12 TV Shows We Thought Would Be The Next Breaking Bad

Nearly 13 years after its series finale, Breaking Bad remains a truly irreplaceable series. The show's basic premise follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a notorious kingpin following a tragic cancer diagnosis. Alongside ne'er-do-well Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), Walter White builds a formidable drug ring by using his professional expertise to create highly addictive methamphetamines.

The series is widely considered one of the best TV shows of all time, renowned for its nuanced acting, rich storytelling, and stunning New Mexico setting. Throughout the drama's five seasons, creator Vince Gilligan crafted a genuinely one-of-a-kind journey for the characters and audience alike. Nevertheless, though fans continue rewatching Breaking Bad, similar titles have dropped since its 2013 finale.

Griselda

A Thrilling Drama Following The Rise Of A Notorious Cartel

Unlike the high-octane adventures of Walter and Jesse, Griselda was based on a true story— the life of the eponymous Griselda Blanco (portrayed by Sofía Vergara). As the miniseries depicts, Griselda was at the head of one of the biggest drug rings in history. From Columbia to Miami, Florida, Griselda Blanco built herself an untouchable legacy via her unwieldy enterprise.

The focus on Griselda's personal life and the tragic cost of her immense power made Griselda a harrowing watch. Nevertheless, the Netflix miniseries remains a hidden gem, with little buzz aside from praise for Vergara's performance and physical transformation. While Breaking Bad fans would likely enjoy Griselda, there's no denying the two series are on drastically different levels.

Mr Inbetween

A Hitman Must Balance His Secret Life With His Day Job

Part of what made Breaking Bad so universally adored was Walter's character, specifically how he grows nearly unrecognizable from the man viewers meet in the pilot. Unsurprisingly, drastic times call for drastic measures, and a life of crime takes a toll. Such is the case with Mr Inbetween, one of the best crime shows to ever come out of Australia.

Starring Scott Ryan as Raymond "Ray" Shoesmith, Mr Inbetween follows a hitman known as The Magician who struggles to maintain his true self amidst his criminal dealings. By day, Ray is a mere husband, father, and friend, but those responsibilities get harder and harder to bear as his secret life as an assassin takes off, leaving him in perpetual turmoil.

Barry

A Dark Comedy Following The Crimes Of A Former Marine

Similarly, Bill Hader's hit HBO drama Barry follows the titular Barry Berkman, a former U.S. Marine who used his professional skills to become a hitman. After stumbling into an acting class, however, Barry feels drawn to the stage. As he tries to reinvent his life as an actor, Barry must hide his past from his new acquaintances and peers.

Just like Breaking Bad, Barry is a critically acclaimed dark comedy with a cult following. Nevertheless, the series functions almost as an inverse to Breaking Bad, with Barry attempting to rehabilitate himself in a toxic environment rather than Walter White upending his suburban slice of life. As such, Barry may be just as loved, but it fulfills a different niche.

Tulsa King

A Mob Capo Is Exiled To Oklahoma Following His Release From Prison

After Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) is released from prison following a 25-year stint, his former boss ships him off to Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, Dwight is forced to reckon with his ostracization by forming his own, ragtag mob family made up of inexperienced locals.

Aside from the obvious parallel of Dwight and Walter building a criminal operation from the ground up, Tulsa King's upcoming spinoff makes it that much more similar to Breaking Bad, as both will soon be franchise favorites. Frankly, what holds Tulsa King back is its youth. Only time will tell whether the crime drama has a timeless appeal.

Bloodline

A Picture-Perfect Family Crumbles When Their Secrets Come To Light

In Netflix's must-watch crime drama, the Rayburn family are forced to confront the skeletons in their closet following the death of patriarch Robert (Sam Shepard) and return of black sheep Danny (Ben Mendelsohn). Though at first Danny appears to step up as the prodigal son and begin running the family's coastal inn, he quickly sets his sights on broader horizons.

