Breaking Bad Creator Admits Show Was Rigged Against Skyler White

Vince Gilligan says he unintentionally made the audience side with Walter over his long-suffering wife.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan has admitted that the show was "rigged" in favor of its central protagonist, Walter White, at the expense of his wife Skyler. Despite Skyler's integral role in the show's emotional core, Gilligan says the negative reception the character received from audiences "always troubled" him and co-star Anna Gunn. Gilligan believes the storytelling was skewed to make viewers sympathize more with Walter, even as he committed increasingly heinous acts, rather than with Skyler's perspective.

Why it matters

Skyler White is frequently viewed as the villain of Breaking Bad, despite her actions being a reasonable response to her husband's descent into criminality. Gilligan's admission highlights how the show's narrative structure unintentionally turned the audience against a complex female character who was simply trying to protect her family.

The details

Gilligan explained that because the show was told entirely from Walter's point of view, even in scenes he wasn't present for, it gave him an unfair advantage over Skyler in the eyes of viewers. This dynamic made it easier for audiences to side with Walter, even as he became a murderous drug kingpin, rather than empathize with Skyler's harrowing ordeal.

  • Breaking Bad aired on AMC from 2008 to 2013.

The players

Vince Gilligan

The creator of Breaking Bad, who has expressed regret over the show's narrative structure that led to Skyler White being unfairly vilified by audiences.

Anna Gunn

The actress who played Skyler White on Breaking Bad, and who was reportedly troubled by the negative fan reception to her character.

Walter White

The central protagonist of Breaking Bad, whose perspective the show was told from, giving him an unfair advantage over his wife Skyler in the eyes of viewers.

Skyler White

Walter White's wife, who was frequently viewed as the villain of Breaking Bad despite her actions being a reasonable response to her husband's criminal activities.

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What they’re saying

“Back when the show first aired, Skyler was roundly disliked. I think that always troubled Anna Gunn. And I can tell you it always troubled me, because Skyler, the character, did nothing to deserve that. And Anna certainly did nothing to deserve that. She played the part beautifully.”

— Vince Gilligan, Creator, Breaking Bad (The New Yorker)

“I realize in hindsight that the show was rigged, in the sense that the storytelling was solely through Walt's eyes, even in scenes he wasn't present for. Even Gus, his archenemy, didn't suffer the animosity Skyler received. It's a weird thing. I'm still thinking about it all these years later.”

— Vince Gilligan, Creator, Breaking Bad (The New Yorker)

What’s next

Gilligan's reflections on the show's narrative structure and its impact on audience perceptions of Skyler White have sparked renewed discussions about the treatment of complex female characters in prestige television.

The takeaway

Breaking Bad's enduring popularity has overshadowed the show's problematic portrayal of Skyler White, who was unfairly vilified by audiences despite her reasonable reactions to her husband's criminal activities. Gilligan's admission highlights the need for more nuanced storytelling that avoids unintentionally biasing viewers against female characters.