Aaron Paul: ‘I Never Wanted ‘Breaking Bad’ to End’
Aaron Paul, who plays fan-favorite Jesse Pinkman on the AMC drama Breaking Bad, participated in a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session last night. The actor fielded questions on a wide range of topics, ranging from his current music listening habits (Alt-J, the Lumineers, “anything Thom Yorke”) to his favorite on-set pranks (the time Bryan Cranston blasted him with a “dildo-shaped squirtgun”).
When asked which Breaking Bad scene was his favorite, Paul ultimately chose “the infamous dinner scene with Mr. and Mrs. White,” a hilarious moment from the first half of the show’s fifth and final season. “I think the glass of water became Jesse’s security blanket in a way, and I love that about that scene,” he said.
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Paul also talked about how he prepared for the role of Jesse, noting that he spent time with “former addicts and people that were using at that moment” in order to gain insight. “I wanted to try and bring as much honesty to this character as I could, and I saw a darker side to people that I’ve never witnessed before,” he said.
When asked if he was satisfied with how the show ends, Paul reflected with a mix of sadness and humor: “I never wanted Breaking Bad to end, simply because I’m a huge fan of the show and I didn’t want to be unemployed,” he said. “But after reading the final eight episodes and understanding where the writers are going with it, I’m so happy they ended it the way they did, and I think all of you will be happy as well. It’s a dark, crazy ride to the final episode but it is a fun one. Yeah, bitch.”
The interactive event also shed light on a good cause: Working in conjunction with Omaze, Paul is seeking donations for Kind Campaign, an organization that brings “awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of bullying” and was founded by his wife, Lauren Parsekian. Fans who donate to the campaign will have a chance to win an evening on the town with Paul, including a stop at a Breaking Bad series finale cast party.
Breaking Bad airs Sundays on AMC at 9 p.m. EST.