Not all villains are born evil, twirling their little handlebar mustaches and cackling malevolently in the cradle. Some take on the role so slowly and gradually that it's difficult to determine when they actually made the transition from good to evil. One of the most fascinating elements of Breaking Bad is the fact that Walter White begins the series as an unassuming chemistry teacher with his back against the wall, and ends up living long enough to see himself become the villain of his own story. Once he is diagnosed with cancer and faced with the possibility that he will die leaving his family nothing to support themselves with, he turns to the drug trade to make a little extra money. But is that when he becomes the bad guy? Well, if you're Hank, probably, but most viewers could at least understand why he was doing what he did. Throughout the series, though, he becomes a cold, ruthless figure, and his actions are less and less justifiable until he's unrecognizable as the man he was at the beginning of the story.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
