Breaking Bad/Characters: Difference between revisions

== Walter White ==

[[File:Walter_White_7865.jpg|frame]]

 

The main character of the series, Walt is a high school chemistry teacher who gets diagnosed with lung cancer. Realizing he doesn't have much time left teams up with a former student to use his chemistry know how to make primo crystal meth to make tons of money to leave behind for his family.

* [[Because I'm Good At It]]. One of the major (if unspoken) reasons Walt continues to cook. When Jesse cooks his own batch of meth crystals, Walter takes offense and examines the crystals, pointing out every flaw in them.

** He also acts very smug in the Season 4 premiere, when {{spoiler|Victor, one of Gus' henchmen}} tries to cook his own batch of meth.

* [[Becoming the Mask]]: Walt invents "Heisenberg", his criminal alter ego, as both a convenient pseudonym and a coping mechanism. As times goes on and his behavior becomes more flagrantly amoral, it begins to seem as though there may not really be a difference between the two.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Does not like having his pride threatened or his decisions protested one bit.

* [[Beware the Nice Ones]]

* [[The Quiet One]]: Walt starts out as a man of few words and even fewer actions, but subverts this later on when he becomes comfortable with his new lifestyle.

* [[Sarcastic Confession]]: To Hank in the season 3 premiere.

'''[[Secret Identity|Heisenberg]]:''' Fulminated mercury... a little tweak of chemistry. }}

* [[Secret Identity]]: His Heisenberg persona that he uses to sell meth.

* [[Tom Hanks Syndrome]]: Actor Bryan Cranston while not exclusively a comedic actor was previously best known for his work as a [[Bumbling Dad]] on ''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]''.

* [[True Companions]]: With Jesse, despite the fact that they have sometimes violent disagreements and {{spoiler|at least one major rift in season 4}}.

* [[Villain Protagonist]]: Has been slowly sliding into this ever since {{spoiler|his cancer went into remission and his actions have become less and less justified.}}

== Jesse Pinkman ==

[[File:Jesse_Pinkman_2348.jpg|frame]]

 

A comfortable upper-middle-class kid--and (flunked) student of Walter's in the not-too-distant past--he becomes a lowlife drug dealer. Walt enlists (by which we mean blackmails) him as his business partner because of his street smarts and knowledge of the drug trade. Seemingly a total jerk {{spoiler|eventually we see he has hidden depths and isn't as heartless as he seems. In fact he's starting to prove more morally conflicted about what he's done than Walt has.}}

* [[Functional Addict]]: Complete with a downward spiral into heroin addiction, rehab, and then later getting back on the meth.

* [[Heel Realization]]: In the third season premiere.

** Subverted by the end of the season.

* [[Hidden Depths]]: Is surprisingly kindhearted.

* [[The Igor]]

== Skyler White ==

[[File:Skyler_White_6340.jpg|frame]]

 

Walter White's wife, who is pregnant with their daughter when the show starts. Walt's criminal activities give rise to a lot of mysterious late nights and other odd behavior that he does not explain, which puts a serious strain on their marriage. While Skyler tries to be supportive, she can be a little bossy and overbearing, which clashes with Walt's need to show he can do everything himself.

* [[Dumb Blonde]]: Far from it, but she knows how [[The Power of Acting|to play]] [[Obfuscating Stupidity|the part]].

* [[Hot Mom]]

* [[The Power of Acting]]: Turns out to be one of Skyler's best weapons. Whether she's faking contractions to bail her sister out of her shoplifting problems, making up a story about Walt's gambling addiction on the fly, or convincing a locksmith that Walt's condo is her home, Skyler can sell it.

* [[Precision F-Strike]]: {{spoiler|"I fucked Ted."}}

** Actually, given that for all his brilliance as a chemist and meth cook Walt does things like {{spoiler|suggest to Hank that Gale wasn't Heisenberg}} and {{spoiler|buy Walt Jr. a flashy, expensive, attention-grabbing car when the family is supposed to be strapped for cash}}, both of which Skyler immediately points out are incredibly stupid things to have done, it's quite arguable that she is just as smart as he is, or at the very least more prudent.

* [[Wham! Line]]: {{spoiler|"I know you're a drug dealer Walt."}}

* {{spoiler|[[Villain Protagonist]]}}: Might be on her way to becoming one of these {{spoiler|since she's now taking a more active role in her husband's business.}}

* [[Women Are Wiser]]: Averted. She may be more practical than Walt but She is even greedier and has quite a ruthless streak.

