Honestly, we haven’t really seen a TV show as close to perfection as Breaking Bad. It is a very compelling, great-acted, and a program that you can watch in one go and still not get bored with. But even a genius work has some small flaws (wordplay intended), and those few plot points that don’t make sense have been known by the most devoted fans for a long time. Those minor inconsistencies have been the cause of numerous discussions on Reddit, in-depth research on YouTube, and the arguments of those who have been divided on the issue for a number of years. If you have ever been so enraged while watching it that you shouted, “Wait, but how does that make sense?” then you are a member of our club. Here are 10 of the most puzzling Breaking Bad plot holes, ranging from those that are slightly strange to those that are completely incomprehensible.
10. Skinny Pete and Badger Somehow Know About the Blue Meth
Subsequently, Walt’s blue meth is transported overseas, mainly to the Czech Republic, via Lydia and her connections. That is the reason why the viewers were confused when Skinny Pete and Badger stated casually that not only are they aware of the blue meth being produced, but they have, in fact, got hold of it. How come the two Albuquerque stoner slackers have a product that is supposedly shipped halfway around the globe? Unless the cartel was secretly handing out samples on the street, this piece of information sounds like a narrative cheat.
9. Tuco’s Monopoly Claim Doesn’t Make Any Sense
Tuco Salamanca is probably the earliest show villain that the series creators got right, but when he hypes up the idea of meth being his only line of business in the area, it doesn’t quite align with what we find out later. Gus Fring had been running a meticulously planned empire for multiple years before Tuco’s short-lived terror. So, what causes it? Did Tuco really believe he had the whole market cornered, or were the writers simply not done with Gus yet? It’s one of those scenes where the retcon is quite visible.
8. The Case of the Missing Gas Masks
In the first season, the DEA discovers a gas mask at one of Walt and Jesse’s places where they had their cooking, and they also find out that equipment has gone missing from Walt’s high school lab. That combination of discoveries should have been the final and most obvious proof that the unassuming chemistry teacher was making meth. Still, the investigation somehow never makes these very apparent links. It is quite strange that under Hank’s command at the DEA, this set of clues led nowhere.
7. Mike’s Sudden Alliance with Walt
Mike Ehrmantraut is a professional who is marked by his contempt for Walt’s reckless and irresponsible conduct. After the death of Gus, Mike leaves no doubt that Walt is a problem to be solved. However, a few episodes later, he gets rid of the grudge and opts to join forces with Walt in the new project. No real reason is given for this turnaround, no deal or dramatic moment; he just goes along with it. This change is so surprising that it feels like it is not a man who is as clever and cautious as Mike.
6. Gale’s Karaoke Video Mystery
After introducing a strange karaoke video showing Gale performing “Major Tom,” Hank is puzzled about how or why this home clip was retrieved from somewhere, staring at Gale’s death in his own home, so the tape wouldn’t make sense unless the police went through Gale’s personal items and considered it evidence. Collectors have been wondering for a long time about this, especially the suspicious and particularly convenient aspect of the narrative.
5. Lydia’s Ricin Poisoning Feels Too Easy
Walt sneaks ricin into the stevia packet that Lydia uses in one of his final maneuvers, thus signing her death warrant. It is a wonderful moment to see… but as you stop and reflect on it, it gets shady. How did Walt do that without anyone knowing except maybe the one who made the poison? And why has it happened only seconds after the tea ceremony? The show does not care to go into detail about these things, so the audience members feel like it was either a clever trick or the author’s doing.
4. Gus’s Car Bomb Sixth Sense
Gus Fring is meticulous; however one of his best performances, he approaches his vehicle, suddenly senses that something is off, and walks away calmly, just escaping with Walt’s bomb. The point is that nothing from the outside can make him feel so. No strange sound, no wire hanging, no. It’s just… a feeling. As it is a dramatic and well-known moment, at the same time, it also hovers on the edge of the supernatural. Was it deep wisdom or just a trick to make the fan of that matter alive for a little while longer? Some of them call it plot armor.
3. The Brock Poisoning Puzzle
Walt’s poisoning of young Brock with Lily of the Valley was one of the show’s most sinister plot twists, but the way it was presented is one of its biggest riddles. Could it be that Walt sneaked into the children’s school? Or did he manage to change his food at home without you noticing? The show never tells us how, only the results. And while the ambiguity helps to build Walt’s evil mystique, it raises a massive question about the most crucial plot points of the show.
2. The Bizarre GPS Tracker Twist
At some time, Hank discovers a GPS tracker on a barrel of methylamine, and without hesitation, he points to Walt as the culprit. However, by doing so, the show creates a couple of problems. First, wouldn’t a very cautious Walt have noticed something like a big tracking device quite easily? Second, why would the DEA put the tracker on the most exposed place on the barrel, where it is so easily spotted, instead of hiding it? Everything about it seems a bit too good to be true, as if the writers didn’t care about the plausibility of it and just wanted to give Hank his “aha!” moment quickly.
1. Timeline Puzzle and Bizarre Character Casting
One of the biggest puzzles with the Breaking Bad timeline is the show keeping it all very close to a period of just two years, starting with Walt’s 50th birthday. However, when you look at the age of Holly, the extent of Walt’s meth empire, and the non-stop betrayals and coalitions, it strongly feels as if the series has jumped time. To add to the confusion, there are some questionable character choices, like Gus still trusting Walt even though he received a warning, or Jesse being so gullible throughout the series, which makes the show less believable. It does not spoil the show in any way, but at the same time, it leaves the audience wondering.
In the end, these plot holes don’t steal away from Breaking Bad’s acclaim as one of the all-time greatest television shows ever produced. On the contrary, they become Talking Points for the fans during replays of the show, keeping them intensely debating what is logical and what is not. For every difference, there are a hundred brilliant moments that confirm Walt, Jesse, Gus, and the other characters as TV legends. Nevertheless, if you are still rewatching and something seems weird, then you are not the only one. The times when a masterpiece’s “cracks” are what make us return for more are those when we come back for another hit.