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[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Gus on ''Breaking Bad'']]
[[folder:Gus on ''Breaking Bad'']]
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo_1372.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[DevilInPlainSight I hide in plain sight, same as you.]]"'']]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[DevilInPlainSight I hide in plain sight, same as you.]]"'']]
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->''"If you try to interfere, this becomes a much simpler matter. I will kill your wife. I will kill your son. I will kill your infant daughter."''
Gus is the largest distributor of crystal meth in the American Southwest. His front is a chain of fast food chicken restaurants, Los Pollos Hermanos, which he uses to give money to law enforcement and otherwise come off as an important member of the community. He employs Walt and Jesse in season two, but almost immediately looks for a way to get his hands on Walter's recipe and replace the two.
Gus is the largest distributor of crystal meth in the American Southwest. His front is a chain of fast food chicken restaurants, Los Pollos Hermanos, which he uses to give money to law enforcement and otherwise come off as an important member of the community. He employs Walt and Jesse in season two, but almost immediately looks for a way to get his hands on Walter's recipe and replace the two.
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Gus on ''Breaking Bad'']]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo_1372.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[DevilInPlainSight I hide in plain sight, same as you.]]"'']]
->''"If you try to interfere, this becomes a much simpler matter. I will kill your wife. I will kill your son. I will kill your infant daughter."''
Gus is the largest distributor of crystal meth in the American Southwest. His front is a chain of fast food chicken restaurants, Los Pollos Hermanos, which he uses to give money to law enforcement and otherwise come off as an important member of the community. He employs Walt and Jesse in season two, but almost immediately looks for a way to get his hands on Walter's recipe and replace the two.
----
[[folder:Gus on ''Breaking Bad'']]
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo_1372.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[DevilInPlainSight I hide in plain sight, same as you.]]"'']]
->''"If you try to interfere, this becomes a much simpler matter. I will kill your wife. I will kill your son. I will kill your infant daughter."''
Gus is the largest distributor of crystal meth in the American Southwest. His front is a chain of fast food chicken restaurants, Los Pollos Hermanos, which he uses to give money to law enforcement and otherwise come off as an important member of the community. He employs Walt and Jesse in season two, but almost immediately looks for a way to get his hands on Walter's recipe and replace the two.
----
Deleted line(s) 108 (click to see context) :
!!Gustavo "Gus" Fring
Changed line(s) 110,111 (click to see context) from:
->'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/GiancarloEsposito
to:
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* DeadpanSnarker: Gus shows signs of this sort of banter in his interaction with Mike. "I am not completely unsympathetic towards your.... sense of justice".
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Changed line(s) 56 (click to see context) from:
* JerkassHasAPoint: A sociopathic murderer who is ultimately proven correct about Walter, who's carelessness destroys both of their empires and gets himself killed not even a year and a half into the business.
to:
* JerkassHasAPoint: A Not so much a jerkass person but still a sociopathic murderer who is ultimately proven correct about Walter, who's carelessness destroys both of their empires and gets himself killed not even a year and a half into the business.
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* EnemyMine: Forms an alliance with Mike out of the realization that their hatred of Hector Salamanca is mutual
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* VillainWithGoodPublicity: As part of his cover
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* AffablyEvil: Gus is a polite and reasonable man, even behind his public mask. His politeness isn't an [[FauxAffablyEvil act]], either, he genuinely believes in running his meth empire as professionally as any other company and shows some disdain for the blood-soaked gangland-style StupidEvil management of the South of the Border Cartel and Salamancas. If you respect him and abide by the rules, he'll be fair to you. But if you cross him, he will absolutely destroy everything you are.
to:
* AffablyEvil: Gus is a polite and reasonable man, even behind his public mask. His politeness isn't an [[FauxAffablyEvil act]], either, he genuinely believes in running his meth empire as professionally as any other company and shows some disdain for the blood-soaked gangland-style StupidEvil management of the South of the Border Cartel and Salamancas. If you respect him and abide by the rules, he'll be fair to you. [[BewareTheNiceOnes But if you cross him, him]], he will absolutely destroy everything you are.
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Changed line(s) 77 (click to see context) from:
* NotSoStoic: Seconds before the bomb goes off, his calm exterior finally crumbles into confusion and panic. His last act is to recompose himself from this, stoic to the bitter end.
to:
* NotSoStoic: Seconds before the bomb goes off, his calm exterior [[VillainousBreakdown finally crumbles into confusion and panic.panic]]. His last act is to recompose himself from this, stoic to the bitter end.
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* AffablyEvil: Gus is a polite and reasonable man, even behind his public mask. His politeness isn't an act, either, he genuinely believes in running his meth empire like any other company and shows some disdain for the blood-soaked gangland-style management of the Cartel and Salamancas. If you respect him and abide by the rules, he'll be fair to you. But if you cross him, he will absolutely destroy everything you are.
to:
* AffablyEvil: Gus is a polite and reasonable man, even behind his public mask. His politeness isn't an act, [[FauxAffablyEvil act]], either, he genuinely believes in running his meth empire like as professionally as any other company and shows some disdain for the blood-soaked gangland-style StupidEvil management of the South of the Border Cartel and Salamancas. If you respect him and abide by the rules, he'll be fair to you. But if you cross him, he will absolutely destroy everything you are.
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* AffablyEvil: Gus is a polite and reasonable men, even behind his public mask. His politeness isn't an act, either, he genuinely believes in running his meth empire like any other company and shows some disdain for the blood-soaked gangland-style management of the Cartel and Salamancas. If you respect him and abide by the rules, he'll be fair to you. But if you cross him, he will absolutely destroy everything you are.
to:
* AffablyEvil: Gus is a polite and reasonable men, man, even behind his public mask. His politeness isn't an act, either, he genuinely believes in running his meth empire like any other company and shows some disdain for the blood-soaked gangland-style management of the Cartel and Salamancas. If you respect him and abide by the rules, he'll be fair to you. But if you cross him, he will absolutely destroy everything you are.
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It's clear from the episode that he kills Victor for getting spotted at Gale's execution — a thread that could be traced back to Gus. Gus uses the death, however, to make a graphic point to Walt and Jesse.
Deleted line(s) 17 (click to see context) :
* BadBoss: He slashes the throat of his loyal underling Victor; it isn't clear exactly why. Perhaps it was because Victor wasted a cook or perhaps, as Walt later theorizes, he's sending Walt and Jesse a message. Whatever the case, Victor stays dead.
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Changed line(s) 6 (click to see context) from:
[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[HiddenInPlainSight hide in plain sight]]I hide in plain sight, same as you."'']]
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* AlmightyJanitor: Even disregarding his status as a drug lord, he's the ''owner'' of Los Pollos Hermanos and still finds time to do some menial work around the place.
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Changed line(s) 6 (click to see context) from:
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I [[HiddenInPlainSight hide in plain sight]], same as you."'']]
to:
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->''"What does a man do, Walter? A man provides. And he does it even when he’s not appreciated, or respected, or even loved. He simply bears up and he does it. Because he’s a man."''
to:
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* AmbiguouslyEvil: Prior to the shit hitting the fan and him becoming a full-blown villain, it's made clear that he's much more dangerous than his pleasant demeanor lets on, but exactly how much Walt should be worried for himself is pretty unclear; his [[TheStoic unrelenting poker-face]] doesn't help.
* AmbiguouslyGay: There seemed to be vibes between him and his late ex-partner Maximino. Openly [[WordOfGay discussed by the creators]] in the Insider Podcast as a valid interpretation of their relationship.
* AffablyEvil: Once you know that he's more than he looks like, he'll still play nice if you play nice. And, he's a pretty solid guy to work for, as well: as long as you make sense and don't screw up. But... see FauxAffablyEvil
* ArchEnemy: Walt viewed him as one.
* BadBoss: As Victor finds out.
* BadassBoast: "Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace, '''or fight me and die!'''"
* AmbiguouslyGay: There seemed to be vibes between him and his late ex-partner Maximino. Openly [[WordOfGay discussed by the creators]] in the Insider Podcast as a valid interpretation of their relationship.
* AffablyEvil: Once you know that he's more than he looks like, he'll still play nice if you play nice. And, he's a pretty solid guy to work for, as well: as long as you make sense and don't screw up. But... see FauxAffablyEvil
* ArchEnemy: Walt viewed him as one.
* BadBoss: As Victor finds out.
* BadassBoast: "Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace, '''or fight me and die!'''"
to:
* AmbiguouslyEvil: Prior to the shit hitting the fan and him becoming Initially, Gus doesn't come across as a full-blown villain, it's made clear that he's villain and indeed he isn't one until Walter and Jesse complicate matters. He's polite, impeccably professional and entirely reasonable. Coming on the heels of the Salamancas, he seems like a Godsend for Walt. It isn't until much more dangerous than later when the full extent of his pleasant demeanor lets on, but exactly how much Walt should be worried for himself ruthlessness is pretty unclear; revealed, even if it was alluded to in his [[TheStoic unrelenting poker-face]] doesn't help.
earliest appears.
* AmbiguouslyGay: There seemed to be vibes between him and his late ex-partner Maximino. Openly [[WordOfGay discussed by the creators]] in the Insider Podcast as a valid interpretation of theirrelationship.
relationship. However, when he makes dinner for Walter and Jesse, it appears that he has an unseen family: a wife and children, presumably. Whether they exist at all is another matter.
* AffablyEvil:Once Gus is a polite and reasonable men, even behind his public mask. His politeness isn't an act, either, he genuinely believes in running his meth empire like any other company and shows some disdain for the blood-soaked gangland-style management of the Cartel and Salamancas. If you know that he's more than he looks like, respect him and abide by the rules, he'll still play nice be fair to you. But if you play nice. And, he's a pretty solid guy to work for, as well: as long as cross him, he will absolutely destroy everything you make sense and don't screw up. But... see FauxAffablyEvil
are.
* ArchEnemy: Over time, Waltviewed him came to view Gus as one.
his greatest enemy, but Gus didn't hold Walt in quite as much regard. His true enemy was the Cartal and specifically Hector Salamanca.
* BadBoss:As He slashes the throat of his loyal underling Victor; it isn't clear exactly why. Perhaps it was because Victor finds out.
wasted a cook or perhaps, as Walt later theorizes, he's sending Walt and Jesse a message. Whatever the case, Victor stays dead.
* BadassBoast:"Don After murdering the entire Juarez Cartel, he says this:
-->''"Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace, '''or fight me anddie!'''"die!'''"''
* AmbiguouslyGay: There seemed to be vibes between him and his late ex-partner Maximino. Openly [[WordOfGay discussed by the creators]] in the Insider Podcast as a valid interpretation of their
* AffablyEvil:
* ArchEnemy: Over time, Walt
* BadBoss:
* BadassBoast:
-->''"Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace, '''or fight me and
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* BenevolentBoss: From Walt's point of view at first. Gus really ''is'' this to his Los Pollos Hermanos employees, and his drug empire employees who follow his orders and [[YouHaveFailedMe don't compromise themselves,]] to the point that he made sure his meth-manufacturing associates got hazard pay in the event of his death. Gus only kills Victor after he made a mistake he couldn't fix and sours on Walt when Walt starts to become a [[TheMillstone liability]].
* BeneathTheMask: An ExaggeratedTrope. A mild restaurant owner that hidden from society is a ruthless drug kingpin.
* BeneathTheMask: An ExaggeratedTrope. A mild restaurant owner that hidden from society is a ruthless drug kingpin.
to:
* BenevolentBoss: From Walt's point of view at first. Gus really ''is'' this to his Los Pollos Hermanos employees, and his drug empire employees who follow his orders and [[YouHaveFailedMe don't compromise themselves,]] to the point that he made sure his meth-manufacturing associates got hazard pay in the event of his death. Gus only kills Victor after he made a mistake he couldn't fix and sours on Walt when Walt starts to become a [[TheMillstone huge liability]].
* BeneathTheMask: An ExaggeratedTrope. A mild restaurant ownerthat hidden from society is secretly a ruthless drug kingpin.
* BeneathTheMask: An ExaggeratedTrope. A mild restaurant owner
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** Gus drags out his revenge against Hector Salamanca across 20 years, slowly picking off all of his relatives (save for Tuco, who was solely Hank's doing) as he wastes away in a retirement home. This ultimately leads to his undoing, though.
to:
** Gus drags out his revenge against Hector Salamanca across 20 years, slowly picking off all of his relatives (save for Tuco, who was solely Hank's doing) as he wastes away in a retirement home. This ultimately leads to his own undoing, though.
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* [[BewareTheNiceOnes Beware Affably Evil Kingpins]]: Nicer and more stable than [[HairTriggerTemper Tuco]] but more lethal due to his professionalism and superior business intelligence enough to match [[ScienceHero Walt]] for a time.
* BigBad: The biggest one of the series. He's introduced late in season 2 and holds the position until his death at the end of season 4.
* BigBadEnsemble: With the Cartel and the Salamanca family.
* BigBad: The biggest one of the series. He's introduced late in season 2 and holds the position until his death at the end of season 4.
* BigBadEnsemble: With the Cartel and the Salamanca family.
to:
* [[BewareTheNiceOnes Beware Affably Evil Kingpins]]: Nicer He's nicer and more stable than [[HairTriggerTemper Tuco]] but more lethal due to his professionalism and superior business intelligence enough to match [[ScienceHero Walt]] for a time.
* BigBad: The biggest one of the series. He's introduced late inseason Season 2 and holds the position from the middle of Season 3 until his death at the end of season Season 4.
* BigBadEnsemble: With the Cartel and the Salamancafamily.family, even if they're at odds.
* BigBad: The biggest one of the series. He's introduced late in
* BigBadEnsemble: With the Cartel and the Salamanca
Changed line(s) 33 (click to see context) from:
* BlofeldPloy: Pulls this in the season 4 premiere by slitting Victor's throat in front of Walt and Jesse with a boxcutter. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that Walt has him at a standstill so that Gus can no longer kill him, and Victor had been seen at the site of Gale's murder, which could potentially lead the investigation back to Gus.
to:
* BlofeldPloy: Pulls this in the season Season 4 premiere by slitting Victor's throat in front of Walt and Jesse with a boxcutter. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that Walt has him at a standstill so that Gus can no longer kill him, and Victor had been seen at the site of Gale's murder, which could potentially lead the investigation back to Gus.
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** He arranged in the event of his death for his meth operation employees to be paid for their services with hazard pay should they be sent to prison.
to:
** He arranged made arrangements for his entire meth operation in the event of his death for his meth operation employees to be paid for their services with death, including hazard pay should they for any employees that might be sent to prison.
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* DeadpanSnarker: Has a sarcastic sense of humour when tormenting Hector, "Last chance to look at me, Hector - sarcastic sigh".
to:
* DeadpanSnarker: Has He has a sarcastic sense of humour when tormenting Hector, "Last chance to look at me, Hector - sarcastic sigh".
