The Walking Dead a sequel to Breaking Bad? Strangely plausible theory surfaces
Ladies and gentlemen - The Breaking Dead Theory
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.If you thought the only thing Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead shared was a US network (AMC), then perhaps it’s time to realign that view.
A new theory from Netflix has surfaced suggesting that Vince Gilligan’s acclaimed drama is set in the same universe as the zombie series – going so far as to suggest that Walter White’s crystal meth Blue Sky was what caused the walker outbreak.
Still with us? Okay, hear them out.
The theory is split into four facts, two of which are interlinked fairly heavily. Fundamentally, it suggests that original Walking Dead character Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker) bought some Blue Sky – which we see with our own eyes in season 1 episode, ‘Guts.’ Later, Merle’s brother Daryl (Norman Reedus) shares the anecdote of the drug deal with Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) – with the dealer apparently threatening: “I’m going to kill you, bitch.”
Could Breaking Bad‘s very own Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) have sold Heisenberg’s Blue Sky to the Dixon brothers?
Another fact the theory hammers home relates to the car Walt buys Walt Jr (RJ Mitte) in Breaking Bad season 4 which is near-identical to the one driven by a fresh-faced Glenn (Steven Yeun) back in The Walking Dead season one (they both have two black stripes on the front). Evidence supporting the theory doesn’t stop there: when Skylar (Anna Gunn) orders Walt to take the car back, he brings it to ‘Glenn’s Car Lot.’ Yeah, really.
This aspect of the theory can be debunked, however, considering it hangs on Glenn being a car salesman before the pandemic; he was a pizza delivery boy. Saying that, perhaps Glenn Sr could have owned the lot?
But the question remains: why would Walt’s meth have caused the outbreak? The theory isn’t so sure why instead suggesting that the very first walker was Gus Fring himself (assuming he dabbled with the substance off-screen).
Just look at him post-explosion.
They know they’re pushing it: ‘This theory is absolutely a stretch because it requires us to invent moments, motives and scenes we didn’t see on screen to make it plausible.” Despite its “impressive connections,” they rate it 5/10 on believability but 9/10 on entertainment – which sounds about right.
It should not be overlooked that there are some striking connections, though – perhaps this were just intended as fun easter eggs by The Walking Dead‘s then-showrunner Frank Darabont?
But if not, could we see Jesse soon knocking on the walls of Alexandria? Or Walt Jr show up as one of the Whisperers? Maybe we’ll even see the outbreak through the eyes of Saul Goodman in the Better Call Saul flashforwards.
Then again, maybe not.
The Walking Dead season 9 continues in the US every Sunday with its UK premiere arriving the following evening on FOX.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments