Brilliantly played by Giancarlo Esposito, Gustavo Fring was by far the most memorable villain on Breaking Bad. So when fans found out he would be reprising the character in the prequel spinoff You better call Saul, they were understandably excited. Gus plays a very different but important role in Saul Goodman’s original story, providing much of the show’s suspense and drama.
A combination of masterful writing and superb execution has made for many more memorable moments from Gus everywhere You better call Saul; many may even change the way fans look at him in the parent series. Anyway, Gus in You better call Saul still remains cold, menacing and all-around intriguing, leading to some fantastic bits of dialogue from the character.
7 “A dog that bites every owner it’s had can only be disciplined with a firm hand or…put it down.”
When Mike tries to convince Gus to release Nacho towards the end of season five, Gus refuses. Mike makes the comment that Gus threatened Nacho’s father, which he doesn’t like. In response, Gus utters this chilling phrase, indicating his willingness to use fear to motivate Nacho.
What makes this line even more interesting is that it somewhat reflects a quote from Gus in Breaking Bad. At one point in the original series, Gus mentions that he doesn’t like using fear as a motivator; a stark contrast from this moment in You better call Saul. This just shows how far Gus has come Breaking Badand how the last season of You better call Saul eventually changes him.
6 “Lalo Salamanca is alive.”
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Here’s an example of a relatively simple rule made memorable by the delivery. In the season six episode “Carrot and Stick,” Gus speaks to Hector Salamanca and promises to avenge Lalo’s death. However, this changes when Hector’s behavior doesn’t make sense, indicating to Gus that Lalo is really alive. When he leaves, he calls Mike and delivers this one line.
Esposito delivers this line with such conviction that it is impossible to ignore. Lalo is a terrifying villain and during the events of You better call Saul, is Gus’ nemesis. This line makes it clear that for Gus, just news of Lalo’s death won’t be enough; that he will not rest until he can confirm that Lalo is dead.
5 “It fought against me, but I was stronger. It would have been merciful to kill it. I loved it. It lived for a while.’
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This line comes from the end of a story Gus recites in the season four episode “Pinata.” In the scene, Gus talks to a now hospitalized Hector. He tells a childhood story about a coati who ate fruit from Gus’ lucuma tree. When Guus tried to catch it, it broke its leg. Here, Gus remarks on how it would have been right to put the creature out of its misery, but instead chose to let it suffer.
The one-to-one correlation in this scene is pretty obvious; Hector is the locked up coati who wants Gus to suffer as long as possible. It’s a dark and chilling tale that closes Hector’s fate, but also tells Gus’s cold cruelty. It’s clear from this story that Gus has been ruthless since childhood, something that continued into his adult years.
4 “Look at me. From now on… You. Are. Mine.”
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In the season four episode “Breathe,” Hector has recovered from a coma because Nacho was secretly switching medications. Gus finds out, and in this shocking scene says this line, indicating that Nacho is now under his control.
There are few moments in You better call Saul that meet this level of threat. This line illustrates Gus’s personality and intentions, but also adds a tragic layer to Nacho’s situation. From the beginning, Nacho has always been a character who wanted to get out of the drug trade, and yet here he finds himself under the thumb of another key figure.
3 “Someone will take action against the Salamancas. That brings… war. Which… brings chaos. What… the DEA brings.”
Shortly after Hector’s stroke, Gus and Bolsa meet Nacho and Arturo across the territory of Salamanca. Bolsa worries about the future of the Salamanca family, which leads Gus to make this horrifying prediction to Bolsa.
To make Gus one of the most cautious characters in the… Breaking Bad universe would be an understatement. He always seems to be thinking far ahead, as seen here. He understands that the chaos ensuing from the drug trade will only draw undue attention from the DEA; life for Gus and the Salamancas will only get worse.
2 “I don’t want to see your weapon. And if I don’t, I promise you won’t see mine.’
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In the season three episode “Sunk Costs”, fans witness the first collaboration between Gus and Mike. They meet on a deserted road, where Mike gets a call from Gus for the first time, asking if he’s armed. When Mike confirms he is, Gus makes this request and promises Mike before stepping outside to talk in person.
As mentioned before, Gus is a character built around precaution and planning. This is the first time fans are seeing Gus in his drug lord persona in You better call Saulmaking it the first time chronologically in the Breaking Bad franchisee. This quote perfectly sums up Gus’ ethos as he works in the drug business; everything should be fine unless someone tries to cross it.
1 ‘I decide what he earns. No one else.’
In the season four episode “Breathe”, Hector has just woken up from his coma. A doctor tells Gus he’s unresponsive and suggests better care at several hospitals, though Gus seems to disapprove. When the doctor asks Gus if this is what Hector deserves, Gus responds with this line.
With Hector and Gus being rivals long before the events of You better call SaulEven Hector’s current state isn’t punishment enough, according to Gus. This line shows Gus’ determination and control over Hector, and also shows how much of a menacing force the villain is.
You better call Saul airs Mondays on AMC at 9:00 PM EST.
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