Changed line(s) 48 (click to see context) from:
* EvilGloating: He's generally too smart and cautious to indulge in it, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness which makes it telling when he begins to do so late in season 4.]]
to:
* EvilGloating: He's generally too smart and cautious to indulge in it, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness which makes it telling when he begins to do so late in season Season 4.]]
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* OutGambitted: By Walt in season 4's finale.
to:
* OutGambitted: By Walt in season Season 4's finale.
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* PerfectPoison: Uses the same bottle of tequila to dispatch Don Eladio and all his capos at once.
to:
* PerfectPoison: Uses He uses the same bottle of tequila to dispatch Don Eladio and all his capos at once.
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* TheQuietOne: Is very soft spoken, calm, and collected even in the most stressful situations.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Can be, at first. Prefers to motivate his employees by appealing to their higher natures (Gale's love of science, Walt's desire to provide for his family) and only uses fear as a last resort.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Can be, at first. Prefers to motivate his employees by appealing to their higher natures (Gale's love of science, Walt's desire to provide for his family) and only uses fear as a last resort.
to:
* TheQuietOne: Is Gus is very soft spoken, calm, and collected even in the most stressful situations.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure:Can be, at first. Prefers He prefers to motivate his employees by appealing to their higher natures (Gale's love of science, Walt's desire to provide for his family) and only uses fear as a last resort.resort. He also makes allowances for the personal situations of his employees and does his best to make sure everyone is nice and happy under his employ.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure:
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* StartOfDarkness: The death of his "brother," Max.
to:
* StartOfDarkness: The death of his "brother," Max."brother" Max turned him into the cold, ruthless meth kingpin we all know and love, although it's implied he had some dark history in Chile before ever coming to America.
Changed line(s) 99,100 (click to see context) from:
* VillainousBreakdown: An [[TranquilFury eerily calm]] example in Box Cutter, knowing he's been OutGambitted by Walt and Jesse, he theatrically strolls around the room before ultimately slashing [[spoiler:Victor's]] throat and then telling Walt and Jesse to [[PragmaticVillainy get back to work]].
** [[spoiler: A true one as Gus decides to go out with a bang of emotion shortly before Gus gets his face blown up]].
** [[spoiler: A true one as Gus decides to go out with a bang of emotion shortly before Gus gets his face blown up]].
to:
* VillainousBreakdown: An [[TranquilFury eerily calm]] example in Box Cutter, knowing he's been OutGambitted by Walt and Jesse, he theatrically strolls around the room before ultimately slashing [[spoiler:Victor's]] Victor's throat and then telling Walt and Jesse to [[PragmaticVillainy get back to work]].
** [[spoiler: A true one as Gus decides to go out with a bang of emotion shortly before Gus gets his face blown up]].work]].
** [[spoiler: A true one as Gus decides to go out with a bang of emotion shortly before Gus gets his face blown up]].
Changed line(s) 105,106 (click to see context) from:
* YouHaveFailedMe: Initially, he appears to be a nicer, stabler person than other druglords Walt and Jesse have encountered (and by comparison, he arguably is), but when Victor screws up and is seen leaving Gale's apartment after possibly leaving evidence there, he shows himself to be just as willing as Tuco to violently dispose of an employee who has become a liability.
** When Walt nearly takes Hank to the location of his manufacturing business for investigation, despite Walter managing to avoid confrontation by staging an accident, Gus loses it. He has Tyrus abduct Walter outside of Jesse's house, has him taken out to the desert, and fires him, warning him about approaching Jesse or his labs again, and telling him that not only will Hank die for Walt's meddling, but if Walt tries anything to prevent Hank's assassination, his entire family will pay with their lives. One of the few times he has ever raised his voice beyond his usual cool and even tone -- which makes what he says even scarier.
** When Walt nearly takes Hank to the location of his manufacturing business for investigation, despite Walter managing to avoid confrontation by staging an accident, Gus loses it. He has Tyrus abduct Walter outside of Jesse's house, has him taken out to the desert, and fires him, warning him about approaching Jesse or his labs again, and telling him that not only will Hank die for Walt's meddling, but if Walt tries anything to prevent Hank's assassination, his entire family will pay with their lives. One of the few times he has ever raised his voice beyond his usual cool and even tone -- which makes what he says even scarier.
to:
* YouHaveFailedMe: Initially, he appears to be a nicer, stabler person than other druglords Walt and Jesse have encountered (and by comparison, he arguably is), but when Victor screws up and is seen leaving Gale's apartment after possibly leaving evidence there, he shows himself to be just as willing as Tuco to violently dispose of an employee who has become a liability.
** Whenliability. Later, when Walt nearly takes Hank to the location of his manufacturing business for investigation, despite Walter managing to avoid confrontation by staging an accident, Gus loses it. He has Tyrus abduct Walter outside of Jesse's house, has him taken out to the desert, and fires him, warning him about approaching Jesse or his labs again, and telling him that not only will Hank die for Walt's meddling, but if Walt tries anything to prevent Hank's assassination, his entire family will pay with their lives. One of the few times he has ever raised his voice beyond his usual cool and even tone -- which makes what he says even scarier.
** When
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[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Gus on ''Breaking Bad'']]
[[folder:Gus on ''Breaking Bad'']]
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo.jpg]]
Gus is a local Albuquerque businessman, the respected proprietor of Los Pollos Hermanos, a thriving local fast food restaurant. A man of many secrets, Gus is as careful, deliberate, and meticulous with his employees and customers at Los Pollos Hermanos as he is navigating the politics of the Mexican drug cartel. When we meet him in ''Better Call Saul'', Gus is on the front-end of building both his fast food and his drug empires, brick by brick.
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Tropes on ''Breaking Bad'']]
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[[folder:Tropes on ''Better Call Saul'']]
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!!Gustavo "Gus" Fring
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo.jpg]]
->'''Portrayed By:''' Creator/GiancarloEsposito
Gus is a local Albuquerque businessman, the respected proprietor of Los Pollos Hermanos, a thriving local fast food restaurant. A man of many secrets, Gus is as careful, deliberate, and meticulous with his employees and customers at Los Pollos Hermanos as he is navigating the politics of the Mexican drug cartel. When we meet him in ''Better Call Saul'', Gus is on the front-end of building both his fast food and his drug empires, brick by brick.
----
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Changed line(s) 28 (click to see context) from:
* BenevolentBoss: From Walt's point of view at first. Gus really ''is'' this to his Los Pollos Hermanos employees, and his drug empire employees who follow his orders and [[YouHaveFailedMe don't compromise themselves,]] to the point that he made sure his meth-manufacturing associates got hazard pay in the event of his death. Gus only sours on Walt when Walt starts to become a [[TheMillstone liability]].
to:
* BenevolentBoss: From Walt's point of view at first. Gus really ''is'' this to his Los Pollos Hermanos employees, and his drug empire employees who follow his orders and [[YouHaveFailedMe don't compromise themselves,]] to the point that he made sure his meth-manufacturing associates got hazard pay in the event of his death. Gus only kills Victor after he made a mistake he couldn't fix and sours on Walt when Walt starts to become a [[TheMillstone liability]].
