TV critics have not so affectionately given a certain grouping (let’s face it: probably the majority) of Breaking Bad fans the label “Team Walt,” a moniker meant to denote the great number of viewers whose undying sympathy for Walter White is unshakable and to connote that anyone watching the show from this perspective is an uncritical fanboy type, not unlike the Team Jacob/Team Edward dichotomy that grew out of the Twilight series.
It’s meant in a snobbish, derisive way, but aside from just its mean-spiritedness, I think it has hurt the way these critics were able to watch the show, particularly its finale. They became invested in an ending that would unequivocally not allow so-called Team Walt to feel as though Walter emerged victorious. Because it didn’t do this, not blatantly at least, they were dissatisfied for the show not catering to their extremely specific sensibilities. This is criticism done wrong.
I do think it’s understandable that people will sympathize with Walt the same way they sympathize with Tony Soprano, Tony Montana, Michael Corleone, Henry Hill, and other celebrated criminals. He’s the story’s protagonist, and so what we get is primarily from Walt’s perspective. It’s a matter of subjectivity; he thinks he’s won in the end, the same way he “won” when he killed Gus Fring. But I think we’re meant to step back a bit and react the way Skyler does in that phone call at the end of “Face Off.” We feel for Walter, but have to feel at least slight revulsion at what he’s doing. Insisting that this revulsion define the entire series, though, is an unreasonable demand to make of a show that is about an anti-hero. I find it simplistic and reductive to think that Walt simply won at the end, redeeming himself, saving Jesse, and providing for his family, because Hank is still dead, he can’t know Walter Jr. will ever accept the money from Elliot and Gretchen, and he’ll be remembered as a lowly criminal rather than the type of mogul he wanted to be. But you can’t blame people for wanting him to win. Especially when he’s killin’ Nat-sees.
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