Over the years, Breaking Bad has often been noted for both its authenticity, in particular with its depiction of manufacturing methamphetamine. But according to Breaking Bad's science adviser Dr. Donna Nelson, Gilligan drew a line in the New Mexico sand when it came to the science of Walt's blue product. Chiefly, Nelson is adamant that Walt's purity claims about "Blue Sky" make no sense, because pure meth would, inherently, be white.
In a recent chat with Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Dr. Nelson went on record stating that she specifically advised Vince Gilligan not to make Walt's "Blue Sky" blue at all: "On one of my set visits, Vince came to me and said, 'What do you think about making the meth blue?' And I said, 'I wouldn't do it.'"
From there, Dr. Nelson described a hilarious behind-the-scenes back-and-forth, making it clear Gilligan was probably too attached to the pure blue meth concept to change his mind by the time he consulted his advisor. In her words, "He said, 'Well, wouldn't there be some reason if it was pure that it might be blue? You know, a little bit blue.' And I said, 'No, because meth is white.' And he said, 'Well, what if it's pure?' And I said, 'Then it'll be white.' And he said, 'What if it's really, really, really pure?' And I said, 'Then it'll be really, really, really white.'"
In the end, Gilligan chose to eschew the science of meth for aesthetic purposes. And in all honesty, the world should be A-okay with the choice, because at this point, it's hard to imagine Breaking Bad without, "the blue stuff." Sure, it cost the show some credibility in the eyes of science, but it undoubtedly helped make for iconic television.