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Changed line(s) 74 (click to see context) from:
* MysteriousPast: Starts to be revealed as of "Hermanos". All we know for certain is that he is Chilean, and did something down there during the Pinochet dictatorship to make Don Eladio spare his life. The Chilean government has no record of his being born or living in that country, and Mike's investigations have turned up nothing.
to:
* MysteriousPast: Starts to be revealed as of "Hermanos". All we know for certain is that he is Chilean, and did something down there during the Pinochet dictatorship to make Don Eladio spare his life. The Chilean government has no record of his being born or living in that country, and Mike's investigations have turned up nothing.
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Changed line(s) 12,13 (click to see context) from:
Gus is a local Albuquerque businessman, the respected proprietor of Los Pollos Hermanos, a thriving local fast food restaurant. A man of many secrets, Gus is as careful, deliberate, and meticulous with his employees and customers at Los Pollos Hermanos as he is navigating the politics of the Mexican drug cartel. When we meet him in Better Call Saul, Gus is on the front-end of building both his fast food and his drug empires, brick by brick.
to:
Gus is a local Albuquerque businessman, the respected proprietor of Los Pollos Hermanos, a thriving local fast food restaurant. A man of many secrets, Gus is as careful, deliberate, and meticulous with his employees and customers at Los Pollos Hermanos as he is navigating the politics of the Mexican drug cartel. When we meet him in Better ''Better Call Saul, Saul'', Gus is on the front-end of building both his fast food and his drug empires, brick by brick.
Changed line(s) 104 (click to see context) from:
** [[spoiler: A true one as GiancarloEsposito decides to go out with a bang of emotion shortly before Gus gets his face blown up]].
to:
** [[spoiler: A true one as GiancarloEsposito Gus decides to go out with a bang of emotion shortly before Gus gets his face blown up]].
Added DiffLines:
* SecretTestOfCharacter: He's been doing these for a long time, secretly testing Mike's abilities from the shadows.
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!!Gustavo "Gus" Fring
Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
->'''Played By:''' Creator/GiancarloEsposito
to:
Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
----
to:
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo.jpg]]
Gus is a local Albuquerque businessman, the respected proprietor of Los Pollos Hermanos, a thriving local fast food restaurant. A man of many secrets, Gus is as careful, deliberate, and meticulous with his employees and customers at Los Pollos Hermanos as he is navigating the politics of the Mexican drug cartel. When we meet him in Better Call Saul, Gus is on the front-end of building both his fast food and his drug empires, brick by brick.
Deleted line(s) 109 (click to see context) :
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo.jpg]]
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Changed line(s) 109 (click to see context) from:
to:
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo.jpg]]
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[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Tropes on ''Breaking Bad'']]
[[folder:Tropes on ''Breaking Bad'']]
Changed line(s) 77 (click to see context) from:
* PrgamaticVillainy: One of his defining traits.
to:
* PrgamaticVillainy: PragmaticVillainy: One of his defining traits.
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[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes on ''Better Call Saul'']]
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[[folder:Tropes on ''Better Call Saul'']]
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* PrgamaticVillainy: One of his defining traits.
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* StepfordSmiler: Terrifyingly so. That which lies under the smile is NightmareFuel inducing.
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* StepfordSmiler: Terrifyingly Type C and terrifyingly so. That which lies under the smile is NightmareFuel inducing. Arguably the depressed type as well where his friend Max is concerned.
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* TranquilFury: Especially in "Box Cutter". When Gus is more quiet than usual, that's when to be afraid.
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* TranquilFury: Especially in "Box Cutter". When Gus is more quiet than usual, that's when to be afraid. [[spoiler:Just ask Victor.]]
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* [[BewareTheNiceOnes Beware Affably Evil Kingpins]]: Holy shit!
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* [[BewareTheNiceOnes Beware Affably Evil Kingpins]]: Holy shit!Nicer and more stable than [[HairTriggerTemper Tuco]] but more lethal due to his professionalism and superior business intelligence enough to match [[ScienceHero Walt]] for a time.
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* [[BewareTheNiceOnes Beware Affably Evil Kingpins]]: Holy shit!
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* DeadpanSnarker: Has a sarcastic sense of humour when tormenting Hector, "Last chance to look at me, Hector - sarcastic sigh".
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* KnifeNut: He slashes Victor's throat with a box cutter.
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* BenevolentBoss: From Walt's point of view at first. Gus really ''is'' this to his Los Pollos Hermanos employees, and his drug empire employees who follow his orders and [[YouHaveFailedMe don't compromise themselves,]] to the point that he made sure his meth-manufacturing associates got hazard pay in the event of his death. Gus sours on Walt when Walt starts to become a liability.
to:
* BenevolentBoss: From Walt's point of view at first. Gus really ''is'' this to his Los Pollos Hermanos employees, and his drug empire employees who follow his orders and [[YouHaveFailedMe don't compromise themselves,]] to the point that he made sure his meth-manufacturing associates got hazard pay in the event of his death. Gus only sours on Walt when Walt starts to become a liability.[[TheMillstone liability]].
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* TranquilFury: Especially in "Box Cutter".
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* TranquilFury: Especially in "Box Cutter". When Gus is more quiet than usual, that's when to be afraid.
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* VillainousBreakdown: An [[TranquilFury eerily calm]] example in Box Cutter, knowing he's been OutGambitted by Walt and Jesse, he theatrically strolls around the room before ultimately slashing [[spoiler:Victor's]] throat and then telling Walt and Jesse to [[PragmaticVillainy get back to work]].
** [[spoiler: A true one as GiancarloEsposito decides to go out with a bang of emotion shortly before Gus gets his face blown up]].
** [[spoiler: A true one as GiancarloEsposito decides to go out with a bang of emotion shortly before Gus gets his face blown up]].
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* CulturedBadass: Gus is one of the most intelligent and cultured characters in the series.
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* CulturedBadass: Gus is one of the most intelligent and cultured characters in the series. It also takes balls to poison himself to take down the Cartel leadership. A few episodes before THAT, he walks straight into sniper fire, daring Gaff to kill him.
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* JerkassHasAPoint: Is ultimately proven correct about Walter, who's carelessness destroys both of their empires and gets himself killed not even a year and a half into the business.
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* JerkassHasAPoint: Is A sociopathic murderer who is ultimately proven correct about Walter, who's carelessness destroys both of their empires and gets himself killed not even a year and a half into the business.
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** His business strategy regarding the Mexican twins
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fring_gustavo_1372.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I [[HiddenInPlainSight hide in plain sight]], same as you."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/GiancarloEsposito
->''"What does a man do, Walter? A man provides. And he does it even when he’s not appreciated, or respected, or even loved. He simply bears up and he does it. Because he’s a man."''
Gus is the largest distributor of crystal meth in the American Southwest. His front is a chain of fast food chicken restaurants, Los Pollos Hermanos, which he uses to give money to law enforcement and otherwise come off as an important member of the community. He employs Walt and Jesse in season two, but almost immediately looks for a way to get his hands on Walter's recipe and replace the two.
----
* AmbiguouslyEvil: Prior to the shit hitting the fan and him becoming a full-blown villain, it's made clear that he's much more dangerous than his pleasant demeanor lets on, but exactly how much Walt should be worried for himself is pretty unclear; his [[TheStoic unrelenting poker-face]] doesn't help.
* AmbiguouslyGay: There seemed to be vibes between him and his late ex-partner Maximino. Openly [[WordOfGay discussed by the creators]] in the Insider Podcast as a valid interpretation of their relationship.
* AffablyEvil: Once you know that he's more than he looks like, he'll still play nice if you play nice. And, he's a pretty solid guy to work for, as well: as long as you make sense and don't screw up. But... see FauxAffablyEvil
* ArchEnemy: Walt viewed him as one.
