(CNN) — “Breaking Bad” fans are staring into their post-Walter White life with mixed emotions.
There’s satisfaction for Sunday night’s well-executed series finale — appreciation for the inspiring and historic work from “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, star Bryan Cranston and the rest of the team. But, ultimately, sadness that it’s all over. (Thankfully, “Breaking Bad” has spared its fans from the “rage” portion of the series finale roller coaster — unlike some shows we could mention.)
So if you’re mourning the end of “Breaking Bad,” and wondering just how you’ll fill that void, know that your misery has plenty of (famous) company:
Aaron Paul, @aaronpaul_8: “Last episode ever of Breaking Bad. It would not be possible without all of you. Thank you all for the amazing ride. Love you Vince!!!!”
Josh Gad, @joshgad: “I am breaking sad right now. I have little blue tears streaming down my face. RIP #BreakingBad. You changed TV forever.”
Emmy Rossum, @emmyrossum: “Don’t my bosses know that a 5am call time the morning after the Breaking Bad finale isn’t nice? I need to stay up & cope/process/grieve.”
Krysten Ritter, @Krystenritter: “Breaking Bad finale was perfect. Sad to say goodbye!”
Kristen Bell, @IMKristenBell: “My dogs are so depressed this is the last night they will get to watch me watching #BreakingBad :(”
Jay Sean, @jaysean: “I need a breaking bad helpline. I don’t know how to feel.i don’t know anything anymore. 😔😞 what can fill this void!!? #goodbyebreakingbad”
Darren Aronofsky, @DarrenAronofsky: “almost like losing a good friend. congrats to @BreakingBad_AMC a historic run.”
Danny Zuker, @DannyZuker: “A perfect series gets a perfect ending. I miss Breaking Bad already.”
Paul Feig, @paulfeig: “Spoiler alert! The series finale of #BreakingBad was effin’ awesome. This show has never been anything less that fantastic. Congrats to all! Aaaaaaaaaand … here come the waves of depression as I realize there will never be another new episode of Breaking Bad. #GoodbyeBreakingBad”
Simon Pegg, @simonpegg: “Dear @BryanCranston @aaronpaul_8 @deanjnorris @betsy_brandt @RjMitte @mrbobodenkirk #AnnaGunn @BreakingBad_AMC. Missing you already.x”
Sean O’Connor, @seanoconnz: “Goodbye Breaking Bad. You were the best thing that ever happened to me. Sorry to my girlfriend and my parents and my future children.”
Scott Feinberg, @ScottFeinberg: “BREAKING BAD (2008-13) was, alongside THE WIRE, the greatest television show of the 21st century. Thank you to everyone associated with it.”
Kevin Williamson, @kevwilliamson: “Breaking Bad. Sweet. Amazing farewell. Such a brilliant show.”
For the most part, viewers have applauded the conclusion to “Breaking Bad’s” five-season run on AMC, but there are those who have been critical of its neat and tidy ending.
“I wish I’d been able to respond to how fundamentally sympathetic the finale was to Walt,” says NPR’s Linda Holmes. “Here, however, I could not escape the feeling that by earning anyone’s sympathy, Walt was getting away with one last self-aggrandizing con. … I didn’t crave a happy ending for him, and he got about as happy an ending as he possibly could have.”
Esquire magazine agreed, critiquing that while the final stretch of season five “had some great individual episodes,” Sunday’s series ender “was maybe the most conventional of the entire series. … We watched as a tarnished hero killed the baddies, set his captured sidekick free, and died. Endings don’t come much more Hollywood.”
Yet none of those who were disgruntled by the final moments of chemistry teacher-turned-meth kingpin Walter White could argue that the finale, and the series as a whole, was par excellence.
For what it’s worth, we’re with Variety’s AJ Marechal:
AJ Marechal, @Variety_AJM: “I hope there are budding little future TV writers out there who watched #BreakingBad, deeply absorbed and will bring us the next masterpiece”
Good luck future writers!
The-CNN-Wire
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