Vince Gilligan has created some incredibly successful shows over the years, withBreaking Badbeing his magnum opus, but he also co-createdBattle Creek, an underrated police dramedy that has essentially been forgotten.Breaking Badis one ofthe best TV shows of all time, so anything that involves Gilligan is intriguing right off the bat.
WithBetter Call Saulover and theBreaking Baduniverse seemingly laid to rest,Gilligan turns his attention toPluribus,his new series for Apple TV+. As excitement forPluribusbuilds, it’s worth looking back onBattle Creek’s unfortunate fate, as it was released and canceled, all within two years afterBreaking Badended its landmark run.
Battle Creek Was A Short-Lived Police Comedy From Vince Gilligan And David Shore
Running for only one season in 2015,Battle Creekwas a police dramedy seriesthat focused on the mismatched partnership of Josh Duhamel’s Special Agent Milton “Milt” Chamberlain and Dean Winters' Detective Russell “Russ” Agnew. The series was co-created by David Shore (House) and Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), a formidable duo that resulted inBattle Creekbeing relatively well-received.
Battle Creekwas actually based on a script that Gilligan had written back in 2003, just a year after working as awriter and director onThe X-Files. Despite being a co-creator, Gilligan had less involvement inBattle Creekoverall, though, with Shore taking on the majority of production.
Why Battle Creek Wasn’t As Successful As It Should Have Been
It Was Canceled While The First Season Was Still Airing
Coming off ofBreaking Badand initially releasing around the same time asBetter Call Saulstarted its run,Vince Gilligan’s name alone should have helped makeBattle Creekmore successful than it actually was. The pairing of Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters was a great decision, with their chemistry being the major highlight of the season.
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While the show was still airing, CBS actually made the decision not to move forward with the series after its first season,resulting inBattle Creekending after just 13 episodes, making it a missed opportunity all around. Despite the talent involved, especially with Shore and Gilligan, the viewership wasn’t strong enough (perVariety) to continue the series.
Battle Creek Should Have Definitely Gotten More Seasons
Whenever a show is prematurely canceled, there is always the possibility that the story it was telling won’t ever be resolved. WhileBattle Creekdoesn’t necessarily end on a massive cliffhanger that is ruined thanks to its early cancellation,there were enough dangling plot threads left to have the series continue into a second season, and beyond.
By the timeBattle Creekwas cancelled, theBreaking Badspin-off,Better Call Saul, was underway, which would find much more success during its six-season run thanBattle Creek.
Unfortunately for Vince Gilligan and David Shore, along with fans of the show,Battle Creeknever had the chance to grow past its initial middling viewership. It’s especially heartbreaking for Dean Winters and Josh Duhamel, whose performances should have been able to carry multiple seasons ofBattle Creek,as they gave some of the best of their careers.
Battle Creek
Cast
Battle Creek is a 2015 dramedy that centers on the partnership between a charming FBI agent and a rugged Michigan homicide detective. As they tackle local crimes, their contrasting investigative styles and mutual dislike create a dynamic, albeit challenging, teamwork environment.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