* BadBoss: As Victor finds out.
* BadassBoast: "Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace, '''or fight me and die!'''"
* BadassInANiceSuit: He's always sharply dressed and takes care to make himself presentable.
* BaitTheDog: He first appears in "Mandala" to be no more than the pleasant, mild-mannered proprietor of a fried chicken franchise. This continued for the first half of Season 3. Then "[[WhamEpisode One Minute]]" and "I See You" came along.
* BatmanGambit:
** His ploy to have two attackers come after Jesse and Mike to cause Jesse to spring into action and then start questioning his loyalty to Walt. It extends even further because Gus allows Walt to do much of the damage to their relationship himself, which he proceeds to do so through his {{Jerkass}} behavior driven by his massive ego.
** Before that, granting Leonel and Marco permission to go after Hank instead of Walt. This played into Gus' plans perfectly: if Hank dies, the police turn up the heat on the cartel's operation, allowing Gus to corner the market; if the attack fails, Walt is safe, two of the cartel's biggest hitters are down, and Gus can force a sitdown.
* BenevolentBoss: From Walt's point of view at first. Gus really ''is'' this to his Los Pollos Hermanos employees, and his drug empire employees who follow his orders and [[YouHaveFailedMe don't compromise themselves,]] to the point that he made sure his meth-manufacturing associates got hazard pay in the event of his death. Gus sours on Walt when Walt starts to become a liability.
* BeneathTheMask: An ExaggeratedTrope. A mild restaurant owner that hidden from society is a ruthless drug kingpin.
* BestServedCold:
** Gus drags out his revenge against Hector Salamanca across 20 years, slowly picking off all of his relatives (save for Tuco, who was solely Hank's doing) as he wastes away in a retirement home. This ultimately leads to his undoing, though.
** Whatever Gus was before planting his feet in New Mexico, it was scary enough that Don Eladio spared his life at the cartel manor. The Don instead killed his partner, then reminded Gus to restrict his business to chicken. Gus would pitch the same deal decades later, whereupon Eladio fell dead at the exact same spot where Max was shot.
* BigBad: The biggest one of the series. He's introduced late in season 2 and holds the position until his death at the end of season 4.
* BigBadEnsemble: With the Cartel and the Salamanca family.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: To the public, Gus is a very respectable and compassionate entrepreneur who does much to give back to the community. In reality, he is a ruthless drug lord who has no qualms with ordering murders and [[ManipulativeBastard callously manipulating those around him]] to maintain power and get revenge.
* BlofeldPloy: Pulls this in the season 4 premiere by slitting Victor's throat in front of Walt and Jesse with a boxcutter. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that Walt has him at a standstill so that Gus can no longer kill him, and Victor had been seen at the site of Gale's murder, which could potentially lead the investigation back to Gus.
* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: Gus makes it a rule to always be calm, composed, and think about what to say and do ahead of time. He breaks this rule in his interactions with Hector, a mistake which directly leads to his demise.
* ChekhovsGunman: The seemingly polite and legitimate owner of Los Pollos Hermanos is actually a drug kingpin.
* TheChessmaster: If he does anything, there are probably far more layers to his decision than you would originally think.
* ConsummateLiar: On par with, if not surpassing, Walt himself. Gus is incredibly meticulous in protecting his double life and effortlessly spins lie upon lie to the DEA, most of whom believe every word coming out of this [[SarcasmMode mild-mannered good Samaritan's]] mouth.
* ConsummateProfessional: Holds himself and his employees in the meth business to the same high standards of professionalism as he does his employees in the chicken business. {{Subverted}} at the very end when it turns out it's ''not'' all business to him, but a very [[BestServedCold long-term]] plan for revenge.
* TheCorrupter: He takes both Gale and Jesse under his wing in order to turn them into his ideal subordinates: loyal, grateful, and beholden to no one but him.
* CrazyPrepared:
** He has a secret hospital set up with medical staff on his payroll to revive him when he self-poisons. Not only that, the hospital is supplied with matching blood types for himself, Jesse, and Mike (and they even know Jesse's entire medical history).
** He arranged in the event of his death for his meth operation employees to be paid for their services with hazard pay should they be sent to prison.
* CreateYourOwnVillain: Though Walt was by no means a pure-hearted hero beforehand, Gus's influence and Walt's exposure to his money and power hastened his transformation into a VillainProtagonist that ultimately outwits and destroys Gus.
* CulturedBadass: Gus is one of the most intelligent and cultured characters in the series.
* DevilInPlainSight: He is a minor public figure, a well-known businessman and philanthropist who gladhands with high-ranking DEA agents, none of whom suspect a thing until Hank.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Invoked in "Full Measures" when he insists he would never order the death of a child. Subverted when he threatens to kill Walt's entire family, including his son and his infant daughter.
* EvilGloating: He's generally too smart and cautious to indulge in it, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness which makes it telling when he begins to do so late in season 4.]]
* EvilMentor: Largely an unintentional one to Walt, who clearly envies his success and business style. The writers have admitted that, while he'd never admit it, Walt looks up to Gus and sees him as a role model for his criminal behavior.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: After a bomb literally blows half his face off and leaves him looking like [[Film/TheDarkKnight Harvey Dent]], Gus walks calmly out the door, straightens his tie, then falls over dead.
* FacialHorror: Walks away after an explosion and straightens his tie with ''half his face blown off'' right before he dies.
* FascinatingEyebrow: He'll occasionally do this when speaking to employees who aren't ''exactly'' treading on thin ice yet, but still need a reminder of whom they're talking to.
* FatalFlaw: His [[RevengeBeforeReason obsession with personal revenge]] against Hector proves to be his downfall.
* FauxAffablyEvil: From time to time, this flashes a fin before it can get solidly shoved under his façade. But, the clincher is when he can't help but see to his revenge personally and even indulges in EvilGloating. When he doesn't feel the need to keep himself restrained any longer... ouch.
* GutFeeling: Has a very good sense for when he's in danger, occasionally bordering on SpiderSense territory. Unfortunately for him, it fails him at the worst possible time, resulting in his death.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Is ultimately proven correct about Walter, who's carelessness destroys both of their empires and gets himself killed not even a year and a half into the business.
* KarmicDeath: Hector's bomb destroys half of Gus' face, making him [[TwoFaced resemble]] [[ComicBook/TwoFace a certain supervillain]]. The camera focuses on his uninjured side (the "legitimate" fast food mogul which everyone sees) - and slowly pans around to his disfigured side (representing the blood-soaked meth dealer). His death is also a reference to how a chicken will continue to walk around for a bit even after it's beheaded. A fitting end.
* KickTheDog: His threat to Walt that he would murder his entire family, including his infant daughter, should Walt interfere with Hank's murder. But it may have just been a bluff, since if Walt's family was suddenly wiped out, Jesse would probably figure out Gus was responsible.
* KickTheSonOfABitch:
** Tormenting Hector.
** Mass-poisoning the cartel.
** Ordering Walt's death.
* KnightOfCerebus: Granted, Krazy-8 and Tuco were quite dangerous, but the show still retained a prominent comedic element. However, after Gus is introduced, the show starts to gradually take a much darker turn.
* LuredIntoATrap: At the climax of Season 4, Gus visits Hector at the nursing home to put him down after the latter went to the feds... only Hector didn't tell the feds anything (he was [[BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible just trolling the feds]]) and the trip was made to coax Gus to get close to him and the pipe bomb Walt strapped to his wheelchair.
