Breaking Bad’s Big Bad or Maybe Not?

Walter White, the unassuming chemistry teacher who turned into the infamous drug kingpin, Heisenberg, is such an iconic character that he’s been the face of TV drama for ages—seriously, the dude even has his own action figures! But if you ask Breaking Bad mastermind Vince Gilligan, he’s hoping his legacy is more than just the guy who cooked meth.

Vince’s New Hero

In a recent chat with Hollywood Reporter, Gilligan shared that while he’s immensely proud of Walter White, he wouldn’t mind crafting a character who’s a bit more, you know, heroic. He said, “As much as I love Walter White, it’d be nice to write a hero again—someone who’s shooting for the stars, or at least trying to return a lost wallet instead of selling drugs!”

Meet Carol Sturka

Gilligan’s new hero comes in the form of Carol Sturka, the lead in his latest show, Pluribus. Starring the talented Rhea Seehorn, Carol is quite the character. Imagine a world where everyone is sick, but the illness makes them happy! Unlike that pesky flu we all dread, this virus spreads joy, making Carol a quirky standout in a sea of contentment.

Not Just Another Walter White

Sure, on the surface, Carol might seem a tad similar to Walter—both are relatable folks, both have their gripes with society, and both are kinda forced into action. But hold up! Gilligan insists there’s a big difference: Carol is a hero! He declares, “She’s imperfect, can be a bit whiny, but we cheer for her as she tries to save the world. That’s just so refreshing!” Who wouldn’t root for that?

The Gender Double Standard

Now, let’s get real for a sec. Gilligan points out something that gets under our skin: the whole gender double standard! He says, “A male protagonist can be a total jerk, and people think it’s cool. Meanwhile, if a woman behaves like that, suddenly she’s ‘difficult’ or ‘not relatable’ in their eyes,” he added with an eye roll. Preach, Vince!

Vince and Rhea’s Bond

Despite the mixed bag of audience perceptions, Gilligan is smitten with Carol—and the actress behind her! He admitted, “I just adore Rhea. After Better Call Saul, I knew someone else would snatch her up, and I selfishly wanted to collaborate with her again.” Talk about a fanboy!

Can Carol Replace Walter?

As the countdown ticks closer to Pluribus‘ premiere on November 7, 2025, it’s too soon to say whether Carol will snag a spot next to Walter in Vince’s legacy. But one thing is for sure: The guy is having a blast creating a hero! And really, isn’t that what we all want from our fave show creators?