As crazy as it sounds, it's been 10 years since Breaking Bad first premiered. In its intense wake came a highly successful spin-off, a real-life couple that's been forced to barricade their home to stop pizzas from being thrown on it, and a policeman who allegedly masterminded his own drug ring after watching the series. And none of that would've happened had Vince Gilligan not brought his tale to AMC, and the network is celebrating his magnum opus by airing a full series marathon beginning on Sunday, January 31.
As a way to kick off the New Year's Eve festivities, Breaking Bad fans or newcomers will be able to view non-stop blocks of one of TV's most acclaimed shows every weekend until the marathon ends. That means from basically now until the end of January, we have a chance to relive Walter's dark transformation, Jesse's eloquent use of the word "bitch," and the evil that is Gus Fring. As previously mentioned, the marathon will start New Year's Eve and will continue Saturdays and Sundays at the following times (via EW):
December 31: Begins at 2:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 100 to 203)January 1: Begins at 2:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 204 to 213)January 6: Begins at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 301 to 306)January 7: Begins at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 307 to 311)January 13: Begins at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 312 to 403)January 14: Begins at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 404 to 408)January 20: Begins at 3:15 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 409 to 413)January 21: Begins at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 501 to 506)January 27: Begins at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 507 to 511)January 29: Begins at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (Episodes 512 to 516)
Sadly, the Breaking Bad experience does get broken up a bit so that all 62 episodes can wrap before the end of January, which means marathon days end in the middle of different seasons, but it'll still be worth watching for those that don't already have access to it on Netflix or DVD. Those that prefer to binge the series via streaming may find the constant ad breaks a bit grating, but then again, AMC might pepper those breaks with some exclusive behind-the-scenes tidbits or cast and crew interviews celebrating the show's 10th anniversary.
Whether or not that's in the cards is unknown, but AMC has been making a big to-do in anticipation of the Breaking Bad marathon, so it wouldn't be all that surprising to see something new. The network has been editing key scenes to represent the 10th anniversary, such as Hank's moment of clarity in the bathroom:
Other edited Breaking Bad scenes include Walt's birthday bacon being arranged to make a 10 (instead of a 50), and Hector Salamanca angrily hitting his bell in response to seeing the number on a notepad. Given the amount of work that's been put into the promotions, one has to think AMC has something a little extra prepared for Breaking Bad fans who decide to tune in for the marathon. If that's not the case, at least fans will get quite a few weekends of reliving one of the greatest shows on television.
The Breaking Bad marathon kicks off on AMC Sunday, January 31 at 2:00 p.m. ET. For a look at television that will be coming in 2018, head on over to our midseason premiere guide. Anyone still waiting for something to watch in 2017 can visit fall premiere guide. For a look at all the major show cancellations of the past year, visit our cancellation guide.
