Alper Soydan 23.11.2015 Wicked or Hopeless?: The Intricate Moral Universe of Breaking Bad There has been an ongoing debate regarding the complex relationship between media and morality. In his article called "A Moral Never-Never Land: Identifying with Tony Soprano," James Harold (2011) dwells on the question of whether or not sympathizing with evil characters is morally corrupting. Beginning with an overview of the counter-arguments, Harold explains how The Sopranos remained moralistic throughout its run. Harold (2011) concludes that "Television shows like The Sopranos which provide multiple moral perspectives on evil characters, and which offer room for moral reflection, might even be good for us, rather than evil" (p. 248). Similarly, the anti-hero of Breaking Bad, Walter White, is violent and vicious in most cases, yet viewers are encouraged to reflect on the moral issues presented during the course of the show. Therefore, identifying with anti-heroes like Walter White does not compromise our sense of morals, but rather increases our understanding of moral conflicts, thanks to the intricate moral universe of the show. In order to understand this moral universe, we need to know more about Walter White, the anti-heroine of the show. In the beginning, Walter is depicted as a successful chemistry teacher and a responsible father model who initially had a loving relationship with his wife. After diagnosed with lung cancer, he begin to cook meth to support his family financially. All of these factors come together to make Walter a sympathetic character as viewers are invited to pity his misfortune. However, the meth business lead Walter to create his Heisenberg persona who is capable of doing everything including murder to gain power and to dominate those around him. Interestingly, viewers do not quit liking Walter despite his vicious side. In the context of The Sopranos, a similar type of admiration for the evil brings Harold (2011) to