Vince Gilligan, the creator of iconic antihero Walter White in “Breaking Bad,” believes it’s time to shift focus from bad guys to inspiring heroes on television. In his acceptance speech for the Writers Guild Award’s top writing honor, Gilligan said he hopes the next generation of hit TV shows will prioritize good characters.
Gilligan credits the success of his own show with cementing the appeal of fictional bad guys, but argues that this trend has sent the wrong message. “When we create characters as indelible as Michael Corleone or Hannibal Lecter, viewers everywhere pay attention,” he said. “They say, ‘Man, those dudes are badass. I want to be that cool.'”
However, Gilligan believes that by making fictional bad guys too appealing, they lose their cautionary role and become aspirational instead. He proposes writing more good guys, citing characters like George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life” as examples of inspiration.
Gilligan acknowledges the allure of writing bad guys but argues that we need more heroes who embody kindness, tolerance, and sacrifice. He drew attention to everyday heroes, such as firefighters and volunteers who risked their lives during recent California wildfires.
The writer’s speech is seen as a call to action for his peers in the industry to create more aspirational characters on TV. By doing so, Gilligan hopes to bring back a sense of inspiration and goodness that has been missing from television storytelling.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/breaking-bad-creator-vince-gilligan-good-guys-walter-white-1236309604