The internet has gone wild with one of the strangest, most unexpected, and yet oddly fascinating fan theories in the world of television crossovers: the idea that Yellowstone’s Steve Hendon could actually be Todd Alquist from Breaking Bad—only this time, dressed up in cowboy boots and hiding out in Montana. What started as a lighthearted Reddit joke has now spiraled into full-blown speculation across social media, with fans dissecting every scene, every line of dialogue, and even Hendon’s fashion choices to look for clues. The thought of these two wildly different universes colliding has generated both laughter and intrigue, because while Yellowstone and Breaking Bad have no official connection, the similarities between Steve Hendon and Todd Alquist are eerie enough to make people stop and wonder: could it be possible?
Let’s start with the basics. Steve Hendon, played by actor James Jordan, has appeared on Yellowstone as a minor but memorable character, often bringing humor, tension, and that unpredictable “loose cannon” energy that keeps viewers guessing. On the other hand, Todd Alquist, played by Jesse Plemons in Breaking Bad and El Camino, is one of the most chillingly polite yet psychopathic villains ever created for television. Todd’s ability to commit horrific crimes while maintaining an almost childlike cheerfulness left audiences shaken, and Plemons’ performance became legendary in modern television history. So why are people drawing parallels between these two characters, especially when they’re portrayed by different actors? The answer lies in tone, mannerisms, and a bit of fan imagination.
One of the first sparks for this theory came from fans who noticed Steve Hendon’s peculiar way of speaking and behaving on Yellowstone. While not an outright villain, Hendon carries an unpredictable vibe that makes him hard to pin down—sometimes charming, sometimes irritating, sometimes intimidating. Fans compared that unpredictability to Todd’s unnerving calmness, which masked terrifying violence underneath. Add to that Hendon’s occasional dark humor and the rural Western setting, and suddenly you’ve got fans saying, “Wait a second…what if Todd didn’t die? What if he somehow survived Breaking Bad and reemerged as a cowboy in Yellowstone?”
Of course, the timeline doesn’t really match up—Todd was very clearly killed by Jesse Pinkman at the end of Breaking Bad, and Yellowstone exists in its own entirely different universe. But fans aren’t letting little details like reality get in the way of a juicy crossover fantasy. Memes have flooded Twitter and TikTok, with captions like “Todd Alquist when the meth game didn’t work out so he went ranching” or “From New Mexico to Montana: Todd’s redemption arc.” Some even point to Hendon’s cowboy boots as a symbolic “new skin” for Todd, shedding his old life of crime to reinvent himself in Sheridan’s Montana.
Another layer to this theory comes from the creative overlap in television storytelling. Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind Yellowstone, has built his empire on characters who exist in moral gray zones—men and women who do bad things for what they consider to be good reasons, or simply because survival demands it. Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, did something very similar with Walter White and his associates. Fans see echoes of Gilligan’s storytelling in Sheridan’s, even though the settings are wildly different. Both universes thrive on tension, crime, and the question of how far someone will go when pushed to the edge. With that lens, it suddenly doesn’t seem so absurd to imagine Todd Alquist wandering into the Yellowstone ranch as Steve Hendon, carrying his polite menace with him.
Of course, part of the fun of this theory is its absurdity. Nobody truly believes the shows are officially connected, but playing with the idea has breathed new life into the way fans watch both series. Suddenly, a throwaway Hendon line on Yellowstone feels like a cryptic Todd reference. His cowboy boots become a symbol of reinvention. His smirks and unpredictable behavior? A sign that Todd is still lurking beneath the surface. Fans love a good crossover fantasy, especially when it involves two of the most iconic TV universes of the last 20 years.
The reaction online has been nothing short of explosive. Reddit threads analyzing “Todd vibes” in Hendon’s performance have racked up thousands of comments. TikTok videos splicing together clips of Todd Alquist’s polite yet chilling quotes alongside Hendon’s wild Yellowstone moments have gone viral. Twitter users have even started mock debates over which universe would win in a showdown—Walter White and Jesse’s criminal empire or John Dutton and the Yellowstone ranch. The memes are half-joking, half-serious, but the engagement shows just how much fans love blending these worlds.
On a deeper level, the Hendon–Todd theory also highlights the way modern TV fandoms consume content. Fans don’t just watch passively anymore; they actively engage, connect dots across different universes, and create new meaning through theories, memes, and discussions. The crossover craze isn’t new—we’ve seen it with Marvel, with Star Wars, and even with sitcom universes—but when it happens organically between two completely unrelated shows, it becomes even more exciting. It shows how deeply characters can embed themselves into pop culture and how audiences never truly let go of them, even after their stories officially end.
Will Yellowstone ever acknowledge this theory? Almost certainly not. The shows exist in separate worlds, with separate creators, and the chances of an actual crossover are nonexistent. But that doesn’t stop fans from dreaming—and in many ways, that’s the beauty of it. Television is at its best when it inspires conversation, imagination, and community, and this wild Hendon–Todd crossover theory has accomplished exactly that.
So, is Steve Hendon really Todd Alquist in cowboy boots? In canon, no. In fan hearts and imaginations, absolutely yes. And maybe that’s all that matters. Because at the end of the day, whether you’re watching meth labs explode in New Mexico or ranch hands fight for survival in Montana, both Breaking Bad and Yellowstone are about the same thing: desperate people doing desperate things, and the chaos that follows. Hendon may not be Todd officially, but for fans, he will always carry a shadow of that cold-blooded reveal.
