I just realised that Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan may well have been influenced by The Simpsons while writing his masterpiece TV series.

[ MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS ]

As a long-time fan of The Simpsons and a recent Breaking Bad convert, I’m surprised I didn’t notice this sooner. While re-watching Homer Vs The Eighteenth Amendment, an episode where Homer adopts an alternate persona as The Beer Baron and is chased down by hero cop, Rex Banner, I noticed some obvious comparisons between the two:

1. Protagonist is motivated by the equivalent of a death sentence

2. Protagonist adopts Stetson hat and pseudonym

3. Protagonist is chased by hero cop

4. Protagonist and sidekick illegally source their ingredients

5. Protagonist hides double life from his wife

6. Local business is a front for distribution of product

7. Protagonist partners with local distributor

8. Initial ingredients run out so they scale up the operation

9. Hero cop fails to see the protagonist right under his nose

10. Wife finds out about his double life and keeps quiet

11. Wife asks protagonist to quit his double life

12. Protagonist leaves a legacy among peers