Bryan Cranston's Walter White didn't just break; he also revealed how far fans will follow the flawed hero.

The Sopranos and Breaking Bad are giants in their field with a passionate fan base that rarely follows you. On the surface, the leads of the two shows, Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and Walter White (Bryan Cranston) may seem similar. Both are complex characters, with their morals in question. However, there is something that separates the two.

While Tony is a mafia boss from the start, Walter is a simple ordinary man – a high school teacher and a victim of cancer. Driven into the world of drugs by his desperation, Walter gained a lot of empathy from viewers because they could relate to his character on some level. Aside from the drug part, Walter was just a man trying to provide for his family, against all odds. Despite his flaws, fans love him and Bryan Cranston knows exactly why.

As the protagonist, viewers were bound to feel sympathy for James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano. But hidden beneath the fans' naivety, Tony was just a bad guy in general. Sure, he loved his family, and sure he loved animals, but that doesn't make him someone you'd want to be friends with. Hell, you'd run the other way if he walked towards you.