Writer and creator of Breaking Bad, Vince Gilligan, received the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement at the Writers Guild Awards. In his acceptance speech, he warned that writers need to create more inspiring characters, not just villains. He believes that making fictional bad guys appealing can have negative consequences, such as romanticizing them and encouraging real-life aggression. Gilligan proposed that writers focus on creating positive role models like those from past generations, which can inspire kindness and generosity. The idea is to make characters like George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life or Andy Taylor from Mayberry, who embody values of compassion and community, more prominent in storytelling.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/vince-gilligan-writers-villain-stories-political-climate-walter-white-1236137964