Walter White is undoubtedly a bad person, but despite everything, Breaking Bad somehow manages to always keep the audience rooting for him. A murderous drug lord whose only motive is power and money doesn't exactly seem like the template for a praise-worthy underdog, but up until the very end viewers kind of want to see Walter White succeed. The reason for this is that, despite his misdeeds, eight major moments make Walter White a pretty likable character, with them being just enough to keep audiences rooting for his despicable plans to pay off.
Breaking Bad is one of the most critically-acclaimed TV shows of all time, and that's in no small part thanks to the series' fantastic character arcs. Breaking Bad manages to take Walter White from a meek middle-aged loser to a fierce kingpin in only five seasons, and viewers believe every second of it. While Walter White's story may end with Heisenberg being an abhorrent monster, but he didn't start out that way. These 8 acts prevent Walter White from being totally irredeemable, showing that he is still partially the same person from early in the show that made audiences root for him.
8 Walt Defended Walt Jr. In A Store In Season 1
One of the earliest instances of Walter White's cheer-worthy actions comes in the Breaking Bad pilot. After having gotten into the drug business, Walt sees a bully making fun of his son for having cerebral palsy at a clothing store. Walt knocks the guy to the ground, pins his leg down, and attempts to teach him a lesson. He then challenges the bully to hit him, a level of confidence that hadn't been seen from Walter before. Moments like this show that Walt truly cares about his family, making his constant reinforcement of the idea that his crimes are for the benefit of his family seem more true.
7 Walt Helped Jesse After Jane's Death
One of the most heartbreaking moments in Breaking Bad is when Walt lets Jane Margolis die, watching as she chokes to death on her own vomit. Jesse, unaware of Walt's involvement with Jane's death, relapses. However, Walter White reaches out in an attempt to help Jesse, knowing his past drug problems. Now, Walt definitely did benefit from this, as he needed Jesse to keep cooking in order to build his criminal empire. However, the way in which Walt goes about helping Jesse shows that Walt actually is concerned about Jesse's health, making the relationship between the two a little more palatable.
6 When Walt Saved Jesse In Season 3
While Walt may have helped save Jesse from drugs after Jane's death, he actually saves Jesse's life in Breaking Bad season 3. Breaking Bad season 3, episode 12, "Half Measure" sees Jesse attempt to get revenge on the drug dealers who murdered Combo, with Jesse planning on killing them against the advice of Walt. At the end of the episode, Jesse finally makes his move, approaching the two drug dealers with a gun. However, the two dealers notice Jesse approaching, revealing that they're armed.
Walt, who knew Jesse would attempt a dumb stunt like this, was secretly at the scene in order to watch out for Jesse. When Walt sees the dealers pull out their guns, he rams his car into the two assailants, immediately killing one. Once out of the car, Walt shoots the other drug dealer in the head. While he saved Jesse in a pretty violent way, this scene shows that Walt had Jesse's back, something that is expanded on in later seasons.
5 Walt Tried To Be There For His Daughter
In Breaking Bad, Walt and Skyler have a second child named Holly. While she isn't born until Walt is well on his way up the ladder of Albuquerque's criminal underworld, Walt actually attempts to be part of Holly's life. Walt's scenes with Holly bring back his old self, showing him as a caring father rather than a ruthless criminal. Walt is actually hurt when Holly is taken away from him after he splits up with Skyler, with her nearly taking priority over Walt's grabs for power. Holly is a symbol of the innocence Walt has lost, and his desire to be with her is a yearning for his old self.
4 Walt Kept Skyler Out Of Prison
Although Skyler's role in Walt's criminal empire is undeniable, another one of the moments that makes viewers root for Walt is when he attempts to keep her out of jail. Throughout his time as a drug manufacturer, Walt takes steps to ensure that the police won't come after Skyler after Breaking Bad's ending. Walt stages an elaborate ruse to make it seem as if Skyler was forced into it, making abusive phone calls to his wife that hint at her unwillingness to conspire. Skyler was definitely a co-conspirator, but Walt's desire to keep her out of prison shows that he doesn't want people to get hurt for his mistakes.
3 Walt Bought Walt Jr. A Car (& Taught Him How To Drive It) In Season 5
Season 5 of Breaking Bad is well into Walt's downfall, but even then Walt still cared about his family. In season 5, Walt uses his drug money to buy Walt Jr. an expensive sports car, partially in order to patch up the rift that had opened between them. Walt also attempts to teach his son how to drive, something that Walt Jr. had struggled with due to his cerebral palsy. Even in the height of his criminal life, Walt made time for his kid.
2 Walt Didn't Want Hank To Die In Season 6
Hank's Breaking Bad death is one of the series most tragic moments, and Walter White's reaction to it is what sells it. Rather than showing Hank's actual death, the series rather shows Walt's reaction to it. True pain is all over Walt's face, with this being the moment that he realizes he has gone too far. Walt never intended to hurt anyone, and Hank's death brings back a brief glimpse of the love and care Walt used to have for his family.
1 Walt Sacrificed Himself For Jesse In The Finale
It is hard to call Walt a good person by the time Breaking Bad's series finale rolls around, but the character does at least end on a good note. Walt's death occurs as he is saving Jesse from the white nationalists, with him being shot by his own car rig. Walt's sacrifice proves that he is willing to give up his life in order to repent for what he has done to Jesse, tricking the audience into rooting for him even then. Despite his crimes, viewers were rooting for Walter White until the very end of Breaking Bad.