How BREAKING BAD Cleverly Hides Religious Symbolism in Every Season

Breaking Bad is a show filled with layered symbolism. Even the color of someone's shirt is loaded with hidden meaning. But did you know that the show is secretly about creator Vince Gillgan's religious faith? Gilligan was raised Catholic, and his beliefs permeate every corner of the show.

The characters' names, the inversion of scripture, and even methylamine have a direct symbolic relationship to Biblical events.

Written by Ryan Arey and Jose Santana
Edited by Antonio Polito

Works Cited:

#BreakingBad #VideoEssay #ReligiousSymbolism

[martontinkovay]

Breaking bad has the most symbolism I have ever seen in a series.

[koray]

I watched Breaking Bad 6 times, I never thought of that... I might need to rewatch it

[ettena]

All the characters who made a deal with the "devil" either ended up ruining their life or dead. Nothing Walt did came without a price. Even when Jessie begged him to stop "working him" and be truthful, Walt never eased up. Walt pretty much hit all the seven deadly sins besides infidelity, but I guess meth was his true mistress.

[AdamAfandi]

TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT, YEAH!! Featurette, clip, breakdown, whatever man. Just keep bringing me that!

[luisguerra]

I see Hank discovering Walt is Heisenberg as some sort of divine intervention: he finds out at a point where Walt has retired from his drug empire, and wants to spend his remaining days happily with his family. But Vince Gilligan believes in karma, after all, meaning Walt has to pay for his sins. The problem is Walt is always one step ahead, covering his tracks, never caught by the authorities nor brought to justice. The way I see it, some divine force uses Walt's biggest weakness against him: his pride. He leaves the book Gale gave him in his bathroom, in plain sight, where anyone can read it, because he doesn't think someone would read it; so Hank is sent to the bathroom, to read that book, because Walt has to face justice someway or another, and if Hank hadn't picked up that book at all, Walt would've never payed for his sins.

[dukeofdisastr]

There’s an interview somewhere that Gillian said that he enjoys writing because he can sort of play god. I audibly gasped at the end of the video because I think y’all 100% hit the nail on the head

[todangtall]

Not in the last season, but there's the list he made in season one when contemplating the killing of Domingo aka Crazy Eight. He lists Judeo-Christian values as a reason not to go through with it. This being one of Walt's first murders, marks a real moral turning point for him.

[awesomo]

hearing walt call jessie his son while being so horrible to him made me so sad

[AlebReborn]

Very insightful analysis. I do think that this show has intentional religious undertones. I love how the integration of it is very subtle. I say this as a Christian who loves Breaking Bad

[Michael-ldnp]

IM SO GLAD YOU MADE THIS VIDEO.
I’m rewatching the series rn and have been catching all these symbolic scenes!

[Buckfever]

When Walt is caught, he walks over in the Christ cross pose.

[txbxwqg]

Finally someone does a video on this..iv had a theory like this for years. Not just the last season. In the first season when they dissolve the body in acid. They cut back to Walt talking about the missing ingredient to a person being the "soul". The one that stuck out to me the most is the plane crash. The episode after the crash opens with news anchors saying "167" people died in the crash. They focus on this number multiple times. Look up what 167 means..."The number 167 signifies using your creativity, inner wisdom and adaptability to find new ways to materially provide for yourself and your family." Which is exactly what Walt does. Theyre are a ton more I'm not gunna list but rewatch the series with this in mind. It's pretty mind blowing. P.S. I'm not religious, so I don't think I'm trying to shoe horn this theory in!

[stepanpytlik]

The sheer amount of details put into this show is incredible.

[srmatrong]

I’m currently sitting in a hospital chair carrying my brand new baby boy and he got to watch half of this video with me before falling asleep in my arms. Thank you for your soothing voice Ryan, you put my baby Malachi to sleep

[FrNSICs]

I thought walt was talking to the car when he said “just get me home”

[jmillz]

These BB breakdowns are so phenomenal. Thank you Ryan & crew for all your hard work! 🙌🖤

[devincreislerstudios]

As pitch meeting says “wow wow wow wow wow… wow”

[jakecooper]

Never thought I’d hear a C.S. Lewis Quote in a Breaking Bad video

[STOPSYPHER]

Tuco repeating “Tight!” Is in reference to Walts butthole before going to prison

[bigdog]

It definitely takes a second watch, at least, to pick up on the symbolism. However, like any good literature much of it is left to the individual to interpret in a way that makes sense..