* MachiavelliWasWrong: Gus refuses to accept Mike's suggestion that he use the threat of the Cousins coming after Walt in order to scare him into working for him, stating that "I don't believe fear to be an effective motivator." Subverted in season 4, where he's not above doing things like brutally killing Victor, or threatening to kill Walt's family in order to keep Walt in line. DoubleSubverted when his very ruthlessness proves to be his undoing. If Gus hadn't outright threatened Walt's family, Walt might not have have been desperate enough that he was willing to poison Brock -- a new MoralEventHorizon for Walt -- to win Jesse back.
* ManipulativeBastard: He convinces the cousins to go after Hank instead of Walt, and tips Hank off about a minute before they come to kill him. This starts his scheme to take over meth production and distribution in the region. He also nearly succeeds at turning Jesse against Walt.
* MasterActor: His ability to remain in character as a polite, honest and low-key restaurant owner. Best demonstrated when he successfully convinces George Merkert, Steven Gomez, and Tim Roberts that he's innocent in Hank's investigation.
* MysteriousPast: Starts to be revealed as of "Hermanos". All we know for certain is that he is Chilean, and did something down there during the Pinochet dictatorship to make Don Eladio spare his life. The Chilean government has no record of his being born or living in that country, and Mike's investigations have turned up nothing.
* NotSoDifferent:
** From Walt. As Walt goes further off the deep end, he becomes more and more like Fring; deceptive, manipulative, and leading a double life. This trope was invoked by Saul when Gus is first mentioned:
-->'''Walt:''' Well, what's his name? (Referring to Fring).
-->'''Saul:''' No idea... he's very low profile, he's careful like that... ya know, from what I ''do'' hear about him, he sounds a little like you."
** However, this can be considered a DeconstructedTrope as well. While they have personality similarities, Gus himself does not believe he and Walt are very similar at all due to what he perceived as Walt's carelessness; Walt, with his pride and ego, believes he and Gus are ''very'' similar -- criminal equals, in fact -- and that he can run a meth empire just as well as Gus. This is ultimately one of the things that leads to Walt's own downfall. In the end, it turns out Gus was right; Gus cautiously and successfully ran a massive multi-million dollar meth empire with not a single lead on himself for over ''twenty years'', only falling because of the unavoidable DoomMagnet Walt screwing him. Walt's careless mistakes led to him being outed as Heisenberg just a ''little after a year'' of working and dead a few months after that.
-->'''Mike''' [to Walt]: Just because you shot Jesse James, don't make you Jesse James.
* NotSoStoic: Seconds before the bomb goes off, his calm exterior finally crumbles into confusion and panic. His last act is to recompose himself from this, stoic to the bitter end.
* OhCrap: Right before he dies.
* OnlyBadGuysCallTheirLawyers: Plays this straight when he's asked questions for a police investigation by the DEA.
* OutGambitted: By Walt in season 4's finale.
* PlayingBothSides: Plays the US and Mexican governments against the Mexican cartel to seize control of the West Coast meth trade. Also pulls this by telling the Cousins that they can kill Hank in place of Walter -- since Hank is the one who actually shot Tuco -- but then proceeds to anonymously tip Hank so that he can get the jump on them and take them out of the equation.
* PerfectPoison: Uses the same bottle of tequila to dispatch Don Eladio and all his capos at once.
* ProperlyParanoid: In the end, it turns out he really ''should'' have turned Walt away as soon as he saw trouble.
* TheQuietOne: Is very soft spoken, calm, and collected even in the most stressful situations.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Can be, at first. Prefers to motivate his employees by appealing to their higher natures (Gale's love of science, Walt's desire to provide for his family) and only uses fear as a last resort.
* RevengeBeforeReason: One of the main reasons for his war against the Mexican cartel is his desire for revenge. This turns out to be his FatalFlaw in the season 4 finale when he chooses to kill Hector himself.
* SelfMadeMan: Gus is able to cover distribution of drugs by simply using the refrigerator trucks that were used to deliver supplies to the Los Pollos Hermanos restaurants, rather than hire "mules" to distribute the product (although "mules" would be used to get the drugs from the restaurants to the dealers). Mike makes it very clear to Walt that Gus was so successful with his business because Gus handled so much himself and started with nothing 20 years prior.
* SignatureMove: Straightening his tie / changing his clothes in a dramatic fashion in general.
* SilkHidingSteel: Male example. He cooks meals for guests he invites for dinner in his home and performs chores like throwing out the garbage at his fast food restaurants, then as a drug kingpin he is brutally killing his own employees for their failures.
* StartOfDarkness: The death of his "brother," Max.
* StepfordSmiler: Terrifyingly so. That which lies under the smile is NightmareFuel inducing.
* TheStoic: Not even the terror-inducing Salamanca Cousins scare him at all.
* StraightEdgeEvil: Gus lives quite comfortably, but apart from that has few visible vices and even expresses distaste for the addicts who buy his product. His one real indulgence in life [[spoiler:ends up getting him killed]].
* TranquilFury: Especially in "Box Cutter".
* TheUnfettered: Obsessed with avenging Max's death, and not above harming innocents along the way.
* UnflinchingWalk: Into a hail of sniper bullets. And again in his death scene.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: He's the well-respected owner of the successful Los Pollos Hermanos chain of chicken restaurants, who publicly supports the DEA at fundraisers and sends in free chicken to all the cops waiting by Hank's hospital bedside. He even contributed to Walt's cancer treatment fund.
* WhosLaughingNow: The Mexican cartel killed Gus' partner and mocks him about it. He ends up killing all of them.
* AWolfInSheepsClothing: Oh boy, is he ever. Under that concerned, upright citizen's face hides a world of hurt for people who cross him.
* WouldHurtAChild: When he promises to stop using children in his drug business, he has the children under his employ (including the kid brother of Jesse's girlfriend) killed. Later, when he fires Walt, he warns him not to interfere in his dealings with Hank, promising to murder his son and infant daughter.
* XanatosGambit: Sending the Twins after Hank. No matter who loses, he wins.
* YouHaveFailedMe: Initially, he appears to be a nicer, stabler person than other druglords Walt and Jesse have encountered (and by comparison, he arguably is), but when Victor screws up and is seen leaving Gale's apartment after possibly leaving evidence there, he shows himself to be just as willing as Tuco to violently dispose of an employee who has become a liability.
** When Walt nearly takes Hank to the location of his manufacturing business for investigation, despite Walter managing to avoid confrontation by staging an accident, Gus loses it. He has Tyrus abduct Walter outside of Jesse's house, has him taken out to the desert, and fires him, warning him about approaching Jesse or his labs again, and telling him that not only will Hank die for Walt's meddling, but if Walt tries anything to prevent Hank's assassination, his entire family will pay with their lives. One of the few times he has ever raised his voice beyond his usual cool and even tone -- which makes what he says even scarier.
----
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I [[HiddenInPlainSight hide in plain sight]], same as you."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/GiancarloEsposito
->''"What does a man do, Walter? A man provides. And he does it even when he’s not appreciated, or respected, or even loved. He simply bears up and he does it. Because he’s a man."''
Gus is the largest distributor of crystal meth in the American Southwest. His front is a chain of fast food chicken restaurants, Los Pollos Hermanos, which he uses to give money to law enforcement and otherwise come off as an important member of the community. He employs Walt and Jesse in season two, but almost immediately looks for a way to get his hands on Walter's recipe and replace the two.
