Key Takeaways:
– Bryan Cranston’s memorable role as Walter White in Breaking Bad solidifies his standing alongside notable antiheroes such as Don Draper from Mad Men and Tony Soprano from The Sopranos.
– Walter White’s act of poisoning Brock Cantillo, a child on the show, in the fourth season remains a mystery to many fans.
– Bryan Cranston, who plays Walter White, was unaware of his character’s action until the end, leading to an excellent performance on the show.
Who is Walter White?
Bryan Cranston, lauded with multiple Emmy awards, masterfully portrayed the role of Walter White in Breaking Bad. Known to fans as Heisenberg, White shifted to a life of crime, spiralling into a pit of moral compromises and heinous acts to maintain his growing drug empire. He placed himself among the unforgettable antiheroes of TV history, such as Don Draper from Mad Men and Tony Soprano from The Sopranos.
The Big Question: How Did Walter White Poison Brock Cantillo?
Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White, a cancer-stricken chemistry teacher who becomes a meth mastermind, has intrigued audiences worldwide. His transformation from a sympathetic figure fighting against tragedy into a figure capable of evil was seamless. His worst act was perhaps poisoning Brock Cantillo, a child on the show, during season 4.
Brock’s Mother, Andrea Cantillo, in the series is a recovering addict who forms a relationship with Jesse Pinkman. Jesse becomes attached to the family, particularly Brock. Confusion among fans arose around the logistics about how Walter managed to poison Brock with a lily of the valley plant.
The Answer To The Big Mystery
During a Comic-Con appearance, Breaking Bad’s creator, Vince Gilligan, apparently addressed this query. Despite the tight timeline, the writers made the storyline realistic. Walter was said to have crushed the plant and slipped it into Brock’s juice box before he went to school, where Brock ingested it.
Did Bryan Cranston Know About Walter’s Act?
In the second-last episode of season 4, we witness a desperate Walter, played by Cranston, pleading Jesse Pinkman not to kill him. Jesse accuses Walter of poisoning Brock, suspecting Brock got a hold of the ricin cigarette he intended to use for killing Gus Fring.
Walter convincingly sways Jesse off the accusation. However, in the subsequent episode, the truth unveils as the camera closes in on a lily of the valley plant in Walter’s backyard. It appears that part of why Cranston’s persuasion of Jesse was so effective could be that Cranston, too, was unaware of Walter’s act at the time.
Cranston confessed that his reaction upon reading the subsequent script was, ‘Oops! I did poison a kid. Oops, my bad!’. Though Jesse eventually discovers Walter’s true deeds and despises him for not saving Jane from overdosing, Cranston’s ignorance of Walter’s actions led to a remarkable performance.
All episodes of Breaking Bad are available to be streamed via Netflix. Happy viewing!