While his family tirelessly keeps up appearances, Danny begins working for a fearsome kingpin. Yet, with every remaining sibling hell-bent on keeping their secrets buried— figuratively or otherwise— Danny becomes the most dangerous variable in town. Bloodline has a very different feel, but it shares thematic similarities with Breaking Bad that make a suitable substitution, but not quite a successor.

Ozark

A Married Couple Secretly Run A Money Laundering Empire

Since the series finale of Breaking Bad, various drug ring dramas have emerged to try and take its place, but most fall flat and fade into obscurity. In stark contrast, Ozark became a breakout hit, with Emmy-worthy performances from Jason Bateman (Marty Byrde) and Julia Garner (Ruth Langmore) catapulting the series into the public eye.

Despite Ozark's divisive ending, the series maintains a devoted following that will surely persist for years to come. Unfortunately, it misses one key aspect that took Breaking Bad from good to great: a sense of humor. Ozark could never employ comedic relief as seamlessly as Gilligan and the Breaking Bad cast, which always gave the viewer well-timed (and much-needed) respite.

Better Call Saul

Breaking Bad's Most Successful Spinoff Yet

When Better Call Saul was first announced, many fans anticipated either a standalone sequel or a full-blown continuation of Breaking Bad. Ironically, the legal drama forged a new path entirely, bringing back dozens of memorable faces while exploring fascinating uncharted territory regarding the characters' histories, past relationships, and inevitable descent into depravity.

Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman was a career-defining role for Bob Odenkirk, with plenty of netizens even arguing that Better Call Saul was better than Breaking Bad. Of course, the prequel was phenomenal in its own way, but it felt supplemental to the flagship series rather than a true replacement.

Mr. Robot

A Tech Whiz Is Scouted By A Cyberpunk Anarchist Group

​​​​​​​In the early days of cyberpunk masterpiece Mr. Robot, some critics likened Rami Malek's Elliot Alderson to the complex main characters of Breaking Bad. Nonetheless, the techno-thriller was wildly different from the neo-western drama. Elliot had his own drug-fueled storylines, but it was a far cry from Walter and Jesse's meth operation.

Regardless, Mr. Robot offers a similar viewing experience in spite of its plot differences. There's a constant sense of unease, with the tension surrounding Elliot potentially being caught adding an exciting— at times uncomfortable— sense of urgency. Narratively, the two shows are apples and oranges, but Breaking Bad fans shouldn't write off Mr. Robot completely.

Narcos

A Gripping Drama Inspired By A Truly Infamous Historical Figure

​​​​​​​Breaking Bad followed the rise and fall of a self-made drug lord, but Netflix's true crime thriller Narcos centered on arguably the most notorious kingpin of modern history: Pablo Escobar (played by Wagner Moura). With monikers like the King of Cocaine, El Patrón (The Boss), and El Padrino (The Godfather), it's no surprise that Narcos immediately entranced millions of viewers.

At a glance, Narcos seems similar enough to Breaking Bad, but there's a fundamental difference in their points of view. Whereas the AMC original aligned the viewer with the "bad" guy's perspective, Narcos kept its audience rooting for DEA Agents Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal)— which undercuts the guilty pleasure of Breaking Bad's gray morality.

Animal Kingdom

A Complicated Family Runs A Crime Ring In California

​​​​​​​Inspired by the infamous Pettingill family, Animal Kingdom is a gritty drama following the crimes of the Cody family in Oceanside, California. From revered matriarch Janine "Smurf" Cody (Ellen Barkin) to haunted eldest son Andrew "Pope" Cody (Shawn Hatosy), every character in Animal Kingdom is carefully crafted to deliver the most devastating twists possible.

Throughout the six seasons of Animal Kingdom, the Cody clan commit everything from petty crimes to horrific atrocities, forcing the viewer to constantly question their own loyalty. In fact, the drama gets far gorier and more disturbing than Breaking Bad, putting it in a league of its own with no pulled punches.