----
* AmbiguouslyEvil: Prior to the shit hitting the fan and him becoming a full-blown villain, it's made clear that he's much more dangerous than his pleasant demeanor lets on, but exactly how much Walt should be worried for himself is pretty unclear; his [[TheStoic unrelenting poker-face]] doesn't help.
* AmbiguouslyGay: There seemed to be vibes between him and his late ex-partner Maximino. Openly [[WordOfGay discussed by the creators]] in the Insider Podcast as a valid interpretation of their relationship.
* AffablyEvil: Once you know that he's more than he looks like, he'll still play nice if you play nice. And, he's a pretty solid guy to work for, as well: as long as you make sense and don't screw up. But... see FauxAffablyEvil
* ArchEnemy: Walt viewed him as one.
* BadBoss: As Victor finds out.
* BadassBoast: "Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace, '''or fight me and die!'''"
* BadassInANiceSuit: He's always sharply dressed and takes care to make himself presentable.
* BaitTheDog: He first appears in "Mandala" to be no more than the pleasant, mild-mannered proprietor of a fried chicken franchise. This continued for the first half of Season 3. Then "[[WhamEpisode One Minute]]" and "I See You" came along.
* BatmanGambit:
** His ploy to have two attackers come after Jesse and Mike to cause Jesse to spring into action and then start questioning his loyalty to Walt. It extends even further because Gus allows Walt to do much of the damage to their relationship himself, which he proceeds to do so through his {{Jerkass}} behavior driven by his massive ego.
** Before that, granting Leonel and Marco permission to go after Hank instead of Walt. This played into Gus' plans perfectly: if Hank dies, the police turn up the heat on the cartel's operation, allowing Gus to corner the market; if the attack fails, Walt is safe, two of the cartel's biggest hitters are down, and Gus can force a sitdown.
* BenevolentBoss: From Walt's point of view at first. Gus really ''is'' this to his Los Pollos Hermanos employees, and his drug empire employees who follow his orders and [[YouHaveFailedMe don't compromise themselves,]] to the point that he made sure his meth-manufacturing associates got hazard pay in the event of his death. Gus sours on Walt when Walt starts to become a liability.
* BeneathTheMask: An ExaggeratedTrope. A mild restaurant owner that hidden from society is a ruthless drug kingpin.
* BestServedCold:
** Gus drags out his revenge against Hector Salamanca across 20 years, slowly picking off all of his relatives (save for Tuco, who was solely Hank's doing) as he wastes away in a retirement home. This ultimately leads to his undoing, though.
** Whatever Gus was before planting his feet in New Mexico, it was scary enough that Don Eladio spared his life at the cartel manor. The Don instead killed his partner, then reminded Gus to restrict his business to chicken. Gus would pitch the same deal decades later, whereupon Eladio fell dead at the exact same spot where Max was shot.
* BigBad: The biggest one of the series. He's introduced late in season 2 and holds the position until his death at the end of season 4.
* BigBadEnsemble: With the Cartel and the Salamanca family.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: To the public, Gus is a very respectable and compassionate entrepreneur who does much to give back to the community. In reality, he is a ruthless drug lord who has no qualms with ordering murders and [[ManipulativeBastard callously manipulating those around him]] to maintain power and get revenge.
* BlofeldPloy: Pulls this in the season 4 premiere by slitting Victor's throat in front of Walt and Jesse with a boxcutter. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that Walt has him at a standstill so that Gus can no longer kill him, and Victor had been seen at the site of Gale's murder, which could potentially lead the investigation back to Gus.
* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: Gus makes it a rule to always be calm, composed, and think about what to say and do ahead of time. He breaks this rule in his interactions with Hector, a mistake which directly leads to his demise.
* ChekhovsGunman: The seemingly polite and legitimate owner of Los Pollos Hermanos is actually a drug kingpin.
* TheChessmaster: If he does anything, there are probably far more layers to his decision than you would originally think.
* ConsummateLiar: On par with, if not surpassing, Walt himself. Gus is incredibly meticulous in protecting his double life and effortlessly spins lie upon lie to the DEA, most of whom believe every word coming out of this [[SarcasmMode mild-mannered good Samaritan's]] mouth.
* ConsummateProfessional: Holds himself and his employees in the meth business to the same high standards of professionalism as he does his employees in the chicken business. {{Subverted}} at the very end when it turns out it's ''not'' all business to him, but a very [[BestServedCold long-term]] plan for revenge.
* TheCorrupter: He takes both Gale and Jesse under his wing in order to turn them into his ideal subordinates: loyal, grateful, and beholden to no one but him.
* CrazyPrepared:
** He has a secret hospital set up with medical staff on his payroll to revive him when he self-poisons. Not only that, the hospital is supplied with matching blood types for himself, Jesse, and Mike (and they even know Jesse's entire medical history).
** He arranged in the event of his death for his meth operation employees to be paid for their services with hazard pay should they be sent to prison.
* CreateYourOwnVillain: Though Walt was by no means a pure-hearted hero beforehand, Gus's influence and Walt's exposure to his money and power hastened his transformation into a VillainProtagonist that ultimately outwits and destroys Gus.
* CulturedBadass: Gus is one of the most intelligent and cultured characters in the series.
* DevilInPlainSight: He is a minor public figure, a well-known businessman and philanthropist who gladhands with high-ranking DEA agents, none of whom suspect a thing until Hank.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Invoked in "Full Measures" when he insists he would never order the death of a child. Subverted when he threatens to kill Walt's entire family, including his son and his infant daughter.
* EvilGloating: He's generally too smart and cautious to indulge in it, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness which makes it telling when he begins to do so late in season 4.]]
* EvilMentor: Largely an unintentional one to Walt, who clearly envies his success and business style. The writers have admitted that, while he'd never admit it, Walt looks up to Gus and sees him as a role model for his criminal behavior.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: After a bomb literally blows half his face off and leaves him looking like [[Film/TheDarkKnight Harvey Dent]], Gus walks calmly out the door, straightens his tie, then falls over dead.
* FacialHorror: Walks away after an explosion and straightens his tie with ''half his face blown off'' right before he dies.
* FascinatingEyebrow: He'll occasionally do this when speaking to employees who aren't ''exactly'' treading on thin ice yet, but still need a reminder of whom they're talking to.
* FatalFlaw: His [[RevengeBeforeReason obsession with personal revenge]] against Hector proves to be his downfall.
* FauxAffablyEvil: From time to time, this flashes a fin before it can get solidly shoved under his façade. But, the clincher is when he can't help but see to his revenge personally and even indulges in EvilGloating. When he doesn't feel the need to keep himself restrained any longer... ouch.
* GutFeeling: Has a very good sense for when he's in danger, occasionally bordering on SpiderSense territory. Unfortunately for him, it fails him at the worst possible time, resulting in his death.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Is ultimately proven correct about Walter, who's carelessness destroys both of their empires and gets himself killed not even a year and a half into the business.
* KarmicDeath: Hector's bomb destroys half of Gus' face, making him [[TwoFaced resemble]] [[ComicBook/TwoFace a certain supervillain]]. The camera focuses on his uninjured side (the "legitimate" fast food mogul which everyone sees) - and slowly pans around to his disfigured side (representing the blood-soaked meth dealer). His death is also a reference to how a chicken will continue to walk around for a bit even after it's beheaded. A fitting end.
* KickTheDog: His threat to Walt that he would murder his entire family, including his infant daughter, should Walt interfere with Hank's murder. But it may have just been a bluff, since if Walt's family was suddenly wiped out, Jesse would probably figure out Gus was responsible.