* {{spoiler|[[Your Cheating Heart]]}}: In the second episode of season 3 {{spoiler|with Ted Beneke}}.

== Hank Schrader ==

[[File:Hank_Schrader_3873.jpg|frame]]

 

Walter and Skyler's brother-in-law, Mike is a DEA agent. He is aware of Walter's alter ego "Heisenberg", knows that Heisenberg is the one who makes the blue meth, and has some connection with Jesse, but does not know that Walter is Heisenberg. Despite Hank's obnoxious behavior he is a decent guy and good at his job, but is not able to outmaneuver Walter. Instead Hank usually picks up the remains of Walter and Jesse's messes.

* [[Bald of Awesome]]

* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: In the second episode of season 2 he unknowingly saves Walt and Jesse from Tuco.

* [[Broken Ace]]: {{spoiler|Hasn't been the same ever since the taskforce bombing in season 2.}}

** {{spoiler|Now literally broken after getting shot by one of the Twins.}}

* [[Genius Bruiser]]: Arguably, in is connection of {{spoiler|Gale's murder}} with Gus Fring.

** This is an important part of Hank's growing characterization. While he initially might have come off as a loud, overbearing dumb cop, he's actually a very skilled investigator.

* [[Hero Antagonist]]: Becomes one once he makes catching the elusive "Heisenberg" his goal; unusually for this trope, he's unaware that the [[Villain Protagonist]] he's pursuing is [[Hidden Villain|right under]] [[Devil in Plain Sight|his nose]].

* [[Hidden Depths]]: For the first season Hank seems mostly to be a textbook [[Boisterous Bruiser]] but in season 2 {{spoiler|after he kills Tuco}} we begin to see that Hank secretly feels a lot of anxiety and fear about his job.

* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: Though loud and obnoxious he is generous to and protective of his family and devoted to his job.

* [[Nice Guy]]: By Season 4, He has evolved to be possibly the only genuinely likeable main character on the show.

* [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown]]: {{spoiler|Gives one to Jesse in season 3.}}

* [[N-Word Privileges]]: Tends to assume he has them with his Hispanic colleagues, which is one thing that makes him [[Jerkass|so obnoxious]].

== Gustavo "Gus" Fring ==

[[File:Gus_Fring_3894.jpg|frame]]

 

Gus is the largest distributer 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.

* [[Devil in Plain Sight]]: See [[Villain with Good Publicity]]

* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: Invoked in "Full Measures" when he insists he would never order the death of a child. {{spoiler|Subverted. He later threatens to kill Walt's entire family including his son and his infant daughter.}}

* {{spoiler|[[Face Death with Dignity]]: After a bomb literally blows half his face off, Gus walks calmly out the door, straightens his tie, then falls over dead.}}

* {{spoiler|[[Facial Horror]]: Walks away after an explosion and straightens his tie with ''half his face blown off'' right before he dies.}}

* {{spoiler|[[Fatal Flaw]]: His obsession with personal revenge against Tio Hector proves to be his downfall.}}

* [[Gut Feeling]]: Has a very good sense for when he's in danger, occasionally bordering on [[Spider Sense]] territory. {{spoiler|Unfortunately for him it fails him at the worst possible time, resulting in his death.}}

* [[Kick the Dog]]: Possibly his ordering the death of {{spoiler|Tomas}} though its never explicitly said that he did. Definitely his threat to Walt that {{spoiler|he would murder his entire family including his infant daughter}} should Walt interfere with {{spoiler|Hank's murder.}}

* [[Kick the Son of a Bitch]]: His {{spoiler|taking out the Cartel}}.

* [[Villainous Breakdown]]: Suffers a brief, almost non-verbal one when it dawns on him that {{spoiler|Hector has drawn him into a trap. Esposito [[Incredibly Lame Pun|goes out with a bang]] by conveying Gus' rapid transition from [[Evil Gloating|triumph]] to [[Didn't See That Coming|confusion]] to [[Oh Crap|shock]] to [[Despair Event Horizon|terror]] with nothing more than facial expressions and a single scream.}}

* [[Villain with Good Publicity]]: Is the well respected owner of a chain of chicken restaurants who publicly supports the DEA at fundraisers.

