What year is Breaking Bad set in?
The series is set in the late 2000s, starting in 2008 and concluding around 2010.
Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who, after a cancer diagnosis, teams up with Jesse Pinkman to manufacture methamphetamine in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The show's timeline is anchored in real years, with the pilot set in 2008 and the concluding episodes taking place in 2010. The core narrative unfolds across roughly two years, with occasional context provided by flashbacks and in-universe references.
Timeline and key years
To anchor readers, here are the main time markers the series follows within its late-2000s setting.
- 2008 — The pilot introduces Walter White’s diagnosis and his decision to partner with former student Jesse Pinkman, beginning Walt’s double life as a meth producer.
- 2009 — The operation expands, tensions mount, and the story’s middle arc intensifies as rivalries and law enforcement pressure increase.
- 2010 — The final arc culminates in Walt’s ultimate downfall and the series’ ending.
These anchors reflect the show’s core timeline: a late-2000s setting with the bulk of action occurring across 2008–2010.
Season-by-season time frame
For a quick snapshot of how the years map onto the show, see below.
- Season 1 (2008) — Establishes Walt’s cancer diagnosis and the initial foray into meth production.
- Season 2 (2009) — Expands the operation and escalates conflicts, with much of the action taking place in 2009.
- Season 3–4 (2009–2010) — Builds toward a climax, continuing through 2009 into 2010 as tension peaks.
- Season 5 (2010) — The concluding arc wraps up in 2010, bringing the series to its final resolution.
Note: The show uses a modern-day contemporary setting; while the creators embed some flashbacks, the primary timeline centers on 2008–2010.
Summary
In brief, Breaking Bad is set in the late 2000s, spanning roughly 2008 through 2010. The pilot introduces the 2008 starting point, and the final episodes bring the story to a close in 2010, with the middle years filling the space between. This timeframe underpins the show's realism and character arcs, even as it occasionally references broader events outside the immediate timeline.