* KickTheSonOfABitch:
** Tormenting Hector.
** Mass-poisoning the cartel.
** Ordering Walt's death.
* KnightOfCerebus: Granted, Krazy-8 and Tuco were quite dangerous, but the show still retained a prominent comedic element. However, after Gus is introduced, the show starts to gradually take a much darker turn.
* LuredIntoATrap: At the climax of Season 4, Gus visits Hector at the nursing home to put him down after the latter went to the feds... only Hector didn't tell the feds anything (he was [[BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible just trolling the feds]]) and the trip was made to coax Gus to get close to him and the pipe bomb Walt strapped to his wheelchair.
* MachiavelliWasWrong: Gus refuses to accept Mike's suggestion that he use the threat of the Cousins coming after Walt in order to scare him into working for him, stating that "I don't believe fear to be an effective motivator." Subverted in season 4, where he's not above doing things like brutally killing Victor, or threatening to kill Walt's family in order to keep Walt in line. DoubleSubverted when his very ruthlessness proves to be his undoing. If Gus hadn't outright threatened Walt's family, Walt might not have have been desperate enough that he was willing to poison Brock -- a new MoralEventHorizon for Walt -- to win Jesse back.
* ManipulativeBastard: He convinces the cousins to go after Hank instead of Walt, and tips Hank off about a minute before they come to kill him. This starts his scheme to take over meth production and distribution in the region. He also nearly succeeds at turning Jesse against Walt.
* MasterActor: His ability to remain in character as a polite, honest and low-key restaurant owner. Best demonstrated when he successfully convinces George Merkert, Steven Gomez, and Tim Roberts that he's innocent in Hank's investigation.
* MysteriousPast: Starts to be revealed as of "Hermanos". All we know for certain is that he is Chilean, and did something down there during the Pinochet dictatorship to make Don Eladio spare his life. The Chilean government has no record of his being born or living in that country, and Mike's investigations have turned up nothing.
* NotSoDifferent:
** From Walt. As Walt goes further off the deep end, he becomes more and more like Fring; deceptive, manipulative, and leading a double life. This trope was invoked by Saul when Gus is first mentioned:
-->'''Walt:''' Well, what's his name? (Referring to Fring).
-->'''Saul:''' No idea... he's very low profile, he's careful like that... ya know, from what I ''do'' hear about him, he sounds a little like you."
** However, this can be considered a DeconstructedTrope as well. While they have personality similarities, Gus himself does not believe he and Walt are very similar at all due to what he perceived as Walt's carelessness; Walt, with his pride and ego, believes he and Gus are ''very'' similar -- criminal equals, in fact -- and that he can run a meth empire just as well as Gus. This is ultimately one of the things that leads to Walt's own downfall. In the end, it turns out Gus was right; Gus cautiously and successfully ran a massive multi-million dollar meth empire with not a single lead on himself for over ''twenty years'', only falling because of the unavoidable DoomMagnet Walt screwing him. Walt's careless mistakes led to him being outed as Heisenberg just a ''little after a year'' of working and dead a few months after that.
-->'''Mike''' [to Walt]: Just because you shot Jesse James, don't make you Jesse James.
* NotSoStoic: Seconds before the bomb goes off, his calm exterior finally crumbles into confusion and panic. His last act is to recompose himself from this, stoic to the bitter end.
* OhCrap: Right before he dies.
* OnlyBadGuysCallTheirLawyers: Plays this straight when he's asked questions for a police investigation by the DEA.
* OutGambitted: By Walt in season 4's finale.
* PlayingBothSides: Plays the US and Mexican governments against the Mexican cartel to seize control of the West Coast meth trade. Also pulls this by telling the Cousins that they can kill Hank in place of Walter -- since Hank is the one who actually shot Tuco -- but then proceeds to anonymously tip Hank so that he can get the jump on them and take them out of the equation.
* PerfectPoison: Uses the same bottle of tequila to dispatch Don Eladio and all his capos at once.
* ProperlyParanoid: In the end, it turns out he really ''should'' have turned Walt away as soon as he saw trouble.
* TheQuietOne: Is very soft spoken, calm, and collected even in the most stressful situations.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Can be, at first. Prefers to motivate his employees by appealing to their higher natures (Gale's love of science, Walt's desire to provide for his family) and only uses fear as a last resort.
* RevengeBeforeReason: One of the main reasons for his war against the Mexican cartel is his desire for revenge. This turns out to be his FatalFlaw in the season 4 finale when he chooses to kill Hector himself.
* SelfMadeMan: Gus is able to cover distribution of drugs by simply using the refrigerator trucks that were used to deliver supplies to the Los Pollos Hermanos restaurants, rather than hire "mules" to distribute the product (although "mules" would be used to get the drugs from the restaurants to the dealers). Mike makes it very clear to Walt that Gus was so successful with his business because Gus handled so much himself and started with nothing 20 years prior.
* SignatureMove: Straightening his tie / changing his clothes in a dramatic fashion in general.
* SilkHidingSteel: Male example. He cooks meals for guests he invites for dinner in his home and performs chores like throwing out the garbage at his fast food restaurants, then as a drug kingpin he is brutally killing his own employees for their failures.
* StartOfDarkness: The death of his "brother," Max.
* StepfordSmiler: Terrifyingly so. That which lies under the smile is NightmareFuel inducing.
* TheStoic: Not even the terror-inducing Salamanca Cousins scare him at all.
* StraightEdgeEvil: Gus lives quite comfortably, but apart from that has few visible vices and even expresses distaste for the addicts who buy his product. His one real indulgence in life [[spoiler:ends up getting him killed]].
* TranquilFury: Especially in "Box Cutter".
* TheUnfettered: Obsessed with avenging Max's death, and not above harming innocents along the way.
* UnflinchingWalk: Into a hail of sniper bullets. And again in his death scene.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: He's the well-respected owner of the successful Los Pollos Hermanos chain of chicken restaurants, who publicly supports the DEA at fundraisers and sends in free chicken to all the cops waiting by Hank's hospital bedside. He even contributed to Walt's cancer treatment fund.
* WhosLaughingNow: The Mexican cartel killed Gus' partner and mocks him about it. He ends up killing all of them.
* AWolfInSheepsClothing: Oh boy, is he ever. Under that concerned, upright citizen's face hides a world of hurt for people who cross him.
* WouldHurtAChild: When he promises to stop using children in his drug business, he has the children under his employ (including the kid brother of Jesse's girlfriend) killed. Later, when he fires Walt, he warns him not to interfere in his dealings with Hank, promising to murder his son and infant daughter.
* XanatosGambit: Sending the Twins after Hank. No matter who loses, he wins.
* YouHaveFailedMe: Initially, he appears to be a nicer, stabler person than other druglords Walt and Jesse have encountered (and by comparison, he arguably is), but when Victor screws up and is seen leaving Gale's apartment after possibly leaving evidence there, he shows himself to be just as willing as Tuco to violently dispose of an employee who has become a liability.
** When Walt nearly takes Hank to the location of his manufacturing business for investigation, despite Walter managing to avoid confrontation by staging an accident, Gus loses it. He has Tyrus abduct Walter outside of Jesse's house, has him taken out to the desert, and fires him, warning him about approaching Jesse or his labs again, and telling him that not only will Hank die for Walt's meddling, but if Walt tries anything to prevent Hank's assassination, his entire family will pay with their lives. One of the few times he has ever raised his voice beyond his usual cool and even tone -- which makes what he says even scarier.
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