Well, here's a surprise for you: Vince Gilligan doesn't know how Breaking Bad will end. The creator and head writer of the beloved AMC drama admitted to Today that nothing is set in stone for the fifth and final season.

"Wish I did," he admitted. “I have certain hopes and dreams for how the characters will wind up, but I don’t have anything nailed down plot-wise.”

That's surprising news to me. If any show on television has given the impression of momentum and direction, it's Breaking Bad. The story of Walter White has been a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, with his well-intentioned efforts to leave his family a nest egg have resulted in the loss of not only his connection to his family, but his connection to his own humanity as well. "I've lived too long," he lamented in the season 3 episode "Fly," and his life has only gotten bleaker since then. Season 4 featured his protracted face-off with distributor Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), and the lengths that Walter went to in his battle against Gus resulted in a new low for him.

Gilligan is adamant to end Breaking Bad after its upcoming fifth season, though: "It’s been the best job I’ve ever had, and I suspect I’m going to look back on it with a great deal of nostalgia. But after 16 more episodes, it will be time to end it all. It was always intended to be a finite, closed-ended show. You have to know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em... The closer we get to the final episode, I assume the worse it’ll be. But that’s why we’re ending after 16. You want to go out with fans of the show still being fans. The best we can do is be disciplined and honest in our storytelling, and not go for the bells and whistles. Let the chips fall where they may.”

Breaking Bad will air its fifth season sometime next year.

Breaking Bad Creator Doesn't Know Ending Yet

In a recent interview with DigitalSpy, LOST overminds Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof responded to the now widespread claim by star Matthew Fox that he knows the ending of the series. Fox has made the claim, or at least insinuated it, several times over the years.  Heck, I even remember other cast members claiming that Fox knows more about the direction of the show than anybody else - apparently, that includes the LOST braintrust of Cuse and Lindelof.

"It’s probably accurate that Matthew knows the end of the show, we’re just hoping he shares it with us before we have to write it." Lindelof said.

"He’s been really reluctant to tell us, and we’re kinda jammed up because we are getting pretty near the point where we need to know what it is so we can actually put it to paper." Cuse added.

"He’s not returning our phone calls, or e-mails, we offered him large cash contributions to the charity of his choice.   He’s been completely unresponsive.  So, Matthew, if you’re watching we are ready to know the ending.  We are emotionally prepared."  Lindelof pleaded.

To say that the duo, fondly known as Darlton, have a tendency to be sarcastic would be a colossal understatement. It is entirely possible, despite what this banter seems to indicate, that Fox actually does know the ending.  Then again, it is equally likely that he doesn't.  The ending of LOST is one of the most pursued nuggets of information in the television world, why risk that anyone would blurt it out at a party or slip it into some grapevine of confidants?

(source: DigitalSpy)

Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof: Matthew Fox Doesn't Know 'Jack' About LOST Ending