Gustavo Fring

Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo Fring

Gustavo "Gus" Fring is a respected business owner who also distributes meth throughout the Southwest. Walt and Jesse learn about Gus from Saul Goodman, who arranges an introductory meeting at Los Pollos Hermanos, a fast-food-chicken restaurant. When Jesse turns up for the meeting high and agitated, Gus refuses to show his face, but Walt returns to Los Pollos on his own and surmises that its proprietor is Saul's meth dealer. Gus at first denies Walt's suspicions, but Walt persists, saying that he understands Gus's approach because he too is cautious.

"You are not a cautious man at all," Gus contradicts, citing Walt's drug-addled partner. "You can never trust an addict," he adds. Despite his reservations, Gus later buys thirty-eight pounds of Walt's vaunted blue crystal provided Walt can deliver it within one hour.

Gus, introduced as a local businessman, meets Hank at the DEA Albuquerque office. "Terrible," says Gus when Hank describes the region's meth problem. Gus notices Walt's photo on a donation jar and asks if Walt is an agent. Hank explains that Walt is his brother-in-law and that he is fighting lung cancer. "That's a rough one," Gus says before making a donation.