Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created by X-Files co-producer Vince Gilligan, about a chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime (specifically dealing methamphetamine) after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
The title is taken from the American slang "to break bad", which means to go against social conventions.
Once a successful chemist, Walter now teaches apathetic high school students and works part-time at a car wash to help support his family.
When the already tense White is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he breaks down and turns to a life of crime, setting up a meth lab in order to support his family.
His wife Skyler earns a modest income buying and selling items on eBay, and their son Walter, Jr., is a strong-willed 17-year-old suffering from cerebral palsy.
Realising he has nothing but his family left to live for, Walter's new sense of purpose reinvigorates him into a man of action as he turns to an exciting life of crime to provide for the ones he loves.
Breaking Bad is produced by High Bridge and Gran Via Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television for AMC.
Broadcast Notes
The series aired in the USA on AMC from 20 January, 2008 to 29 September, 2013. There are 62 hour-long episodes in five seasons.
Breaking Bad premiered in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Action channel on Monday 5 May 2008, at 20h00. It was moved to DStv's M-Net Series channel for the fourth season and to M-Net Series Showcase midway through Season 5. The second half of Season 5 also aired on M-Net Series Zone.
All five seasons we released simultaneously by VOD service ShowMax on Tuesday 17 November, 2015.