"Breaking Bad," which is now approaching its fifth season premier, has made a name for itself in banking on strong, powerful characters who draw us in with their complexity and the darkness of their souls. Every season has seen its enigmas, with characters whose fates are uncertain, and the fourth season was no exception. Here are some of the characters fans hope to see return in the fifth season.
Ted Beneke
When last we saw Skyler's hapless and rather silly boss (and sometime lover), he had just plunged headfirst into a coffee table, rendering him either dead or possibly paralyzed. Of course, the series is always vague about these sorts of things, but they also fulfill the promises that they leave hanging. So, whether he is alive or dead should, if prior seasons are any indication, be cleared up by the end of this final season. Chances are he's still alive, but he's bound to cause more trouble for the Whites.
Mike
Mike, who is one of the most likeable and most ruthless of the characters on "Breaking Bad," found himself laid low in Mexico by the actions of the drug cartel. We haven't really heard of him since, due to the fact that Gus was obviously willing to leave him down there, tended to by his doctors. As we already know, no character can be said to be officially off the show unless we actually see them die, so chances are that Mike is still alive and well, and Heaven help Walter if Mike actually finds out what has happened to Gus and who was responsible.
Badger
Although Badger is one of the silliest of the "Breaking Bad" characters, he is also one of the most fascinating, perhaps in spite of himself. His character has always been good at lightening the mood of an otherwise unremittingly bleak and dark show, so we can keep our fingers crossed that he might just return for the show's farewell. After all, even the darkest times need a little ray of light.
As we ramp up for the concluding season of AMC's gritty, dark drama, we can hope that some of the characters from prior seasons will return to make their (sometimes richly deserved) farewells. From the hapless to the sinister, these characters help to give "Breaking Bad" its texture, and help fans to understand the vast array of motivations that sometimes characterize human action.
