The Golden Age of Television is defined by many shows, but alongside the likes of The Sopranos, The Wire, and Deadwood, few can hold a candle to Breaking Bad.
Although Vince Gilligan had already made a name for himself writing, directing, and producing episodes of The X-Files, Breaking Bad was his big break. Delivering five seasons of blue meth and crooked characters getting their comeuppance, there was many an explosive farewell.
Seeing Bryan Cranston return to the spotlight after Malcolm in the Middle and take the lead as Walter White, the TV series also made Aaron Paul a household name as the foul-mouthed Jesse Pinkman. Cranston's performance as the chemistry teacher turned drug lord was lauded, all as Walt evolved into one of the most complex anti-heroes of all time.
There was no shortage of villains across Breaking Bad's 62-episode run.
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Away from Giancarlo Esposito's terrifying Gus Fring, we had the likes of Jesse Plemons' equally unnerving Todd Alquist, Laura Fraser's Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, and Mark Margolis' bell-ringing Hector Salamanca.
Hector was joined by his nephews, Marco and Leonel Salamanca. Also known as 'The Cousins', Marco and Leonel were a major part of the third season, memorably appearing in one of season 3's most iconic scenes.
Recent rumors suggested that actors Daniel and Luis Moncada performed the fiery truck explosion scene themselves because they 'refused' stunt doubles.
Although it's said that camera trickery made the pair seem closer than they actually were, one person said: "Absolute dedication — that’s not acting, that’s flirting with danger for authenticity 😳💥 Few things hit harder on screen than knowing the actors really were that close to the explosion."
This might not quite be true, and clearing the whole thing up, Daniel Moncada took to X to simply say: "We didn't refuse they asked us if we could do it and the rest is history 🛎️🛎️🛎️."
The scene in question helped establish Marco and Leonel Salamanca as cold-blooded killers, seeing them arrive in the USA in the season 3 premiere when smuggling themselves across the border. When recognized by one of the others fleeing from Mexico, the twins brutally murdered everyone in the truck and then blew it up as they calmly walked away.
A 2010 interview with the LA Times explains how the twins came to be in acting, and although Breaking Bad was Daniel's first acting role, Luis had already landed several roles after he was released from prison. Being spotted on the set of a movie where he was working as a security guard, Luis was signed to a talent agency called Suspect Entertainment, helping reformed gang members become actors.
The piece even includes a mention of the truck scene, with Cranston directing the pair and apparently telling Daniel: "If you feel like it, it would be cool if you casually lifted your cigarette to your lips and take a puff like you’re walking in the park."
Supposedly throwing his arms around them when it was done, Cranston himself said: "It was perfect."
Although it was a short-lived run on Breaking Bad before they'd get to reprise their roles in the Better Call Saul prequel, Cranston also remembered Daniel and Luis' last day on set, concluding: "These two guys, their lives could have gone a very different way and our industry somehow showed them an avenue of alternatives, and they took them."