** {{spoiler|He almost recites this trope word for word when he fires Walt, who (albeit unwillingly) led Hank to the laundromat.}}

 

== Walter White Jr. ==

[[File:Walter_White_Jr_6460.jpg|frame]]

 

Walt and Skyler's son. He does not take the news that his father is dying of cancer well and lashes out in a stereotypically rebellious teenager-ish way (including changing his name to Flynn), but eventually gets over it and acts a lot more mature as series progresses. Jr. has cerebral palsy and walks with crutches and speaks with a slight slur.

* [[Disabled Character, Disabled Actor]]: RJ Mitte has mild cerebral palsy in real life but Walt Jr. was conceived from the start as having it, and Mitte had to learn to walk with crutches and speak ''less'' clearly to portray the level of affectation that the show's creator had in mind.

* [[Disabled Snarker]]

** Until his parents' separation, at which point he sides with his dad and demands to be called Walt Jr.

* [[Out of Focus]]: Has appeared less in Season 4 than in any other season. It is likely due to not even a year passing in-story while the actor has aged visibly, as noted above.

 

 

== Saul Goodman ==

[[File:Saul_Goodman_3042.jpg|frame]]

 

A sleazy lawyer Walt and Jesse hire as their legal council. Saul has vast connections, and is the one who introduces Walt and Jesse to Gus. Saul also helps them with other criminal activities, like helping Walter buy a carwash to launder his money with. While he initially likes the money Walt and Jesse bring in, later appearences mostly consist of Saul exasperated at the bigger messes Walt and Jesse get into. [http://www.bettercallsaul.com/ Has his own website.]

 

* [[Ain't Too Proud to Beg]]: In his first appearance when Walt and Jesse kidnap him.

* [[Ambulance Chaser]]

* [[Catch Phrase]]: "Better call Saul!"

* [[Comic Relief]]: Despite being a surprisingly skilled lawyer, pretty much every other word out of Saul's mouth is hilarious.

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: If there's a sarcastic line said, there's a ninety-seven percent chance Saul is the one saying it.

* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: Was unwilling to give up Walt and Jesse to Gus, only doing so when Mike threatened to break his legs.

== Mike Ehrmantraut ==

[[File:Mike_Ehrmantraut_2089.jpg|frame]]

 

Gus' number one hitman, investigator, and all around problem fixer. Extremely loyal to Gus. Gets along with Walt at first, but stops liking Walt as Walt does more stuff that threatens to ruin their operation. Then he starts to develop a mild respect for Jesse. Despite his horrific profession, Mike at least acts like a decent person and loves his granddaughter.

* [[The Ace]]: Pulls off all assignments given to him by Gus flawlessly.

* [[Affably Evil]]: A nice guy and a loving grandfather, but he'll kill you without hesitation if it's his job.

* [[Badass Grandpa]]

* [[Bald of Evil]]

* [[Face Heel Turn]]: Had one years before the start of the series. See [[Start of Darkness]] below.

* [[Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique]]: Threatens Saul with this in the season 3 finale.

* [[One-Scene Wonder]]: Frequently makes brief appearances in episodes and his lengthy monologue in "Half Measures" is definitely this trope.

* [[Punch Clock Villain]]

== Marie Schrader ==

[[File:Marie_Schrader_3060.jpg|frame]]

 

Skyler's sister and Hank's wife. Marie causes a lot of problems, like accusing Walter of smoking marijuana and shoplifting, but is also supportive of Skyler and her family and Hank and the problems his job causes.

 

== Brandon "Badger" Mayhew ==

 

The first of Jesse's three friends introduced, and one of his dealers. Not the smartest person around, but is very upbeat.

 

* [[Book Dumb]]: Enough to make Jesse look like [[The Chessmaster]] by comparison.

* [[Chekhov's Gunman]]

* [[The Ditz]]: Described by the creators as "Jesse's Jesse".

 

 

== Christian "Combo" Ortega ==

 

Another one of Jesse's friends and dealers. Possibly smarter than Badger and Skinny Pete.

* {{spoiler|[[Dropped a Bridge on Him]]}}

* {{spoiler|[[Killed Off for Real]]}}

 

== Skinny Pete ==

 

Jesse's third friend and dealer.

 

== Tuco Salamanca ==

 

Walt and Jesse's first boss. Tuco is an unstable, paranoid man who snorts meth all day. At first Walter (and reluctantly Jesse) want to be Tuco's main supplier, but they quickly change their mind after they are hired when Tuco beats one of his subordinates to death over a minor misunderstanding.

