Gustavo Fring is a character created by Vince Gilligan and George Mastras and portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito in the television franchise Breaking Bad. He appears as one of the main antagonists of Breaking Bad (2008–2013) and as a major supporting character in its spin-off series Better Call Saul (2015–2022). Gus is a Chilean-American businessman based in Albuquerque, New Mexico who runs several businesses, including the successful friend chicken restaurant Los Pollos Hermanos, as fronts to launder money for a vast drug trafficking operation. He maintains a positive public image as a booster for Albuquerque civic causes to mask his ruthlessness and Machiavellianism.
Though he works with the Mexican cartel to distribute drugs, Gus secretly plots revenge against its members over the death of his partner Max Arciniega (James Martinez) at the hands of don Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis). In Breaking Bad, Gus hires the high school teacher-turned-drug manufacturer Walter White (Bryan Cranston) to produce methamphetamine for his operation. Breaking Bad's third and fourth seasons focus on the rise and collapse of their relationship, culminating in Walt collaborating with Hector to orchestrate Gus' assassination. Better Call Saul's prequel storyline explores Gus' efforts to build his drug empire and undermine the cartel in the six years preceding Breaking Bad.
Appearances
editBackstory
editBreaking Bad (2008–2013) and Better Call Saul (2015–2022) reveal few details of Gus Fring's backstory. He is a native of Chile who immigrated to Mexico in the 1980s, during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet; a flashback during the Breaking Bad episode "One Minute" (2010) features Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis) mockingly referring to Gus as "Big Generalissimo", implying he was connected to the Pinochet regime. The Breaking Bad episode "Hermanos" (2011) implies "Gus Fring" is an alias, since neither the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) nor Gus' enforcer Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) can find any record of him prior to his arrival in Mexico.
By the time of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Gus is a Chilean-American businessman and narcotics distributor who runs two legitimate businesses, the fried chicken restaurant chain Los Pollos Hermanos and the industrial laundry facility Lavandería Brillante, as fronts to launder money for his drug trafficking operations. "Hermanos" reveals that Gus and his partner Max Arciniega (James Martinez) started Los Pollos Hermanos as a front to sell methamphetamine. In a flashback, they approach don Eladio Vuente (Steven Bauer), the leader of the Juárez Cartel, with an offer to expand their drug trade with cartel help; Eladio declines, as the cartel prefers to continue distributing cocaine. Eladio has Hector kill Max for selling meth in cartel territory without permission. Eladio spares Gus but forces him to cooperate with the cartel.
Breaking Bad
editGus first appears in "Mandala" (2009), the 11th episode of Breaking Bad's second season.
Better Call Saul
editDevelopment
editConception
edit- https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a380786/breaking-bad-vince-gilligan-qa-i-want-uk-fans-to-see-the-show/
- https://www.cbr.com/breaking-bad-the-closer-gus-fring-origins/
Casting
editWriting
editCharacter
editGus maintains a positive public image: he is a booster for Albuquerque civic causes, including the local Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office. Underneath his outwardly pleasant appearance, he is ruthless, cruel, and Machiavellian.