In November 2013, just a few days before the release of the ‘Breaking Bad: The Complete Series‘ box set on DVD and Blu-ray, fans came across a funny alternate ending that almost changes how the story feels.
In this version, Walter White’s dark story turns out to be nothing more than a nightmare experienced by Hal Wilkerson from ‘Malcolm in the Middle.’
What Happens in the ‘Breaking Bad’ Alternate Ending
The clip was added as a special feature in the collector’s edition. It starts with the intense final moments of the real ending, where Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, collapses in the meth lab.
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The scene then suddenly cuts to a bedroom that fans of the other show would instantly recognize. Cranston is now back as Hal, the nervous dad, waking up in panic next to his wife Lois, played by Jane Kaczmarek.
“I had the scariest dream,” Hal says, still shaken. He goes on to describe everything that happened in ‘Breaking Bad.’ He talks about being a meth kingpin named Walter White, working with a partner “who always looked like he was wearing his older brother’s clothes,” and kept saying “the b-word a lot,” and even meeting a tough guy who looked like someone from ‘The Shield.’
Lois, however, barely reacts. She brushes it off as if it were nothing and responds in her usual annoyed tone. “I knew this was going to happen, you grow a beard, and suddenly you think you’re Osama bin Laden,” she says.
In the final moment, Hal slips into a bit of Heisenberg’s attitude. He looks at Lois and says, “I’m the one who’s knocking,” echoing Walter White from ‘Breaking Bad.’ The camera then moves to Walter’s black porkpie hat resting on a nearby chair. As the scene fades out, the ‘Malcolm in the Middle‘ theme plays softly in the background.
Why the ‘Breaking Bad’ Alternate Ending Was Made
The joke was meant as a nod to the famous ending of ‘Newhart,’ where the entire show turns out to be a dream. It was filmed as a fun promotional extra around the time ‘Breaking Bad‘ had its emotional finale in September 2013. Sony Pictures Television included the clip quietly in the DVD set released on November 26, 2013, and it quickly spread online.
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Even though this alternate ending was never meant to be taken seriously or treated as part of the real story, it still stands as one of the most loved hidden surprises in TV history, especially for fans of ‘Breaking Bad‘.
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