 

== Hector 'Tio' Salamanca ==

 

A former kingpin and Tuco's uncle. Hector is confined to a wheelchair thanks to a stroke, and can only communicate with a bell.

 

* [[Bald of Evil]]

* [[Chekhov's Gunman]]

* {{spoiler|[[Driven to Suicide]] / [[Death Equals Redemption]]: Blows himself up with Walt's bomb and takes Gus and Tyrus with him.}}

 

== Jane Margolis ==

 

Jesse's landlord when his parents kick him out, and eventually Jesse's girlfriend. Jane is nice girl and a former drug addict, but relapses and becomes a lot less nice thanks to Jesse's drug habit.

 

== Andrea Cantillo ==

 

A single mother Jesse meets at a drug addict support group, eventually the two start up a relationship. Andrea has a son, Brock, that Jesse gets along with. {{spoiler|Is the older sister of the kid who shot Combo.}}

 

== "The Cousins" Leon and Marco Salamanca ==

 

Two assassins who go after Walter {{spoiler|to avenge Tuco's murder}}. Best described as two human Mexican [[The Terminator|Terminator robots]].

 

== Ted Beneke ==

 

Skyler's former boss. Sexually harassed her at a Christmas party, allegedly because he was drunk. When Skyler gets her old job back he tries to get into her pants again.

* [[Chekhov's Gunman]]

* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: Towards Skyler.

* [[Foil]]: For Walt.

* {{spoiler|[[Killed Off for Real]]}}

* [[Justified Criminal]]: Is cooking the books at Beneke Fabricators, but only doing so to save his father's company and the jobs of the people it employs.

** Becomes much less justified when he uses the obviously dirty money he receives through Saul to buy a Mercedes SL instead of paying off the debts.

* [[White Collar Crime]]: In contrast to the more working-class variety practiced by Walt and Jesse.

 

 

== Steven Gomez ==

 

Hank's partner. Hanks makes fun of Gomez for being Latino, Gomez makes fun of Hank for being white, but they get along fine. A good cop in his own right.

 

== Gale Boetticher ==

 

Another meth cooker that Gus forces Walt to replace Jesse with. Walt and Gale get along well, but in reality {{spoiler|Gus is using Gale to learn how Walt cooks his meth so he can dispose of Walt and Jesse and replace them with Gale, who is a lot more maneagable.}}

 

== Domingo Gallardo "Krazy 8" Molina ==

 

A drug dealer Jesse brings along with him in the pilot. He and his partner try to kidnap Walt and Jesse to force them to make meth, but instead is caught by Walt and Jesse and tied up in Jesse's basement. {{spoiler|He is the first person Walt kills.}}

 

== Tortuga ==

 

The DEA's informant on the Mexican Cartel. {{spoiler|1=He is beheaded, his head is put on a turtle, and is rigged with bombs, blowing up all the DEA members who sent ot meet him except Hank.}}

 

== Don Eladio ==

 

The head of the Mexican Drug Cartel and Gus' main competitor for control of the Southwest drug trade.

 

== Bogdan ==

 

Walter's boss at the carwash. {{spoiler|Reappears in season four when Walter and Skyler buy his carwash.}}

 

* [[Bad Boss]]: Forces cashiers to do menial labour. He tries to [[Justified Trope|justify]] his actions by explaining that "a boss has to be tough."

* [[The Bus Came Back]]: After disappearing early in season 1 he comes back in season 4.

* [[Chekhov's Gunman]]: At the beginning of the series he's the [[Jerkass|obnoxious boss]] at Walt's second job, but he comes back in a big way.

 

== Carmen Molina ==

 

The principal at Walter's school.

 

== Wendy ==

 

A prostitute who works out of a motel that Jesse sometimes does drugs with.

 

== Don Margolis ==

 

Jane's father. Does not like Jesse.

 

== Victor ==

 

One of Gus' henchmen.

 

== Tyrus Kitt ==

 

Another one of Gus' henchmen.

 

== Maximino "Max" Arciniega ==

 

Shown only in flashbacks, Max was the meth cooker to Gus' meth distributor, mirroring the relationship between Walt and Jesse. He was the one who proposed cooking meth for the Mexican Cartel, {{spoiler|and was killed when they were unimpressed with crystal meth and felt he had wasted their time.}}

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Characters]]