenly you owe Bryan Cranston more money.
Season 1 was never intended to be 7 eps. That happened because of the writer’s strike. That is why Tuco’s storyline is resolved in the first three eps of season 2, because that is actually the end of season 1. Season 2 actually begins with “Down” and is really only 10 episodes long.
Season 5.1 of Breaking Bad has felt a couple episodes shy and rushed all along. 10 episodes would have allowed the breathing room for these stories and characters this season that are most consistent with previous seasons. If Ryan is right and AMC screwed Gilligan, I supposed we’ll hear about it after this show is done and Gilligan has moved on to other things.
I hadn’t thought of that, but I guess it does make perfect sense, as I’ve heard that problem arise when it comes to films being split. If you were told it was going to be one movie, and you were paid for one movie, you’re going to be pissed when they decide “Nah, we’ll break it up into two and release them separately” if you were contracted for one film. I suppose splitting up episodes and then saying they’re two different seasons now would cause similar headaches. Thanks for clarifying!
I’m betting the July 14th premiere date will still prove to be accurate. The show premiered on Sunday, July 15th last year; debuting the back eight the same week makes sense.
Although this is AMC, so they’ll probably reschedule it out of spite, try to sue Paul for breach of contract and air a two-hour installment of The Killing that date instead.
Or worse, a “Comic Book Men” marathon.
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