Breaking Bad fans have pointed out a major issue with a new double statue of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman that was unveiled in Albuquerque.
The statues were unveiled yesterday, 29 July, as they were gifted to the New Mexico city by series creator Vince Gilligan, who commissioned artist Trevor Grove to create life-size bronze versions of the characters back in 2019.
At the launch ceremony for the display, Gilligan explained how he got the idea after seeing a tiny wax statue created by Grove, having wanted to give something back to the community that formed such an integral part of the show.
"It was so amazing that it just got me to thinking: What if Trevor could sculpt a life-sized version of Walter White in bronze, a medium new to him, and what if he could toss in Jesse Pinkman to boot, and then we donate to the two statues to the city of Albuquerque as a thank-you for your hospitality?" he said.
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But while the statues are intended as a grateful gesture to accommodating locals, not everyone thinks the artwork was a good move – pointing out there’s one slight issue with the pieces.
One person tweeted: “Nothing screams America like making a bronze statue of a murderer drug dealing king pin lol.”
Commenting on Facebook, another asked: “I love Breaking Bad, but a monument to crime and drugs is the best image Albuquerque can come up with the represent the city?”
Others, meanwhile, could see the cultural impact that the two characters represented, regardless of their dodgy dealings.
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One wrote: "Could you imagine making a show so iconic, so influential that the city itself makes a statue of the main characters who happen to be meth-making murderers and manipulators. Vince Gilligan is an icon."
A third added: "But they are fictional. They have brought so many together and are globally enjoyed that, it’s more about the community than the characters and their actions."
Another joked: "Imagine, a few thousand years from now, archeologists trying to figure out who these guys are and why we made statues of them. Love it."
Someone else said: "A ton of people believe this is honouring the criminals, like making statues of just terrible people."
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This debate is actually something Gilligan has already addressed himself, saying at the unveiling ceremony how he recognised the statues were of 'two fictional, infamous meth dealers'.
"In all seriousness, no doubt some folks are going to say, 'Wow, just what our city needed.' And I get that," he said.
"I see two of the finest actors America has ever produced. I see them, in character, as two larger-than-life tragic figures, cautionary tales – world-famous ones at that."
Gilligan also confirmed which episode we can expect to see the duo pop up in during the final series of Better Call Saul, and it's sooner than you might think.
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"This coming Monday, if you happen to be watching the AMC Network – and thanks to them as well – you might just seen these two on the next Better Call Saul," he told the crowd, as Aaron Paul, who plays Jesse, teased: "Maybe... Maybe!"
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Topics: Film and TV
