Breaking Bad: 10 Best Characters Who Appeared After Season One
1. Gustavo Fring
More so than even The Sopranos, Breaking Bad is all about one man. Every character ultimately exists as a foil to Walter, a collaborator, a puppet, and ultimately, usually, an enemy. To this end, Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) is one of Vince Gilligan’s greatest triumphs, for what he represents and eventually brings out of Walt.
The chicken salesman hides in plain sight, quietly tending to his fast food restaurants as he scopes Walter out. He’s quiet and intelligent, but filled with a bubbling rage and immense determination. His whole drug empire is built with an eye on revenge, and when he exerts his wrath (on a Cartel boss in a season four high point) it’s terrifying.
His backstory is perfectly incomplete, with rumblings of trouble in his native Chile and a process in which he went from perky businessman to dead-eyed don.
Most intriguing, though, is his relationship with Walt. While they briefly find an understanding - two men wanting to do business and bounce - it becomes clear they can’t co-exist. Walt’s pride and Gus’ need for control are too great. And in finally besting Gus, Walt kills not only his foe but his former self - this is where Heisenberg triumphs over the man he once was.