‘I really thought we could do another 12 episodes,’ says Bryan Cranston. Plus: ‘Better Call Saul’ spinoff will premiere in 2014

Breaking Bad came to its devastating, bloody end two months ago. But according to Bryan Cranston (Walter White), it could’ve stretched even further. “I’m kind of sad that we don’t have another year to go, because I really thought that maybe we could do another 10 or 12 episodes,” Cranston said at last night’s premiere of No Half Measures, a documentary on the making of the final season. “But it’s better to be finished early and proud so that the fans and us say, ‘I really miss that show’ as opposed to saying, ‘Is this show still on?’ It’s better to walk away at a high.” Cranston’s comments were among the highlights of a post-screening Q&A alongside series creator Vince Gilligan, Dean Norris (Hank Schrader), Bob Odenkirk (Saul Goodman), RJ Mitte (Walt Jr.) and Lavell Crawford (Huell).

No Half Measures chronicles the behind-the-scenes action of the show’s final eight-episode run. While it clocks in at two hours and fifteen minutes, it’s packed with superfan-worthy trivia, intimate off-screen moments between cast members and crew members’ interpretations of pivotal scenes. More generally, it’s also a great lens into what it’s like to make a TV show. According to Gilligan, each episode is created three times during writing, filming and editing. The documentary also gives much-deserved shine to everyone involved behind the scenes, from film editors to producers, Sony executives and the camera men who all work synergistically like a family – a comparison that Gilligan and Cranston, especially, have repeated many times over the years.

The Q&A was at times largely dominated by Crawford, a professional stand-up comedian. From poking fun at the explosive nature of meth-making to revealing he got his part based on reciting one line, Crawford showed why he was the perfect counterpart to the zany Saul Goodman. Though it wasn’t revealed if Huell would be joining his character’s boss on the upcoming spinoff, Gilligan did say that Breaking Bad writers are working on the script and that the pilot would air before the end of next year.

Crawford also pointed out one of Breaking Bad‘s few plotholes: the fact that his character’s story was never resolved. On that subject – and when asked if he had any regrets – Gilligan explained, “We should have gotten Huell out of the safe house. I really think, all joking aside, Aaron Paul’s teeth stayed too pearly white and pristine for the six years. Your teeth don’t look that good if you smoke meth, or get your ass kicked that many times.”