Anna Gunn, the actress that plays Skyler White on AMC’s Breaking Bad, recently wrote an op-ed in the New York Times that blamed the growing chorus of Skyler-haters on the country’s inability to accept a strong, opinionated female character on television. That may very well be the case, but I’d like to offer my own suggestions. For all you Skyler-haters out there, read on!
AMC
She Never Condoned Walt’s Behavior
Remember, it was Walt who hid the fact that he was cooking – and selling – crystal meth. And when he finally did break down and tell his wife, what did Skyler do? She took their children and moved in with her sister Marie. Sound like the act of a hateful person? I think not.
She Demanded a Divorce
Remember Ted Beneke? Not only was he Skyler’s boss, he was the same dude she had an affair with in order to force Walt’s hand at a divorce. By this time, Skyler knew of Walt’s criminal activities, and wanted to protect her children. However, telling a judge that her husband was a powerful drug kingpin was probably not the best way to go about that. By openly having an affair with Ted, Skyler hoped that Walt would be infuriated enough to divorce her. He never did, however, and the rest, as they say, is history.
To Save Her Children, She Faked a Suicide Attempt
In one of the most intensely gripping episodes of the fifth season, Skyler faked a suicide attempt in order to appear mentally incapable of caring for her children. Remember, Skyler was becoming increasingly despondent and depressed over Walt’s drug activities, and figured it was only a matter of time before her son, Walt Jr., found out. So she submerged herself in a pool during dinner with her sister and brother-in-law in an effort to convince the two that her children were better off in their hands. A little nutty? Yes. But hateful? Far from it.
More:
Watch ‘Breaking Bad’ If It Were a ’90s Family Series
‘Breaking Bad’ Season Finale Recap
‘Breaking Bad’: Is Walt Getting Back in the Game? — TRAILER
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